Tag: authenticity

Better the devil you know

He’s a funny character. Inappropriately dressed for our southern hemisphere summer, a bit dodgy at times, but somehow the old guy survives. You can’t deny that if the test of leadership is followers, then Santa has to be up there with the best!

Situational leadership it may be, but none-the-less he has most pre-teen kids (and quite a few teens too) wrapped around his little finger.

The thought of his presence in the local mall is enough to send hundreds of locals scurrying to visit.

Promises he makes, none of which he can fulfill, but rarely are his followers let down thanks to his wide network of parent-helpers. Imagine if the PTA had this sort of commitment.

“You be good or Santa won’t visit” they say, and the kids follow.

You have to say, his influencing skills are second to none too.

So when you look at his leadership characteristics – wide network of followers, even wider network of supporters, able to influence just by his presence, appears relaxed but clearly high energy, carbon neutral transport system and last but not least, authentic dress style – unmoved by trends.

There is an undercurrent of stick as well as carrot and I’ve often worried about alternative uses of the letters in his name and some other guy who’s often red too.

What the hell, it’s a bit of fun, and we’ve known him all our lives so I say better the devil you know!

Go Santa. What can I help you with?

ps Christmas Music here

Are you cutting corners to save time?

During an afternoon coffee with a friend today we talked about a significant event that had impacted on both of us over a period of time.  My friend had initially been somewhat on the peripheral of what was going on and I had assumed that the details of the events were not necessarily of great importance to him.

How wrong I was.

During our discussion it became apparent that what I had seen as unnecessary explanation or detail was in fact rightly perceived as non-disclosure.  My friend was not judgemental in this regard but was honest in seeking to understand why it appeared that I had made selected and timely disclosures of information as it suited me.

I believed I was simply saving time.  I know that I was also avoiding potentially difficult conversations which I had not been ready for.  I was cutting corners.  Not only was that wrong,  I shouldn’t have even been on the road.  I wasn’t ready.

Not everyone needs every detail.  But when you are dealing with your trust bank, there really is no short cut.

Don’t get on the road, if you’re thinking of taking short cuts! People will notice. I was fortunate this time to have a friend who believed in me enough to tell me.


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Are you prepared to model the real you?

This evening I had the pleasure of attending a fashion show put on by the Auckland Zonta Club.  Zonta I discovered, is an international organisation dedicated to advancing the status of women.  This was no ordinary fashion show.  Held in the beautiful Fables Antique rug gallery in Parnell, Auckland the models were almost all, well, not models. But you’d hardly know it!

Here were women from all walks of life, all ages, parading it out in front of a big crowd seated around the rugs to an eclectic music mix including Carmen, Paolo Conte and Michael Jackson.

My immediate reaction was this was a beautiful display – all the women were beautiful.  And brave.  Braver than all of us on the rugs, that’s for certain.

I’ve blogged a bit about authenticity and uncovering the real you to find the authentic leader that exists in us all.

When we’re comfortable enough in our own shoes, when we know who we are and why, we’re comfortable to present ourselves to the world as that real person.

In return we win respect from those around us and become role models for others to aspire to.

Zonta turned this concept into glamorous reality tonight.


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