Personal Development for Everyday Life
Transformation – Leadership – Innovation
“Personal Development for Everyday Life”
pre·ven·tion
prəˈven(t)SH(ə)n/
noun
noun: prevention
the action of stopping something from happening or arising.”crime prevention”
Years ago, I had a friend who became terminally ill, and his doctor told him that if he had practiced prevention and caught his illness before it had become life threatening, he may have resolved his illness well before it had gotten to this point of no return. The lack of the doctor’s bedside manner aside and the experience made me realize that this state of mind, awareness, logic and advice is relevant to everything we do in life. The essence of this message was in the end, ‘had he had more of a preventative state of mind and proactive thoughts, behaviors and beliefs in prioritizing health’ he would likely have not found himself in this position.
It occurred to me that life is about prevention rather than cure, and that building a foundation of proactive beliefs, behaviors and habits that support the type of life that you want to live, as well as the person that you envision becoming, is essential. So I began asking many friends, peers and those I met in social circles, what their beliefs, habits and prevalent behaviors were, and how it had impacted their life, due to my curiosity and the impact that my friends’ experience had on my life.
What I discovered was pure gold, but also provided a realization as to why truly effective and authentic leadership (and positive social influencers) are so rare. In my casual “survey”, I found that more than 90% of those I asked were only able to articulate social beliefs that they were conscious of, and not the sub-conscious or ‘auto-pilot’ beliefs that compelled them to do what they tended to do consistently everyday. In other words, the stealth beliefs held by almost every individual that I spoke with, were manifest into habits that they weren’t even aware were consistent daily occurrences. Nor were they aware of how it shaped and impacted the results of their lives, in very positive and sometimes negative ways! In fact, for many, these beliefs had become rituals, whether positive or negative; not self-aware decisions to behave in a certain way, for a specific reason. It seemed that the Big Three (Beliefs – Habits – Behaviors) were very much like an organic equation of; if X, then Y, which results in Z; and this powerful triumvirate ultimately shaped the person that each of them had become based on our conversations. It was oddly interesting how many of those I spoke with were surprised at their own realization of how their behaviors impacted their lives!
You see, it’s simply impossible to become a self-aware great leader without having a sense of preventative engagement and focusing on becoming fluent in the art of self-awareness as well as your personal rituals. It’s also impossible to become a world class leader for those who don’t follow suit relative to the direction of organizations and teams as it relates to core beliefs and values. Further, to become an ambassador of excellence in synthesizing the Big Three (BHB) as a great communicator and creating the EKO-System © in measuring how these personal, community and organization beliefs work in harmony with one another, is at the very core of becoming a modern preventative practitioner leadership (PPL) , or super leader! It’s also essential to note that the key to becoming a powerful “prevention based leader” and communicator is seldom found in what’s taught in school and in circles of academia. From our earliest years in the classroom, we’re trained to prioritize rote based facts, enunciation, vocabulary, math, memory, retention, syntax and all that prepares us to test well, but not necessarily live well. Simply said, we’re taught to live in the now, and focus on ourselves, not on those in our world and in our care.
While the skills mentioned are important to comprehend; what’s far more powerful in developing world-class leadership and visionary skills are rarely taught, because they’re largely unknown or misunderstood by most. The power of positive and preventative leadership relative to communication, dynamic community alignment, proactive culture creation, and becoming a catalyst for environmental excellence is rarely identified as required life skills. Though the art of focus in creating value and enrichment for others is rarely taught in the classroom (which authentic leaders must know in order to become best in class), the innate ability to do so lies within us all. With that in mind, we’ll cover the most exclusive and secret traits of powerful modern leadership, which when consistently practiced, will bring out the very best in your leadership team, create optimal performance results, and generate 3% more profit at the bottom line as research shows!
