LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“None of us is as smart as all of us." Ken Blanchard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I'm sharing 2 more of Ken Blanchards quotes this month, and I coudn't ignore this classic.

He says this so simply, but the meaning is profound:

We are better when we are connected to others and each bring our own gifts, strengths, talents, experience and passion to the table.

The multiplier on this can't really be measured.

We're better TOGETHER than on our OWN.

The wisdom from Ecclesiastes 4 backs up Blanchards quote:

"It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, but if there's no one to help, tough! Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped." (MSG)

Do you have people that come around you that make you better? Are you trying to figure things out on your own?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“Feedback is the breakfast of champions."Ken Blanchard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I'm sharing a few of Ken Blanchards quotes this month, and when I saw the quote above, it jumped off the page at me.

We all value feedback. It might scare us a little bit, but we want to know how people are going to respond to something we said or did.

It's just natural.

When I finish speaking, teaching or training, I often will look to my wife for some quick feedback. It might be a simple praise, it might be a question, or it might just be a squeeze of my hand. I want that feedback. I need that feedback.

Think of the people around you, especially those that you lead: Are you giving them feedback? Are you proactively letting them know how they're doing, how they're performing, or something you saw in them?

The reality is that most of us are so desperate for feedback that we don't even care if it's negative or positive, we just want to know that someone is there!

Think about the way you offer feedback to those around you. Are you consistent? Are you proactive? Are you honest? Are you communicating well? Think about what you value when it comes to feedback then offer that to those who are with you.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“The best minute I spend is the one I invest in people."Ken Blanchard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson wrote the short book, The One Minute Manager in 1982 and it went on to become a best seller.

The premise is simple:

To be an effective manager, you need to create with each employee:

• One Minute Goals

Clarity about what you're working on

• One Minute Praisings

Affirm, encourage, praise and celebrate

• One Minute Redirects or Reprimands

Correct, critique and hold people accountable

Blanchard has written many books on management and leadership, but he always comes back to that idea of a "leadership investment", which is where this quote comes from.

Spending a minute investing in someones life and leadership is a great way to spend your time and use your influence.

How are you doing in this area?

• Do you choose TASKS over PEOPLE?

• Do you position and make yourself AVAILABLE to others?

• Do you see people as a BURDEN or as a VALUE?

This week, why don't you INVEST in some people by simply spending time with them: Take initiative, listen to them, be approachable.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority." Ken Blanchard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Ken Blanchard has written and co-written some great books on organizational leadership. His posture for leadership and the simple way he introduces complex ideas have made him an influential leader over the past 50 years.

His quote above is spot on. Leadership can be defined as INFLUENCE.

How does that concept hit you: Influence vs. Authority?

If you're like me, you learned early on that leadership is often based on authority: who's in charge, who's making the decisions, who's out in front, who commands the position.

However, notice the word Blanchard inserts into this quote: SUCCESSFUL. That's the differentiator.

We've all seen horrible leaders lead from a place of authority. It's not their fault. For many of them, they were never equipped to lead, they were just the person that the position landed on.

INFLUENCE: That's what leadership is really about.

Think of a leader who has impacted you or who you highly respect. Do they lead from a position of AUTHORITY or INFLUENCE? What do you see in them?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“Some people spend their entire lives waiting for the time to be right to make an improvement." James Clear

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've spent a few weeks with James Clear and his book Atomic Habits. This is the final quote from him that we'll dive into, and it's simply a reminder that NOW is the time to start doing the things that you know you should be doing. Don't put it off!

I'm sure you all know people who talk a lot about the things they will do...someday. Hopefully you're not one of those "someday" people.

I think that one of the things I really appreciated about this book as I went back to it was his simple challenge to just START. Start small, get some small wins, and keep moving forward.

It's not impossible, but it's POSSIBLE.

As we've been talking about habits the past few weeks, what is the habit you keep coming back to? The habit that you keep thinking about but you haven't done anything about? Now is the time!

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." James Clear

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We're spending the month with James Clear and some thoughts from his book Atomic Habits.

Think about the quote above... "You fall to the level of your systems." That's a big statement, but it's so true.

We can do many different things to succeed at our goals and habits in life, but it all comes down to the "system" we have in place; the thing we do over and over again to ensure success.

Have you thought about the systems you have in your life? We all have systems, whether we know it or not.

The book, Atomic Habits will give you some tools to rethink those systems in your life.

A system is "a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done." What are the systems you've built in your life?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“Habits are not a finish line to be crossed, they are a lifestyle to be lived.” James Clear

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We're spending the month with James Clear and some thoughts from his book Atomic Habits.

I think sometimes we confuse a HABIT with a GOAL.

"Goals are aspirations you set for yourself, and can be small or big. Goals are a great way to prioritize behavior and measure success; however, they are not very effective at creating changes in behavior. On the other hand, habits are the routines you develop through constant practice, and they happen subconsciously." (Flow Fitness)

What do you think of this? Is this how you determine the difference between a HABIT and a GOAL?

The quote above from Clear makes sense to me and I think for years I tried to accomplish goals in my life but I didn't create habits to get to these goals.

Think of a couple of GOALS you have for this year, and think of a couple of HABITS you want to create in your life this year. How are these different?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“The habits you repeat every day largely determine your health, wealth & happiness.” James Clear

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I've talked about the book by James Clear in the past, Atomic Habits. I'm going to read this book again in the month of February and I thought I'd bring you along with me by sharing a few of his quotes & thoughts.

The first time I read his book, I was challenged by his simple and forgiving approach to creating habits.

I had always been taught and challenged to think of habits as something that requires fierce discipline and would only succeed if I'm 100% committed to accomplishing them.

Developing habits do require discipline and commitment, but Clear makes this simple and attainable by simply challenging us to take some baby steps and create some habits that we can build on.

His approach makes goals much more realistic and attainable, at least for me.

Think about some habits or goals you're working on. It's now the end of January... what has contributed to your success or failure?