Optimistic Leadership: What Works For Colin Powell

Christi Hegstad September 13th, 2014

This article was originally published by the Des Moines Business Record.

“High-performing, successful organizations build cultures of introspection and trust and never lose sight of their purpose,” writes Colin Powell in his latest book, It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership. This outstanding resource is packed with simple but poignant leadership lessons, which Powell brings to life with stories from his extraordinary career path.

It Worked For Me, which I would describe as part memoir/part leadership guide, opens with Powell’s “Thirteen Rules” – the overarching principles that have guided arguably one of the most influential leaders of our time. From “Share Credit” to “Get Mad, Then Get Over It,” he offers the guidelines that served him as he rose to four-star general in the U.S. Army and eventually to Secretary of State, with many other notable milestones.

Throughout the book, Powell places a hefty emphasis on one critical, but often overlooked, leadership principle: Optimism. “I have always tried to keep my confidence and optimism up,” says Powell, “no matter how difficult the situation.” Sharing stories from his military experience, he demonstrates how “perpetual optimism” strengthens the success of individuals as well as an overall organization, which research by Martin Seligman, Barbara Fredrickson, and others clearly supports.

Yet although Powell clearly favors hoping for the best, he doesn’t suggest putting on blinders and ignoring realities. With characteristic wit he writes, “I try to be an optimist, but I try not to be stupid.”

I wore out a highlighter on It Worked For Me, so narrowing down to three takeaways proved quite challenging! Here are key guidelines that you can apply to your current leadership role as well as build upon for future roles:

1. Insist on clarity.

Powell always held high, specific expectations of his team but also insisted on making those expectations extremely clear. He describes conversations with new staff, warning them that the first few weeks will include continuous correction and nitpicking but will ultimately lead to success. Leadership experts consistently emphasize this need for clarity; in her outstanding bestseller Reality-Based Leadership, Cy Wakeman goes so far as to state that ambiguity is the source of all conflict. Have high expectations, but make them very clear. Set up your team for success.

2. Hire for potential, not just performance.

While past performance offers the backdrop, it doesn’t necessarily predict future success. Powell lists several characteristics he would look for in new hires including competence, intelligence, and previous accomplishments but also qualities like “toughness with empathy” and “ability to inspire.” Look for a superb track record of success, but gauge for future potential.

3. Always be kind.

Kindness, this decorated military leader explains, isn’t “being soft or a wuss,” nor is it a weakness. On the contrary, kindness shows confidence.“Taking care of employees is perhaps the best form of kindness,” Powell concludes. Choose kindness. Always.

I found Powell’s thoughts on moral courage, true victory, getting over failure, and servant leadership especially fascinating, and his unique positions throughout his career offer a perspective most of us wouldn’t otherwise get to experience.

While you won’t necessarily agree with all of his strategies, the title of the book clearly explains that is not his expectation. Extraordinary leadership stems from influencing authentically: take pointers from those you admire but don’t attempt to mimic them.

Perhaps the most significant point reminds us that although leading others is important, your most important leadership role is that of being the leader in your own life:

Always do your very best. Even if no one else is looking, you always are. Don’t disappoint yourself.

What do you believe has made Colin Powell such a celebrated leader? Share your thoughts below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As a Certified Executive and Leadership Coach and the President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders to get unstuck – whether in your leadership ability, income level, or from spinning your wheels in the day-to-day – and flourish in meaningful work.

Click “Join Our Mailing List” above to receive helpful articles, resources, and 5 insightful audios – for free! Learn more to lead and succeed with meaning and purpose on Facebook and via Twitter.

Leaders Inspire With “Why”

Christi Hegstad September 8th, 2014

CLARITY KICKSTART: September 8, 2014

Great leaders inspire people to act. They give people a sense of purpose or belonging that has little to do with any external incentive.

Simon Sinek

Coaching Tip for the Week:

Do you inspire others?

Or do you feel like you need to be loud, charismatic, or hold a certain position in order to inspire?

Leadership doesn’t have to be as difficult as we tend to make it. It also doesn’t require a particular title or level of professional clout.

