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Quotations

"Look within! ...The secret is inside you."

"There is nothing so wasteful as doing with great efficiency that which doesn't have to be done at all."

"Admittedly, a good inner life is difficult to achieve, especially in these trying times. It takes reflection and contemplation and self-discipline."

"Only when the clamor of the outside world is silenced will you be able to hear the deeper vibration."

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."

Slow Down to Increase Your Effectiveness

By Kevin Cuthbert

Yesterday I played in a charity golf tournament. I was teamed with 3 people, all accomplished executives. As we reached the first tee I noticed that one of them had a bluetooth device in her ear. She told me that she was listening in on a conference call where lawyers where discussing the stockholder agreement associated with the sale of her company to a private equity firm. As you might guess, her golf game was not very good. Following a couple of other light-hearted questions like "why on such a beautiful day, in such a beautiful setting, would you want to do that?" she decided to disconnect. Of course her play improved significantly. Maybe more importantly, at the end of the round she seemed like a different person, smiling and truly enjoying herself. As we were parting she told me that she had realized how often she repeats this pattern in her professional and personal life. And the even bigger realization that in order to be more effective she needs to do slow down and focus. Here is some other advice, especially for people in roles that require strategy and innovation:

• Give an honest answer to yourself about what activities you really need to engage in
• Delegate tasks to those that you are already paying for their expertise!
• Create time for yourself to think, and religiously protect that time
• Avoid multi-tasking as much as possible.

Sustainable Leadership is an Inside Job

By Ken Kesslin

Everywhere I look people are talking about sustainability - reversing the systemic environmental decline caused by our ever-increasing over-consumption of global resources and the accompanying waste we produce. I think of this as "external" sustainability and we definitely need to pay attention to it. But leaders should not lose sight of the equally important need to develop the personal, "internal" sustainability they require to remain at their best over the long term.

Virtually every leader I work with these days is overworked, close to (or even past) burnout, and recognizes that their current work situation is unsustainable. I think they share a common fantasy that goes something like this. "If I can just get through the next few weeks (months/years/whatever), then things will calm down and I can get back to a more balanced, sustainable life."

Now these are very smart people, but they're living in a dream world if they think things "out there" are ever going to slow down and "give" them a break. The reality I see is just the opposite; ever-increasing demands combined with ever-decreasing resources. Nothing is going to slow down or letup anytime soon, if ever. Therefore, any leader who hopes to contribute to - and enjoy - real sustainability on our planet, needs to pay as much attention to the "inside job" of creating sustainability within their own life, as they do to external sustainability for the larger environment.

I keep thinking about that safety announcement on airplanes that tells you to put on your oxygen mask first, before helping others. Well, the same common sense applies to your leadership and your life. If you're not caring for yourself and developing personal sustainability - emotional, physical, mental, relational and even spiritual sustainability - how can you ever hope to survive long enough to lead the larger challenge to save the planet?

So as a smart, forward-thinking leader, what do you do? How do you thrive over the long-term? What does individual sustainability even look like? Well, here are some questions that sustainable leaders should consider:

• Am I clear on my vision? What do I want to create - for myself, for my family, for the world -- and why? And, is that sustainable for the long-term?
• Do I take time for self-reflection, strategic thinking, and focusing on the big picture on a regular basis? Or do I remain trapped in the daily demands and distractions of my 24/7 work environment? Focusing exclusively on urgent, short-term demands is a recipe for long-term disaster - both personally and globally.
• Am I receiving feedback that is honest, diverse and frequent? We all have blind spots and need help noticing what we don't see.
• Do I know how to recover and restore my physical, emotional, and mental health? If yes, do I do it on a regular basis?
• Am I part of a caring and supportive community of people - either at work or home, ideally both?
• Do I practice self-awareness? Am I able to notice the wisdom and guidance that is communicated to me through my physical body and my emotions?
• Am I living a healthy, sustainable life as a model for others - or am I just talking about it?

You get the idea, right? Sustainability begins as an "inside" job. If you're a leader who hasn't created internal sustainability, then this whole corporate and environmental sustainability push just becomes another time-consuming "to do" on your already overloaded plate. Let's make sure we're doing the inside job - that we put on our oxygen mask - before we go try to save the world.

Slow Down to Speed Up

By Robert Demaree

I had read the above phrase while working as an organization development consultant for a large manufacturing company. I read the phrase on a sign that was posted in a manufacturing area. It didn’t make sense to me. How could you possibly speed up anything by going slower? I asked a shop floor operator what the sign meant. She said it was originally used in Japanese manufacturing plants. It helped them to build more, more quickly with higher quality. She said it had worked for us too! I understood this, but how did it work I asked her?

She said it was very simple. By slowing down the manufacturing line we are able to produce our products with a higher degree of quality and rate. This is done by making them correctly the first time and has us significantly reduce the amount of wasted time and material making them. It has also reduced the amount of inspection time needed.  Operators experienced less fatigue and were more engaged in the work they were doing.

We can apply this same philosophy to the way we live and work. Extensive research has shown that people who regularly spend time slowing down experience dramatically lower levels of stress, increased energy, alertness, a feeling of improved well-being and equanimity.

In my experience the best way to slow down is to meditate regularly. Simply put, meditation is the practice of being still, doing nothing. It requires very little in the way of time and equipment. All you need is a quiet space where you can sit for ten minutes. You can sit on a cushion, but a chair will work fine. I recommend you meditate for at least five times a week for ten minutes to get the best results.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Assume a sitting position with your back straight with your legs crossed if you are sitting on a cushion or with your feet resting on the floor. Place your hands on your thighs or knees.
   
   
   • Keeping a straight back is important. It helps you remain alert and prevents muscle soreness that poor posture causes.
   • If you feel yourself slumping, straighten your back and rebalance yourself.
   • During meditation, as in life, a good physical attitude facilitates a good psychological attitude.
2. Place your gaze a few feet in front of you.
   
   
   • Maintain a relaxed focus. Do not stare or strain to concentrate.
   • Keep your eyes open. This will help you stay relaxed, but alert.
3. When your posture is comfortable, let your breath expand naturally into your belly.
   
   
   • Breath fully in your chest and abdomen.
4. Focus your attention on your breath coming in and going out.
   
   
   • As thoughts arise, gently label them “thinking” and return your attention to your breath. Don’t judge your thoughts just simply let them go.
   • You may find your yourself caught up thinking at length about something. This in not a problem. Notice it and bring yourself back to your breath. Also bring your attention to your posture. Straighten your back and adjust the rest of your posture as necessary. Be gentle with yourself.
   • Approach this practice with curiosity. There are no good or bad sittings.

 

The key with meditation as with any practice is to do it regularly. So, go for it!! Slow down, be happy and more effective.