Saturday, November 24, 2007
Being Thankful
I had one of the best Thanksgiving Day celebrations ever. It was simple, unassuming, and spent only with my immediate family—my inner circle. We all have an ‘inner circle’ of folks who applaud our successes and understand our demons. These special people are the ones you trust implicitly to tell you the truth because they can decipher the context in any given situation. They can separate their emotional link with you enough to analyze all available options when solving a problem. They allow you to “see” when you are blinded by assumptions, judgment, and indecision.
As a team leader, it is important for you to cultivate your own inner circle of trusted advisors. Either side can be argued whether or not your circle should include someone from your current work team or not. Personally, I vote you should not include anyone who you directly manage.
You should, however, be thankful if someone on your work team expresses their thoughts and insights into your leadership guidance. In expressing your gratitude, never forget that the highest appreciation is not to speak words, but to live by them. It’s true what they say—actions do speak louder than words. Make sure your actions are consistent with the core of your message.
Until next time...live like you mean it!
Marjorie