Colleagues,

Yesterday I asked Pam (the other Dr. Buskey) if she had read that morning’s leadership email. “No! It was too crazy a day.”


This morning, I went into my email’s Afternoon Read folder, where all of my informational/instructional email automatically get funneled to and I deleted the past 35 days of unread daily messages from the two people I follow. I haven’t read them and won’t catch up. It’s been too crazy.


And that’s okay.


The purpose of a daily leadership is not to read every day. The purpose is to have something available for you on any given day that you:

1. Have the time to engage with it
2. Have the capacity to engage with it
3. Want something to focus your leadership for the day

All three of those conditions need to be present and if they aren’t, you won’t read the daily email. That’s okay!


I hope you read this email out of a sense of desire, not obligation. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t read it yesterday or if you missed the entire month of November. It’s fine. Just read when you have the time, the capacity, and the desire.


Here’s the aha: what else can you apply the same criteria to?


Time, capacity, and desire. Whether it is an email or a project, without all three, it won’t be successful.


Cheers!


Frederick

Colleagues,

Focusing on being present is like focusing on doing nothing. When we are being present with someone, we are creating space for them.


I’ve written before about wu-wei, the concept of “doing without doing.” By supporting and empowering others, strategic leaders accomplish great things with less effort. 


Being present with people helps them grow and to do better. Yes, being present takes effort, but it doesn’t take action.


Being still and calm can be as effective as being active and excited.


If you have worked on being present this week, please let me know. Just click here to reply and tell me one thing that was beautiful.


Cheers!


Frederick

Colleagues,

​
I hope you have been present for people this week. 


We have been asking the second question.


We have been quiet.


We have listened for a connection.


That is all, but that is enough


Cheers!


Frederick

Colleagues,

Ever find yourself reading one thing while thinking about something else?


Even worse is thinking about something else while you are listening to someone.


Of course, this brings us back to presence.


We have asked the second question (No, really, how are you?)


We have focused on being quiet.


Now we need to listen, which is the hardest part for me.


What are we listening for? 


A connection. I’m not sure how else to describe it, but as you move through your day asking and being quiet, listen for the connection. You will hear it.


Cheers!


Frederick

Colleagues,

It can be hard to be present with so much to do.
 
Yesterday we focused on asking the second question. Let’s add an A-B step to that.
 
Ask, “No, really, how are you?” 
 
Then, just be quiet.
 
That’s it.
 
We are keeping it simple this week, but please embrace this little challenge. Being present with others is the greatest gift you can give to them, and maybe to yourself as well.
 
Cheers!
 
Frederick