Leadership Tips

Garbage in/Garbage out is an older phrase introduced in the early days of computers. It meant that if the data that was entered into a computer program was incorrect, then the final reports would be equally incorrect. “Fake News” falls into this category as well. In earlier days this was labeled propaganda and was intentionally used to manipulate whole populations. Sadly, that is still the case in far too many instances.

: People with a
teachable spirit are able to learn from their mistakes and grow to become better. People without a teachable spirit are always defending themselves, and blaming circumstances or others for their failures. If you do not have a teachable spirit, you will constantly wonder why you are being picked on, persecuted… or avoided. In fact, if you regularly feel picked on or persecuted, it could be a sign that you do NOT have a teachable spirit.

In 2011 Ed Fuller wrote a popular book titled: You Can’t Lead with Your Feet on the Desk.” As you can imagine, the central message of the book was the importance of actively engaging your employees where they are, not just from your office. You may not be a manager, yet, however, you should be aware that you could not truly lead or manage people, or lead an organization without being involved, after all, “all of life can be reduced to relationships.”

In the last episode I discussed the first of four ways you can become more self-aware. If you didn’t listen to that episode, or the one before that on self-awareness, I encourage you to go back and give it a listen.

In this episode I look at 3 more ways to become more self-aware.

In the last episode I walked you through using a SWOT analysis to begin exploring the concept of Self-Awareness. If you didn’t listen to that episode I encourage you to go back and give it a listen.
So if the first question is “what does it mean to be self-aware?” The second question is, “how do I become self-aware?”
Becoming self-aware is an intentional process that doesn't happen automatically. Here's a key piece. If you're going to become emotionally intelligent, and that starts with self-awareness, you're going to have to apply yourself.

I’ve mentioned the importance of self-awareness in previous episodes and would like to dive into that subject more deeply. What does it mean to be self aware? That's a really good question. If you are asking that question, you have already put yourself into a category of people that is beyond what most people actually consider. Being aware of oneself means having an understanding of what's going on inside of you at a level that you can recognize and control. When people used to say, “I need to find myself,” what they're actually trying to do is become self-aware, and most of the time going about it in completely the wrong ways.

Stress will ALWAYS find a way to express itself. Stress might show up in weight gain, weight loss, nail biting, teeth grinding, illness, headache, stomach issues, grouchy attitude, depression, yelling, crying, violence, etc. This is true no matter the type of stress you are experiencing: good or bad, short-term or long-term, or the source of stress

Really, everybody needs multiple mentors across their entire life. So make it your goal to get as many mentors as possible, in various areas of your life: professional, faith, parenting, recreational, etc. I have had a few that deeply influenced my life. All of my mentors taught me important lessons about what to do and how to live.

Newton’s law of inertia was directed at physical objects, however, there is a lesson here that applies to processes and people as well. I think the law of inertia also applies to people, perhaps even more so. Henry Ford is quoted as saying, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.”

it is largely subconscious, you probably don’t even realize you are doing it, but be assured it is an inescapable part of our human nature. In fact it is this very human act which leads to racism and bigotry of all kinds.