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Leadership
Leading by Fergi – Lesson #3: When Will We Get There?
Mondays are agility training night for Fergi and me. Agility is a sport that requires a dog and his handler to negotiate an obstacle course, racing against a clock and completing the obstacles correctly and in the designated order. It’s funny; we call it “dog training,” but it’s primarily “people training.” Classes are intended to…
Finish
What is it about finishing? I find myself asking that question a lot lately as my son finishes his junior year of high school. While it is not always easy to get started, it seems that many people have even more trouble finishing. Many of us are in a hurry to leave whatever we’re doing…
Leading by Fergi – Lesson #2: Let me fail, I will succeed. Just trust me.
In the agility world, a significant amount of training time is spent on “handling.” Handling includes hand signals, body positioning, or other moves I use to show Fergi where we are going on the obstacle course; there is a variety of such signals, positioning and moves that all mean different things. We recently learned a…
Detaching From Outcomes
“What? How can it be valuable if I don’t get the outcome I want?” I remember my first reaction to what appeared to be this outrageous and unrealistic idea of not being attached to the outcome. How can that be? How can I achieve my goals and stay focused if I am not attached to…
Do you trust?
From the first time we’re tossed in the air as a baby – and caught – to the first time our own babies are tossed in the air – and caught – we are learning about trust … the trust we have in others, and the trust others have in us. Beginning with that relationship…
Your Car Connection
So many of us with busy schedules are finding less and less time to connect with our significant relationships. Over the past couple years, I have found that some of the best connections with my people have happened in the car; using that time between activities and commitments to connect and be present with each…
Leading by Fergi – Lesson #1; What’s Most Important (and it’s not me)
Like most of you, every day I’m learning something new about what it really takes to be a great leader. I’ve invested a staggering amount of time and money reading and taking classes, I’ve applied what I’ve learned successfully and not so successfully, and – as cliché as it sounds – I’ve learned most from…
Why Team’s Don’t Work
It starts with the Declaration of Independence, moves to the Protestant work ethic, and is followed by Hoover’s “rugged individualism.” Let’s not forget class ranking, top sales reps, and all of the other things that focus on individual effort, achievement, and an overall emphasis on independence rather than interdependence. It helps me understand the statement…
Finding More Time
Charles Bruxton once said, “You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” Time is a consistent topic in many of my coaching meetings, and often a conversation with myself – whether it’s “I don’t have enough time,” “Time is going by too fast,” “People are taking my time,”…
The Inner Pilot Light
Have you ever had the pilot light of your stove or hot water tank go out? What did you do? If you’re like me, you initially called your father, but ultimately you lit a match to reignite the flame. This reminds me of a saying that a former boss used to share regarding problem solving,…