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Articles from Susan Freeman | Selfgrowth.com
- Attention Leaders: “Awe” is What You May Be Missing! - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2015 from Susan FreemanI admit to having had a recent “wake-up” call about awe. I learned that it doesn’t take much to have an experience of “awe,” and the benefits are long-lasting. Admittedly, up until recently, I underestimated the importance of awe in helping me super-charge my focus, creativity and ...
Views: 1077 - Meetings: Five Tips to Getting More Done With Less Struggle - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2014 from Susan FreemanIs your meeting communication mysterious? We spend a lot of our time in meetings; so much so that in companies a common complaint is there isn’t enough time to move our projects ahead during the work day. We compensate by working longer days, often bringing home work in the evening or on the ...
Views: 1154 - Does your leadership reflect your intentions? - by Submitted on Nov 03, 2014 from Susan FreemanThis month’s theme is about Intention as a leadership practice. I recently visited Bhutan, a fascinating, tiny country in Asia, just south of Tibet and north of India. Famous for its breathtaking natural beauty and unique architecture, Bhutan was closed to the West until the early 1960’s. ...
Views: 1941 - What are you making room for as a leader? - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2014 from Susan FreemanSteve, a CEO client, recently relayed a story that captures an important idea for leaders; the need to let go of certain beliefs, habits and approaches in order to create something different. He told me he and his wife were recently cleaning out their basement storage room. There were piles ...
Views: 1028 - Are You an “Engaged” Leader? - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2014 from Susan FreemanEngaged leadership requires a high degree of self-awareness. Leaders who learn that the way they are being impacts every single interaction, conversation and relationship are ahead of the game. It may sound obvious, but it is the first step towards truly engaged leadership. Being The first ...
Views: 1419 - Are You a Learning Leader? - by Submitted on Jun 17, 2014 from Susan FreemanIt may seem like an obvious question because we are ALWAYS learning. However upon closer inspection are you learning intentionally? This question became super relevant as I was doing some work on my business, identifying the ideal clients I want to work with. I feel grateful in that I ...
Views: 1161 - How often do you dialogue as a leader? - by Submitted on May 21, 2014 from Susan FreemanOne of the most important tools for a leader is the ability to dialogue. We often take for granted that when there are two or more people speaking together, a dialogue is taking place. Upon closer inspection however, often what takes place is instead a monologue. According to Wikipedia, ...
Views: 1317 - 5 Leadership Lessons from Rwanda - by Submitted on May 07, 2014 from Susan FreemanThis week’s Step Up Leader Tip comes from an extraordinary young Rwandan female leader. Sandrine Umuhoza, student at The Akilah Institute for Women in Rwanda and President of the Student Council, recently visited Tampa as an ambassador for her school and country. Sandrine exemplifies the dynamic ...
Views: 1263 - Gratitude as a Leadership Practice - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2014 from Susan FreemanThis week I had an opportunity to reflect about gratitude, both for my clients and for myself. It was not an exceptional week, except for one thing; every single client took the time to acknowledge the positive impact our coaching work was having on them, professionally and personally. I ...
Views: 1403 - Are You Conscious of What You Are Practicing as a Leader? - by Submitted on Apr 11, 2014 from Susan FreemanAristotle said “We are what we repeatedly do.” As a leadership coach, I am always curious about what my clients are practicing. The challenge is to realize that although we have all been practicing something, some of those “practices” aren’t getting the results we are looking for ...
Views: 1150 - Why Connection Matters for Leaders - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2014 from Susan FreemanAccording to Wikipedia, connection is “a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else.” This directly relates to a fundamental leadership skill: the ability to connect. Everything a leader does, requires connection. Vision, strategy and ...
Views: 975 - What Are You Doing to Close the Big Leadership Gap? - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2014 from Susan FreemanThe 2014 Global Human Capital Trends survey published earlier this month by Deloitte University Press points out critical gaps in organizational leadership. In a paper examining the findings, authors Canwell, Dongrie, Neveras and Stockton point out that: learn lead 2 300x199 What Are You ...
Views: 957 - How Often Are You Leading From 30,000 Feet? - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2014 from Susan FreemanI am writing this week’s tips and tools from 30,000 feet. Literally! I find that I can often achieve inspiration and speed while in an airplane. From up above the clouds the landscape looks entirely different than when I am earthbound. I notice my perspective affords me a feeling of ...
Views: 1057 - What Do Young Women Leaders From Rwanda Have to Say About Leadership? - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2013 from Susan FreemanLast week I had the privilege of again hosting two students from the Akilah Institute for Women in Rwanda. Akilah is an organization about which I am deeply passionate. It is a college for young women in East Africa that “offers a unique model of market-relevant education empowering graduates ...
Views: 2324 - How Gratitude Can Transform Your Leadership and Influence - by Submitted on Nov 06, 2013 from Susan FreemanIt’s that time of year. The fall harvest holidays are almost upon us. It is a time when we place our attention on who and what make us thankful. Are we also aware of the importance of gratitude in our everyday role as leaders? According to an article in The Harvard Health Newsletter, ...
