| Hello Leader,
Your
biggest choice ever defines you as a leader. Today we explore this
leadership moment. Because leadership is being at the crossroads of
choices we focus in this KEY on this biggest choice. The default option
chosen by most is easy but dangerous. If ever there was an important
resolution to make, this is it. Discover this key and teach it today to
someone you care for. When you teach the KEY to someone else, it becomes
your own.
Listen to our podcast: Your Biggest Choice Ever - the Leadership Crossroads. We are always glad to hear your comments. Please forward this KEY to friends, family and associates. Sincerely,
Aviv Shahar
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Your Biggest Choice Ever
| "What
are the three main religions in the world?" I asked a group of
executives as we gathered for the second day of their leadership summit.
A ripple went through the room because of the unwritten rule
that you are not supposed to bring up religion in a corporate meeting.
The executives came from four continents and diverse cultural and
religious backgrounds. After a moment of silence someone volunteered an
answer: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. "Yes," I said, "but I am
asking about the other three major religions." It was not a trick
question but a reframing challenge.
Sensing their confusion, I
said: "Christianity, Islam and Buddhism may be the three largest
organized religions, but what are the three major religions people
pledge themselves to? Reframe for a moment the meaning you attach to the
word religion." I said. "Think of it not as an institution but as a
mindset people pledge themselves to practice. What are the three
mindsets that govern people's way of going on at work and in life - the
three mindsets that direct people's response and engagement?"
The Three Mindsets
Here
are the three mindsets that we named as religions because people pledge
allegiance to them and because they guide people's beliefs and
behavior:
The first religion is the mindset of "What's wrong."
This mindset is the most prevalent; it is the easiest of all and it
gets the most air time. Ninety five percent of what is presented every
day as news is made of fault, blame and what's wrong. Unless you make a different choice, finding "What's wrong" is the default mindset.
The second religion is the mindset of "What works."
A minority of perhaps only 5 percent of the population practice this
religion. But, thank God, it often prevails. The world progresses by
"What works." Choosing to follow the path of "What works" and making it
your template of response brings multiple blessings and energy. You
empower yourself to participate in shaping and creating what happens.
The third religion and mindset builds upon the second and is the rarest of the three. This is the mindset of "What matters."
All of us have the instinct of this mindset but few act upon it to make
"What matters" our central self-directed choice. For many people the
impulse of "What matters most" is often covered by the "Myth of
Tomorrow." This is the myth that says: "Tomorrow / next year / in five
years, when I finish doing the things I have to do, I will be able to
focus on 'What matters'."
The Blind Spot
Beware of the Myth of Tomorrow, for it can lead you to Disappointment Valley, where you get free admission to Hotel Regret.
The Myth of Tomorrow breeds a double blind spot. First, all you really
have is today, now, this moment. Tomorrow may or may not arrive; today
is here, this moment will not come again. The opportunity and power of
now, this moment, is overlooked for what might happen tomorrow or next
year, which may or may not be there for you. Many live their lives
looking forward to their vacation or the weekend or their next success,
while not taking stock of the moments, hours and days that constitute
their engagement with life. This moment, this now, is brief but what we
do with it builds what happens next: the summation and aggregated value
of our many "nows" fashion our tomorrows.
The second blind spot
is not seeing that what you do today, and the way you do it, creates a
pattern and a habit which condition your engagement tomorrow. When you
say "I will begin to do this in 7 years," the question is, will your
conditioning and the habits you created allow you?
Making "What Matters" Work
Making
a pilgrimage to the hills of "What matters" is a series of choices
taken time and time again. Plus, when "What matters" is not
supported by "What works", it is a wish or a hope, not a practiced way
of engagement. Something has "to work" and "to be" before it can really
matter.
These are the three major mindsets - the "religions"
people choose to practice: "What's wrong," "What works" and "What
matters." Every day you find yourself at this leadership crossroads and
the choice you make in between these defines you as a leader and your
template of response and engagement.
Having explained that, the
executives present in this leadership summit all went quiet. For a
moment no one spoke. Many in the group appeared to be lost in deep
reflection. It seemed we were touching something beyond the differences
of our upbringing, a vein we all share.
The Two Conversions
When you deepen in the mindset, of "What matters," most traditions and religions agree. They each speak of the "Golden Rule," such as:
- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
- Love your neighbor as yourself
- As you see yourself, see others as well
- Wish not for others what you wish not for yourself
And there are other eternal messages, such as: As you sow, so shall you reap; Ask and you shall be given, and more directions and messages about "What matters."
In the mindset of "What works," each of the traditions, religions, spiritual paths have their unique ways, practices and disciplines.
In the mindset of "What's wrong," organized religions often disagree and fight with each other.
The
silence in the room was broken. "I have been far too long in the
'What's wrong religion," said one executive. "I need to convert to the
religion of 'What works'."
Moving from "What's wrong" to
"What works" is simple but involves a pivotal and challenging decision.
The conversion to "What works" is a shift from victimhood to personal
responsibility. Choosing to take personal responsibility is the most
pivotal decision you and I can make. Indeed, your biggest choice ever is to let go of focusing on "What's wrong" in favor of taking the mindset of "What works."
The second conversion from "What works" to "What matters" is in moving from success to significance.
Reflect and Act
As
you approach an end of a year and the beginning of a new year take time
to reflect on your leadership crossroads. Here are six ways to apply
the second and third mindsets and leave the first for those who cannot
or will not bother to make a higher choice.- When you find
yourself obsessing on what's wrong, pick yourself up and find something
that works for you and that you can focus on to make a difference.
Develop an internal warning system that alerts you and gets you to shift
from problems to solutions.
- Before pointing out what's wrong,
point to two things that work. Even when you look at something that
failed, identify two or more things in it that worked.
- Develop a weekly ritual of focusing on two or three things that matter.
- Engage a coach to help you stay focused on what works and on what matters most for you.
- Look
at your team and organization and ask: What works here? What
matters most to us? What works for our employees, clients, and
partners? And what do we believe matters most for them?
- Develop an annual pilgrimage to the "What matters" resort where you swim in Lake Significance and enjoy the sunshine of meaning, purpose and true wealth.
Now
it's your turn. Turn the key. Coach your people to focus on "What
works" and on "What matters." Take the leadership crossroads. Become a
leader of "What works" and "What matters." Create dynamic new futures
for you and your people.
© Aviv Shahar
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The KEY is Published by Aviv Consulting LLC,© Aviv Shahar Aviv
Consulting is the preferred provider for both private and public
companies passionate about creating value and leading transformational
breakthroughs. We work with outstanding leaders to create dramatic new futures for people and organizations!" Are you ready to create new breakthroughs and transform your business? We
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develop and achieve the personal and organizational goals necessary to
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vision is realized when the teams we work with are able to: create a
radical level of trust, unify around an expansive vision, generate new
opportunities, and unlock their creative and innovative powers to
actualize their goals. Clients
that compliment us most are executives deeply committed to transform
their business, and develop their people, particularly their brightest
and most agile managers. Is there someone like this who you can help us
help?
If so, please call or email us . Aviv ConsultingPO Box 1125Woodinville, WA 98072 USA
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