What is Successful Change Leadership Really About?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change communication, Change Leadership, Leadership Development, Personal Development

The Greatest Leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things, but the leader who gets people to do the greatest things.

During our lives and in our careers, we get to know leaders with a wide range of characteristics, either from close or far distance. Although practical experience is a great teacher, leaders who inspire us from wide distance do often become more influential, and more significant, in our growth towards leadership excellence. This is especially true if you, as a continuously developing leader learn through observation, a developing and learning technique that can include anything possible for higher development, evolving, and learning.

In some contexts, change management is referred to as something related to IT project management, process creation and development, but change leadership is a much wider context, and change leadership always puts either individuals, groups of people, teams, or complete organizations at the core, thus making it a people-centered approach. In its farthest reaching context and meaning, change leadership signifies the capability of thinking out of the box, seeing the problems, potentials, and solutions, stretching far beyond to what may be common day practice, and focusing upon creating completely new solutions.

Ultimately, change always begins within an individual. Although we are all products of our environments, and our societies, we do always have the possibility to see what is necessary, to create what is necessary, and to lead change that is necessary. To lead change, you must always be willing to change yourself first. To lead change that is significant to your values, you must first see, and visualize what is important to you, and what changes you want to see, and to lead, in your personal life, and possibly, in the lives of others.

Organizational change is a separate theme. The best, and most valuable organizations, do include and let everyone in the organization be part of the organizational development, and the change process. They do even include (wisely!), their clients and other shareholders in the process through a number of methods. In today’s world, in fact no organization can afford not including their employees, stakeholders, and shareholders to become a part of the change process, or change communication process. Organizations, in fact, should listen very carefully to how employees and other significant stakeholders respond to, and what changes they would like to see in the organization.

Effective change leadership, depending upon your mission and vision, includes:

  • How you, as a change leader, perceive society, people, and organizations around you

What is your role, as an individual, a team member, a leader, and as “a part” of society? Are you ultimately happy with how things are, with your career, and with your life? Many people probably respond with a “no” to these two questions, while others are unsure, and others respond with a “yes”. If you responded with a no, or unsure, you know that something is not right, either in your career, or in your life in general.

  • Becoming aware, as a change leader, of the changes you need to make, or the changes you want to pursue, in one of the areas of your life (or, in the lives of others)

Awareness is at the core of your personal awakening process towards the fact that something has to change. You will not only recognize that something has to change, but also WHAT has to change. Before leading others in the change process, you MUST become and create that change in yourself, and in your personal life.

Leaders do not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk

True leaders never ask others to do something they are not capable of themselves. Let’s say, you want the whole world to become vegan, but you keep on eating meat yourself. Is there not a huge dilemma, and a problem? Before expecting anything from other people, make sure to fulfill the requirements you demand in your personal life, career, and leadership practices. The most annoying thing is seeing leaders (managers?) who criticize and demand others to deliver, without having the capability or requirements themselves.

  • Be authentic, and live according to your true values

Create and live the life you were meant to live. If you feel like you are in a rut in your current job, take the necessary steps to create the changes that you wish to see in your work environment. After all, we spend a significant part of our lives working, and everyone wants to do rewarding work. And, rewarding work includes much more than going to work and sitting around waiting for the monthly paycheck. There are other ways. Do not wait to fulfill your true dreams and desires until retirement. Instead, take the necessary steps in order to create the life you truly want, as soon as possible. True change leadership is about living according to your dreams and desires, and fulfilling the changes you wish to see in this world, and about making things happen, instead of waiting around, and building negative feelings inside you, and bad habits in your life due to the lack of satisfaction, and the lack of fulfillment, in one or several areas of your life.

Implement Change Powerfully and Successfully With Kotter’s Eight-Step Change Model:

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking, and especially for sharing. Remember, sharing is caring, and if you found this post useful, please increase the chances of effective change leadership through sharing this post. 

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Why is Balanced Leadership More Important than Ever?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Gender Equality, human rights, Leadership Development, Leadership Mentoring and Coaching

A well-balanced, inclusive approach, according to certain standards and ideals, is essential for the proper governance of any country (Laisenia Qarase) 

One of the core responsibilities for leaders of the 21st century is to create, and to develop organizations and societies where both femininity and masculinity are well-balanced. This is a responsibility for men and women equally. Women have to stand up for their rights as equal citizens and human beings regardless of, and forgetting about, what may have been true in history, and in the past. It is time to leave the past behind, and focus upon improving organizations and societies holistically by giving women equal opportunities in any cultural setting. Although a challenge for women themselves to stand up for their equal rights and for justice to be served in a currently male influence and power dominated world, also men have to support this development.

The Nordic countries, including Finland, are among the most equal countries in the world, where women have since long had equal rights with men, including the right to vote, the right to study and to practice a profession of their choice, the right to engage in activities such as riding a bicycle, something that is regarded as a taboo for women in certain countries. For a Nordic woman and for women in the developed world economies it is difficult to understand why riding a bicycle would be somehow unacceptable for the other gender. Why should this not be the case when the same human rights apply for every individual? Although the right for women to ride a bicycle is among the smallest of problems on our path towards gender equality and balanced leadership, it is among one of the most ridiculous taboos from a feminist perspective.

Leaders have to be trained and mentored to see things from a completely new perspective. Regardless of the equal status of both men and women e.g. in Finland, even in this what we like to call progressive state, women still do face, and have to deal with gender biases and discrimination due to gender. In the past years, developments have taken place to include a certain percentage of women into the decision-making boards of organizations. Some have criticized this, stating that leadership is not about gender, but rather about personality, suggesting that there need not be a legislation regarding board structures, or how organizations and countries are governed.

