Welcome to your future. 

Welcome to the “Conceptual Age…a future that’s already here.”  

A term coined by Daniel Pink in “A Whole New Mind”, the Conceptual Age is an era that arrived with “globalization, the shipping of white collar work overseas, technology advances eliminating many kinds of work, and a material abundance that is deepening our nonmaterial yearnings.”

Arriving, surviving, and thriving in the Conceptual Age means we must find a new way of doing business…with a new leadership style…Whole Brain Leadership.

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In Western society, particularly America, leadership is typically left-brained.

Why?  Because leaders are chosen for their knowledge…their knowledge of a particular industry, and how and where all of the stovepipes of the industry go, and how they must function to make the business work…how all the widgets fit together to make the perfect product.

And where does knowledge come from?  The left brain.   The side of the brain that thinks linearly, making logical, rational decisions.

We have created, trained and chosen leaders who are  ”well-educated manipulators of information and deployers of expertise.”      We have taught in our schools and in our businesses the logical, linear thinking that created the Information Age.  

There is now more than ample evidence to suggest an imperative for immediate change in how we train and select our leaders! Read More→

The thing about leading is that it’s not always about being in the lead.

Sometimes it’s about pulling back and letting someone else step forward.   Sometimes it’s about stepping forward when no one else does.

America was built from those principals, and they’re principals worth nurturing and growing.   Everywhere.

 A story from World War II, described in Maxwell Taylor Kennedy’s “Danger’s Hour” is an excellent example of leadership in action at all levels. 

In 1945, aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an elite aircraft carrier with thousands of crewmen, Navy planes and pilots… naval leaders planned assaults on Japan that were a diversion to the American plan to bomb Iow Jima.  This was truly an elite ship, larger than many small towns, with approximately 3,000 people on board, anchored off the coast of Okinawa, where it was supporting an air strike.

On May 11, 1945,  the ship was hit by not one, but two kamikaze pilots in bomb laden planes.   Two officers,Commander Joseph Carmichael and First Lieutenant Shane King,  not in charge of the ship overall, were credited for their leadership skills in saving the ship and the lives of many of the men on board.   They, with many others aboard, took an active  leadership role to save the ship and the men.

These two officers had something very much in common:   they knew when to lead, and when to let others lead!  They knew that Leadership is Everywhere! Read More→

As a leader, courage is frequently cited as a necessary trait. 

Understanding exactly what it is can help you determine whether you or other leaders within your organization, are currently leading courageously!

 ”The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear“… is the definition of courage according to Dictionary.com.

In business, leaders are often called upon to take risks.  This takes courage.  Not only the quality of being able to face difficulty, danger, pain , etc., without fear, but also the quality of being willing to put oneself in the face of difficulty, danger or pain; to risk loss for potential gain.

Even one step beyond that is the courage is to have, or put,  a system in place in your organization that allows others to take risks without fear of being placed at the head of the table in a follow-up “Blame Game” if the risk taken does not have the projected outcome. Read More→

Salesman or leader? 

Captain Jared Smithson found himself, along with his troop of  good men, in a gully, pinned down  by enemy fire.  He saw no way to move forward, and he knew if he retreated with his team, he would incur severe criticism from his superiors.  Yet…he wasn’t prepared to die.  Not today.  Suddenly, he thought, “I know what to do.”  He gathered his men and told them, “Listen, you have an opportunity here.  One that may never reoccur.  You can stand together, make your Country and Company proud of you…push forward, firing as a single unit to take out the enemy troop that has us pinned down.  I’m sure there’s only a small unit.  While you’re doing that, I’m going to attempt another contact with the Communications base.  I’m sure you’ll make it through, and I’ll be right behind you.  However, in the unlikely event you’re unsuccessful, I’ll be able to tell your story of bravery to all your fellow countrymen.   I know you.  I know you’re ready to do what it takes.  Move forward NOW.”

In a parallel gully not far away, another similar troop, commanded by Captain Joseph Stern, was also pinned down, and had been for a lengthy period.  After considerable thought, and discussion with the troop on various military maneuvers that might be options..he stood up and shouted, “There are no medals for cowardice…only bravery.  I see but one clear choice,  and that is to move forward.  MEN…follow me.”

Both captains survived.  Both went on to other leadership roles.  I ask you, however, which one of these individuals was a salesman…and which a leader?  Which one do you want to work for today?  Which one would you trust?  Whose vision would you follow? Read More→

When you have employees…it’s good when they enjoy what they do.

When they’re passionate about their work…and they’re having fun, it shows!

It also shows when they don’t enjoy what they do.  Loss of productivity, and most of all, loss of customer relations. 

If you’re an entrepreneur, you may have vendors who work for you, rather than direct employees. If you have several vendors who can do the same job for you, who can deliver the same product for the same price, who are you going to do business with?  Are you most likely to work with the one you like…the company that makes you feel like you’re an important customer…like you matter?

The ultimate, unbeatable, unstoppable sales force for any company is one that has passion and joy…a team that has fun.  And, as you know, behind every great sales force or service organization is a whole slew of hard-working people who put it all together.  Who build the product, mail it out, make sure it gets there on time, or make sure whatever goods or service that was sold creates a satisfied customer. 

This means giving everyone who works for you a reason to smile! Read More→