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Extraordinary Leader #2 The Warrior As Leader An Executive Summary Of The Feature Article. The Elite Group.com Pty Ltd ========================================================== Welcome to the second edition of The Extraordinary Leader Newsletter. Table Of Contents. 1. An Executive Summary Of The Feature Article. ====================================================== 1. An Executive Summary Of The Feature Article. Thank you to for all of the great feedback we had from our first issue. And thank you to all of you who sent this newsletter to your friends and colleagues. That is how we grow! When I sit down to write this newsletter, I always look at what has been going on in my own life, and in the lives of my clients. What have been my lessons. In the last two weeks, I have been observing in myself that part of me who likes to win; the competitor, the warrior spirit. I have also observed that often, for me to win, someone must lose. My reflection and questioning has therefore been directed at whether this game of win/lose, is a game I want to play anymore. These questions and reflections have inspired this newsletter. Do please share this newsletter around freely. All we ask is that you acknowledge the source and our contact details. Thank you. =========================================================== 3. Special Announcements We have no other special announcements at this time. =========================================================== 4. Feature Article. Caroline Myss, the author of Anatomy of the Spirit, and one of the great original thinkers of our time, is presently researching what she calls our sacred contracts - that within each of us we have a cast of characters based on archetypes. Many of you know the child archetype within you ... the character who throws a tantrum when you do not get what you want. Then there is the victim archetype, who cries "poor me" when we feel like we have been cheated or robbed. The warrior archetype is the fighter. When I think of a typical warrior, I think of Mel Gibson in Braveheart. He was strong, committed, brave, inspirational, stubborn, and persistent. Do you have high standards? Are you a high achiever? Do you strive to be the best you can be? Do you work harder and longer than anyone else that you know? Are you quick to defend yourself, or others? Do you love to win? Is your self-esteem tied to your achievement? Do you love to take up the fight for a cause. If I have just described you, then chances are you have a strong warrior component to your character. Like all things, there are positive and negative aspects of being a warrior. First, recognise that you are a warrior, and then choose how you want to play the game as a warrior leader. In fact, many leaders are strong warriors. They have the strength, courage and determination to get things done and to lead many on their crusade. There are two main paths that a warrior can choose - the path of the sword, or the path of peace. The path of the sword was the choice of Hitler, Napoleon, Attila the Hun, and Wallace from Braveheart. Ghandi chose the path of peace, as did Nelson Mandella. They were/are the passive warriors, although their fight was no less effective. The warrior of the sword plays win/lose; I win, you lose. Kill the competition. The warrior of peace plays win/win; I win, you win. Throughout history, the sword was often the only way that we knew how to play warrior. Life was survival based, and it was a fight, literally for life. In present day, survival is no longer the issue for many of us. The game has changed and yet many of the rules have stayed the same. Even worse, many of us have failed to recognise that the game has changed, and we still play with the sword. We still call it a fight. And if you are like me, we relish the fight. Why do we like to win? Take time to ask yourself that question. Ultimately the game of win/lose is a game of power. Who has the most power? The game originates from a lack of self worth. We only need to get more power if we feel that we do not have enough to start with! The game of win/win has at its foundation a commitment to resolution, in distinction to compromise. Compromise is a win/lose game. If you and your partner are going out to dinner and you want to eat Italian cuisine, and your partner wants to eat a Chinese meal, a compromise might be eating Italian tonight and Chinese next time. Someone wins and someone loses tonight. Whereas a resolution may be to buy take out and eat at home, or go to a restaurant that sells both italian and chinese. Both players get to win. Committing to the path of win/win forces our minds to expand to new possibilities that have not been thought of before. The warrior playing the game of peace makes a great leader. They are strong, committed, compassionate, steadfast, global in their thinking, never see scarcity, always see possibility, and will not be tempted to pick up the sword. It is my observation that these warrior leaders are rare, and yet the world is hungering for them. The fighting is no longer appropriate. Let's lay down our swords and play win/win. ======================================================== 5. Monthly Point Of Focus. Each month we will have a single point of focus for you to apply in your life. This month the point of focus will be on win/win. Notice when you are playing this game, and when you are tempted to play win/lose. Observe your behaviours in both scenarios, not from a point of judgement, rather from simply awareness. Please feel free to send your observations to info@the-elite-group.com with "point of focus" in the title line. ========================================================= 6. Resources. How To Know God, by Deepak Chopra The Hero Within, by Carol S Pearson Anatomy of the Spirit, by Caroline Myss ========================================================= Copyright (c) 2000, all rights reserved. ***********************************************************************
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