Of course these changes and structures are needed, and they are urgently needed throughout our globe because a) our world needs to be balanced, and balance can only be created and developed when all human beings are treated according to the Universal Human Rights Conventions, and not according to which gender they belong to; b) femininity and masculinity are part of every human being, and it is about time that leaders, and citizens in general, allow for both femininity and masculinity to thrive in a balanced way throughout our world.

In a balanced organization (society/world), working towards a common objective, there is success (Arthur Helps)

Why do leaders have to create, and to develop balance in the world?

To simplify the arguments for the response to this question, leaders (and people in general) could ask themselves the question: Why is a banana yellow? Or, why is sea water so salty? Why do we have roses in so many colors in this world? Why do we, as human beings, even see colors? When we have been given all the beauty that exists in our world, and in the Universe, should we ignore this beauty or give all colors equal opportunities, and equal rights to thrive in a Universe that was created not to satisfy the egos of some, but to serve as a home and place of well-being for all living, including flora and fauna.

Our world as a whole, including animals, nature and people, regardless of gender or other external attributes, deserves balance. Everyone deserves balance. Everyone deserves peace.

How can we achieve balance?

Balance is a way of being, and in order to create change, and develop ourselves and the world around us, we need to empty our minds and see things from a completely new perspective. Forget about old patterns and behaviors, and allow for ourselves and for other individuals to think in completely new ways. Balance has to be achieved inwardly so that it can be mirrored into the outside world, and create the changes that our world both deserves and needs.

The Business of Gender Balanced Leadership:

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and for unlearning certain behaviors and patterns that may not serve your personal growth and development as a leader and a globally aware, unbiased professional. Thank you also for developing qualities in yourself and in your environment that support the creation and development of balanced, equal, and non-discriminating leadership. 

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Leadership is no Rocket Science – Or is it?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Creativity, Futurology, Leadership Development, Personal Development

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. The science of today is the technology of tomorrow. (Edward Teller)

As an avid leadership enthusiast, curious by nature, always eager to learn and to explore the known, and, the unknown, creative, intelligent, exploring, enthusiastic, developing, evolving, analytical and deep-thinking you may have learned that leadership is no rocket science, but in fact something that every single individual can develop within herself, or within himself.

Leadership skills can be learned and developed within any individual, but it requires more than repetition to become a leader. If you already make progress in your personal life and career through developing leadership skills within yourself, the effort is worthwhile. Not everyone has to, or wants to, become the next Prime Minister of his/her country, or an exceptionally well-known, difference-making leader. But, as long as you are capable of developing leadership skills in order to improve your life, expanding your knowledge, personal development is always in place, and useful.

I have written much about general leadership skills and qualities, but instead of repeating these over and over again, I would like to emphasize some leadership qualities that are not so commonly discussed in leadership reviews/ articles/ literature.

Although leadership, and being a leader (at least in your personal life), is no rocket science, you may want to tap into your personal leadership potential keeping in mind following potential facts:

– True Leaders Dare to be Extravagant

Be brave enough to explore, create, and make use of your extravagant ideas and thoughts. Many people will probably try to convince you the opposite, but do not listen to conservatives if you personally do believe in your concept, and the thing you would like to create, manifest, and materialize. Our world is full of conservatives who never like to try out anything new, so creativity and extravagant actions are more than welcome. A very good example is the multi-talented artist Lady Gaga, probably not accepted by everyone due to her extravagant style, but yet millions and millions of people do admire her, and do love her brave, creative style. And, did Pablo Picasso ask people what they thought about his paintings? This creative, artistic genius listened to his inner voice, developed as an artist throughout his career and created some of the most magnificent paintings mankind so far, has seen.

– True Leaders do not only think out of the box. They think like there is no box.

If, and when, we spend year after year working for a salary in a neat organization, fulfilling everyone else´s dreams but the one´s we have in our minds (regarding our personal lives), we in fact look for security instead of creating ourselves the way we truly want to. If this is the way you want to lead yourself and your life, OK, but is there not much more to life than fulfilling the needs of others, and living your life according to the expectations of others, including your employer? This is especially true if you are working in poor conditions, and if your personal input is not valued by your employer. Taking ownership and leading your own life is not always simple, especially if you are used to working for others. Nevertheless, taking ownership of your own life and your personal career signifies that you will have to rethink, re-evaluate, and reorganize your professional life in a way that suits you, and gives you the opportunity to create a whole new life, without any boxes or restrictions.

– True Leaders think, and act, into the future

Every day, try to find at least one hour, or even twenty minutes to meditate in order to create an empty space within your mind. In your meditation, focus upon forgetting everything that you were, what you currently are, and what kind of society you are living in. Give yourself this empty space every day, and notice how your thoughts and feelings start shifting, allowing for you to tap into new creative potential. Emptiness is the source of new creations, and in order to innovate yourself and the society you live in, you will have to learn how to unlearn useless patterns and behaviors of your life.

– True Leaders Expand their personal horizons by learning something new every day

Promise yourself to become, or to stay, curious in your life. Do not accept things as they come to you, especially if and when you notice that this specific something is draining your energies rather than adding value to your life. Instead, do something new every day, no matter how small or how insignificant this may seem. Creativity, and personal leadership, requires the ability to tap into new possibilities and to unlearn certain patterns and behaviors in your current life.

