| |
| |
|
Leadership Information |
|
|
|
Leadership, Self-Development, and the Committment to Growth
There is a common phrase that says: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." I know that most of us have heard it. The problem is that we all too often take it, and other so-called "conventional wisdom" as truth. Read that phrase again: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." What is conjured up in your mind - what do you think of - when you contemplate those words? If you're like most, you believe, for whatever reason, that after a certain age, you can't learn anything new. That, after a certain point, an 'old dog' cannot do anything about who they are or what they are able to do to change the course of their life and it's direction, level of happiness or ability to produce the results that they would like to see. The old dog in the phrase doesn't have to be 'old' in the sense of years though. I've met many people several years my junior, who believe that because they've done so many things a certain way, that, for them at least, any other way is out of the question. And therein lies the theme for this article. For, it is the belief in so-called 'truths' like this one that most often prevents otherwise powerful people - individuals filled with the potential for greatness - to break through to the happiness and success they seek. Although, there are many that contribute to your overall progress, we'll be focusing on the success trait of 'commitment.' The dictionary describes commitment as a 'duty,' 'promise,' 'responsibility,' or 'pledge.' And, each of these key words can be used to focus our intention on breaking free of these self and outwardly imposed limiting beliefs to unleash our own power to be what we choose. Understanding with clarity and focus will allow us to set up our lives in a way that danger cannot touch us, and if it did it would be dealt with . . . quickly and decisively. Let's look at each of these 'keys' to commitment, as they relate to the concept of Warriorship and our desire to engage the world in a positive, productive, way in order to better understand why we must grab the opportunity (or as a great poet reminded us to "seize the day!") for growth whenever possible. Duty Related to the concept of leadership, each one of is a role model in the life of at least one other person. Regardless of whether you are a parent or not, someone is looking at how you move, act, speak and the like. And, they are deciding for themselves about these actions. If they like what they see, even if you would call something a bad habit, they may embrace that 'habit' as a truth to be lived up to. They want to be "just like you." If we are truly concerned about the fate of others and our influence over their lives in a positive way, it is our duty to be the best 'example' that we can be. We don't have to literally be a teacher, or have a job whose official title says "leader," but, we are an example that others are following. The question we must ask ourselves is, "how do I take control of the way I inspire or motivate others?" Promise This key can be seen to be a reflection of the water realm of clarity and truth and the wind realm of accomplishment through action. When we make a promise, we communicate something, in the form of a truth that others can rely on. Much like the commitment that two people make to each other when they get married, a promise is the creation of something that creates safety and security for another. And, it is the outward, 'other' focus that make a promise an important aspect of commitment and our ability to get necessary help from others when we need it. The question here is, "what benefit will others (and myself) receive if I succeed in my endeavor?" Responsibility This key has to do with our liability or accepted obligation for seeing that something is done. This is the opposite of the "it's not my job" attitude often heard and lived by the lazy personality. In order for us to commit to something, we have to see and accept our own responsibility for making it so. In fact, to take this even further, we must see accept complete liability for the failure of something not happening. The statement that, "if it's to be it's up to me" leads me on. The question, "what it does it say about me, when I take responsibility for my life and actions?"Pledge - Related to the fire realm of connection and expression, a pledge is a vow and a means of engaging with a goal or cause. Much deeper in meaning and understanding than a promise - just as the 'pledge of allegiance' is a more powerful title than the 'promise of allegiance' - this key comes from the heart. We feel so strongly about the necessity for the goal to be attained that there is no doubt, no hesitation, no fear of failure. We are so totally committed that the pledge sounds more like a statement of 'of course it will happen' than a wish to somehow appear in the world as if by magic. Feeling sparks the question, "what makes this goal so important that it must be accomplished?" Though the four keys can be found to be synonyms of each other and, for many, indistinguishable from each other, the subtle differences in context can mean all the difference in being committed to something and merely saying that we are committed. So, how about you? How committed are you to those things you say are important. How much do you your really want to change your life - to create results that can benefit both yourself and others - to create the life you've always dreamed of living? How important is your Ninja Martial Arts training and your successfully learning the skills of Mastery? Saying or thinking that you're the 'old dog' in the phrase we talked about earlier just says that you recognize how limited you've become in your own habitual patterns. But, it's never too late to start creating new habits and success patterns. In fact, the world depends on you're taking action - and now! Because, if there's one thing the world does need is one more truly successful person - one more bright light - one more honest, respectful, engaged person who does exactly what they say they will do because they recognize their purpose and is willing enough, no brave enough, to break from the those who will settle for mediocrity. Here's the formula: If you change, you will grow. But to grow, you must be committed to act - to do exactly what must be done to make the world, if only your little corner of it, a better place in which to live. Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Through their martial arts training, his students and clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help them create the life they've always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it. To learn more about this and other subjects related to the martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Characteristics of a Good Leader It's interesting to hear the responses from executives when I ask them, "What are the characteristics of a good Leader?"If I ask that question in a large room of executives, or even upper level managers the answers will be all over the map, and many are conflicting.A couple of the usual answers are:A leader is someone that empowers those working for him to make their own decisions. Secrets of Creating Success with Ease Do you ever strum your fingers on the desk top as you look down at your work and think, 'Right, how can I do all this lot without really working?'Brought up in an era with a clich that went: 'You must work hard for a living' my attitude to work conflicted with what I'd learned from my elders and peers. I felt 'wrong' because I wanted to be lazy. A Whack Up Long Side The Head Of Human Resources: The Leadership Imperative When we perceive the simple center in the seemingly complex, we can change our world in powerful new ways.Albert Einstein perceived the simple E=MC2 in the complexities of physical reality and changed the history of the 20th century. 5 Tips to Help You Win Big & Become a Village Hero A few years ago, I returned to my impoverished village in Haiti. Many in the village came to see me-the tiny and diseased child they didn't expect to make it. Leadership: 9 Universal Laws 1. The Law of Authoritarian StyleAuthoritarian leaders lead by control and fear. Using Your Intuition "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. The Essence of Leadership What is more important, leadership or teamwork? Leadership or consensus management? Today we hear frequently about teams, team-building, and teamwork on the one hand and management by consensus on the other. Although both teamwork and consensus building are critical skills in a leader, neither are substitutes for capable leadership itself. Leadership Is Power: Test Your Ethics "The payoff for the ethical person is a reputation for honesty. It's a payoff that makes every undertaking easier and attracts unsolicited opportunities. Effective Leaders are (#3) Communicative LISTEN, WRITE, AND ARTICULATE EFFECTIVELY: Leadership positions require effective communication skills. Basic confidence in the art of information sharing is absolutely necessary for effective leadership. None of Us Arrived with an Owners Manual: A Fresh Perspective on the Drive to Lead (part 2) Why didn't I get an Owner's ManualAfter a little while with life happening and no sign of the Manual we began to realize we would need to make the best of it. We began to look around to see who had one and studied what they knew, surely some of it must be generic! We began to study our parents, our siblings - if they looked competent enough, and our other care givers. Leadership and Followership in a Team Setting Many solopreneurs work in a team environment either with their client's staff, or with subcontractors. Having spent over 20 years in a teaming environment before becoming a solopreneur 13 years ago, I know that during the course of any highly functioning team effort, the leadership and followership roles flow back and forth between the members. Leadership Success and its Greatest Barrier: the Law of Administrivia Years ago, a very wise, and often cynical boss of mine asked me for a definition of management. After reflecting on the question I proceeded to give him an intellectually careful and, I thought, accurate definition. Exceptional Leadership Inspires the Best Effort in Others There is a steady stream being written and taught about leadership these days. There are tips about leadership, courses about leadership, books, retreats, and continuing education - all focused on leadership. Transformational Leadership "What is leadership?" When this question is asked most of the people answer "leadership is the capacity or an ability of a person to lead". Earlier theories of leadership viz. Seven Personal Characteristics Of A Good Leader How often have you heard the comment, "He or she is a born leader?" There are certain characteristics found in some people that seem to naturally put them in a position where they're looked up to as a leader.Whether in fact a person is born a leader or develops skills and abilities to become a leader is open for debate. Building Self Confidence As a hypnotherapist I specialise in helping people to develop confidence and self esteem.Perhaps surprisingly, the people who ask for my help are not shrinking violets and their reasons for wanting to develop enhanced self confidence are not wholly selfish. The Incandescence Of The Human Spirit There lives within every individual a power, an energy, an incandescence of spirit that is being constantly held in check, like a dimmer switch turned way down.A lifetime of being told: "we are nothing special; to stand out is egotistic and wrong; to conform is necessary; to be different is bad; the collective good must be served even to the determent of our own being; we must support; we must never defy; to question authority is inherently evil; the majority is always right; don't rock the boat;" -- creates an habitual thought pattern of lassitude, often leaving us without any sense of our ability to make a substantial difference and therefore with no real sense of urgency. The SAMMER Test: Leading People To Get The Right Results At the Right Time In The Right Way As a leader, you do nothing more important than get results. But simply getting results can be easy. Career Advice for Business Leaders: Empowering Others Many potential leaders in business sabotage themselves and their organizations out of fear of empowering others. In 21st Century Leadership: Dialogues with 100 Top Leaders, Lynne McFarland, Larry Senn and John Childress assert, "the empowerment leadership model shifts away from 'position power' where all people are given leadership roles so thy can contribute to their fullest capacity. Wanted: A Dictionary-Perfect Leader Answers are often before our very eyes or in front of our noses - particularly if we read the American Heritage Dictionary!Explore with me how some of the multitude of definitions for the word "leader" actually serve as a performance standard for leadership.Leaving behind the standard definition of "one who leads or guides", consider the second definition: "one who has power or influence".
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
