Let's Get Real: It's Time To Be Authentic!

"I know of nothing more valuable, when it comes to the all-important virtue of authenticity, 
than simply being who you are."
- Charles R. Swindoll

Authenticity: A Critical Value for the New Leadership Paradigm

Authenticity is the path to trust. And today people, particularly Millennials, make choices about employment, what organizations to support, and where to buy things, based on whether they trust the organization or company.

Being authentic means there is no space between what you say, and what you do.  People may not agree with what you state, but they know where you are coming from, and your words reflect what you believe.  Authentic people don’t say things just to make a customer or client happy. Instead, they are candid, honest and real. 

It's not about spin, hype or packaging a message to be liked or to make the sale. It’s about delivering on your promises and sharing who you are without a wearing a mask.

"Authenticity is alignment of head, mouth, heart --thinking, saying, feeling and doing the same thing – consistently.  This builds trust… and followers love leaders they can trust."
 - Lance Secretan

The "Power Tool" of Branding

OK, the jury is in. Community outreach has now been deemed one of the most powerful ways to brand and promote your program and your services. Developing relationships with organizations in your community will not only help create customer affinity but gets people to start promoting your business for you!

But the secret is not that you do outreach, but HOW you do it.

I’ve learned many lessons over the years in my marketing career, but one of the fundamental truths I’ve experienced is that you need to do outreach with the community on their terms.

Whoa, this is different you say. Why not just invite community leaders to your place, send out a nicely designed invite, and do a show-and-tell. Give them a tour, invite your executives to present and…Voila…Community outreach accomplished.

NOT! This is outreach strictly on your company’s terms. Here is a better approach:

Step 1: Create your list of organizations or communities you want to target

Step 2: Set up a personal one-on-one meeting with a leader in these organizations or communities

Step 3: Listen and ASK THEM, “what is the preferred way to connect with their members and customers, as they  serve as the entry point to reach these individuals and families.

Step 4: Be prepared for a very different approach. This may include:

• Being a part of one of their forums, by utilizing their local meeting venues and forums. Don’t expect people to come to you.
• Using community leaders as facilitators–or let them make the introductions. Their endorsement is critical.
• Ensuring presentations are made by staff who are members of the community or with ties to it. Not necessarily your leadership team.
• Practicing cultural competency. Understand the values of the community and honor them. For example, with Latino communities, don’t be Anglo time driven, rather serve food first, allow people to socialize and when there is a lull, begin the meeting.
• Being showcased not in a forum, but via a word-of-mouth referral by leaders.
• Creating mini-articles for their community publications, and then being open to placing an ad, usually at a nominal amount.
• Following up with leaders one-on-one throughout the year. Don’t forget them after you do your initial outreach engagement. Otherwise you won’t be considered sincere.
• Supporting their local causes and fundraising events. Your presence and participation shows you are committed–not just throwing money at them.
• Including your own family in community activities. This humanizes the company and puts a face on it.

Outreach is all about branding and extending your own community to others, who may look and act differently with contrasting values and styles. These  organizations and individuals can be powerful advocates and evangelists  and create word of mouth goodwill….if you show respect and meet them where they are, on their terms.

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Stay the Course and Persevere

As long as you think you're green, you'll grow.
 As soon as you think you're ripe, you'll rot. 
- Scott Horton

If you are anything like me, I often worry about whether I am doing enough. Was I sensitive, respectful? Did I listen and check my biases, my privilege? Did I demonstrate kindness and humility?  And often when I feel I am lacking, I promise myself I’ll do better, but I berate myself anyway -- feeling like Sisyphus pushing my ignorance up the mountain. Seeking knowledge and insight, only to fall back.

I will make mistakes, say the wrong things, perhaps alienating colleagues, friends and family…but I commit to listen and to LEARN. It’s important to persevere, committed to the journey and not the destination.  In fact, if I think I am there, at the end of the trail, I am probably operating from Ego.

So, during this busy holiday season, I’m going to try to be a little kinder to self, without seeking perfection…admitting my mistakes, as showing vulnerability is honesty, acknowledging imperfections and flaws is humility.  I think I’m still very green, but I’m growing.

How to Be Empathetic: Walk a Mile in My Shoes

 

"Try seeing life through my eyes...try walking a mile in my shoes... Unless you’ve done that, you have NO idea." 
 - Anonymous

Listening to Others with Empathy
I often find myself, all wound up in my own thoughts – MY feelings,  MY opinions, MY beliefs.  Although I try to be giving, to share, to love others with respect, as a talker, I hear myself speaking loudly, trying to influence others, pushing my perspective.  And sometimes it works.  And I pat myself on the back. But the question is -  did I really connect?