THINK: A Forum on the Future of Leadership:

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and for unlearning certain behaviors and patterns that may not serve your personal growth and development as an individual and professional.

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Facts Every Leader Has To Know

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Coaching and Mentoring, Leadership Development, Personal Development
Businesswomen Meeting. Freedigitalphotos.net
Businesswomen Meeting. Freedigitalphotos.net

The Growth and Development of People is the Highest Calling of Leadership

(Harvey S. Firestone)

Leadership is not for the faint-hearty, nor is it for someone who wishes to achieve quick results with as little effort as possible. For true leadership to develop within ourselves, we have to be willing to develop, learn, and to stay humble within the process, no matter how experienced or well-know we may be. The bigger the responsibility of a leader, the more relevant do these qualities become in his/her work. Humility does not mean that a leader has to knee in front of his/her employees, but yet humility remains one of the greatest qualities within a leader, often something that has to be learned through experience.

What else do leaders have to know, beyond remaining humble? Does leadership require anything, or is it just a title someone earns thanks to relationships? Oh, please forget about my previous sentence – leaders are never corrupted!

Although, a good relationship has nothing to do with corruption, yet leaders do know that managing relations does include much more than simply choosing someone for a role e.g. because of personal relations, especially if the role in question is in the public sector. In private businesses, leaders can always pick what suits them best, no matter if another candidate would be a better match, or, more qualified for the role. Budget also plays a significant role these days, although leaders ought to keep in mind that recruiting qualified talent may become less expensive (and give more ROI) than recruiting someone with less qualifications.

Nevertheless, every leader must know, and execute the following in her/his leadership:

  1. A leader must know how to prevent, and to manage conflicts in any circumstance

Our world has enough conflicts, small and big, and the responsibility of leaders is to learn how to prevent, and how to manage conflicts. This begins with knowing how to prevent bullying in general, which is a huge problem in societies. In Finland alone, the amount of bullying in schools and at workplaces has led to severe a consequence which is unacceptable. Conflict prevention also includes the capability of preventing misbehavior, gossiping, and other harmful behaviors that cause long-lasting mental health problems and costs not only for the individual, but also for the organization in question and for the whole society.

2. The role of a leader is to coach, and to mentor, her/his employees, beyond other leadership duties and responsibilities

The responsibility of leaders cannot be underestimated. Nevertheless, organizations tend to hire and to recruit leaders who have no leadership education or whatsoever. Education alone is no guarantee for leadership excellence, yet, an educated leader has more understanding and knowledge about what leadership truly does signify. A leader who has spent time and effort in order to develop and to learn these skills within her/him, is more likely to be productive and generate desired results than a leader that has been recruited for other reasons, such as a lower salary request due to lack of skills, and education. A leader is someone whose responsibility includes coaching and mentoring her/his team in addition to other responsibilities.

3. Before leading others, know how to lead you.

Never take your leadership for granted, not even if you have led people for the past 10 or 20 years. A leader must always be capable of remaining enthusiastic, and if your leadership style is becoming tired and boring, you will have to ask for help. Even leaders need coaches and mentors to stay mentally and physically fit. In addition to REST, something that our contemporary society for some reasons seems to underestimate. How can you lead others if you personally are dead tired and exhausted, physically and mentally out of shape?

4. Every Leader Needs a Coach, and a Mentor/Mentors

Leadership coaching, and mentoring, is no trend. Like some people want to hire a personal trainer for their physical well-being, leaders need coaches and mentors. If not for the benefit of learning, then at least for the benefit of exchanging ideas and thoughts, and in order to engage in dialogue. Too many leaders make the mistake of engaging too little in dialogue, and expanding their horizons through one-to-one, or group, coaching sessions. How can a leader expect to develop, grow, and learn if not through her/his experiences, co-workers, employees, but also with the help of a coach/mentor(s)?

5. A Leader Must Know How to Build, how to Grow, and how to Maintain and how to Develop a Team

One of the most important skills of a leader is to know how to build, how to grow, how to maintain, and how to develop a team. Depending upon the team, the life-cycle of a team is never forever lasting, and this is something that a good leader can live with. Good leaders know how to keep their team members on-board, but great leaders know when it is time to say goodbye, and when a team member is ready for new challenges/new responsibilities.

6. A True Leader is Always Ready to Take The Blame, but Knows How Important it is to Give Credit to the Team

Leaders are always ready to take the blame for failure, or when something has simply gone wrong. Instead of blaming individuals in their team they ask themselves why something went wrong, and how the specific issue could have been prevented in the first place. When the team succeeds, the true leader is always willing to give credit to team members. And, a leader is always willing to give extra credit to her/his team.

7. Leaders Must Have Passion and Share the Values of Their Business/Leadership Organization

No responsible leader would take upon her/himself a role without truly sharing the goals, the mission, the purpose, and the mission of an organization. True leaders know the importance of believing in, and having passion for, the role they have been assigned.

8. Leaders Must Know When it is Time to Move on Personally

No matter how difficult it may be for a leader to leave a role, or a team, a leader must be willing to move on personally, tap into new responsibilities and into unknown waters, at the latest when they feel that the role in question has nothing more to offer them. People, including leaders, no longer stay in the same roles/organizations throughout their careers. Those who do, are exceptions and rarities rather than commonalities. Even entrepreneurs, or serial-entrepreneurs, know the importance of knowing how to, and when to, develop themselves further and take upon them new responsibilities.

