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[OptimalPerformance] Optimal Leadership
Optimal Performance
Newsletter Published by Christine McDougall International
Coaching Optimal Performance in Business, Leadership, Sport and Life.
Editor. Christine McDougall
Email. CmcDougall@usa.net
Web site: www.christinemcdougall.com
P.O. Box 950
Surfers Paradise
Queensland, Australia, 4217
Tel. 61 7 55384948 Fax 61 7 55384272 SEND SOMETHING TO SHARE TO: CmcDougall@usa.net
If we use it in a future edition, you'll receive full credit. JULY 1998
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IN THIS ISSUE..........
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1. Optimal Performance offerings for July.
2. A discussion on optimal leadership.
3. News for the month.
4. How to subscribe. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE OFFERINGS FOR JULY
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Our theme for July is a discussion on leadership, using the story of Emperor Liu Bang as a metaphor. Whether you are in a leadership position or not, there is always a time when the leader within you will be called upon. -------------------------------------------------
OPTIMAL LEADERSHIP
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The following Chinese fable as reported in an issue of the Harvard Business Review, will open our discussion on leadership.
3In the third century B.C., Emperor Lui Bang became the first ruler to consolidate China into a unified empire. To celebrate his victory, Lui Bang held a great banquet in the palace, inviting many important government officials, military leaders, poets and teachers, including Chen Cen, a master who had given him guidance during the campaign.
Chen Cen1s disciples, who accompanied him to the banquet, were impressed by the proceedings but were baffled by an enigma at the heart of the celebration.
Seated at the central table with Liu Bang was his illustrious high command. First there was Xiao He, an eminent general whose knowledge of military logistics was second to none. Next to him was Han Xin, a legendary tactitian who1d won every battle he1d ever fought. Last was Chang Yang, a shrewd diplomat who was gifted at convincing heads of state to form alliances and surrender without fighting. Chen Cen1s disciples could understand why these men were in attendance.What puzzled them was how Emperor Liu Bang, who didn1t have a noble birth or knowledge comparable to that of his chief advisors, fitted into the picture? 3Why is he Emperor?2 they asked.
Chen Cen smiled and asked them what determines the strength of a wheel.
3Is it not the sturdiness of the spokes?2one responded.
3Then why is it that two wheels made of identical spokes differ in strength?2 asked Chen Cen. After a moment, he continued, 3See beyond what is seen. Never forget that a wheel is made not only of spokes but also of the space between the spokes. Sturdy spokes poorly placed make a weak wheel. Whether their full potential is realised depends on the harmony between. The essense of wheel making lies in the craftsman1s ability to conceive and create the space that holds and balances the spokes within the wheel. Think now, who is the craftsman here?2
The diciples were silent until one of them said, 3But master, how does a craftsman secure the harmony between the spokes?2
Chen Cen asked them to think of sunlight. 3The sun nurtures and vitalises the trees and flowers. It does so by giving away its light. In the end, in which direction do they grow? ......So it is with a master craftsman like Liu Bang. After placing individuals in positions that fully realise their potential, he secures harmony among them by giving them all credit for their distinctive achievements. And in the end, as the tree and the flowers grow toward the giver, the sun, individuals grow toward Liu Bang with devotion.2 This story is rich with metaphor on leadership.
Liu Bang was not educated, or from a high birth, yet he was a great leader.
~~Coach1s comment~~.Great leaders come from all backgrounds. Leadership is not a quality of education, rather it is one of being. To be a great leader, focus on your own personal foundation. Look at your integrity; get your needs met; create reserves of time, energy, money, resources, people with skills; raise your standards; increase your boundaries; build a life around your values; have a vision that excites you and pulls you forward. To really develop your leadership significantly hire your own Coach. Liu Bang surrounded himself with the very best 3experts2 .
~~Coach1s comment~~. True success does not occur as a result of the endeavours of one. It is always a team effort. Who is on your team? Do you have a team? People you might have on your team could include your accountant, your lawyer, your bank manager, your virtual assistant, your coach, your best friends, your significant other..... Create a core group of people that you can bounce ideas off, people who will not judge or critisise you, who will tell you the truth, who will not let you get away with damaging behaviour. Make sure your team is made up of masters in their own field. You do not have to be a master of it all, you simply need to surround yourself with masters. Look at the people you spend time with and ask yourself honestly if they add value to your life, or do they take value away, by being negative, draining your energy, wanting something from you, knocking you rather than supporting you. Get very clear on what support looks like/feels like for you, and coach your team on how best to support you. Liu Bang didn1t need to be an 3expert2 in anything.
