Master Category… Parent to all other posts.

Lead from Strength™: Mastering the Three “Sides” of Leadership

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by Wayne Ottum

“You manage things; you lead people.”
Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper

 “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”
General Dwight Eisenhower

 “The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership.
That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.
Warren Bennis

Leadership.  There are plenty of great quotes about it, but what does it really mean?  To begin any discussion of leadership, the best place to start is with a definition.  You know when you are in the presence of a great leader and when you’re not, but most of us struggle to define the term.  Of course, the desire to “define” leadership is so that we can “become” a better leader.  We think, perhaps rightly, that if it is definable, it can be replicated.

The following definition can be found in the dictionary[1]…

 

Lead·er·ship

[lee-der-ship] noun

  1. the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group: Synonyms: administration, management, directorship, control, governorship, stewardship, hegemony.
  2. ability to lead: Synonyms: authoritativeness, influence, command, effectiveness; sway, clout.
  3. an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction:
  4. the leaders of a group:

Ah…, not very helpful when you’re trying to figure out HOW to lead, is it?  Reading through The 100 Best Quotes on Leadership[2], you will find dozens of different “definitions” from a wide variety of authors.  But how do you take that and discover your own leadership style, through trial and error?  Not the best approach.

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Intimacy as the Foundation of a Relationship

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Intimacy is the foundation of a loving relationship on which romance and passion are built and sustained, as well as the engine that drives the romantic energy in the relationship.  Intimacy is about the connection, direct communication, understanding, and trust that come from close association, contact and familiarity, and very personal and private interactions between two people.  Being intimate says, “I love you,” and so much more!

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Understanding Your Authentic Self

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No matter our chosen profession, and regardless of our upbringing, we all have a natural way of being and we know our “way of being” (in terms of personality, talents, capabilities, ways of communicating, and ways of being motivated), are all different from those around us.  We know from experience when we are in alignment with our natural way of being – and when we are not. We perform better, feel better, we have more success, and we get outstanding results.

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Personal Mission Defined

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A personal mission statement defines three things for the world to see:

  • What you do. This is the work you do that will take you where you want to go in your personal vision.  It is the work that will give you satisfaction, meaning, and purpose in your life, one happy and content day at a time.
  • Your unique value proposition. This is the unique value you provide to the world.  This is the result that people or organizations (which are simply larger groups of people) get from you or your efforts.  It could be joy, wealth, information, knowledge, skills, a better life, etc.
  • Who you serve. These are your customers.  These are the people or organizations that most value your unique value proposition.  This could be anyone (as everyone needs food) or it could be very specific (such as – children with leukemia).

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Embracing Your Unique Talents

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Embracing Your Unique Talents

The Power of Discovering and Using Your Unique Talents in Your Business and Life!

“The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it put your whole soul into it – every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.” John Rockefeller

“Each of us has been put on earth with the ability to do something well.  We cheat ourselves and the world if we don’t use that ability as best we can.” George Allen – Professional Football Coach

No matter our chosen profession, and regardless of our upbringing, we all have a natural way of being and we intuitively know our “way of being” (in terms of personality, talents, capabilities, ways of communicating, and ways of being motivated) is different from those around us.  We know from experience when we are in alignment with our natural way of being.  We perform better, feel better, we have more success, feel more fulfilled and we get outstanding results.  We may not exactly know WHY we are in alignment, but we know when we are and when we are not.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could be in alignment more often?  Imagine how much more productive, prosperous, happy, fulfilled and successful you could be if we were performing “in alignment” more often than not!  What would it mean to you to have this kind of success, fulfillment and peace of mind?

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Living Intentionally

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The power is yours to create the life of your dreams with a clear vision!

You may have heard a few of these quotes in your lifetime, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” (George Harrison). Or, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you will wind up somewhere else!” (Yogi Berra). We really like these quirky little quotes because they capture the true essence of what happens when you’re not in the driver’s seat, actively navigating your life, and living intentionally. They also touch on the extraordinary power available to you by honing a clear focus, choosing a direction in alignment with who you are, and creating a compelling vision of the life of your dreams.

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Dan Hurst

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I was just taking a minute to think about the workshop you conducted and wanted to again share my appreciation.  The level of passion, effort, and care that you have shown has exceeded my expectations.  I felt the workshop was a great success.  You delivered what you promised, it took on a life of its own, and you guided the process effortlessly while providing a safe place for everyone to share ideas. So far all the feedback I have gotten has been positive and everyone really enjoyed your facilitation.  I am sure I speak for Pat as well when I say, thank you, and we are really looking forward to the challenges and hard work that lie ahead.

L. K.

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I just wanted to reach out and thank you for your help last year. Your guidance and advice helped me make the right decision at a crucial point in my life, and I am grateful. I am so incredibly happy and fulfilled in my new relationship and I would have never met him if I hadn’t gained the courage I needed to take the next step in my life. Thank you again for helping me define my needs in a relationship and encouraging me to find the right person to share my life with. I’ll be forever grateful.

Hear Wayne on Voice America Empowerment Radio

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KDMarlee-show-descriptionListen to the interview on Voice America Empowerment Radio, recorded on October 17th, 2014, with the founder of Ottum Enterprises, Wayne Ottum where he discussed the principles behind his book Live from Strength with hosts K D Marlee on their show “B-MyTe: Balancing Your Money and Your Time.”   Click here or on the image to your right to listen to the show.