9. Junior Leaders Can Always Learn from Senior Leaders

Junior leaders, however enthusiastic and energetic, should always be open to learning and developing with the help of senior leaders. Sometimes, junior employees, and leaders, make the mistake of having the need to impose all their knowledge upon others, including senior leaders, without having understanding about what, and why, they in fact do have much to learn and to gain from people with more experience than them.

I am not young enough to know everything (Oscar Wilde)

 10. Senior Leaders Can Always Learn From Junior Leaders

Instead of getting upset or annoyed by besserwissers and “I know everything” attitudes among younger employees and leaders, senior leaders could try to tap into the mindset of their younger peers, learning certain things from the youth regardless of the fact that however fast technology is developing, seniors usually are very aware of their time. Technological awareness is more a question of personality rather than of age.

Awakening the Heart ~ by Thich Nhat Hanh ~ The Practice of Inner Transformation:

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and for listening to the wisdoms of Thich Nhat Hanh. Thank you also for developing leadership qualities in yourself, and thus becoming a change-maker in our society. 

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What is The Purpose and Meaning of Yin-Yang Leadership?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Balanced leadership, leadership communication, Leadership Development

The dance between darkness and light will always remain – the stars and the moon will always need the darkness to be seen, the darkness will just not be worth having without the moon and the stars (C. JoyBell C.)

Sometimes at night, when the sky is clear and the stars are shining bright, I enjoy watching the huge, free painting that Universe has given us. I wonder how many others do look at the same sky, at the same time, seeing the same patterns, having the same thoughts as I do, and sharing the same vision. Since I do not understand much about astronomy, it is unclear to me why some stars seem larger, and why some stars shine brighter than others do. Are the stars in the sky a reflection of us human beings, or vice versa? What makes the difference between the stars, and the people, that seem to be shining brighter than others?

Language is the source of misunderstandings. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye. (The Little Prince/Antoine De Saint-Exupéry)

When communicating with each other, individual to individual, regardless of title, number of years in experience, or status, there are a number of aspects worth keeping in mind as to find the yin-yang communication style. This is especially important to leaders, but might as well be equally important to any individual.

People, and the world, cannot be divided into black and white. Yet, yin and yang in communication and leadership create a balance between natural energies and forces, allowing for the combination and motion of yin and yang to generate all things in nature, and for the darkest nights to produce the brightest stars.

To explain it simply, according to the teachings of yin and yang:

  • Without struggle, there would be no progress
  • Without pain, there would be no growth
  • Without negativity, there would be no positivity
  • Without women, there would be no male (and vice versa, of course)
  • Without passiveness, there would be no activity
  • Without the moon, there would be no sun
  • Without the flood, there would be no ebb
  • Without intuition, there would be no logic
  • Without tragic, there could be no magic

How can you, as a leader, create a yin-yang leadership style? To become a yin-yang leader, you will have to develop certain qualities in yourself:

  • Yin-yang leaders care and are compassionate

As a yin-yang leader, you will care for others and for nature as much as you care about yourself. You will also care equally much for yourself as you care for others and nature. Strive for, and live in harmony and at peace with yourself, with others, and with nature. If you are not living in balance, harmony and at peace with yourself, how then can you expect to live in such a way with your environment and with your surroundings?

  • Yin-Yang leaders are excellent communicators

Yin-yang leaders develop and nurture communication skills both in themselves, leading to improved relationships through creating understanding rather than misunderstanding, learning how to truly listen to messages that are being conveyed to them rather than wanting to have the last word and to always have the need to prove themselves to others, appreciating, respecting and valuing others in their communication, and being present during dialogue.

  • Yin-Yang leaders have a high EQ and outstanding social skills

As a yin-yang leader, you have a high EQ and outstanding social skills and value these as least as much, or even more, than merely technical skills. Yin-Yang leaders know that technical skills can be taught, learned, practiced, and eventually mastered, by anyone, but having social skills is even more important.

Yin-yang leadership can be developed and learned by anyone who truly aspires to improve his/her inter-relational, communication, and leadership skills, and who has a passion for self-mastery and balance in life, and in personal/business relations. The meaning and purpose of yin-yang leadership include many aspects that are important, and essential for leaders of the 21st century, such as creating meaning and purpose in life/business (practices), developing self-mastery, creating balance in oneself and therefore also in others, improving overall communication, avoiding conflicts and learning how to handle conflict, and much more.

If your heart is a volcano, how shall you expect flowers to bloom? (Gibran Khalil Gibran)

  • Yin-Yang leaders work for the long-term benefit of humanity

Let us face the truth: after years, decades, of working in a certain manner, or with specific goals in mind, it is not easy to turn a ship and change direction. It is not easy, but neither is it impossible. We all know that human beings, businesses, and organizations need to keep continuously evolving, developing and learning in order to make progress. Without development, there is no progress, and without progress, there is no development. Why businesses and organizations in the 21st Century increasingly have to invest in developing businesses in a sustainable direction is easy to comprehend, and the future world truly does need, and deserve leaders that do know how to tap into yet unknown lands, discovering new landscapes like Christopher Columbus and his crew did a few centuries ago, and some of our ancestors even earlier than Christopher Columbus. Humanity, and our future generations, does truly deserve and need forward-thinking, humanitarian leaders.

If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place (Dr. Wayne W. Dyer):

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking, and for sharing. Thank you also for developing balance, patience, tolerance, and understanding in yourself, and for creating and nurturing the yin-yang leadership qualities already within you. 

