Marguerite Ham
Leadership

The 4 Attitudes for Outstanding Leadership

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I recently became a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator with Wendy Quan, The Calm Monkey.  As I walked through the months of training, practicing and learning, one of the foundational pieces we learned was “The 4 Attitudes of Mindfulness for Successful Meditation”.  Each time we did a practice session, Wendy shared these 4 attitudes.  After hearing them over and over again, I realized, “Wow!  These are relevant and applicable to so many situations, including leadership!” As leaders, some of our daily interactions can become frustrating and draining.  The next time you are frustrated or exhausted think about these 4 Attitudes for Leadership and see if you can shift to a better place of balance.    Have No Expectations Have No Judgment Have a Beginner’s Mind Be an Observer Let’s take a look at these 4 attitudes and how they are relevant and applicable to leadership.  These 4 attitudes can guide us to mastery of ourselves and as a leader.  They are powerful “ways of being” that can be a compass for us to authentic leadership. Have No Expectations (Meditation) Bottom Line: If we don’t have any expectations, we can’t get frustrated! Think about that for a moment: “If we don’t have any expectations, we can’t …

Leadership

The 3 Keys to Servant Leadership

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I just recently listened to a great webinar at www.MindfulLeader.org with Jacqueline Carter from Potential Project.  In her presentation, she talks about “Leading with Mindfulness, Selflessness and Compassion.” Here are some of the highlights from this webinar along with some additional and relevant information to becoming a more Servant Leader. Mindfulness For a leader, being mindful is absolutely necessary for success.  Mindful of our way of being, the energy we are emanating at any given time.  Our focus on projects, with people and how we respond to stressful situations.  Being mindful means pressing the pause button and thinking before speaking and/or responding.  Being mindful of our response, knowing that others will follow our lead and be impacted by our responses.  Are we focused or distracted? Are we aware or on autopilot? Selflessness As a servant leader, selflessness is part of leading and caring for those we are responsible for, on our team, and within our organizations.  Simple communication awareness where in our conversations we use “we”, “us”, “our” versus “I”, “me”, “my”.  Selfless leadership behavior enhances engagement, sense of belonging, team culture, allows for recognition of others and allows a more creative and innovative environment for solving problems.  Selfless means, as …

Leadership

Mindful Leadership

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by Marguerite Ham I recently reread a powerful book by Janice Marturano, “Finding the Space to Lead,” about mindful leadership.  Because of all the turmoil in our country and world, it seems that everywhere I look, experts are talking about the importance of Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, and Empathy.  This includes the World Health Organization, CDC, MindfulLeadership.org, Forbes, Huffington Post, Harvard Business Review — the list goes on.  This blog focuses on mindfulness and its impact on our ability to lead.    So, what is mindfulness?  Let’s start with saying what it is not!  Mindfulness isn’t: Religion New Age, Chanting, Burning Incense Emptying the Mind Not about stopping thinking Achieving Relaxation There are lots of definitions of mindfulness. Here are a few: Janice Marturano:  Non-judgmental, moment to moment awareness.  It is about becoming more of who we are.  MindfulLeader.org:  Ability to see oneself and the world with clarity and equanimity, enabling actions to arise from a place of stillness, understanding and compassion. Wikipedia Definition:  the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.  A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a …

Life Balance, Self care

5 Steps to Becoming More Productive Working from Home

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Since the start of the Pandemic, we have found our selves working from home more often.  From conversations with many of my clients, I have found that they are struggling with focus while working from home, getting things done efficiently & timely, and integrating home and work life successfully.  Here are 5 Steps to help you save time and work more efficiently from home. 1. Create a routine Since many of us are no longer commuting to work every day and working from home, use that “commute time” to transition into work mode.  Create a routine.  I recently had a Zoom call with my brother, Bob, and I noticed he was in a dress shirt and jacket.  He is currently working from home 100%.  I asked him about his formal clothing and why was that necessary if he was working from home?  He said, “I never changed my morning routine, I get up every day, Monday – Friday and follow my same routine as if I was going into the office, including getting into my work clothes.  The routine and clothing are part of my mindset, that says, ‘it’s time to work’.”  What is your morning routine that says, “it’s …

Communication, Leadership

Conversational or Directional Leader?

