Colleagues,

MVP: Being fully present is more valuable than having answers.

Let’s keep it simple.
 
You don’t need to be the leader with the answers.
 
Just be the leader who is present.
 
Make somebody’s weekend today by doing one of these two things:

1. Ask the second question. After asking, “How are you?” and them responding, “Fine” ask the second question – “Really, how are you?” Be present, be quiet, and listen.
   
2. Engage in five-minute coaching by asking these three questions:
   

• What went well this week?
  
• Is there anything you would do differently?
  
• Were there any surprises?

 
Remember the gift is in your presence. Don’t share, don’t teach, and don’t make it about you.
 
Just be present.
 
Afterward, check in with yourself – how did it feel to be fully present for someone else?
 
Today’s intention: Be present!

Cheers!

Frederick

Colleagues,

MVP: Together, transformation, vulnerability, and interdependence can create something special.
 
Yesterday I asked you to think about a training that would make you want to have a group hug at the end.
 
Both for me and (I think) the participant in one of my most recent trainings who requested the group hug, it’s all about transformation. 
 
A great training can be transformative in that it changes the way we see our world and empowers us to act on the new perspective.
 
Additionally, the training must create an environment where participants can be vulnerable, can lead within the training, and become interdependent with the rest of the group.
 
And, I think, the training should help participants be better people, not just better leaders.
 
I’ve been playing with the idea of human-centered leadership, and maybe inadvertently hit on it in the training. 
 
Today’s intention: Reflect on what it means to lead in a human-centered way.
 
I’d love to get your feedback on this one. You can email me here.

Cheers!

Frederick

Colleagues,
 
MVP: What makes one training more powerful than another?
 
Today we kick off our third Now + Next cohort.
 
Now + Next is a capacity-building program designed to do three things:

• Connect leaders from the far western counties of North Carolina (WNC)
• Develop leadership skills specific to serving non-profit and governmental organizations in WNC
• Nurture a diverse group of current and future leaders at all organizational levels

 
The program consists of one full-day and three half-day sessions, each spaced two weeks apart. Two weeks ago, we wrapped up cohort 2 and at the end of the session a participant asked if we could do a group hug.
 
I don’t have a leadership lesson for you. Today I just want you to think about:

• When was the last time you attended a training for which you thought a group hug would be a great way to end?
• What elements would need to be present in a training to make you want to hug people in the end?

 
Today’s intention: Reflect on the questions above.

Cheers!

Frederick

Colleagues,
 
MVP: Sometimes something BIG doesn’t actually matter.
 
Be patient, there is a leadership lesson here.
 
Last Saturday, The Ohio State University Buckeyes played the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The game is considered the marquee matchup of the week (no offense meant to the SEC, ACC, and Pac-12 or 14 or 4???).
 
I have no idea what the outcome was because I’m writing this message before the game was played.
 
This was billed as a BIG game with national title implications, etc…
 
However, for Ohio State, this game actually does not matter. If the Buckeyes win, but lose to Michigan, they are likely out of the playoffs. If they lose to Notre Dame, but beat everyone else and win the Big10 title, they are in.
 
Why are we talking football?
 
There are times when something seems to be of monumental importance, but is in fact inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
 
Today’s intention: Think about the biggest priorities or pain points you have, and the efforts to address them:

1. Is there one or more which, if nothing changes, won’t actually matter that much? 
2. What could you do instead with the money, time, and attention?
3. What could you do instead with your energy and emotion? [Thanks Jan!]

Cheers!

Frederick

Colleagues,
 
MVP: Sometimes making the same old thing better beats doing something new.
 
My mom has a new Porsche!
 
My mom is 90-years young and doesn't drive anymore, so you may wonder what the value is in her owning a Porsche.
 
Her new set of wheels is actually a walker, manufactured by Porsche.
 
It is much lighter and easier to maneuver than her previous walker. The ergonomics are better and there is a place for coffee when she makes it out to one of San Francisco’s many local coffee shops. She hasn’t quite figured out where to put the croissant though.
 
What does this have to do with leadership?
 
This huge quality of life improvement didn’t come from doing something different. It came from doing the same thing but better.
 
Instead of trying something new, consider just making the old thing better.
 
We can often invest less time and attention into improving our current practice than in trying to do something new and different.
 
Finally, a shout out to my mom, Barbara Buskey, who has read every one of the daily emails since I began writing them in April 2020. I love you mom and wouldn’t have the confidence to write like this if you hadn’t nurtured me each step of the way.
 
Today’s intention: Think about something that isn’t working, but instead of figuring out how to replace it, consider what tweaks you could implement to make it work better.

Cheers!

Frederick