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How Visionary Leaders Execute Strategy

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Leadership Development, Personal Development, Visionary Leadership

“Action without Vision is Only Passing Time, Vision without Action is Merely Daydreaming, but Vision with Action can Change the World”

(Nelson Mandela)

One of the most important qualities of successful leaders is to have vision – in other words, to possess the capability of envisioning a desired future. Vision, together with the capability of taking action and thus executing what a visionary leader has imagined in her/his mind, is according to some a missing piece in the puzzle of many leader´s minds. The lack of vision in leaders often results in actions that are neither benefiting leaders themselves, nor those around them.

No matter how important it is to take action, and work towards reaching goals, visionary leaders know when it is time to step back, pause and relax instead of making drastic moves that may either be harmful to themselves and their societies/surroundings, or result in leaders adjusting their sails according to current winds blowing, making their ships sail in any direction the wind may be taking them.

"Businessman with Brain Button". Freedigitalphotos.net
“Businessman with Brain Button”. Freedigitalphotos.net

“Business Man with Brain Button”. Freedigitalphotos.net

How then, do visionary leaders adjust the sails of their ships in a way that allows for them to navigate their ships in the right direction?

Visionary leaders do share many common attributes, including:

  • Visionary leaders live with purpose and meaning

All visionary leaders are on a mission in their lives. They have found purpose and meaning in everything they do, in the actions they take, and in the actions they are willing to take. Thus, the first step in becoming a visionary leader is to find that purpose and meaning in your life/career. What are you here for? What is your purpose, and what is your meaning? What are your aspirations? What are you willing to do, and how are you willing to spend your time fulfilling that purpose and meaning?

  • Visionary leaders focus upon holistic well-being

Visionary leaders know the importance of living their lives in a way that serves, and nurtures, both their bodies and minds. Overall well-being is at the core of leading a successful life, having a purposeful career and for living the purpose and meaning of your life. This includes nurturing your body and mind in ways that serve and benefit you and others through rest, physical activity, meditation, healthy food and healthy living habits. A healthy lifestyle, thus, is essential for all visionary leaders.

  • Visionary leaders engage in, and align daily activities according to their vision

Visionary leaders know how to combine their purpose and meaning with holistic well-being, engaging in activities that enable them to realize their vision. In order to make your vision come true, you therefore have to be capable of imagining, creating, and letting go of activities and habits that do not serve your vision.

  • Visionary leaders live with a purpose of serving others

True visionary leadership can only be executed with the purpose of helping and serving others/society. How is your visionary leadership benefiting those around you, or society in general?

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” (John F. Kennedy)

  • Visionary leaders co-operate and team up with others

Visionary leaders realize the importance of co-operation and teamwork, and understand that visions can only become reality with the help and support from a strong team, people who share the leader´s vision, or a team with many visionary leaders sharing the same vision, a willingness to co-operate, create, and find ways of making their vision come true.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together” (African Proverb)

  • Visionary Leaders have the courage to rise above their fears

Visionary leadership requires having courage. Courage is not lack of fear, but rather the ability to act upon the things you believe in despite of, and through transformation of fears into a space of compassion, love, and passion.

  • Visionary Leaders are connected to source

In visionary leadership, being connected to source means everything. The stronger your connection to your inner wisdom and intuition is, the easier it gets to actually express and live your vision to those around you. Visionary leaders also know how to create a bridge between their heart and mind, enabling them to freely engage with themselves and with their environments in a deep, almost mystic way.

Leadership: Do You Have What It Takes? | THE RABBIT HOLE with Deepak Chopra:

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking and sharing. Thank you also for tapping into your potential of becoming a visionary leader, or, for supporting visionary leadership.

 

Why Your Leadership ALWAYS Matters

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Inspirational Leadership, Leadership Development, Personal Development
"Businessman and Businesswoman". Freedigitalphotos.net
“Businessman and Businesswoman”. Freedigitalphotos.net

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. Dare to lead. (Warren G. Bennis)

As we all know, there are many differences between leadership and management. Management withholds the capability of managing tasks, while leadership, and leaders, focus upon the bigger picture, including a) the capacity of leading oneself, b) the ability to lead others c) the capability of inspiring and creating whole new possibilities through leading oneself, and other people.

“Business Collage, Innovative Concept”. Freedigitalphotos.net

The difference between merely managing, or having the capacity to both manage tasks and lead people, can be demanding for anyone, wherefore true, inspiring leadership always does require inspiration, dedication, a positive mind-set, a capability to handle complex issues with optimism, passion, purpose, and vision. Management, and leadership skills, can always be trained and developed, but true, inspiring, long-lasting, changing leadership with an impact upon one´s personal life, other individuals, and society, is possible only through dedicated, long-term work and an aspiration, together with a willingness to work towards reaching a greater purpose and goal, to make a positive impact and create positive change in the environment/in a society.

As a leader with vision, your efforts have to be aligned with your whole life, and in the way you communicate, and express your life mission to other people, and society.

Your leadership does not come from position or title, but rather from a strong sense and willingness to make a positive impact, to improve society, and to help other individuals realizing why their contribution is essential, and needed, too. True leaders do not need a position or title to create change, or to make an impact, although the best of leaders will definitely create a position for themselves through dedication and hard work.

We are all humane, and leaders especially ought to, and tend to, remain easily approachable and humane. Nevertheless, even leaders need rest and sleep, and a life lived to its fullest will make its marks. However, how we grow and mature is up to us, and since spirit is stronger than our physical bodies, a determined mind will always prosper, regardless of physical age.