I’m beginning to realize that it is through fewer words, listening with an open heart that we truly hear the other person and connect…on an emotional level.  This is where understanding can begin…as we feel and experience what it is like to walk in another’s shoes. This is where empathy begins.  Time to zip the lips and open our eyes and ears. 

"To see the world with new eyes - open eyes - loving eyes.
To choose compassion and understanding …
for our community, for the whole world."
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
 

"Chill Baby, Chill" (How to Deal with Leadership Anxiety)

Boy, I am guilty here.. In fact, this blog is written for me and all those other individuals who practice the art of being a conscientious leader, and then stress out.

Not good for any one!

Anxiety.  That feeling that drives those around us crazy, and keeps us from generating the calm needed as a leader.   Now some stress is good. It can keep us on our toes, alert, vigilant and attentive to circumstances around us.  Helps ensure we function in an optimum way.  But too much stress or anxiety about the future, the past, mistakes made or concerns that maybe coming our way, is just counterproductive.

And anxiety makes us sick.  It can produce extra cortisol in the body which impacts the immune system and our health. 

So what makes us turn into worry warts?

Truth be told, some of us are just wired toward more anxiety.  And if you are one of them (like me and my mother ) we need to be aware of this predisposition and work even harder to counter it.

Too much anxiety may also be generated by:

ü  High work ethic, that becomes compulsive in terms of doing everything for everybody, at all times

ü  Perfectionist mentality – everything needs to be done exactly right – with the belief that A+ work is the only option for ALL work, when sometimes A- is just fine for the situation

ü  Desire to keep everyone happy – women especially prone to this- so we feel pressure to try to fix everything

ü  Desire to be well liked by everyone – with anxiety generated when something we do may tarnish that image

ü  Lack of trust with others --- that they can’t do their job or function without you

ü  Operating from a mindset of “the worst that can happen” vs the best that can happen. What if we assumed the best rather than worried about the worst?

ü  Lack of confidence and belief in self – doubting our own capabilities

And of course Anxiety can be aggravated by poor nutrition, lack of sleep, and inactivity!

So what is the antidote to anxiety?

1.       If anxiety is severe and debilitating, it is important to seek a professional to help you learn coping skills.

2.       Slow down – in walk and talk.  Taking the time to be in the moment, experiencing the here and now, instead of listening to chatter in your head.

3.       Breathe deeply and count your breaths for 2 minutes, to calm down when you feel anxiety increasing.

4.       Download a meditative App, like Headspace https://www.headspace.com/ (It’s what I use… but there are many options available),  and start a daily practice of stilling the mind, to counter anxietyproducing thought.  Recent studies show meditation and mindfulness can have a positive impact on stress, anxiety, focus, creativity and even relationships.

5.       Journal in the morning or night, and get your worries out on paper.

6.       Laugh – watch a comedy.

7.       Take time to walk in nature – and observe the little things as you walk and listen to the sounds of nature.   Walking doesn’t always have to be destination oriented.

8.       Do something for someone else… focusing on another, can stop anxious thoughts.

 Your team, your staff, those you interact with, need a conscientious leader who is both confident and calm. 

Believe in yourself and chill baby, chill!

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE,  go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Banking the Good Times for a Downpour

One of my sons is steeped in the interview process for his second job out of college. He loves the industry he works in but feels his opportunity to learn and grow with his current employer plateaued.  

Earlier this week, he called to talk about his second interview and how it went with the recruiter.

"Killed it!" he said. The fumes of euphoria still coursed through his veins.

Needless to say, I was elated for him. After congratulating my son, I hung up and headed back to my keyboard.

Then, as a nice summer breeze pushed in through my office window, I got to thinking. Is there a lesson here that the father figure could offer his son?

About 60 minutes later, I sent him this email:

Great job on smokin' that interview...

Keep that feeling of how you did in that interview in your life memory bank...remember how impressed you left the recruiter, how your confidence flowed and how you really handled a high pressure situation...

Later on in your career (happens to everyone), you'll feel dejected and not worth a piece of poop...it's at that time where you go back into your memory bank and pull today's interview out to remind yourself that even in your worst moods and worst times, you know you're not only okay but you're damn talented!

Anyone who has spent time in the marketing communications world knows that feeling of sky-high enthusiasm and rock-bottom depression. It comes with the industry, not to mention the business world.  And like life, there will be good days, and there will be not-so-good days.

Many of you already have learned this lesson.

 But for those who haven't, I suggest you think about it the next time you write a highly engaging post, create an award-winning website or earn a coveted grant for your mission-driven organization.

Take that euphoric feeling. File it away in your memory bank. And break it open the next time you feel those dark clouds starting to gather.

The way I see it, banking the good times is not just an umbrella.

It's a confidence booster.

And who couldn't use a little bit more of that in their life?

~HCollaborative.com~