What are some of the leadership lessons we can learn from the formation and synchronized movements of a flock of birds, like geese or starlings, to organize effective teams?

1. A common purpose or aim
 
When birds fly in formation, they travel about 70% faster than when they fly alone. When people share a common aim or sense of community, they achieve results more quickly by trusting one another. People can only be fully committed when the common objective of the team (or corporation) is aligned with their own individual objectives, values and principles.
In many companies, the overall (sales) targets only deliver on the aims of the people at the top of the hierarchy. In order to inspire people and create loyalty, company goals and targets need to be aligned with a broader common purpose. Shared objectives and principles will lead to increased creativity, innovations and new solutions. We need common ground to create uncommon results! 

2. Commitment to others
 
Birds of a feather flock together. The highly coordinated movements of a flock of birds are among the most fascinating phenomena to be found in nature. A flock of birds seems to turn and maneuver as a single unit, changing direction almost instantaneously.

Commitment to each other forms the foundation for synergy that allows a team to work in unity. Commitment to others can only be achieved through honest communication, contribution and cooperation. The individual commitment to a team effort is what makes a team successful! A strong sense of commitment creates a feeling of belonging and security.

3. Shared leadership
 
Observation shows that geese rotate leadership regularly and frequently. Different birds will be at the front of the flock every time it changes direction. Successful teams share leadership according to the changing circumstances. Leadership shifts to where it is most appropriate based on the individual skills, knowledge and strengths of its members. The old business paradigm, based on hierarchy – a single leader - and individualism, undermines the productivity and effectiveness of many teams.

About Dieter Pauwels:

Dieter Pauwels is a professional certified life, business and career coach, speaker and author, facilitating personal and organizational transformation. He works with both individuals and teams to create new possibilities, manage change and maximize their productivity and personal effectiveness.

You can visit his website at www.dieterpauwels.com or read his comments and thoughts on the impact of coaching on life and business on his blog at http://lifecoaching.dieterpauwels.com

It’s that time of year when many of us formulate our resolutions for the coming year. Whether it is getting in shape, reducing debt, finding a better job, finding our soul mate, we all vow to become and do better in the future. 

But how come so many of us fail to keep our well-intended New Year’s resolutions?

Most goal setting seminars teach you that the first thing you have to do is become absolutely clear about what it is you want, create a plan and work the plan. While these are important steps moving forward, why is it that within 30 days, most resolutions will be no more than a vague memory?

We get discouraged when results don’t come quickly enough or we find that we are not necessarily happier because of them. The main reason however is because we do not fully understand ourselves and we haven’t learned how to manage ourselves more effectively.

Before setting any personal, business or career goals, it’s important to get a better understanding of yourself, because unless you take control of all the stuff inside of you that is running your life, nothing you do or say on January 1st will help you get or achieve what you really want.

When you look at your life - from the inside out - as something you are creating, rather than having external circumstances or others create it for you, you can take full responsibility for your own life's experiences.

In order to follow through and successfully achieve your New Years resolutions, your goals must be aligned or congruent with your core values and beliefs; the stuff that matters most in your life. Without these things, you would not be the person you are today.

Values are basically ideals and principles that are important to you. They are usually expressed in abstract terms such as respect, freedom, love, justice, health, integrity, success and so forth. Beliefs on the other hand are essentially assumptions, agreements or judgments you have made (mostly subconsciously) about yourself, others and the world you live in. Limiting beliefs will hold you back, while empowering or positive beliefs move you forward. Often your values and beliefs are so much a part of who you are that they become invisible to you and difficult to identify.

Values and beliefs provide the foundation upon which your level of personal commitment, motivation perseverance and courage is built. If you build your goals or New Years resolutions upon a weak foundation, or you have cracks in the foundation, such as conflicting values or limiting beliefs, it will be difficult to overcome challenges and personal setbacks in pursuit of your goals.

Ultimately, the successful achievement of your goals will be a tangible expression of your core values and beliefs. 

At a deeper level, what you value the most and believe gives you a sense of who you are – a sense of self worth. It is from this unique point of self reference that you see and perceive the world around you. Most people live their lives consistent with their self image and will do almost anything to operate within the boundaries they have created. 

Every positive act of change in your life is fostered by a change in self-perception. This means that what is standing between you and your goals and dreams, are not circumstances – like the state of the economy – but the assumptions you have made about yourself.

Know Thyself!

Whether you want to lose weight, get out of debt, improve your sales, get organized, enjoy life more, spend more quality time with your family, start a business, or build a new career, identifying and clarifying your core values and inner beliefs is an important and necessary step toward personal achievement, fulfillment and success.

For more information on how to easily identify and strengthen your core beliefs and values, set and follow through on your 2009 resolutions, contact me or schedule an introduction life coaching session today.

During uncertain economic times, many employees experience more anxiety about their future, more stress and declining attitudes. If you want to enhance their creativity, increase their productivity and personal engagement, follow these 4 business coaching tips to lead your employees through hard times.

1. Get them involved.

It is important to keep the lines of communication open and involve them in developing goals and action steps. Use their skills and knowledge for problem solving, strategy sessions and developing creative solutions. Honest and consistent communication with employees will result in a stronger feeling of connection and increased personal engagement. It will also create a stronger sense of belonging and significance, and minimize their feelings of powerlessness.

2. Focus on personal and career development.

The natural law of increase states that all people have the innate desire to grow and learn. Give your employees the opportunity to take advantage of career training and personal development opportunities.

3. Establish realistic expectations that motivate them.

Concise and consistent communication of expectations will promote an atmosphere of commitment to success. When expectations are realistic and clear, employees can take full ownership of their personal achievement and become responsible for their own success. Success will boost morale.

4. Reward and recognize.

In today’s work environment, praise and recognition are rare. In a recent poll, 65% of Americans reported receiving no recognition for their work. On the flip side, studies clearly indicate that when people receive recognition on a regular basis, they increase their productivity, they increase their personal engagement and they are more likely to stay with their organization. Recognition is most appreciated and effective when it is individualized, specific and well deserved.

The leadership challenges we’re facing today in our social, political and economic world are not so much about competency, as they are about integrity and character. This causes skepticism and distrust amongst many of us.

1. Know yourself authentically

Practice being what you wish others to become.

2. Listen authentically

In his book "The Inner Game of Tennis", Timothy Gallwey focuses on the game that's in the mind of each player. According to Gallwey, performance equals potential minus interference.

A tennis player faces two types of interferences. One is the outer opponent on the court, the other is the inner opponent in his or her mind. More often than not, the inner opponent is the tougher of the two. The inner game reflects the struggle each player has with his/her own mental limitations. Gallway identifies the inner opponent as that part of you that is judgmental, thinks too much, overanalyzes and tries too hard.

The first step in overcoming the limitations of your inner opponent is to become more aware, and focus on what you are actually doing, instead of what you should be doing. Second, and perhaps more importantly, is to let go and trust your natural ability to learn.

We all have been given the capacity to learn. In fact, most children learn to walk before they can be told how to do so by their parents. Children gain confidence from the natural learning process happening within them.

In our relationships, business and health, we all vow to do better. We all have an innate desire to grow and excel in the things we do. But as we grow older, the thinking (and trying) sometimes gets in the way of our innate ability to learn and grow!
 
Growing up, I remember watching a great tennis match on television with my two brothers. After watching the game we would go outside and replay the match. We modeled great tennis players,like Borg, Connors and McEnroe, from the way they hit the ball to the sights and sounds of their game. These were perhaps the best and most fun games we ever played.

A great way to tap into your natural ability is to model the people who have demonstrated excellence in your field. Look for the difference that made the difference! Find out how they do what they do so well. How do they think? What goals and values do they have? What are the beliefs they hold about themselves and others?

When you study and model excellence, while trusting your ability to learn and grow, you will get excellent results. In order to win in the game of life, you need to win the inner game first.

Successful organizations understand that the key to increased productivity and profitability lies in the ongoing professional and personal development of people.

These companies create an environment where people can grow, develop their unique talents and align their values with a corporate vision.

Your answers to the following 10 questions might illuminate some areas for improvement.

1. What is your level of commitment to the personal development of your staff?
   
2. Do you know what motivates and inspires your staff and/or employees?
   
3. What are your company’s vision and core values, and how do you communicate them within your organization?
   
4. Are you confident your top people will be with your organization 1 year from now? How do you know?
   
5. If you would be asked to rank your leadership skills on a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rank yourself? How confident are you with your answer?
   
6. How do you empower your staff or employees to help them co-create your company’s culture?
   
7. Does your organization inspire creativity and open dialogue?
   
8. Are you getting the results you want?
   
9. Do your managers and/or employees have the necessary tools, skills and commitment to help others develop their true potential?
   
10. What do you want more of within your organization? What’s missing?

More and more companies hire a coach to work with individuals or teams within their organization to facilitate changes within the context of the organizations’ culture to achieve extraordinary results.

Coaching is focused on individuals, not business systems. It allows you to move your organization to the next level by investing in your employees at the highest level: in them as people.

Coaching is about developing the most important aspect in business today: leadership from within. It is only when people can effectively manage themselves that they can effectively manage, inspire, encourage and lead others.

Companies hire a coach to work with individuals or teams within their organization to:

• Improve individual performance and self confidence
  
• Increase effectiveness and productivity
  
• Establish open dialogue and creativity
  
• Improve communication skills (interpersonal and negotiation)
  
• Retain employees
  
• Align personal values and beliefs with a corporate vision
  
• Create a leadership attitude
  
• Gain clarity to make objective and thoughtful decisions
  
• Assist in developing measurable goals and taking responsibility
  
• Improve time management
  
• Build leadership, management and team building skills
  
• Manage work related stress
  
• Increase energy and overall well-being

Is there a business case for cultivating and nourishing passion in your organization? Could passion really be a competitive advantage? Can passion make a difference in terms of accomplishing your business goals and objectives?

You'd better believe it!

Passion is such an important ingredient in any recipe for success, but it is often overlooked when it comes to business success. Perhaps because passion is one of those words that sound a little out of place in the work environment.

I'm convinced that passion is often the difference that makes the difference. It is often the difference between a good company and a great company.

Consider the following benefits.

Passion intensifies focus.

In a complex world where we're moving ahead at ".com"speed and in which we get bombarded with information, it's easy to get distracted. Passion gives people the courage to say "no" to distractions by staying focused on the bigger "yes." Passion is the magnetic force that pulls people together for a common vision or cause.

Passion unleashes creativity.

Innovation and creativity are key factors in adding value to the customers you serve. Approaching your business with a new perspective requires you to be fully awake, fully alive and fully present. Passion is what activates your mind, expands your awareness and challenges you to think outside the conventional box.

Passionate people raise the standards of performance.

Passionate people keep themselves and others accountable and tolerate nothing less than a 100% commitment. This commitment to a higher standard becomes contagious and spreads throughout the system, and eventually becomes part of a company culture. People with passion create an electric, exciting work environment that inspires and energizes others. They consciously contribute to building the kind of culture that attracts world-class people. A culture people want to belong to.

Passion conquers fear.

When your passion is greater than your fear, you develop the courage to step outside your comfort zone, risk more, fail faster and learn like crazy.  

Perhaps the most exciting benefit that comes from cultivating passion in your organization is the contagious enthisiasm it generates. Something so alive in them awakens something that needs to be alive in us.

Passionate people inspire hope and that's one of the reasons they're so much fun to be around.

How passionate are you?? ...