Your leadership will always matter. When having moments of doubt, please remind yourself about the fact that your actions and that the results of your communication and leadership are not always visible. People will not always clap their hands, or freely express their enthusiasm towards what you are doing. Let go of your doubts, and let your leadership shine – your actions and leadership do make a difference, at all times.

I want to share with you a conversation between two leadership personalities, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, and Tony Robbins, the work of both that has inspired not only me personally, but millions of other people worldwide:

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking and for sharing this post, and for reflecting upon the messages within this article. 

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How Do Leaders Transform Intentions into Reality?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Health, Leadership Development, Personal Development, Transformational Leadership, Wellness

Intention leads to behaviors which lead to habits which lead to personality development which leads to destiny. (Jack Kornfield) 

Are you dealing with difficulties in one or several areas of your life? Do you sometimes, or often, feel that you have no control or power over how circumstances or things unfold, and how the course of events occurs in your life?

If you responded with a yes to one of these questions, please continue reading this post. If your life is exactly how you want it to be, you may still want to read this, and reflect upon the message.

To help you realize your true goals, achieve them, and to transform your current life situation into a more rewarding and fulfilling journey, I will share with you a few rather simple techniques/ways of creating the life that you truly deserve, a life filled with creativity, courage, inspiration, joy and passion.

  • Acceptance and awareness

Acceptance and awareness are the first steps towards creating change in your life situation. Before being capable of creating change in the situation, you will have to become aware of it. Without awareness, there is not enough understanding, and therefore no action. Learn methods of increasing your personal awareness level. Then, accept how things are, no matter how difficult or unpleasant the situation is.

  • Breath

Breathing serves as the basic mechanism for us human beings to live, and despite of its importance and its effect upon all our internal and external activity, many people take their breathing for granted and have learned a false way of breathing, meaning that many people, due to a number of reasons, breathe superficially and in a false way. The best way to drastically and quickly improve your health, life, and well-being, is to become aware and conscious about your breathing. Learn how to breathe correctly, and how to influence all your actions and your life in general through breathing. This can be done in a number of ways, and athletes of all kinds especially know the importance of correct breathing before, during, and after an exercise.

  • Divine timing

There is a time for everything, and realizing this especially when things seem extremely challenging will help you keep calm and developing your patience. Many times, not getting what you want may be a great blessing in your life, because divinity has something else in store for you. However, you also have to be ready to take action and not wait your whole life for divine timing to jump in and make things happen for you. It will, of course, but do not sit around at home waiting, letting your life pass by. Instead, get out of your shell and get involved in activities and with people who enlighten your day.

  • Energy

Life is energy. You are energy. Your thoughts, and everything you vibrate and send out to your surrounding and into the Universe, are energy. Make sure to balance your energies, let your energies be positive, thoughtful and always inspiring, because what you radiate into your surroundings will definitely create your reality, and come back to you. Your energies are powerful, so make sure to use them wisely in order to serve both your personal purpose, and the purpose and well-being of others.

  • Focus

In a world filled with distractions, it is easy to get lost if you are not focused. Therefore, learn how to focus in all your activities. Be present in every situation, and focus upon the present moment.

  • Imagination

Everything you can imagine can become a reality. Use your imagination wisely, and do not fear to express your creativity.

  • Law of attraction

You attract what you are, not what you want. Therefore, if you want to attract what you want, you have to become what you want.

  • Meditation

Meditation is the best way to embark upon the journey of transforming your positive intentions into reality, not only because of all the health-factors that regular meditation brings with it, including the facts that regular, daily meditation helps you to improve your breathing, helps you increase your awareness and therefore also consciousness, not to forget about how meditation improves your mental and physical well-being. What could be a better way of improving your life in a drastic way, with quick results when practiced on a regular basis?

  • Nutrients

How you nurture your mind is important, but how you nurture your physical body is equally important. What, when and how you eat and drink do affect your well-being holistically. Together with meditation, focusing upon your eating and drinking habits will help you transform your body, thoughts, and mind, and therefore, your whole life.

  • Positive affirmations

Make it a daily habit to practice optimistic thinking and focusing upon positive affirmations, or mantras, in your life. Inspiration is no rocket-science, and keeping yourself inspired can be done through small habits in your daily life.

  • Repetition

Achieving your true desires, nature, and goals requires for you to repeat, and live your intentions on a regular basis = always. If you cannot change your whole life immediately, start doing so by implementing small changes into your daily habits and way of living. Repeat these at all times, until your new habits have become a way of life. It may seem difficult at first, because we often want to experience quick results, but in order to make huge life changes it is necessary for you to be prepared doing some long-term work, and focus upon making the changes you wish to see in your life, and in your daily habits, permanent ways of living rather than a one-week-cure every now and then.

What Are The Benefits of Meditation:

 

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking and sharing. Thank you also for creating the life you want, and for improving and transforming not only the way you live your life, but also creating and contributing to positive changes in your environment.

Leadership is the wise use of power. Power is the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it. (Warren Bennis). 

 

Dear Coach, Facilitator, and Mentor

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Coaching, Continuous Learning, higher education, Leadership Development, Personal Development, Wisdom
White-fronted Scops Owls. Freedigitalphotos.net
White-fronted Scops Owls. Freedigitalphotos.net

I am writing this letter to provide you with guidance and support on your exciting, upcoming, life-long learning and development journey as a coach, facilitator and mentor in your continuously evolving identity work with individuals and people who you will meet, exchange ideas and thoughts, interact and communicate with.

