Category: Writing

Categories
Accountability blog Change Inspiration Leadership Leadership Principles MBWA Motivation Walking Leader Work Ethic Writing

Happy New Year: Focus On What You Can Change by David Guerra

image of fireworks explosion in a new years celebration

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CHANGE – So you won’t waste your time with something you can’t.

2020 has arrived. All the excitement, angst, anticipation, planning, goal setting and what not the time has come and there is no going back. No matter how much we want, there is no going back. However, far too many of us bring along (into the new year) things that keep dragging us back to the past. Thus, we never can move forward. However, by recognizing what you can and cannot change in your life can you begin to eliminate that which will cause you to spin your wheels and begin to grow those things in your life that you can change.

 

MOVING FORWARD

As I mentioned at the top of this post, the year 2020 has arrived. Time has us moving forward and for all of us moving forward is critical to our future success. Yet, we cannot go forward with things we cannot change be securely and firmly attached to our backs. No one can go successfully into the future where the things you cannot change continue to hinder us.

It is critical to moving forward that we move forward into 2020 and beyond, unencumbered (or lightly encumbered). The driving force that leads people towards success is knowing that any unnecessary item, belief, mindset that is not able to be changed will slow down the attempt at success. That is why reducing the load will allow you to move faster toward achieving your success.

 

RECOGNIZING WHAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE

When it comes to lightening the load the first thing to address is knowing what to cut loose. Lightening the load is done by successfully identifying what cannot be changed. The ability to successfully identify what cannot be changed is by far one of the easiest things you can do. Find that that is providing you resistance, friction, what you feel is holding you back. What makes that easy, is that you know what is holding you back, who is providing the friction, and what is offering the resistance.

Sadly, most people stop short of doing something about the resistance, the friction, and what is holding you back. Once identified, there is something you can do. It might be something that will cause you consternation but it is truly the only thing that can be done: STOP DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE AND THINGS YOU CANNOT CHANGE.

 

RECOGNIZING WHAT YOU CAN CHANGE

Recognizing what you can change is even easier to do. Start at the center. Start with yourself. That’s right, it is that simple. You are your most valuable asset.

Think about this: If you cannot take charge of yourself, then what good will you be to those you lead.

This means if you cannot work on change for yourself then how can you expect to inspire and motivate others? Thus, first and foremost you will work on determine what you have to work on, then make a list of your findings. Once your list is set, prioritize those items. Get To Work!!!

Remember, going forward you must actively focus on those things you can actively change. Focus that which you can control and never forget the mindset and beliefs of others are some of the things you are not going to change. So do not try. Just focus on yourself then working to change other aspects of your life will fall into place.

– = – = – = –
David G. Guerra, MBA
email: [email protected]
twitter: @daveguerra
instagram: dave_guerra
facebook: thedavidguerra

Categories
Accountability blog Change communication Entrepreneurship Inspiration Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor Motivation Reading Training Walking Leader Writing

Question of the Week: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL LEADERS?


The Walking Leader (dot) com’s Weekly Leadership Poll Question for this week (09/29 – 10/05) is: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL LEADERS? (click here to answer)

Communication is the only priority. When it comes to leaders becoming leaders, staying leaders, and making new leaders communication is king. By this I mean there is no other form that will convey the message and sustain the message greater than communication.

Communication in all its forms is what drives leadership.

Whether it be written or spoken, the message of the leader to her followers and the message of the followers to the leader must be clear, concise, well read, understood and can be acted upon with impunity then the conveyance of the message is success. Why with impunity?

Impunity is defined as the “exception from punishment or freedom from the injures consequences of inaction“. Thus when the message is clear, concise and understood, there should be no worries about what actions need to be taken, as there is no misunderstanding. Unfortunately, not all forms of communications are this way. Most messages are riddled with ambiguity and most of all uncertainty. It’s a miracle any work gets done at all.

So, as the leader must lead by example it falls upon the leader to deliver any message (in any format) in a manner that the message is understood and can be acted upon. It is when a leader fails to deliver that caliber of message that the followers cannot act on the message. When open ended questions are asked the answers will vary almost to the level of missing the point of the question altogether and that is when the ambiguity and the uncertainty creeps in.

It falls on the leaders, all leaders at all levels of the organization, to ensure that they work on improving their communication skills. Whether it is practicing your speeches, practicing and honing their writing skills, or creating better graphics they have the responsibility to ensure the message is understood.

Of course, there are applications and software packages that will change text or create better looking designs but where is the leader learning to improve? If the leader turns over those functions of communication to a software package and washes his hands of personally improving the content then how is that leader getting better? The leader is not getting better.

The leader got into a position of leadership begin by doing the dirty work and the leader must continue to do that to dirty work even if it means cracking open a thesaurus, every once in awhile. Therefore, the leader must do everything he or she can to improve themselves personally and professionally. If they have to give the speech how are they going to get better there are no applications for that? What there is, is standing up in front of a mirror and practicing and speech over and over again.

Because the message is so important, communication IS a Top Priority. As I mentioned, Communication is what put the leaders in that position they are now. Communicating is what will keep them there. Communicating is how they will make new future leaders. And again as always, that is nonnegotiable!

– = – = – = –
David G. Guerra, MBA
email: [email protected]
twitter: @daveguerra
instagram: dave_guerra
facebook: thedavidguerra

Categories
blog Change Decisionmaking Inspiration Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor Motivation Walking Leader Writing

An Observation on Change by David Guerra for January 2, 2019

As I have been talking about, referring to, advocating, screaming at, looking over the horizon yet only to fall on deaf ears.

CHANGE is here. CHANGE is happening. CHANGE is not going away. CHANGE is a permanent party to life. A constant companion one would say. Change is a lot like the tide. It is constantly rises and falls. The tide is the epitome of change, as it is ALWAYS transitioning from one form to another. As obvious as it is, it must be written in hopes that it will sink in: Change is Fluid.
drifting with the tide

Far too many, while hating change, will give in and ride it out. Their idea of change is drifting with the tide. Yet, when they swim out too far then the fear sets in. Fear sets in because people are taken by surprise when they suddenly realize they have gone too far out to sea. The undertow has taken them to the point of losing sight of the shore.

They start to scramble and look for someone to blame. Someone to blame? Yes, people reach out scrambling for a lifeline when there is none to be had. Fumbling in the water like a fish caught on dry land is sad and comical. Yet, those that are looking for safety of the shore also look for others to step on, push down, or grab hold only to suffocate and drown because both are now too far out to make it back.

Then there are those rare few that will drift with the tide long enough to no go out too far, yet enjoy the struggle of getting back. Unfortunately, they are also the ones that will tax others as they make their way ashore.

Folks, the only way to avoid getting caught so far offshore is to avoid drifting with the tide. However, if your idea of change is to drift with the tide, then learn to love the undertow. Because once you are too far out, you have to work your own way back in to shore. Yes, you have to put in the work before, during, and after change.

– = – = – = –
David G. Guerra, MBA
email: [email protected]
twitter: @daveguerra
instagram: dave_guerra
facebook: thedavidguerra