This is a deck presented for the Air National Guard with the goal of developing more reflective style of leadership; values-based leadership from the inside out.
13. I am a torchbearer for a vision of a world
transformed;
illuminating freedom, fulfillment and
passion;
igniting the flame of infinite possibility
for the human spirit.
What Constitutes a Transformational Leader?
Live on purpose
Lead myself first
Life a high consciousness life – content, grateful, peaceful
Share a vision with others and serve, empower those around them. Capture their hearts so people lead people.
Strategic development.
How many here are working in a service capacity?
And how many are here who’s primary responsibility is to manager or supervise others or act as a team leader?
Now, no matter what your job function is – the question here is: Are you a leader?
You are responsible for other people’s lives. You have an impact on the direction of those you serve whether they are your staff and team or they are your clients.
Therefore, it is your duty, your responsibility to invent yourself as a leader.
Boss – Manager – Leader: What’s the difference
Have everyone stand up
Then sit down and stand up quickly
Then stand up and I do a motivational talk about standing up and have them stand up again.
The difference between a boss, manager and leader is that a boss will tell you what to do, a manager will tell you how to do it and a transformational leader will call you higher into your own authentic expression.
Compassion, vision, justice, possibility, strength, action, creativity
These people didn’t just hold a vision, they created massive results out of their actions
The work of inventing yourself as a transformational leader begins with understanding that leadership occurs on two distinct domains:
Being and Doing
Transformational leaders are skillful human BEINGS who are excellent at DOING
The being element is what I call Context and the doing element is what I call content.
Content is what you do
Context is how and why you do it.
Which of these two domains gives your work meaning?
It is the context: When I was a full time coach and therapist seeing 20-30 clients a week in private practice, that is work that many would find very meaningful. I was impacting people’s lives, forming wonderful relationships, helping others to heal and grow. But I HAD GROWN AND CHANGED, doing one-on-one work was no longer calling me higher, insiring me to grow, feeling fulfilling. I felt called to impact larger numbers of people and therefore went into doing empowerment work.
The being element is what I call Context and the doing element is what I call content.
Content is what you do
Context is how and why you do it.
Which of these two domains gives your work meaning?
It is the context: When I was a full time coach and therapist seeing 20-30 clients a week in private practice, that is work that many would find very meaningful. I was impacting people’s lives, forming wonderful relationships, helping others to heal and grow. But I HAD GROWN AND CHANGED, doing one-on-one work was no longer calling me higher, insiring me to grow, feeling fulfilling. I felt called to impact larger numbers of people and therefore went into doing empowerment work.
Do not leave the quality of your career or your life to chance!
Clarity about who you are and what you want out of your career is a very high consciousness principle. Intentionally
Four Elements of Transformational Leadership
Clarify values – what do you want your life to be about – what do you want to be known for – what do you want people to say about you?
It is only in deciding what you feel is important to you and then going out and seeking to bring that forth in your life in greater and greater ways that you begin to know freedom.
Who DO I NEED TO BE TO CARRY OUT THE VISION? What you want to be be known for? What is the one statement that captures who you are and what you commit to bringing to this world. You want to get out of living by default? Transformational Leaders KNOW WHO THEY ARE right down to a phrase… What’s yours?
How you will interact with others and manage yourself
Guide your DAY TO DAY BEHAVIOR – i.e. how you will interact with your colleagues and clients/customers.
Standards are not concepts – they are observable actions.
Help align the CONCEPT of our VALUES with our BEHAVIOR at work (ALIGN BEING WITH DOING)
I communicate upsets without drama or blame
I understand the difference between truth and perception and let that guide my behavior
I make a difference to others every day
I do not complain, I offer solutions
Consciousness: The energy created by:
Thoughts
Attitudes
Beliefs
Perceptions
Way of being
Emotions
High consciousness role models
Who blend head and heart
Working skillfully at the convergence of being and doing
Inspiring others with their vision and passion
And create extraordinary results!
This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of Nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can.
I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
—- George Bernard Shaw Preface in book called: “Man and Superman: a Comedy and Philosophy.”