However important theoretical knowledge is I would like to pinpoint the fact that your role as a knowledge worker includes a number of factors that you might want to put an emphasis upon especially. After all, the greatest asset of someone involved in human/humanitarian work, is the ability, interest, and willingness to be involved with other social beings, who all have their personal beliefs, value systems, and minds. Becoming, and being a coach, facilitator and mentor is a calling, and although not comparable with the profession of a doctor or a psychiatrist, your work can greatly affect and influence those around you. Therefore, and because you have chosen to work with minds, there are certain aspects in your work that you should especially keep in mind.  These include:

  • Acceptance

Your role as a coach, facilitator and mentor (one of these, or all combined), is not to force change in other individuals. Rather, your role is to accept people and individuals as they are. Depending upon the coaching/facilitating situation, and/or the group of individuals/people you are working with, you will have to tailor your work accordingly. There are differences between coaching, facilitation and mentoring situations/sessions, but you will always have to accept people as they are and not force change in them. Rather, seek to be a role model through your own behavior and through setting an example, and let individuals find in themselves the power to become who they were meant to be.

  • Balance

You will have to be in balance with yourself in order to create balance in your learning/teaching environment. Focus upon being in balance, and notice how you can affect your environment through the expansion of your personal energies.

  • Communication

Your work is all about communication, and about developing these skills in other individuals, including not only public speaking, but also non-verbal communication and listening skills. As a coach and mentor, you will have to develop your personal communication skills in order to create and get to desired results.

  • Creativity

Life is not about finding yourself, it is about creating you. Creativity is the lifeblood of everything, so nurture, develop and make use of your creative potential and allow for others to express their creativity as well. There are many ways of communicating and expressing creativity – just let your imagination flow freely and do not be afraid of creating completely new paths through audio, visualization, or kinesthetic learning and development solutions.

  • Development

As a coach/facilitator/mentor, you will not only deal with continuous personal development and learning, but most importantly, develop individuals and people who you work with. You will also learn to understand that development occurs at all times, although you may not always see the results immediately. Sometimes, it will take years to create and to get to the results that you seek to see through your work, but learn how to use certain types of tools for receiving feedback and making sure that at least some development is noticeable within a specific time frame.

  • Empathy and emotional intelligence

Empathy is part of emotional intelligence, but emotional intelligence stretches far beyond simply being empathetic. Your life work with human beings and individuals is all about social interaction and communication that require being emotionally intelligent. Developing emotional intelligence in your personal life and in other individuals is an essential factor in achieving success through your work.

  • Identity

As a coach, facilitator, and mentor you will get in acquaintance not only with your personal identity, but also with the identities of those who you work with. Teaching is identity work.

  • Improvisation

Improvisation, drama and theatrics are developing, learning, and teaching methods that allow creativity and imagination to expand. Improvisation is also sought-after, especially in unexpected circumstances and situations. If you have no materials to work with, improvisation allows you to create learning situations using your/your student´s minds and physical bodies to create completely new learning situations.

  • Journal/Learning Diary

If not already, learn how to journal and write down your (learning) experiences, and teach the same to those you work with. A journal/learning diary may be expressed in many forms/ways. It may be very personal, or shared in public with others. It may be expressed in a number of ways, through creative writing, poems, audio, or video. Make it a regular habit, if not daily, then at least on a weekly or monthly basis.

  • Memoir

Write a memoir about your life, and about your experiences. You can combine your journal/learning diary with your memoir, and keep it only for yourself unless you are/will be ready to publish it officially at some stage in your life. Writing/keeping a journal is a great way of learning/developing, and who will most benefit from your personal learning and development, if not you yourself, as well as your students.

  • Negotiation skills

Negotiation skills are essential in all areas of life, and business. Also in coaching and developing yourself, and other individuals. Be prepared to learn more about, and develop negotiation skills because you will need these in every aspect of your life, not least in coaching/mentoring situations.

  • Objectivity and open-mindedness

Being objective is perhaps one of the most difficult skills a human being can ever possess, since all our actions are based upon our personal beliefs, and value systems. As a coach/facilitator/mentor, however, you will have to develop objectivity and be open-minded.

  • Perseverance and persuasion

Coaching, facilitating, mentoring, and life in general, are all about learning how to persevere and to persuade. However, as already once mentioned, do not force your ideas upon other people. Rather, be a role model and allow them to tap into their greatest potential through acceptance, encouragement, and allowance.

  • Spirituality

Working with your personal mind, tapping into, and working with other individual´s minds requires for you to be spiritually open-minded and constantly open to spiritual development. Do not fear about creating and developing spiritual connections with people whom you work with.

  • Tolerance

During your career, your will have to experience, and deal with a number of situations, requiring for you to be tolerant with how things, and people, behave and unfold. However much acceptance and tolerance you will have to develop in yourself, you also will have to learn how to draw boundaries and protect yourself from certain kinds of behavior. You will also have to learn how to develop a thick skin, unless you have developed this in yourself. Be tolerant, yes, but make sure to know how to act in challenging situations.

  • Uniqueness

You are a unique individual, working with other unique individuals/personalities. Always have respect for your uniqueness, but also respect the uniqueness of others.

  • Vision

As a coach, facilitator, mentor, or all of these, you will have to have vision in the work you do, and help other individuals tap into their vision in creating their futures.

  • Wisdom

It may take a lifetime to develop true wisdom, something that only experience can teach us. However, seek to develop wisdom in yourself and in your students because wisdom allows us to raise our vibrations and evolve into human beings with a higher spiritual consciousness.

