"The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed." - Martina Navratilova
Last week I touched on a discussion with a friend who had sifted through the various qualities of Leadership and arrived at the personal conclusion that there are two qualities that matter the most for those who lead others: Passion and Commitment.
“Passion, though a bad regulator, is a powerful spring." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Recently I had a discussion with a friend who had sifted through the various qualities of Leadership and arrived at the personal conclusion that there are two qualities that matter the most: Passion and Commitment. While I have not reached the same conclusion (I think there are more than two qualities leaders need) it is nevertheless worth pondering each of these.
As we cross the threshold of a new year, it is a natural time to reflect on our goals and objectives. It is also an opportunity to implement new approaches or strategies in order to gain increased traction with our objectives. The challenge of course is to be objective and actually reset the gauges and take meaningful action in a new direction.
For the last two weeks I addressed how and why encouragement plays well as a key leadership attribute - and how both words and taking action can be encouraging to those we serve. As a reminder, this is the specific definition of encouragement:
He was born in an obscure village, a child of a peasant woman.
He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty,
Then became an itinerant preacher.
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never did one thing that usually accompanies greatness.
He had no credentials but Himself.
While still a young man, public opinion turned against Him.
His friends ran away.
One denied Him.
He went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
Last week we wrote about how and why encouragement plays well as a key leadership attribute. We contrasted this with flattery, which totally dilutes the power of real, truth-based genuine encouragement (flattery is insincere, empty, and only self-serving. It is “over-done,” and therefore tends to water down the pop until it no longer has any fizz). Our summary from last week:
Last month we wrote about how and why an attitude of gratitude is a core leadership attribute. We emphasized that gratitude is - first and foremost - a choice, and focused the discussion on how leaders who demonstrate this quality can (and do) set a tone that can encourage others to develop the same positive attitude themselves. Gratitude is contagious.
Knowing these things, and with a "pay-it-forward" mindset, we can also express our gratitude and in so doing encourage those we serve.
Last week we wrote about how and why an attitude of gratitude is a core leadership attribute.
For those of us who reside in America it is natural to consider the topic of gratitude during the month of November since the fourth Thursday of the month is celebrated as a National Holiday under the banner of “Thanksgiving.” The theme of this holiday, which is set aside and celebrated in remembrance of the pilgrims who founded this Nation and in order to give thanks, carries emphasis-weight throughout the entire month.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost