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Are you a Conversational Leader or a Directional Leader?  I was watching a You Tube with two of my favorite authors and leaders, John Maxwell and Simon Sinek.  Two brilliant minds having a conversation around leadership.  Here is the link (1 Hour), worth the time. John Maxwell posed the question, Are you a Conversational Leader or Directional Leader?  That made me think, what a great blog to research and discuss!  Here are my findings.  What are your thoughts?  Conversational Leadership Conversational Leadership is simply a way forward that recognizes we are dealing with a new environment – a complex, changing world that requires different ways of seeing the world, thinking, and behaving.  A single leader or small group does not have the ability to make sense of everything that is going on within an organization or the world.  We need to be more conversational with those in our organization, who may see things differently or have meaningful work experiences or who have valuable information to share that would impact decisions, planning and strategies.  A conversational leader wants others to talk and fully listens to their staff members, asks a question and genuinely cares about the answer. The challenge?  This takes …

Leadership

Pandemic Leadership: Find Your Focus

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With the coronavirus pandemic affecting our world, nation, communities, workplaces, and families, as Angela Duckworth says, “If you’re not stressed right now, you’re not alive!”  That does not mean that we must become victims of the stress, anxiety and fear that are currently front and center in many of our lives. As leaders, we must be in tune with how we, ourselves, are feeling, how our staff members are feeling, and how to get the support we and others may need.  Find your own focus to get through stressful times. What is the Difference Between Stress, Anxiety and Fear?  They may feel the same at times; however, they are quite different. Definition of Stress:  There are several definitions, however, for this blog, the most relevant definition is: “A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” With the shock and uncertainty that have rocked our world, it is no wonder most of us are experiencing some form of stress.  As companies are moving forward with “getting back to work,” most are dealing with how to keep their staff members Physically and Psychologically Safe, which leads to stress for the leaders of the company …

Leadership, Self care

Anxiety is Manageable – Reduce it Quickly

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Anxiety can creep up the thermometer quickly and throw us into an emotional spiral of fear or uncertainty. Anxiety can paralyze our ability to think and make decisions, especially during trying times like these. A hamster wheel of rumination can start spinning inside of our heads. It distracts us from being able to lead effectively, make important decisions, and be the example our staff members need.  There are several techniques that you can quickly use to reduce the anxiety and get you back on track! Here are some ideas for you to try. Give them a chance and see what works for you. Here is another resource that just came in from The Chopra Center: “6 Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Make a Paradigm Shift.”    Acknowledge What You Are Feeling Increasing awareness, acknowledging what you are feeling and talking about it out loud with a trusted friend, colleague, or coach can release pressure immediately. Those of you who have had coaching most likely have experienced relief simply from verbalizing what is bothering you. Something magical occurs for us as humans, when we verbalize, out loud, what is bothering us. It truly helps for our own mind to hear, in …

Leadership

Adaptive Leadership Requires Flexibility!

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Adaptive Leadership Adaptive Leadership is key right now with our uncertain environment worldwide. Your way of being as a leader must be intentional. Your people are watching everything you say and do and the energy you are emanating. Now is the time to become an Adaptive Leader. I refer to this in my 5 Languages of Leadership workshop as The Leader Star.  I am reading a great book, “Flex, The Art & Science of Leadership in a Changing World”, by Jeffrey Hull, PhD.  This book talks about two primary leadership styles, Alpha and Beta. Both of these styles are important, and the leader of today must be adaptive to the circumstances, the environment and our staff member’s needs. Hull talks about a model called F.I.E.R.C. E. (Flexibility, Intentionality, Emotional Intelligence, Realness, Collaboration and Engagement.) Check out this book – I highly recommend it! CLICK HERE for the link. The Leader Star The Leader Star is an adaptive leader.  They are able to assess/analyze circumstances, environments and people and quickly adapt to what is needed in that moment to solve a problem, prevent a catastrophe, and shift people’s mindsets and engagement to get the job done. At the same time, they …

Leadership, Life Balance

‘Tis the Season to Love Your Staff

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The 12 Days of Appreciation by Marguerite Ham I was recently reading the Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, by Sarah Ban Breathnach. This book is a wonderful compilation of essays that stimulate reflection on how we are living or not living our lives with intention and appreciation for those most dear to us. I highly recommend it.  There is a great quote by Aristotle:  “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” As leaders, there is one thing we must repeatedly do for our staff members, appreciate them, love them, let them know we care!  Unfortunately, in our society of always onto next and busy being busy, this important way of being for a leader can fall to the bottom of the list or get lost in the chaos of the day to day whirlwind of work.  It is, however, one of the most important habits for a leader in order for people to feel valued and want to stay with you and the organization and serve the customers.  “Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, …