Behave Like a Leader

“Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you." ~ Thomas Jefferson ~

You may say all the right things but it's your actions that determine what people really think of you.    If the words you say and the actions you take don't match, action will when out every time.  People see actions as more honest than words and as a better representation of their values and beliefs.  It takes more effort to do the right thing than to say the right thing.  Words will ring hollow and untrue unless there is something to back up what you say. 

Think about the behaviors of great leaders that have the same values as yourself - not their characteristics, but what actions do they take?  Confirm that their actions and words match, plus support the values they say they possess.  Once you find one or two, study them.  Emulate them. If you want to be known as a great leader then behave like a great leader. 

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:


I will behave like a great leader.

Let Go of Being Right

Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right. ~ Laurens van der Post ~

Have you ever ruined a conversation, a meeting, a party or worse, a relationship because it was so important to be right?  So many arguments over things that really didn't matter! Reflect back and remember the times when you could've have just let it go.  There are cases when being right is the difference between life and death - literally.  But, how often does that really happen?  Also, consider how frequent your arguments are about opinions and not even facts!  Mindful leaders can determine when they are arguing opinion and when they are arguing fact, which one is life or death and then choosing wisely which argument to pursue or not pursue.  Take the time to determine which is more important - relationship building or being right. There are times to be right but most often it is more important to keep the relationship right. 

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will carefully pick my battles.


 

Never Tatoo Your Judgements on Others

We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them. ~ Elbert Hubbard ~

You decide how you feel about others in the first few minutes of meeting them.  What kind of labels do you assign them?  Friend, foe, stupid, intelligent, kind, mean, selfish, open, shy, funny…You will tend to put the descriptors on them with a tattoo needle.  After time you will look for behaviors in them to defend your opinion about them for fear you may have been wrong. If you decided early on that you do not have high esteem for someone then everything they do will irk you.  You will make assumptions about their behavior that will validate the feelings that you hold toward them.  If you instantly decide they are an enemy, then they will always be an enemy.  

Leaders who are enlightened will open up the possibility that they might not be one-hundred percent accurate in their assessment of someone.  Instead of sizing someone up immediately, they will take the time to get to know them.  “What are their values?”  “What motivates them?”  What is it that they need to be successful?”  As a leader, you too must not immediately judge and hold so tightly to those attitudes.  Otherwise, you might create an undesired self-fulfilling prophecy.  Sometimes it better to be wrong than right.  Those you have judged – revisit your feelings about them.  You might find a new ally.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I will give others a second chance."