Sunday, July 4, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Check out new post about Celebrating Freedom, Liberty and Justice For All here: http://ping.fm/3qm7G
Sage Leadership, The Power of The Word and Cooling Down
I’m noticing a general sense that things are “heating up” – and I don’t just mean because it’s summer here in the Connecticut/New York area.
Perhaps this is due to a variety of reasons – ongoing uncertainty with the economy, getting laid off, having too much to do in a given day, going nuts keeping up with technology – but people’s fuses and capacities are getting shorter and tighter.
This is a sure sign of stress overload – operating with an overtaxed sympathetic nervous system – the flight or fight syndrome.
This leads to people saying things they don’t mean or saying them in a mean way. Everything starts and ends with the power of the word. Whether you are finding yourself in a tense meeting trying to do the impossible with less, working against insane deadlines or you are looking to find more meaning in your work – what you say and how you say it are key in these changing times.
Before you say something to the ‘wrong’ person, at the ‘wrong’ time, in the ‘wrong’ situation, take a moment to cool down your nervous system. If you feel the temperature rising, the most basic way to cool down and “detox” the moment is:
Take a slow, deep inhale through your nose to a count of 8, exhale through your mouth with an “o” shape to a count of 8. You can add: bring in positive feelings with each inhale; discharge negative feelings with each exhale.
Do this 3-11 times. This will allow enough pause and space in the conversation and energetic exchange for a shift to happen. Then open your mouth to respond versus react. It is only in the present moment that we can truly change anything. And it starts with ourselves.
Copyright 2010 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC All rights reserved. www.sagelead.com
Perhaps this is due to a variety of reasons – ongoing uncertainty with the economy, getting laid off, having too much to do in a given day, going nuts keeping up with technology – but people’s fuses and capacities are getting shorter and tighter.
This is a sure sign of stress overload – operating with an overtaxed sympathetic nervous system – the flight or fight syndrome.
This leads to people saying things they don’t mean or saying them in a mean way. Everything starts and ends with the power of the word. Whether you are finding yourself in a tense meeting trying to do the impossible with less, working against insane deadlines or you are looking to find more meaning in your work – what you say and how you say it are key in these changing times.
Before you say something to the ‘wrong’ person, at the ‘wrong’ time, in the ‘wrong’ situation, take a moment to cool down your nervous system. If you feel the temperature rising, the most basic way to cool down and “detox” the moment is:
Take a slow, deep inhale through your nose to a count of 8, exhale through your mouth with an “o” shape to a count of 8. You can add: bring in positive feelings with each inhale; discharge negative feelings with each exhale.
Do this 3-11 times. This will allow enough pause and space in the conversation and energetic exchange for a shift to happen. Then open your mouth to respond versus react. It is only in the present moment that we can truly change anything. And it starts with ourselves.
Copyright 2010 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC All rights reserved. www.sagelead.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
A Chance Meeting For An Aspiring Scientist Thought Leader
The article in The Huffington Post today by Robert Lanza is interesting, not just because of his provocative message – scientist are now starting to work on experiments that explore the thought that perhaps we are more than purely physical – maybe even spiritual. (We know we have consciousness in a way that no other creature on earth does) – but also because of the heartwarming story he tells about the day he just hopped the trolley and went to Harvard because he wanted to meet a Harvard doctor who could help him with his experiment. It sounds like a scene from a movie.
Dr. Lanza implies that this encounter was a seed for reinforcement of his lifelong quest to understand more about life through scientific inquiry.
When Stephen Kuffler, the “world-famous” neurobiologist engages Robert, the boy, he doesn’t “shush” him away but instead he listens to him and invites him inside the building where he does indeed introduce him to one of his colleagues. It’s a very human moment that we come to understand had a profound impact on Dr. Lanza. One wonders if this scene happened today, would the individual be too busy answering emails or trying to secure grants to give an aspiring next generation scientist’s brave inquiry and venture any attention – let alone invite a stranger into the building?
What can you do today to listen to, or inspire a tween or teen to pursue their questions or dreams? Just think, if Bill Gates or Steve Jobs didn’t pursue their curiosity and drive while coming of age, what would we all be typing on?
Copyright 2010 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC All rights reserved. www.sagelead.com
Dr. Lanza implies that this encounter was a seed for reinforcement of his lifelong quest to understand more about life through scientific inquiry.
When Stephen Kuffler, the “world-famous” neurobiologist engages Robert, the boy, he doesn’t “shush” him away but instead he listens to him and invites him inside the building where he does indeed introduce him to one of his colleagues. It’s a very human moment that we come to understand had a profound impact on Dr. Lanza. One wonders if this scene happened today, would the individual be too busy answering emails or trying to secure grants to give an aspiring next generation scientist’s brave inquiry and venture any attention – let alone invite a stranger into the building?
What can you do today to listen to, or inspire a tween or teen to pursue their questions or dreams? Just think, if Bill Gates or Steve Jobs didn’t pursue their curiosity and drive while coming of age, what would we all be typing on?
Copyright 2010 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC All rights reserved. www.sagelead.com
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Strategies for Sustained Peformance – 12 more days!
Only 12 more days to take advantage of this powerful coaching program Offered at HALF the typical price. Incredible value!
Strategies for Sustained Performance
This coaching program will give you practical leading-edge tools, information and resources to help you:
• Achieve focused clarity and sustain peak performance
• Open blocks to creativity and think outside the box
• Listen and communicate more effectively
• Get out of your own way: Manage your mind and energy more effectively
What’s included: 30 minute initial consultation, four 1 one hour sessions, in-depth resource workbook, paperback book. Optional: demonstration of technology available for additional purchase.
Your part: doing some reading and exercises in between our meetings and applying the tools and insights. Offer expires June 10th. We can only offer this program at this rate for one month and after this, it will go up. Sessions may be in-person or over the phone. Call today for an appointment at 203-730-2103 or email at info@sagelead.com.
Strategies for Sustained Performance
This coaching program will give you practical leading-edge tools, information and resources to help you:
• Achieve focused clarity and sustain peak performance
• Open blocks to creativity and think outside the box
• Listen and communicate more effectively
• Get out of your own way: Manage your mind and energy more effectively
What’s included: 30 minute initial consultation, four 1 one hour sessions, in-depth resource workbook, paperback book. Optional: demonstration of technology available for additional purchase.
Your part: doing some reading and exercises in between our meetings and applying the tools and insights. Offer expires June 10th. We can only offer this program at this rate for one month and after this, it will go up. Sessions may be in-person or over the phone. Call today for an appointment at 203-730-2103 or email at info@sagelead.com.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Building and Sustaining Performance Amidst Chaos and Uncertainty
The NY stock market “Blip” dip by 1000 points in one hour – somebody “hit a wrong button?!!” Cleaning up the oil spill in the Gulf. Bailing out Greece. Keeping faith in the Euro. … A small sample of what has made the news in the last week.
It’s no wonder many of us are on overdrive – trying to survive and thrive in a world that is in crisis.
Check out our latest newsletter where you will learn about our new Coaching Program: Strategies for Sustained Performance.
It’s no wonder many of us are on overdrive – trying to survive and thrive in a world that is in crisis.
Check out our latest newsletter where you will learn about our new Coaching Program: Strategies for Sustained Performance.
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