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Paddles, Portages And Pings On Leadership
By Kerri Salls
After 3 long days of a very intensive workshop in Toronto, a group of us decided to go canoeing for a day, up in Barre, Ontario (an hour north of Toronto) on the Nottawasaga River. It was a warm day, the water was warm, and no one else was on this pristine flat-water river winding through a protected swamp.
We had idyllic moments out of time, we had mishaps and laughs, and we had the slogs of carrying canoes and gear (called a portage) around logjams in the river more than a few times, as well the insufferable companionship of mosquitoes.
Why am I sharing this with you? I want to share some of the pings of the day, and the pings were all about leadership and the dynamics of leadership. It was reassuring and inspiring to see leadership arise from a number of different people in the group adding strength and depth all around.
Great leaders are always working on themselves. In this case, the leaders never stopped paddling. They led by example. In spite of the mosquitoes, they stayed focused on the objective of the day, 19 km through utter wilderness.
Exemplary leaders don't push or manage a lot. They problem solve, then inspire and motivate the team. You can be a strong leader without being impolite. When a canoe capsized, a leader didn't wait for the organizer to suggest it, a leader just handed people life jackets and said "Put it on", because it was the right thing to do. Another leader figured out how to recover, right and empty the canoe.
Leadership means learning to be bold without being a bully. To build your influence, you've got to walk the talk in front of your group, team, or clients. You've got to tackle the first problem, seize the moment and make quick decisions. In our case, it was a leader choosing the portages.
Leadership
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also means learning to develop humor - but without folly. It's OK to be witty but not silly, to have fun and be funny without being foolish. A leader's response to the first person getting dunked in the river was to put a positive spin on the slight mishap -- just like we all do for a baby learning to walk or a child learning to ride a bicycle. This leadership skill was brought out in many of our leaders later on the trip when we kept sinking into the mud, or shoes got stuck in the mud. One leader unabashedly sang old songs on the portages as a distraction from mosquitoes feasting on us. Leaders are good at dealing with reality. They accept life as it is. This is not fatalism or the opposite of optimism. It's practicality. It's a constructive approach to the truth. On the river, when the mosquitoes and logjams got to us all late in the day, there was a dramatic switch in group dynamics. Leaders recognized what had to be done, picked up the pace and just did it without discussion, negotiation or complaining. In the end, I think we had more fun and the adventure was more memorable because of the challenges that brought out the strengths in each of us. As leaders, we want to inspire the people around us to bring out their strengths too. So what adventure will you organize to inspire the people around you? Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.comKerri Salls, MBA runs a virtual business school to train, consult and coach small business CEO's and entrepreneurs in 10 key strategies to make more profit in less time. Learn more at www.breakthrough-business-school.com/products.html or sign up for a free weekly newsletter at www.breakthrough-business-school.com/newsletter.shtml
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Job-creation panel endorses business tax credit
A plan to give a tax credit to Colorado companies that create 20 or more new jobs was endorsed Monday night by a committee of state lawmakers.
New Mexico ISP customers still being reconnected after Qwest shutdown
New Mexico-based SkyWi Inc. said most of its voice and much of its Internet services in New Mexico was still down as of Monday following a service shutdown by Qwest Communications International Inc. (Q)
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The Dow eased off of last week’s strong gains Monday, closing down just shy of a percentage point on the day.
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Satellite broadcaster Dish Network extended its contract with billing and customer service outsourcing company CSG Systems International Inc. to cover 2009. (CSGS) (DISH)
Chipotle?s Ells to share CEO duties
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has elevated president/COO Monty Moran to the position of co-CEO with founder Steve Ells. (CMG)
Cleveland law firm Tucker Ellis & West opens Denver office
Cleveland law firm Tucker Ellis & West LLP opened its first Denver office Jan. 1 and has hired five attorneys to work here.
Small-business leaders, aerospace group give Colorado lawmakers their wish lists
A group of small-business leaders on Monday asked Colorado lawmakers to avoid new regulations and to keep them “at the table” in the legislative session that begins in two days.
Great Outdoors Colorado finds new leader
Lise Aangeenbrug has been appointed to replace John Swartout as executive director of Great Outdoors Colorado.
Kohl?s seeks 150 workers for Aurora store
The Kohl’s retail chain, which plans to fill about 150 jobs when it opens a new store in Aurora in March, will hold a job fair Jan. 11-15. (KSS)
Holland & Hart chooses new managing partner
Energy attorney Thomas O’Donnell has been named managing partner of law firm Holland & Hart LLP, succeeding Lawrence Wolfe.
Job-creation panel endorses business tax credit
A plan to give a tax credit to Colorado companies that create 20 or more new jobs was endorsed Monday night by a committee of state lawmakers.
New Mexico ISP customers still being reconnected after Qwest shutdown
New Mexico-based SkyWi Inc. said most of its voice and much of its Internet services in New Mexico was still down as of Monday following a service shutdown by Qwest Communications International Inc. (Q)
Surging Dow hits brakes, off 82 points
The Dow eased off of last week’s strong gains Monday, closing down just shy of a percentage point on the day.
CSG extends Dish deal
Satellite broadcaster Dish Network extended its contract with billing and customer service outsourcing company CSG Systems International Inc. to cover 2009. (CSGS) (DISH)
Chipotle?s Ells to share CEO duties
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has elevated president/COO Monty Moran to the position of co-CEO with founder Steve Ells. (CMG)
Cleveland law firm Tucker Ellis & West opens Denver office
Cleveland law firm Tucker Ellis & West LLP opened its first Denver office Jan. 1 and has hired five attorneys to work here.
Small-business leaders, aerospace group give Colorado lawmakers their wish lists
A group of small-business leaders on Monday asked Colorado lawmakers to avoid new regulations and to keep them “at the table” in the legislative session that begins in two days.
Great Outdoors Colorado finds new leader
Lise Aangeenbrug has been appointed to replace John Swartout as executive director of Great Outdoors Colorado.
Kohl?s seeks 150 workers for Aurora store
The Kohl’s retail chain, which plans to fill about 150 jobs when it opens a new store in Aurora in March, will hold a job fair Jan. 11-15. (KSS)
Holland & Hart chooses new managing partner
Energy attorney Thomas O’Donnell has been named managing partner of law firm Holland & Hart LLP, succeeding Lawrence Wolfe.
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