Hoping for change, but continuing to do things the way you’ve always done them, doesn’t work. “Blue Jolts” are potent tidbits intended to give your brain the necessary jolt (and excuse) to “jump the tracks,” challenge what you’re doing and find better ways to make great things happen.

Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.

1. What are some personal “day-to-day” habits you have observed in great leaders?
2. Which ones are most important?
3. Which day-to-day personal leadership habits do you need to work on most? (remember, if you’re not working on moving forward, you’re likely going backward).

Be jolted…

Picture: www.aussifinder.com.au

Hoping for change, but continuing to do things the way you’ve always done them, doesn’t work. “Blue Jolts” are potent tidbits intended to give your brain the necessary jolt (and excuse) to “jump the tracks,” challenge what you’re doing and find better ways to make great things happen.

Steve Jobs – excerpt from commencement speech to Stanford, 2005 (full text)

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

1. What are the things that “trap” you into thinking you have something to lose?
2. Has the thought of death ever really helped you make a big choice? Examples?
3. What other ways have you found to help see clearly in making tough choices?

Be jolted…

 Pictures: UggBoy, UggGirl via Compfight

We all know that hoping for change, but continuing to do things the way we’ve always done them, doesn’t work. “Blue Jolts” are short but powerful tidbits intended to give your brain the necessary jolt to “jump the tracks,” challenge what you’re doing and find better ways to make great things happen. Enrich and “be enriched” by starting or joining a discussion below to exchange perspectives. 

“It is true that candid comments definitely freak people out at first….My bosses cautioned me about my candor. Now my GE career is over, and I’m telling you that it was my candor that helped make it work.” (Jack Welch)

1. Where do you fall on the “candor scale?”
2. Why not be completely candid about that situation that is on your mind? Consequences?….Short term? Long term?
3. What can you do to foster an “atmosphere of candor” in your organization?
4. Do we need to pay attention to “constructive candor” or does candor “stand on its own”?

Be jolted…