Personal Excellence = Team Excellence May 2, 2012
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Balance, Business, Leadership, Learning, Life, Personal Development, Relating, Teams, Teamwork.Tags: balance, business, Leadership, learning, personal development, relating, teams, teamwork
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Peter Senge has a slightly different definition of leadership. He sees it as having the capacity to effect creative tension. That is, the ability to hold on to and articulate a consistent vision for oneself, for a department, or for an organization.
We’re all leaders; we all have the capacity to effect creative tension. But many people don’t have the confidence to pull it off, so they end up waiting for permission, acceptance, or approval. They’re going to have a long wait.
This tension is sometimes nothing more than the relentless pursuit of excellence for yourself and for your organization.
Don’t be afraid to stand for something. Believe in it, support it, promote it, obsess on it. Excellence is a state of mind AND an end-in-mind.
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Team Conundrum December 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Balance, Leadership, Life, Personal Development, Relating, Teams, Teamwork.Tags: balance, Leadership, Life, personal development, relating, teams, teamwork
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Have you ever noticed that the team member who complains and points the finger the most seems to have a lot of other problems, too? Deep down they can’t be happy people.
It’s a challenge to put up with them. It’s usually better to quietly leave their company (if you can), when you really want to say, “Please shut up,” which is not cool either.
Blame is a funny thing. It sets the stage for someone to be right and another to be wrong. Oh, if the world were so perfectly ordered.
So instead we get the complaint disguised as helpfulness: “Why does this have to be so hard?” or “Doesn’t anyone know how to do things around here?” or “I’m just saying…”
Finger pointers need to realize that when they place blame or make a scene, it’s really all about them. They apparently want the world to see how smart and fearless they are, when in fact all they are doing is hiding behind their anger.
The next time you find yourself ready to blame (and we all do it), ask yourself the question:
“How can I help this situation through my actions and not my words?”
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Silencing the Judge November 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Balance, Leadership, Learning, Life, Personal Development.Tags: art, balance, Leadership, learning, Life, personal development, the four agreements
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Sometimes that “noise” in our head is the voice of the judge who works tirelessly to fill us with doubt and with guilt. (“You’re too slow; you’re too tall; you’re not good-looking enough; you’re not smart enough.”)
But it doesn’t end there. The judge also chimes in about the people around you. (“She talks too much; he’s annoying; he can’t sing; she is clueless.”)
The judge is constantly talking, and sometimes we allow ourselves to be influenced by him. The judge has no boundaries; he is as adept at judging your personal friends, your professional relationships, and your family members, too.
Practice silencing the judge. Intend to be impeccable with your word.
(The first agreement – Be impeccable with your word.
The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz)
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5 Decisions (That Shape Your Life) August 12, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Assessment, Balance, Learning, Personal Development.add a comment
Decisions are choices, and your choices ultimately define who you are.
You cannot blame your decisions on anyone else but yourself.
Here are 5 Life-Shaping Decisions that you make every day:
. . .
1 What you do. (Do you help, hurt, give more, or take more?)
2 Who you associate with. (You are who you hang with.)
3 What you give. (At home, at work, in life…)
4 What you take. (At home, at work, in life…)
5 What you are going to do next. (It’s your move.)
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Team = Family August 8, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Balance, Personal Development, Teamwork.add a comment
A team is a family where both your personal and professional strengths and weaknesses are laid bare.
– It’s a place where you can offer dumb ideas and not scoffed at.
- A place where mistakes are accepted in the attempt of progress.
– A place where cooperation is an expectation, not a random act.
– A place where you can be yourself and not worry about losing your job.
– A place where you’re recognized for your talent and intellect and not for your
relationship with the boss.
– A place that’s your second home that you look forward to coming to.
Is your team like that?
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Things I Learned From My Teenage Daughter July 23, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Balance, Learning, Personal Development.add a comment
(Originally written in 2003, but applies today more than ever.)
. . . .
Do a lot of things and relax a lot too
Expect a lot from yourself and others
and be happy with the results, regardless
Laugh when you feel like it; cry when you feel like it, too
Don’t underestimate your potential
Want a lot for your friends
Don’t underestimate the influence of your friends
Don’t underestimate your influence on your friends
Don’t underestimate your options
Always acknowledge and express how you are feeling
Be mindful and respectful (in words and deeds)
of friends who are not present
Stick to your dreams and goals
even when others try to talk you out of them
Knowing when to stay silent is a sign of wisdom
Sometimes just showing up takes courage
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Life In Circles July 6, 2011
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Balance, Personal Development.add a comment
A good many years ago (at least 20), our personal lives and our business lives were clearly separated. Work was work, and your personal life was your personal life. The following two circles represent that one time separation. –
Slowly things changed. Technology, profit, and global competition all played a part in this change and we evolved. Beepers beeped after 5 pm and on weekends, and clients became more demanding (thanks to global competition), so an occasional trip to the office on the weekend was not unusual. Soon our personal lives and our business lives began to intertwine. –
A leader’s life would have been fine if things had stayed that way… but they didn’t. In the 1990’s, cellular phones made everyone instantly available. Added to this, weekend meetings became an accepted way of getting a jump on the week ahead. Today, a leader’s personal and business lives are one. The two circles have now become so overlapped that it’s hard to distinguish one from the other. It’s a huge challenge to separate them. –
Now if you are married to your job because you love it, that’s great. But, if you happen to be married to a person as well, your blood pressure is probably a little high. Life probably feels like it’s one big compromise to you.
There is a solution. They’re called boundaries. Boundaries represent your commitment to maintain enough structure so that your personal life is protected from intrusions by your business life, and vice versa.
(Strong Boundaries = A More Balanced Life)
Take the time to reflect on how tightly linked your personal and professional lives are. You may find that it’s time to redefine/reinforce your lifestyle and your work habits so they can comfortably coexist.
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