What it does require is the ability to passionately share a vision and inspire others to act. As Sinek writes a bit later in his fantastic book Start With Why, “Great leaders lead with WHY. They embody a sense of purpose that inspires those around them.”

This week, get clear on your professional WHY. Why does your organization exist? How do you make life better for others? Why do you, your coworkers, and your employees put in the long hours and hard work?

Becoming crystal clear on your WHY will help you inspire your team in terms of motivation, morale, and energy, even when (especially when) times are tough. To paraphrase Viktor Frankl, once you know your “why,” you can endure nearly any “how.” It starts with you!

CLARITY tops our agenda at Spark! We are almost full – click here to join us!

What’s your professional WHY? Share your thoughts below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As a Certified Executive and Leadership Coach and the President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders to get unstuck – whether in your leadership ability, income level, or from spinning your wheels in the day-to-day – and flourish in meaningful work.

Click “Join Our Mailing List” above to receive helpful articles, resources, and 5 insightful audios – for free! Learn more to lead and succeed with meaning and purpose on Facebook and via Twitter.

What If I Don’t Have Big Dreams?

Christi Hegstad September 7th, 2014

Big Dreams and Bold Goals make up a huge part of my world. I frequently teach a class by that name, I coach on the subject, and I constantly ask people about their dreams and goals. The topic makes for transformational life changes and fun conversation.

And sometimes, I get the poignant reminder that we’re all in different places in this journey called Life. For some, Big Dreams and Bold Goals aren’t energizing; in fact, they may be unsettling or just feel too far outside of the day-to-day responsibilities.

At the close of a workshop a few weeks ago – during which I got so excited about the topic that I (publicly!) acted out the part of a champion weight lifter and also impersonated Dwight Schrute from NBC’s The Office – I asked participants to share their #1 takeaway. I was thrilled to hear responses like:

I am going to dream BIGGER!
I vow to grow more courageous every day!
I am going to say YES more!

But afterwards, as I was packing up, one participant approached me and, with tears in her eyes, asked a question that took a great amount of courage:

“What if you don’t have big dreams, but want them? What then?”

My first response to her, and to you, is the honest truth: I hear this A LOT. If you feel it, you are in good company, believe me.

Then, I offer one of my mantras: Dream Big, Start Small.

The secret beauty in this mantra is that the two steps can be reversed: Start Small, Dream Big.

Sometimes, our dreams and passions are so hidden, buried, or locked away that we can’t quite see beyond today. In that case, there are many steps you can take to unlock them (and I’ll teach several of these at Spark in October). By taking small steps in the direction of dreams in general, you can gain clarity on your specific dreams and goals. A few suggestions to get you started:

Keep a Success Journal. Write down one win per day in a notebook, computer document, or actual journal. Adding one item a day to this quick bullet-point list even for just 3 weeks will give you quite a track record of success to review and provide motivation to continue moving forward.

Interview someone you admire. Create specific questions and invite someone you admire out for coffee. Ask about their path and consider what you might apply in your own life. You can supplement this with reading a biography of someone you admire.

Get in motion. One of my favorite ways is through meditative walks, where you focus on a mantra, affirmation, or quote while walking. Another favorite: walk with a friend, and focus the conversation on success, confidence, and ways to live positively.

In some cases, the support of a medical professional and/or qualified therapist can be your best first step, and I highly encourage seeking the help you need. If you’re in a spinning-your-wheels, just-need-a-kickstart situation, however, give one of the above tips a try. And for a MASSIVE infusion of clarity and inspiration, join us on October 3 for Spark!

Share your thoughts below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As a Certified Executive and Leadership Coach and the President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders to get unstuck – whether in your leadership ability, income level, or from spinning your wheels in the day-to-day – and flourish in meaningful work.

Click “Join Our Mailing List” above to receive helpful articles, resources, and 5 insightful audios – for free! Learn more to lead and succeed with meaning and purpose on Facebook and via Twitter.

Are You A Courageous Leader?