 

What Do You Need to Succeed in Business?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Business Development, Business Success, emotional intelligence, Leadership Development, Soft Skills

I never dreamed about success. I worked for it. (Estee Lauder)

Your success in business, entrepreneurship and in life, in general, can be defined by a number of factors, and through how hard and persistent you are willing to work in order to reach your personal goals. It does not matter whether you are an apprentice, a clerk, a CEO or whatever your current title may be. Rather, forget about and drop your title and focus upon what you truly want to achieve in life.

We continuously grow and learn in and through life. What you are today may not be equal with what you want to be, and will be tomorrow.

Many people dream about being CEO´s, but as soon as they get the experience of being one, they start dreaming about becoming something else. Before you throw yourself into something because of the title (or, the money), consider the WHY. Why do you want to be XYZ? What is your purpose? And, what is your passion?

No matter what, your desires may change with time and experience. After all, we are here to develop, evolve and learn not only about our environments, but also about ourselves. How far you are willing to go in your career depends upon a number of factors, and personal qualities, in addition to your maturity as an individual.

The definition of success is personal, but succeeding in business and entrepreneurship withholds a number of internal and external attributes that you either possess or should actively develop in yourself in order to succeed in business life.

1. Know what you stand for. Know yourself, what you are about, and what you have to offer. Know the services/products you are capable of, and willing to, offer your clients.

If you do not know yourself or your business, how can you assume anyone else can? The first thing you have to do in order to become successful, is to define yourself, your values, your purpose, passion, and what you and your business have to offer.

2. Ambition.

Ambition is a natural attribute in human beings. There is nothing wrong in being ambitious. If people told you otherwise, you have to unlearn this nonsense. Be ambitious in achieving your dreams and in working for a purpose. However, learn how to distinguish between being normally ambitious and in being extremely ambitious. People may fear extreme ambition, so be aware of stepping upon other people´s toes. Nevertheless, learn how to say no and how to stand up for your personal beliefs. After all, you do not want to end up being a people-pleasing doll or anything alike.

3. Determination.

Business, and life in general, requires determination. You have to be willing to throw your hat in the ring. You have to learn how to be stronger than your fears, and even though we all have certain fears, it is necessary to learn how to win your fears and transform these into positive action. Nothing worth doing is easy, but the more actions you take, and the more you step out of your personal comfort zone, the more you will gain. Try it out and see for your self.

4. Vision.

Know yourself, your business, and have a direction. Without goals and direction your ship will simply sail across the oceans being at risk for losing both its sight, and the people on board.

5. Emotional Intelligence.

In business, entrepreneurship, life in general and in all social interaction you will have to learn emotional intelligence skills. Emotional intelligence includes a wide spectrum of capabilities, such as learning how to read people, how to cope and how to negotiate in challenging situations, but also how to protect yourself from toxic people in your environment and how to remove their power over your (business) life. Developing, and learning, emotional intelligence skills are essential for succeeding in life, and in business. I can warmly recommend for you to read Emotional Intelligence 2.0, a book written by Dr. Travis Bradberry and Jean Grives, recommended by The Dalai Lama himself, including life-changing tips in how to become more successful in your life, and in business. Do not let the lack of emotional intelligence be a hinder for your personal, and/or, business success.

6. Soft Skills.

Use your soft skills and life/professional experience to succeed. Be yourself, be authentic. People do, and will notice whether you are authentic or not. There is no point in playing roles, or in trying hard to be something else than you truly are. Get rid of your fears, and get real. People who appreciate your true, authentic nature, will find their way to you and stay around you. In a world that sometimes may feel harsh, soft skills are in real demand. The world needs authentic, true people who are capable of developing leadership and business using soft skills for success. You are the one to demonstrate those traits, and qualities, to businesses, people, organizations, and societies around you.

7. Drive, passion, purpose, and love for what you do in life.

Expressing passion, purpose, and love for everything you undertake in life and in business, will lead you to success. If you have no passion for what you do, you may as well give up and let someone else take over. Dance as if this were your last day in life – do not be afraid to sweat, nor about giving yourself fully into whatever you are practicing, as long as it serves your passions, and purposes.

8. Risk-taking capability and risk-tolerance.

All action, business, and entrepreneurship requires risk-taking capabilities. Without any risks, there cannot be any rewards. However, integrate risk management into your operational practices and never risk more than you can actually handle.

9. Self-confidence, trust in yourself in and in your future plans.

All success requires action, and action requires the ability of overcoming your fears. There is always a risk of failure, but those who want to avoid failure at all costs are never capable of taking action and vice versa. Therefore, have confidence in yourself, in the things you do and want to pursue, and create an attitude for success.

10. Learn how to plan your future, have an open mind, be determined, and willing to succeed.

Things do not always turn out, or unfold, the way we want them to, but all successful action, business, and entrepreneurship requires for its leader to be capable of planning ahead, and most preferably long-term. There is a point in living in the present moment, but future success also requires for you to be capable of planning the future of your life, and business.

11. Essential business AND people skills.

You can, and will, learn business and people skills through work and business life, but also through international business management education such as earning an MBA (or, another higher education including people management skills). If not through education, then through practical experiences. Life, and business, are about developing and creating long-term partnerships and relationships. Therefore, these skills will be essential for your success in business, and in life. Essential business skills, knowledge, understanding and wisdom also include the capability of understanding global operations holistically, understanding economics, politics, and geography.

Finally, learn through this YouTube video what Richard Branson has to say about succeeding in life, and in business:

Thank you for reading, commenting, liking and for sharing this post. Thank you also for having passion, purpose, and drive in your life, as well as using your soft skills together with your emotional intelligence.