Ghosts of Leaders Past

Have you ever stopped and pondered on what resonance you will leave behind when your work is done?

I was recently completing a Leadership Programme within a large corporate and as the organisation was closing one building down, we were asked to complete the programme within another of its buildings on site.

As we walked to the conference room, we passed room after room of empty furniture, chairs and tables, stacked on top of each other… the ghosts of days gone by.  Some of the desks were very beautiful and expensive and I could not help but wonder what kind of leader used to use each desk.

• I wondered how did they manage their people?
• Did they lead with integrity?
• Did they foresee the changes that were coming?

The Lessons I Learned from the Ghosts of Leaders Past Experience:

• If you had six months to live, would you still do what you are currently doing?
• Make a difference today, don’t wait until tomorrow.
• The price of discipline is much less than the pain of regret.
• Go deep in tough times and evaluate everything you do.
• Look ahead and ask yourself as a leader, how would you perform if everything fell apart and you were told to clear your desk?

Life is too short for long pity parties, learn to embrace, change, get rid of the crap and focus on what is great in your life now.

Reflections & Questions for a New Decade

The christmas celebrations are over and as we head back to the workplace, getting used to the new normal of 2011, I encourage you to pause for a moment and ask yourself these tough questions:

•  What will you no longer tolerate in your life?
•  On a scale of 1-10, what is your level of energy right now?
   You need high levels of energy to fuel your personal greatness.
•  What people, things or habits do you need to let go of?

New Decade Questions

•  What do you want in the new decade?
•  Who do you want to become?
•  What is the number one reason you are on the planet?
•  Who do you want to hang out with in 2011 and beyond?
•  What are you going to personally do to make sure 2011
    will be your best year yet?

Every one of us has an inner vision; we just need to build reflection time into our lives so we can explore it. Build renewal time into your 2011 diary.

A CEO of a large corporate I work with takes one week off a month to spend with his family. He works on the business and not in the business. He knows that his rock is his family, what is your rock for 2011?

I encourage you to reflect, ask yourself tough questions and take massive action.  Build in lots of fun time along the way.