Views: 1308 - Blend or Stand Out: A Leadership Quandary… - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2013 from Susan FreemanThis weekend we visited our college sophomore for Parent’s weekend. Aside from being a whole lot of fun to be invited into your young adult child’s first “home,” there was an opportunity to experience college life on campus. We attended an evening of music showcasing a dozen or so singing ...
Views: 1000 - Attention Leaders: Do you have an “Eeyore” on your team? - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2013 from Susan FreemanLeaders, do you have an “Eeyore” on your team? Someone who acts as if the glass is half-full? Someone who acts as if he is resigned? Many of us read the classic Winnie the Pooh as children (or had it read to us). You may recall one of the key characters was a donkey named “Eeyore” who was ...
Views: 1093 - How Well Do You Manage Button Pushers? (And What You Can Do About It) - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2013 from Susan FreemanI often hear stories about button pushers. I have them myself. When you have an automatic, negative response to something, this often indicates a hypersensitivity that’s referred to as “getting your buttons pushed.” Usually these sensitivities have developed due to hurtful childhood ...
Views: 1088(1 vote) - Are You an Analog Leader in a Digital World? - by Submitted on Aug 14, 2013 from Susan FreemanAlthough I consider myself competent in many areas, I keep having breakdowns around technology. I know that I am of the generation that didn’t grow up with the technological wizardry of today’s world. I am uncomfortable with much of it; perhaps this is why I sometimes feel as if I am a ...
Views: 1194(1 vote) - Are You Practicing Response-able Leadership? - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2013 from Susan FreemanResponsibility is a word with many meanings. The Oxford Dictionary definition offers: • The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone: women bear children and take responsibility for child care • The state or fact of being accountable or to ...
Views: 1038(1 vote) - What Can Leaders Learn About Practice from Bali? - by Submitted on Jul 17, 2013 from Susan FreemanMy recent trip to Bali left a lasting impression in many ways. This column addresses practice, and its impact on culture, life and engagement. Balinese culture is permeated by ritual. Every day, week and month there are celebrations. In fact, life is a continuous string of celebrations. ...
Views: 897(1 vote) - Is Your Leadership Living in Joy? - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2013 from Susan FreemanHow many of us feel our joy comes from things outside of us? Many of us see joy as the result of being able to do work that we love. We like the people and the company; we love our work. We have issues with the people and the company, and joy flows less freely. Don’t get me wrong; the right ...
Views: 1023(1 vote) - Is Your Leader Like Curious George? - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Susan FreemanRemember Curious George from the childhood book? Always curious and getting himself into one adventure after another because of his intense curiosity. Curious George took curiosity to an extreme. Yet, he inspires me to think about how curiosity is a necessary and often underrated leadership ...
Views: 1058(1 vote) - The Secret to Accessing Your Natural Leader - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2013 from Susan FreemanOne of the hot topics in today’s leadership circles is the “Lean-In” movement, based on Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, “Lean In: Women, Work and The Will To Lead.” The COO of Facebook challenges women to explore ways we hold ourselves back from the goals we desire. My challenge to all leaders ...
Views: 952(2 votes) - Leaders who Label May Harm their Effectiveness - by Submitted on May 21, 2013 from Susan FreemanYesterday I heard something in a yoga class that shouted out to me as a valuable leadership lesson: The idea of putting a label on an experience. Think about how many times a day you get caught up in labeling. We endlessly label our experiences (and sometimes those of others), we label ...
Views: 1117(1 vote) - Leadership: It May Not Be What You Think… - by Submitted on May 08, 2013 from Susan FreemanToday brought an incredible real-life example to illustrate the simple, yet powerful message I aim to teach; that leadership and influence are first and foremost an inner game. Only when we are clear and fully present internally can we create and experience joy, fulfillment and results ...
Views: 907(1 vote) - Are You Leading From Who You Are, or Who You Are Not? - by Submitted on May 01, 2013 from Susan FreemanThis is not the riddle of the Sphinx, but a serious probe into your state of awareness around work, relationships, and your life as it is. Consider these shocking workplace realities: • 51% of “A” players are actively looking for another job • 80% of people never use their greatest ...
Views: 856(1 vote) - How Would an Exodus From Your Mindset Be Liberating? - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2013 from Susan FreemanThis week we celebrated Passover, the story of the Exodus in which the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. The biblical story is familiar and its re-telling captivates us year after year. This year, the questions that arose from it were different for me. On one level it is the ...
Views: 884(1 vote) - The Inner Game of Leadership: Stillness is Moving… - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2013 from Susan FreemanThis is the time of year when everything accelerates. Hectic goes to wild; busy becomes crazed… I thought readers would benefit from a powerful tip found in Leading Blog. It is consistent with one of the foundational 21 Powerful Principles found in “Step Up Now,” called “The Power of ...
Views: 1478(4 votes) - How Well Do You Stay in the Present? - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2013 from Susan FreemanIn conversations with clients and colleagues, the 800 pound gorilla is often the challenge of being “present.” Vital as it is to leadership and a rich full life, it is the thing that eludes many if not most of us a lot of the time. Much of what we do and how we live takes us out of the present ...
Views: 1149(1 vote)