Kit Prendergast, PCC
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Category Archives: Inspirational Leadership
5 Steps to Build a Strong & Effective Habit
Building a strong habit that brings us the results we want is not that hard once we make up our minds that a change in our behavior is needed. But how do we do it? In his brand new book, The Coaching Habit, author Michael Bungay Stanier includes a chapter on how to teach yourself a new habit
I was intrigued, and Stanier’s ideas got me thinking about some of the best practices I recommend to leaders in today’s rapidly changing and challenging workplace. Here they are:
- Be honest with yourself – what is the “why” you are committing to this new behavior, especially when the success of this new habit will positively affect someone you care about.
- Identify what will be the specific “clue” or situation that will prompt your new behavior.
- Make your new behavior very simple and very short – no longer than 60 seconds to complete.
- Repeat the new behavior over and over and over until it becomes “second nature”.
- Acknowledge your successes everyday even when they might not have been “perfect”.
What would you add to this list? What works well for you? What can get in the way of your good intentions and how do you deal with those saboteurs? Let me know your ideas!
What the Best Companies Are Doing for Future Leaders
It’s happening in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Colorado Springs Utilities company has been awarded the ATD (Association of Talent Development) BEST Award for the second time in recognition of their internal corporate university designed to develop their next generation of leaders
What can we learn from this innovative company?
First, it is critical that the senior executive team be not only committed to developing aspiring leaders but also actively involved in giving their time to mentor these individuals. The corporate university has several leadership tracks including an advanced 10-month track entitled the “Leader 2 Leader” program. The executive team takes ownership in a very positive way of the ultimate outcome of the leadership development process.
Second, the CSU company actively identifies individual employees who have high leadership potential regardless of their longevity with the company. The old belief of “you have to pay your dues” is gone in light of the reality of what will attract and retain top talent in the younger generations. And every employee, no matter where they are in the company, is provided learning developmental opportunities so they can provide increased value to the company.
Third, the vast majority of the leadership development is live except for a few online prerequisite courses. The emphasis is on building bridges between the experienced tenured managers/leadership and those emerging leaders who are so critically needed in this unique, rapidly moving and competitive industry. This is where the invaluable knowledge transfer occurs and the more important trust and relationship building occurs.
This story of the Colorado Springs Utilities company is included along with the other stories of the winners of ATD BEST awards in the November issue of ATD’s monthly magazine, TD. It is truly inspirational to read about these companies and what they are doing today – not tomorrow – to develop this next generation of leaders.
Posted in Inspirational Leadership, Kit's Tips
Tagged communication, engagement, Multigenerational, Talent Development, training
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What 5 Qualities to Embrace as a Leader
How is leadership developed? Does it come about just naturally or is it a learned set of skills? Or maybe a combination? I love to work with emerging leaders as well as those who have served as leaders over time.
And this is what I have learned . . . great leaders have a wonderful capacity to visualize what “can be” rather than just focus on what “has been”. Great leaders have a gift of being able to inspire and engage others to commit themselves to meaningful work that makes a difference in people’s lives. Great leaders are committed to listening deeply to what is important to others, giving them a voice and a seat at the table to contribute their ideas, talents and strengths.
Have you ever worked with a great leader? We don’t often get that chance but when we do we don’t forget what that experience was like. It meant a lot at the time because we felt recognized, appreciated and honored for the unique value we could bring to the company, project or organization. We simply worked our heart and souls out for those great leaders.
These are five of those best qualities for you to integrate into your own leadership growth.
- Visualize the Bigger Mission & Purpose
- Inspire & Engage Others
- Listen & Communicate Effectively
- Recognize and Leverage Strengths
- Demonstrate an Authentic Commitment to Team/Consensus
You Are Strong! What Your Hands, Head and Heart Already Know
How do you help someone else recognize their own strengths? Their own potential? To believe in themselves and their future when the odds are against them?
This was the challenge when our team of Global Volunteers was asked to design and deliver a motivational workshop for the teenage boys aging out of their orphanage in Lima, Peru. They had lived there for years and now they would be on their own in just a few short months.
Would they recognize their unique strengths and be able to use those assets to achieve the future they wanted for themselves? How could we help set them up for success, and do it in a second language, with limited training supplies and in just 45 minutes?
It was actually the boys talking about their passion for soccer that sparked the idea of using a simple picture of a hand, a head and a heart to capture their individual strengths. Our goal was to have each young man recognize and appreciate his own foundation of unique strength.
Here’s how we did it in five simple steps – so simple but so powerful – and you can do the same with any young person in any life circumstance.
- Start with a large piece of white paper for each teen and several colored pencils. In the left bottom corner, ask them to outline their hand with outstretched fingers. On each finger, ask them to write a skill or strength that they have with their hands. (For example: soccer, art/drawing, cooking, electrical repair, wood working, etc.)
- Next, ask them to draw a picture of their face or head in the upper middle page. Ask them to write down their “head” strengths, usually from their schooling (math, writing, music, etc.)
- Finally, ask them to draw a picture of their heart in the lower right corner of the page. Here they write their “heart” strengths like courage, persistence, faith, etc.
- Connect the three pictures (hand, head & heart) with a triangle and ask them to write “Soy Fuerte” or “I Am Strong” in the center.
- From here, you can flip the paper over and help them identify their future or dream jobs and finally, what resources they will need to use to achieve those goals.
Did it work? Yes! Very Well.
It was amazing to see how quickly the teenage boys grasped these concepts of interpersonal strengths and were able to apply them directly to their future. We were amazed and so inspired by their courage and spirit. Thank you boys for allowing us to be part of your journey!
Three Ways to Begin to Influence Others at Work!
Are you ready to have more influence at work? Maybe you are new in your position or maybe you are an “old timer” and now are itching to make some organizational changes that could take your department or company to a new and improved performance level. But are you a person of influence? Do others look to you for clarity on the company’s future and direction on how best to meet performance goals? Are you sought out for your ideas, your wisdom, your ability to manage organizational change and finally to fully engage and motivate others?
You may have some homework to do to become that kind of influential leader. Here are my favorite three ways to start.
- Practice your speaking skills (with individuals, small groups & large audiences)
- Sharpen your writing skills (share your ideas, connect with others)
- Invest in experiences and reading (to expand your awareness, interests & conversation)
And now watch others in your workplace . . . how do they persuade, inspire and influence others? What is it about them that speaks to others in an unique way? You can learn so much from just observing them in action!
Posted in Inspirational Leadership, Kit's Tips
Tagged Career, Leadership, Relationships, strengths, teams
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