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Why Would Anyone Want to be Led by You?

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post written by Trever Cartwright.  Trever is co-founder of Coraggio Group, a Portland-based strategy and organizational change firm. You can reach Trever by calling 503-493-1452 or by email at trever@coraggiogroup.com. Visit his website at www.coraggiogroup.com

The year is half over. Many leaders and executive teams are taking their annual step back to do a deep-dive assessment of their organization’s progress against the goals and objectives of their strategic plans.

As part of your strategic progress review, consider including another area of assessment—one that will require a different kind of examination and be much more introspective in nature. Why not take some time to also consider how you’re progressing as a leader? It makes sense when you consider that an organization’s strategic performance is, in large part, a direct reflection of the effectiveness of the leader—and the leadership team—at the top.

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Making Time is Easy Once the Priorities are Established

Sunday, May 22, 2011

I was recently on a week-long business trip.  My schedule was booked solid with meetings both at my online business – Outdoorplay, Inc. – and with my QuietSpacing® clients.  Just another week in the modern world … before the call came in …

The Call

Me (seeing it’s my mom on caller ID):  Hi!  How are you doing?

Mom:   Not so good.

Me (sitting straight up because (a) this is never the response I get and (b) my father is 86):   What’s going on?

Mom (sounding very discombobulated):  They’re admitting your father to the hospital because they don’t know what’s wrong with him.

The remainder of the conversation covered the events that led up to my father’s admission to the hospital.

The Situation

Turns out my father had gall stones and one had become embedded in his digestive tract causing an infection.  This is a painful condition but not generally life threatening, unless you’re in your mid-80s.

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Productivity and Happiness Lessons from Plato and Ben Franklin

Monday, May 16, 2011

 Editors note:  This is a guest post by Chris Tuttle. Chris is an avid cyclist who focuses his intellectual property legal practice on cycling and the outdoor recreation businesses.

I just got done with a great read – Hamlet’s BlackBerry by William Powers.  Every page is filled with QuietSpacing® wisdom.  Before sharing specifics, a couple words on terminology.  This book is about the often dysfunctional relationship we have with the “screens” in our lives.  Desktop PCs, handheld smartphones, laptops, iPads, etc.  Any electronic device can be a “screen.”  The unexamined axiom of our times is that we and our screens should be connected as much as possible, all the time.  Connection = good, disconnected = bad.  But when we are connected, there is no quiet, there is no space.  If our lives and screens are connected 24-7, the promise of QuietSpacing (a more productive and happier life) will forever be out of reach. 

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QuickTip: Hey, Stop Snoozing Over There!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

We lead lives filled with bells and whistles.  Unfortunately, they aren’t the kind that mean upgrades!  Instead, I’m referring to the constant alerts that sound during our day starting with the alarm clock in the morning signaling that a new day has begun to the wristband alert at night reminding us to take our medication.  The good news is that these alerts help us remember to do all the things we need to get done each day.  Unfortunately, there’s a “bad news” part too.

Incessant Noise Makes Johnny Less Effective

The most insidious feature of most alert systems is the “snooze” option.  Disguised as a benefit, snooze buttons really only allow us to defer the inevitable.  And, in doing so, distract us from what we were focusing on BEFORE the alert sounded.  This may seem like no big deal, but here’s an illustrative example of why we should stop availing ourselves of the snooze option.

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