Leadership Reading You Can Apply

As we gear up (argh!) to start the week, here are two sources of leadership insights that will get your juices flowing:

Dan McCarthy graciously put together the July Leadership Carnival with articles ranging from Mary Jo Asmus' How To Silence Others to Static Leadership from Jim Stroup, Wally Bock's One Thing You Can Do To Supervise Better (he knows), and Michael Lee Stallard's advice for Intrapreneurs.

For another ten, Kevin Eikenberry hosts Best of Leadership Blogs 2009, complete with links to the nominated blogs.

So, kick back, open the RSS reader, and enjoy!

Comments

[peter vajda]

Hi Steve,

So, for me, your graphic in this one is very apt.

The child in all of us shows up (often unconsciously) in different ways depending on our immediate experience.

For many leaders (really, all of us), if we feel threatened in some way, shape or form, our child-ish side may appear. So, in a state of fight, flight or freeze we exhibit the following child-ish behaviors that may have the following qualities: reactivity, acting out, throwing some kind of subtle, overt, physical or verbal tantrum, being overbearing, micromanaging, fear, being scared, neediness, need to be controlling, disrespect, anger, resentment, pushiness, bullying, being negative, judgmental, critical, jealous, envious, shut down, quiet, withdrawn, abusive, insincere, defensive, augmentative, grandiose, narcissistic, dishonest, inauthentic…as the child fears for his/her safety and security and/or fears the lack of recognition, acknowledgement, and acceptance.

On the other hand, the emotionally and spiritually mature child-like leader behaves in ways that reflect some flavor of: liveliness, juiciness, excitement, curiosity, adventure, wonder, joy, and happiness, as the child part of the self feels safe and secure in his/her experience, in his/her own skin and orients toward their world with an openness, curiosity and sense of adventure, even in tough times.

The emotionally/spiritually mature/immature adult leader is another story altogether.

Related to your previous post, willingness and ability are much a function of the childhood habits and patterned behaviors and emotion wiring of the child in everyone, not just cognitive, intellectual or technical ability.

Wonder how those two kids will grow up and who they'll become and what will interfere with their child-like-ness in such a way that as adults they may behave more child-ish.

[Dan McCarthy]

Steve -
Thanks for the mention and your contribution to the Carnival!

[Steve Roesler]

Peter,

This is a timely comment. I was just interviewing two business owners who are considering making some changes after 30+ years of operating a certain way. When I asked why, they said, "We want something new--some excitement and another adventure before we retire."

Their enthusiasm was child-like in its lack of pretense.

Thanks for this one...

[Steve Roesler]

Good stuff, Dan.