Decisions leaders make about people are critical to organizational success because people impact everything in an organization. Leaders are people and people are the sources of information leaders rely on to make decisions. People set and carry out the organization’s strategy. People react during a crisis. The right people fix a decision that is going badly, and the wrong people can mess up even the most brilliant decision
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If you missed it at the NWCUA Conference last week here is Deedee and Mike’s Succession Planning Slide Show: Leadership Presence The Critical Missing Ingredient NWCUA 2012.
If you missed it at the NWCUA Conference last week here is Deedee and Mike’s Succession Planning Slide Show: Succession Planning NWCUA 2012.
This week has been filled with memorable events. My quadruplets, Ian, Scott, Rebecca, and Bryce turned 9 last Saturday. They had a choice between a birthday party located a one of the many well-known kids party zone places in town or a family party at home. Unanimously they selected the family party at home. The choice for a family party was and was not a surprise. Have you ever had one of those where both choices were anticipated and agreeable? The kids choice to celebrate at home with the family landed in my heart with a warm snuggly feeling – that’s about as sophisticated as I can be right now in my vocabulary – warm and snuggly.
This week was the 43rd birthday of my sister Melinda, the youngest of 12 siblings of an Irish Catholic Mother and my Midwest born and raised Protestant father. Our household was a continual flux of diapers, footballs, hair curlers, and constant flow of food. Melinda died in my arms two days before her first birthday. Her little heart could not sustain her life and for the past 42 years she has been my connection to heaven.
Wednesday, I witnessed my six youngest children earn their first black stripe toward their black belt in Taekwondo. The test is a pattern of 29 moves, demonstrating several kicks, verbally answering questions, and writing in Korean. They do this at the age of 9 and 10. As I prepare for my speech today at a conference, I hear them answer a question asked by their teacher, Mr. Joe, on what are the six elements of power: Concentration, Equilibrium, Mass, Reaction Force, Breath, and Speed. My morning reflection is how these six elements of power relate to my day in this world, doing the work I do. Just as my children had a choice, I am in choice about my level of concentration, how much is too much and too little and the deliberateness of my reaction. Breath is always my friend as is my mantra about speed– go slower to go faster.
Tomorrow, I have the joy of witnessing my nephew Chad marry his bride, Jade. This week represents the rich cycle of life. I am honored to be part of my family.
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An athletic woman came up to the first aid station tent of the Medical Reserve Corps and asked, “I need some advice.” She looked somewhat pained.
She was at one of the public events at the USA Pro Cycling race start in Durango, Colorado, and she was dusty along one side of her body. I was easy to deduce what had happened –she had tumbled off her bike.
“I hurt my shoulder, along here.” she traced a line just above her clavicle.
I know what she feared, but given that she was touching her shoulder and moving it, even somewhat pained, meant she had only a sprain and bruise. Ice therapy and ibuprofen is all that she needed. Moments later, one of the doctors came into the tent and verified the diagnosis. She had three of us now tending to her, 2 EMTs and now a doctor. She relaxed.
“I am so glad you’re here,” she said in a gentle, sincere voice.
I held the ice pack in place while she waited for her husband. She offered to hold it herself, which meant contracting multiple anterior muscles, but I just sat next to her holding the ice. All I could think of was how sore she’d be tomorrow, and how my holding the ice might help reduce that even slightly, and how my sitting with her could ease her emotionally as well.
“I am just so glad you’re here. Thank you.” She would repeat this again, and again once more in the next hour.
Her sincere thanks made me wonder what ways I can just be there for others.
– Mark Haeussler