Let’s begin with the ability to develop keen self-awareness and an external sensitivity to (BHB) and the awareness of the “Big Three” that separates the truly exceptional from those who muddle through interactions with others. When we examine the most powerful leaders of our time we find that they possess exceptional intuitive command and they’re powerful and positive communicators; with the ability to identify and redirect efforts, status and create counter-measures spontaneously when the need arises. When they communicate with their teams regarding plans, strategies and process, they articulate and communicate in a style which clearly speaks to their audiences. PPL’s are also masterful in naturally balancing IQ (intelligence quotient), and EQ (emotional quotient), and tapping into the groups understanding of WHY, they’re doing what they’re doing. The best “prevention practitioner leaders” understand that if their message doesn’t germinate and resonate with their audience, then it either won’t be understood or embraced, much less passionately championed as a collective challenge to win!
It’s neither a great surprise nor a choice, that most leaders spend a significant amount of their time in interpersonal coaching and personal development situations and opportunities. Nor is it supernatural to realize that those who are best at this communications at close quarters consistently generate the best results, as preventative practitioner leaders understand that relationships yield the most powerful results! Look, it’s no secret that the majority of organizational challenges and failures occur as a result of poor IQ/EQ and poor communications. This is why the very practice of preventative practitioner leadership, (PPL’s) and this paradox in creating organizational excellence underscores the critical demand that modern leaders focus on developing powerful and effective communication skills. In the end, effective communication is THE essential component of professional success, whether in interpersonal, inter-group, intra-division, corporate circles, or external interfacing environments.
Though developing an understanding of modern communication skills is anything but easy, we develop this skill set in leaders through our EKO-System ©. We’re successful in developing fluency among leaders to draw upon these skills when collaboration, culture, performance and momentum for performance is on the line! You see, acquired skills, knowledge and elegance in presence are only truly valuable to the extent that they are practically applied when needed, and this is an IQ/EQ developed behavior, and not academic in nature.
The most powerful belief, habit and behavior (BHB) that visionary and admired preventative practitioner leaders have in common are that they possess a heightened sense of contextual awareness and situational command of self-awareness. World class communicators are also amazing listeners and their observational aptitude is superior to most. Those that excel at preventative practice leadership are aptly skilled in reading situations, individuals and groups through the assessment and sensory cues of measuring environments; mood, energy, attitudes, behaviors and concerns of those in their care and that they’re accountable for. Moreover, they possess an uncanny intuition to adapt their messaging based upon changes and adjustments required within the environment to ensure that everyone stays on message. You see, the most exceptional PPL’s make it clear that it has nothing to do with them; it’s rather all about fulfilling individual expectations and optimization of the team, the community, and the needs and the expectations of the organization, they’re simply the catalyst.
So, how do you know when you’ve risen to the level of a PPL? The answer is simple; when you’ve reached the level in which your engagement with others consistently meets the following standards, you’ll know you’ve arrived:
Your Teams & Peers Trust You Explicitly: Trust is currency for PPL’s. When teams sense that a leader is worthy of their trust and they feel safe in their presence, they will invest time and take risks (and even protect the PPL) that they would not if the leaders reputation was built upon poor character or lack of integrity. While you can attempt to demand trust, it rarely works.
Make it Real & Meaningful: Enough of corporate mandates and memorandums, they’re not worth the paper that they’re written on. Results are based on discussions, collaboration and connections, not artificial monologue. The more engaging your conversation, the more effective it will become to you and your audience! There is great truth in the old adage: “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Though ‘traditional business theory’ instructs leaders to stay at arms length from their employees; the new axiom is: “arms length is worlds away, embrace authenticity, connection and relationships.” Without knowing what’s on your team member’s minds, you’ll never be close enough to know the truth…in other words, you’ll always be at arms length.
Clarity is Purity & Leads to Powerful Communication: Clarity is superior to Ambiguity 8 days of the week: Clarity and purpose in communication is at the core of the PPL! The KISS method (Keep it Simple & Succinct) kills ‘complicated and confusing’, no matter how you slice it. Time is the only more valuable currency for the PPL than trust. The Power Leaders of today understand how to eliminate the white noise without alienating chemistry and relationships within their communities. They hit the high points, and void the unimportant…”just the facts” with a smile and inspiring presence. Building this skill and BHB into the culture and fabric of the organization is arguably the most valuable mechanical aspect that a PPL can provide! The most skilled and elegant PPL expertly weeds out the superfluous and makes every word and action count. Think Headlines, not Bylines!