Christi Hegstad September 1st, 2014

CLARITY KICKSTART: September 1, 2014

Integrity in leadership requires courage – including the courage to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. To see this kind of courage in the lives of those around us inspires us all to be more courageous.

S. M. R. Covey

Coaching Tip for the Week:

On a scale from 1 to 10, how courageous are you as a leader?

Do you routinely stand up for what is right, hold the difficult but necessary conversations, keep commitments, and make hard choices?

Or do you fly under the radar, wait for challenges to ‘work themselves out,’ and avoid anything that may rock the boat?

There’s an old country song with the lyrics, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” Standing up for something – whether for a tough but needed decision, for someone who’s been wronged, for the truth, or for one of your core values – takes courage. It’s much easier to act oblivious or rely on the tired standby, “That’s not my job.”

This week, prove your courage to yourself. Initiate a conversation that you’ve been putting off, respectfully voice your views, say YES to an opportunity that excites you even if you don’t know 100% how to pull it off yet. If it’s been a while since you’ve flexed your courage muscle, start with something small and work your way up.

With every small, courageous step you take, you will strengthen your integrity, serve as a model for others, and trust yourself and your leadership more and more.

COURAGE is one of our focal points at Spark! Click here to join us – we’re nearly filled up!

How have you seen a leader show courage? Share your thoughts below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As a Certified Executive and Leadership Coach and the President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders to get unstuck – whether in your leadership ability, income level, or from spinning your wheels in the day-to-day – and flourish in meaningful work.

Click “Join Our Mailing List” above to receive helpful articles, resources, and 5 insightful audios – for free! Learn more to lead and succeed with meaning and purpose on Facebook and via Twitter.

If Only I Had CLARITY…

Christi Hegstad August 28th, 2014

“I wish I knew my vision for the future.”

“I don’t know what they want from me. It’s hard to meet expectations when I have no idea what they are.”

“I feel like I’m in a constant fog. I long for crystal clarity and precision – but they seem so elusive.”

Clients often come to me with these frustrations and maybe you’ve experienced them, too. Having a clear, long-term vision makes short-term decisions so much easier, but clarifying that vision can prove challenging. Yogi Berra probably summed it up best when he famously said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up someplace else.”

Do you know where you’re going?

Would you like to?

Ambiguity, in certain forms, can actually be beneficial. When I help clients discern their vision and set Bold Goals, for example, I always stress that in the early phases we only need clarity on the WHAT, not the HOW. Focusing on the ‘how’ too early trips up too many people and causes the unfortunate side effects of dreaming small or quitting before starting. Once the ‘what’ is clear, then we get to the ‘how.’

But clarity is absolutely essential in other areas. You cannot presume your team will meet your expectations if you haven’t clearly laid them out. It’s difficult to put in long hours toward a fuzzy vision or with an unclear purpose.

If you follow the MAP Inc. Facebook page or have attended my workshops, you’ve likely heard one of my mantras: Dream Big, Start Small. Gaining clarity of vision and goals isn’t difficult if you have the right guidance and process (which you’ll really experience if you’re attending Spark!). But in addition to big picture clarity, you also want to bring more clarity to your daily experience. Three starting points:

1. Remove distractions for chunks of time.

Choose the project that needs your attention, decide what minor milestone you want to meet, then select a (brief) “Power Focus” time frame. Thirty minutes is a good start. Shut down your email indicators, turn off social media, put the “do not disturb” sign on your door, and get to work. You will be amazed how much you can accomplish in a short period of purposeful, focused, uninterrupted time.

2. Book a standing Friday Strategy Hour.

Once you employ Tip #1 a few times and start reveling in the joy that comes with completion, start designating time for visioning and proactive planning for the future. I challenge many of my clients to block 1-2 hours on Fridays for reviewing goal progress, envisioning the future, and planning the week ahead. You may think you don’t have time, but you’ll be amazed how much time this actually gives you. (Review Stephen Covey’s time management matrix in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People if you need a reminder – or justification.)

3. Clear your desk.

This may seem trivial, but your physical space impacts your productivity and mood in more ways than you might realize. Clear your work area, even if it means putting everything in a nearby box for the time being. Give yourself the gift of space to work on one project without 50 others screaming for your attention.

