The ever-smart Seth Godin just wrote about how who you are can fuel your passion for your work. (I love the way he thinks.)
He got me to thinking …
I realized that whenever I’ve allowed “who I am” to be more clear in my life — when I’ve let myself be the distinctive, idiosyncratic me — my work has become more significant (to me and to others).
And more fun and inspiring.
The way I show up inspires (breathes life into) others to do the same. That’s not an accident, it’s something I’ve worked on, consciously and intentionally — by turning up the volume on who I am.
Something else happens, too …
When you pay attention to the power of your presence, you begin to create the world you want. (That’s one of the themes of our brand-new “2010 Manifesto.”)
I’m also reminded of when a grad student told me of a big, powerful idea. When I asked him if he felt the power of it, he sheepishly said to me, “Not really. My mother always told me not to get too big for my britches.”
Maybe Seth would agree with me: “Get bigger britches.”
Best,
Jim
Related links:
- Seth Godin on “Phoning it in“
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Jim
What a great topic – “Who Am I?”
Recently, I was privileged to spend a couple of hours being instructed by Dr David Bednar, formerly professor of the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. He instructed us that Leadership is “not so much about what you do; but of core importance is what you leave after you are gone.” “Your charge is to develop men and women who can take your place.”
Here are some of his counsel:
“The first over arching attribute of a great leader is the capacity to act and not be acted upon—the ability to initiate, to innovate, and to learn the parameters within which all participants should act to accomplish the work and achieve the desired outcomes. The second key attribute is discernment to assist the people with whom the leader serves to become better than they ever thought they could become.”
“Leaders need to foster and nurture a culture of freedom within which people can act for themselves without fear of humiliation. Correction—yes. Demanding expectations and requirements—yes. Discipline—yes. Strong feedback—yes. But humiliation—no!”
“Leaders need to discern and frame the right questions.”
“Leaders need to make the complex simple.”
“Leadership is teaching. Great teachers help learners discover things that the learners likely would not have discovered without the help of the teacher—and do so in a way that helps learners become more independent and competent. One of the highest manifestations of the gift of discernment is the capacity to see in another person the good, the ability, and the potential that individual perhaps has not seen in himself or herself. And this discernment also includes the power to help the individual recognize and develop his or her latent good, ability, and potential. Thus, leading is teaching.”