Expertly Focus on Giving, Not Receiving: PPL’s are avid students and expertly gather Intel and information while deliberately communicating and directing. They are technically savvy at sharing and downloading ideas, aligning expectations, inspiring thoughtful action, and sharing their vision through warm communication, vivid verbal imaging and the use of body language that conveys success. Research has proven that words without body language are lost, but body language alone can inspire confidence, speed and desire. What’s essential is to approach every engagement with a servant’s spirit and an honesty that resonates within your organization. As modern leaders focus on contributing rather than receiving, the collective success of the community is inevitable. Though this feels counter-intuitive to the old guard, when intensely focusing on the wants of others, PPL’s, and any good leader in general, learns far more than they ever would by focusing internally on their own personal agenda.
Open Heart, Ego Free: its common knowledge that singularity of a closed mind is the greatest limiting factor of collective opportunities. A PPL activates the “contrarian approach” to disarm individuals and provide a new perspective of speaking individually, but thinking collectively! PPL’s seek out and encourage dissenting opinions and opposing positions, and encourage them to hold to their convictions. This is powerful as the group then learns to appreciate a new perspective and an alternate approach to challenges and problem solving. In the end, there is no right or wrong to collective negotiating, there’s only why it makes sense to the collective mission! We’re raised to fight for “one way & one answer” and it’s amazing how fearful most are of opposing views, when we should be genuinely inquisitive and interested in alternate points of view to become more diverse as individual thinkers. PPL’s create cultures and environments of dialog with those who disagree, challenge, question, and ultimately develop one another if they can remain balanced and holistic in how they interact in this environment.
Make Everyone Feel as Though You’re Talking to Them Personally: PPL’s transform challenges into benefits through large audiences. When PPL’s speak at gatherings and meetings, they speak to audiences as though they’re having personal conversations with each one individually. Great communicators customize words and messages in order to speak to five-thousand or five and have them feel as if they were speaking directly to each of them one on one. Knowing how to elegantly connect within a group and establish rapport, credibility, trust, and clarity is essential to community and organizational success.
Change is the Message, Not the Messaging: Last but not least, when your strategy or process doesn’t work, change the message, but not the system or continuity by which it’s delivered. S#*%# happens, and counter measures are essential to any organizations success, but it’s amazing how many companies march their teams right off of the cliff due to fear, ego, or the lack of ability to admit that they were wrong! PPL’s and world-class organizations understand that for successful engagement to lead to success, the objective must be aligned with the goal and with those integral to the communicating and result! If you realize that the strategy, direction, tools or efforts will not result in success, then have the courage to change direction quickly! PPL’s and winning organizations understand that to be able to win and make a positive impact on the organization, changing direction spontaneously is occasionally required. When making changes in strategy, don’t apologize, over-think, or practice analysis paralysis. Instead use humor, ask questions to coach and provide a learning opportunity that can prevent future challenges. Use stories, analogies, review data, and make confident statements to engender the confidence and trust that it takes for people to want to engage in change and feel confident that it means nothing more than change, and doesn’t define them or the organization.
Summary-
PPL’s are the new standard in guiding organizational success today. They become catalysts for the success and personal development of others while making it a point to learn as much FROM others, as they teach themselves. Investing time in building cultures that promote productive conversations yields massive results and is the new standard for progressive business organizations today. The antiquated leader assumes that everyone knows the result they want without it ever occurring to them that it’s necessary to communicate their objective first. For those who fail to justify the message with the why; individual accountability, investment, outcome, knowledge, logic, empathy and tools to measure success etc., the message will ultimately fall on deaf ears needing reinforcement or clarification afterward as there is no meaningful or collective alignment or understanding relative to the outcome. PPL’s understand that communication is not about them, their views, aspirations, positions or circumstances; it’s about the community as a whole. The most essential objective is always about helping others to meet their individual needs and understanding their concerns while adding value to their world. We train PPL’s to achieve these most important goals while drastically reducing the number of communications gaps and challenges experienced throughout the organization.
“Prevention rather than cure.” It’s sage advice that’s rarely practiced. Isn’t it time your organization started?
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Steven & Tony
“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein
VIDEO – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rwsuXHA7RA
