Currently on the blog:
...So my suggestion to you if you are the work hard, play hard type: slow down from time to time.
Find a time when you should be working, and blow it off. Do something you just love to do, but don’t do often enough. Live in the moment for a bit...
Click here to continue reading
|
|
|
Appreciate Your Way to Leadership
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 25th anniversary of the best summer camp in the world, Camp Nashoba North. I was a camper, Junior Counselor, and Counselor at Camp Nashoba for many years.
Nashoba North utilizes one of the most brilliant morale boosters I have ever seen. In their central office they have small slips of paper that say, "I appreciate __________ because _________________________." Staff members can fill in the first blank with the person's name, and the second with what they have done that was appreciated. Sometimes people take a moment to appreciate the small things like a witty joke from a few hours earlier. Other times people appreciate bigger things like an admirable personality trait.
Most staff members that have worked at Nashoba, myself included, save every single one of these “I appreciate” slips that they receive.
This month's leadership tips are designed to help you, and your staff, stay motivated and inspired by taking time to acknowledge and appreciate all the things that are going well.
|
For your team, staff, or office:
Copy camp Nashoba’s philosophy of looking for the good in others. This program doesn't just work for summer camp counselors- it works for student governments, small businesses, Fortune 500's, NGOs of all sizes, individual offices within large organizations, and even families.
Begin by creating a stack of 200 blank "I appreciate" forms and leave small piles of them scattered around the office. Kick-start the program quietly by writing one for each of the people you work with and leaving it on their desk while they aren't around. Take a moment to think of something unique that you appreciate about this person and let them know it.
If the program doesn't launch automatically after you've distributed the first round of notes then take a moment to explain how it works at your next staff meeting and explain that they are encouraged to periodically fill out a few notes for their colleagues.
Taking the time to write these small notes will do incredible things. It will help you focus on the positive attributes of your coworkers, it will reinforce their favorable actions, and it will boost overall team morale and cohesiveness.
|
For you:
I had a strange experience two weeks ago. Everything in my life was great, and yet, I felt stressed out. I couldn't figure out why. As I mentioned here on my blog, I realized that I was stressed because I was moving too fast. I wasn't taking the time to appreciate how well everything was going in my life - it was just flying by without me pausing to notice it.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to pause, and take a moment to appreciate everything that is going well in your life. Even in your worst moments, there are things to appreciate. Shifting your attention to the good things will help you see the brighter spots in your life.
Next time you need any sort of motivation or mood booster get rid of all the distractions, and make a list of all the things that you appreciate. Take a second or two to really focus on each item on your list.
|
For leaders:
Good leaders must have a knack for keeping people motivated. One of the best ways to do this is by shifting as much of the focus as you can onto the positive aspects of any situation. This is done through appreciation.
As you actively appreciate the things going well in your personal life, and the things going well with your team, you will develop more confidence and more positivity. This will translate into an infectious attitude and charisma that enhances your ability to be lead.
|
2011/2012 Campus Programs
Are you a campus leader or higher education administrator? Do you want to empower your students to shape their campus, local, and global communities? If so, I may be able to help.
The Changing the World 101 seminar gives students all the tools they need to get involved globally. New for the 2011/2012 school year is a comprehensive follow-up system to make sure that students have a complete road map for international action at their fingertips after the live campus event.
Escape the Matrix and Lead gives students a clear path to leadership. First, they learn how to confidently see further and dream bigger. Next they master the super-powers of a modern leader that they will use to translate their dreams into reality and effectively build better communities.
Both CTW101 and Escape the Matrix are designed to be entertaining catalysts for change. To explore a program for your campus shoot me an email at: Jason@changingtheworld101.com with a good time to chat or call me directly at: 617-925-0107.
|
|
|
