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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Take Steps Toward 'Change Leadership'

by Rick Baker
On Nov 15, 2013

If you want to lead change and influence others to help you achieve the success you desire, consider these things:

  • Your Intelligence - This is a tough one! How can you be objective? How can you know whether or not you have the intelligence required to be a successful leader? Here's a few suggestions: (1) view this as a life-long process, work at self-knowledge, & figure out how to measure accurately [then you will be able to apply these things to understanding others], (2) ask for input from others then consider it from different perspectives [as examples, subjectively and objectively], (3) have at least one mentor...intelligence is not fixed - it is something you can expand if you work at it.
  • Your Self-Control - There are two dimensions: (1) short-term control over emotions, feelings, thoughts, & actions and (2) 'Grit', the ability to control thoughts and actions so they align with personal Values, Vision, Rules, & Goals. 'Grit', as defined here, is the thing in you that determines whether or not you can illustrate Integrity to others and whether or not you have the conviction required to achieve your Desires.
  • Your Emotions - Another tough one! Start by defining Emotions and how they differ from feelings, moods, and other mind states. Seek help from others who can observe you in a variety of Situations: under heavy workload, under stress, under assault [for example, while being criticized]. Assessments can help identify your weaknesses. Major weaknesses must be corrected. If they are not you will violate sacred things like Integrity and your stated Values...violations will destroy followers' Trust in a blink. 
  • Your Actions - and the Actions you must do to deliver value, lead others, inspire others, influence others, and help others. 
 
Dedicate at least one full, uninterrupted day each year to measure your progress. 
 
When you do this you will observe progress steps that look something like this...
 

Thought Tweet #864

by Rick Baker
On Nov 7, 2013

Thought Tweet #864 Influence flows when actions are backed by strong appetites for & vivid visions of change.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

And the results are constructive when formed by intelligence and self-control.

Influence - Why, that's something every single one of us does every single day. 

But of most importance - What form does our Influence take?

How have our intentions or inattentions shaped our influences?

Tags:

Change: Creating Positive Change | Influencing | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #861

by Rick Baker
On Nov 4, 2013

Thought Tweet #861 Balancing the strange comfort in ‘standing by’ against the positive change that follows ‘stepping up’.


The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When you must place a bet favouring either People or Situations, place your bet on Situations. That's what some social psychologists are teaching.

Why?

Why would social psychologists recommend we bet on the situation influencing the person rather than bet on the person influencing the situation?

Because there is much evidence illustrating how people are prepared to 'stand by' and do nothing in situations involving bad things ranging from workplace incivility and poor work ethics to pollution and its impact on Mother Nature to school bullying and public muggings to fundamentalism, bigotry, and genocidal atrocities.

All that said, in every such 'bad' situation each of us has a choice: we can 'stand by' or we can 'step up'.

The ancient wisdom…

If not me who?

If not now when?

Thought Tweet #857

by Rick Baker
On Oct 29, 2013

Thought Tweet #857 It is better to believe in people's ability to change than in people's fate for the status quo.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Some people believe people cannot change. They envision a future of status quo or some other fate.

Some people believe people can change for the better. They envision bright and better futures.

Leaders embrace the latter belief.

Tags:

Change: Creating Positive Change | Leaders' Thoughts | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #851.5

by Rick Baker
On Oct 21, 2013

Thought Tweet #851.5 If that task was done 80 percent as well as you could do it, compliment the doer.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet 

That makes for a nice Rule of Thumb.

Also, a Rule of Thumb like that forces you to stop and think before you criticize and kill spirit.

Compliment the doer - the thoughts may or may not count...the actions always count.

Complimenting a person - that's an action that counts.

Thought Tweet #851

by Rick Baker
On Oct 21, 2013

Thought Tweet #851 You can't teach an old dog new tricks...unless, perhaps, you praise him enthusiastically...and feed him the meat he craves.


The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Sometimes old sayings go too far.

If you can teach yourself some new tricks then you can teach old dogs new tricks.

 

Tags:

Change: Creating Positive Change | Humour | Thought Tweets

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