I challenge you to implement, consistently, one of the above tips, or one that you come up with on your own. Something small to start, so you can experience success and its compound effects. Like Liz Smith writes, “Begin somewhere. You cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do.”

And for those of you attending Spark, starting your small clarifying steps now will pave the way for deep, visionary clarity when we get together on October 3!

What helps you find clarity? Share your thoughts below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As a Certified Executive and Leadership Coach and the President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders to get unstuck – whether in your leadership ability, income level, or from spinning your wheels in the day-to-day – and flourish in meaningful work.

Click “Join Our Mailing List” above to receive helpful articles, resources, and 5 insightful audios – for free! Learn more to lead and succeed with meaning and purpose on Facebook and via Twitter.

Values-Based Success: Meet Tabby Hinderaker

Christi Hegstad August 27th, 2014

On the first of the month, each Acceleration Masterminder sends me an accountability journal highlighting, among other things, wins from the past month. At 5 minutes after midnight on August 1, I received one Masterminder’s journal along with this email:

I’ve been so excited I almost sent this to you a week ago, but I’m so glad I didn’t because so much more awesome stuff has happened! My heart bursts with gratitude and my whole body tingles with excitement.

What better way to introduce Tabby Hinderaker!

Tabby joined the Acceleration Mastermind just a few months after starting dailyARC Coaching and Consulting, the venture she began upon leaving corporate America. Like all the Masterminders, she set professional Bold Goals at the start of the year with a commitment to maintaining family time, self-care, and service to her community. A “recovering perfectionist and workaholic,” she clarified her values at Spark last year and realized she wanted to ignite her business success quickly – but not at the expense of all else.

Early on in the Mastermind, Tabby experienced a big Aha:

I set a very aggressive revenue goal for my business but realized that was driving the wrong behaviors. What I really wanted was to fully integrate my core values into my life and business so I could become more of my true self and attract the clients I am meant to serve. The Mastermind helped me see that I was stuck in an old mentality that fit my prior career and industry, and I realized that money didn’t have to be my goal but could instead be one of many measurements I might use to gauge success.

From that point forward, Tabby has been unstoppable – and her business is flourishing. She is coaching her ideal clients (who, in turn, are thriving), consulting, speaking to groups, writing – all activities that utilize her strengths and align fully with her values. In addition, she will hold her first retreat this fall – another Bold Goal she set early in the Mastermind. In just over a year, her business has gone from “great idea” to a vibrant and joyful practice.

I have been blessed with countless fresh ideas, new perspectives, and many “light bulb moments” every time the Mastermind meets. I have made significant changes to how I structure my day, how I prioritize my time, and how I approach “selling.” Most importantly, I have made these amazing new friends and am a better person because of them.

Whenever you work with a coach you experience some surprises, often coaching around something completely different than what you had originally thought. Tabby’s biggest surprise:

My biggest surprise was learning how little I trusted myself. “You say ‘I think’ a lot,” Christi noticed during one of our coaching sessions. As I reflected on this, I realized just how often I was over-thinking and over-planning, and how much valuable time this was wasting. I started experimenting with my time and began trusting my intuition, then facilitated one of my best workshops ever! I now feel more confident and am a much better coach and facilitator because of it.

What’s more, Tabby has experienced incredible transformation in her own personal growth:

Even though I’ve worked hard, I’ve also allowed a significant amount of time for play – which is a big deal for this high-achieving workaholic. I am developing my spirituality, mending relationships that have been neglected, and this closed-off, hard-hearted woman is learning to love myself just as I am.

Tabby has fully embraced a mindset of abundance and gratitude, which you will easily see demonstrated in her work, on social media, and in conversation. You can learn more about Tabby and her coaching and facilitation work at www.yourdailyarc.com.

Interested in joining the Acceleration Mastermind? Enrollment will open in early October – sign up for our Do What You Love! newsletter (click “Join Our Mailing List” in the upper right corner) to be among the first to hear about it! Learn more (and meet Tabby in person!) at Spark – click here!