~~Coach1s comment~~ Often we think we need to be a master in everything. Great leaders know that leadership is an art in itself. So become a master at leadership, and surround yourself with experts in their own specialty. (Micheal Jordon1s coach isn1t a great basketball player. What he is is a great coach.) Chen Cen asks 3See beyond what is seen.2
~~Coach1s comment~~. The world is rapidly moving beyond the visible and tangible, to the invisible and nontangible. We think we have to be able to touch it taste it feel it see it in order for it to be real. Not true anymore. Digital, electronic and virtual worlds are growing exponetially. Always question the questions. Check assumptions. Humans are developing from homo sapians to homo noeticus, or muti sensory beings. As we evolve we will be able to 3see2 what we now consider invisible. 3Never forget that a wheel is made of spokes but also the space between the spokes.2
~~Coach1s comment~~ The great thinker, inventor, creator R Buckminster Fuller, dedicated a large part of his life to the study of space. From that study he invented tools that have changed the way we live, such as the octet truss(used in roofing), and the goedesic dome (the most stable structure to house space using the least amount of materials). Deepak Chopra talks often of the space between the thoughts as being the source of all creativity- from a tree to a word to a space ship. Create more space in your life. Take time every day to sit and be, without the need to do. 3Pause2 for moments of time. See the sunset, marvel at the still life in your living room when the light catches the bowl of fruit in perfection.
Give people space to work, to express themselves, to develop their talents. Allow space in intimate relationships. Space/stillness/inaction is as essential to life as action, yet few people allow themselves and their staff and friends/family the space of nondoing. 3Whether their full potential is realised depends on the harmony between.2
~~Coach1s comment~~Realising our own full potentail has a lot to do with the environment in which we live/work/create. Look at your environment, the people around you, the space and light and energy of your environment. Does it grow you, or stunt your growth? Change environments, upgrade the people that you surround yourself with, allow the people on your team to create enviromnents that support them. See the talent in the people around you, even before they see it, and give them the environment in which that talent will flourish and grow. 3The sun nurtures and vitalizes the trees and flowers. It does so by giving away its light. In the end, which direction do they grow?2
~~Coach1s comment~~ Give away your own light. Inspire people with your integrity, passion, and belief. Be a stand for something. Have a great vision that pulls you forward, one that is exciting and adds huge value. A vision that defines your authentic self. (You1ll know when it is your own vision, because you will move towards it joyfully, willingly, and without the need for motivation.) Believe in your own vision, fully. If you doubt your vision, chances are its not your vision, but a great idea, or someone else1s vision. 3After placing individuals in positions that fully realise their potential, he secures harmony among them by giving them all credit for their distinctive achievements.2
~~Coach1s comment~~Endorse, acknowledge, honour and respect achievement in others. Look always for the achievement, even if it seems buried in fault. If someone on your team is really not pulling their weight, chances are it is because they are either in the wrong environment, or doing a task that is not appropriate to who they are. Or they need more support. Support can come in the form of training, expressing an interest in the task and the tools and skills that they need for the task.Evoking how they feel about the task. Why make an artist do bookwork? Marry talent and authentic expression to task, allow space, endorse, encourage, provide adequate support, be a shining light, be available, and it will be done joyfully and well. -----------------
NEWS
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I have been appointed director of training for Coachu Australia, which is a great honour. Coachu Australia is going very well, and it looks like our target of having 100 coaches by the end of the year is right on track.
At the end of May I graduated from Coach University in The U.S.A. In the next few months Christine McDougall International will be creating telephone coaching for groups. What does this mean? It means that we will be using telephone technology where from 6 to 20 people can be connected to each other via an interactive telephone conference call. Participants from around the world will interact with the coach and each other, on ideas that are important to you. Because of the ease of access to a telephone, you can participate in this lively and informative exchange of ideas, and experience this all from the convenience of your own home or office. Groups on the drawing board for consideration are New Coaches- Building your perfect practise quickly; The SuperWomen Executive with no personal life; The Superman Executive with no personal life; Career Transitions-design your perfect new career; Aphrodite meets Adonis- for couples, to create extraordinary relationships; Staying at the Top- for super achievers, masters of your field and elite athletes-- how to stay at the top and enjoy the view; Teams under pressure -for team leaders and team players who have to manage rapid and unexpected change, deadlines and performance pressure. Teams may include sporting teams.
The groups will be starting in August, twice a month, for one hour each session, and the fee will be $150 U.S. dollars for U.S. based clients, and $175 Aus, for Australian clients. I will ensure that your group never includes your direct competitors.
If any of these groups interest you, or you have a suggestion for a group that would interest you, please Email us at CmcDougall@usa.net ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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