Daily Quote and Reflection from Eric Hoffer– STOP the extreme “True Believer” Approach to Problem Solving

Quote :“[The fanatic] fears compromise and cannot be persuaded to qualify the certitude and righteousness of his holy cause…We can be absolutely certain only about things we do not understand….By kindling and fanning violent passions in the hearts of their followers, mass movements prevent the settling of an inner balance…( and solving problems).

Reflection:  Remember Churchill’s speech asking his fellow citizens and Americans to fight on to defeat the Third Reich after Pearl Harbor ” We haven’t gone this far because we are made of sugar candy.” I believe it is time for the majority in America to stand-up and be heard and demand from Republican’s and the White House to stop making up unnecessary fights. like increasing the debt limit and start solving the real problems of America–more common sense  and common ground solutions rather than being fanatic about dogma and principle.

Message for President Obama–Is he forgetting the promises he made? His he listening to Us?

Reflection: Was this the change you wanted for America? Here we are on the brink of maybe cutting the “Big Three” of Social Security,  Medicare and Medicaid. Let’s look back at how happy we were on the evening of Obama’s victory.  What has happened in 30 + months. He said he would never forget that the victory belong to the American people.  Is the President forgetting his promises during the election or just being a pragmatic leader? Can he still renew America or are we goin backwards?

Want to be “sticky” in Presentations? Eliminate “Fill Speech”

They are eloquent who can speak low things acutely, and of great things with dignity, and of moderate things with temper.” Cicero

When you have trouble with fill speech, this is when you try to get your mind to catch up with the words you want to convey. For example, huh! huh! Or other fillers as you try to get the right words. President Obama does this out loud ‘ self-talk” when he is speaking from note cards or off the cuff. It is a bit of a stutter as you try to find the words to explain a concept or idea to others. It happens most often when the speaker is answering a question. The solution for this problem is to pause or you silence as you collect your thoughts and words to best express yourself.   Silence is never merely the absence of words. . . . Rather it is the pause that holds together— and makes sense of—all the words, both spoken and unspoken. Silence is the glue that connects our attitudes and our actions. Silence is the fullness, not emptiness; it is not absence, but the awareness of a presence. Silence is the element that holds everything together. Entering into silence means to enter into a space of connectedness as we wait for the void to be filled. To encounter silence is to add to your presence and confidence as a communicator.

Evaluating President Obama on Principle-Centered Leadership. What’s your score for him?

“In organizations, real power and energy is generated through relationships. The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important than tasks, functions, roles, and positions.” Margaret  J. Wheatley Leadership and the New Science

In the real world, the people who get Leadership right, again and again, are the ones that demonstrate in their actions the traits of Principle-Centered Leadership. Using these principles to guide their everyday interactions and decisions will make them a true leader of and for people, and it’s available to anyone who makes these principles “top of the mind” priority.

These principles are a powerful framework for assessing the effectiveness of leaders. It gives us insight into strengths and areas for improvement when evaluating a leader and their ability to set a compelling vision and mission for any organization and team they might be working with. More important, it sets up the opportunity for us to take stock of leaders, such as their use of values, control, selfishness and command. In concrete ways it shows if leaders are congruent in their espoused values and their actions.

Some leaders are followed out of fear or their ability to control others. But what about cresting followers by using these proven traits that make a leader someone people admire and believe in? Top 8 Characteristics of Principle-Centered Leaders (Ch 1, Principle-Centered Leadership by Stephen Covey) On a 1 being low on the trait up to 10 always demonstrating this trait how does President Obama stack up as Principle-Centered Leader. So your challenge is to check your perceptions of how President would lead when he was running for the presidency vs. your actual experience with hin as President. Is their a gap between what he said and is noe doing or his he congruent with his promises as a candidate? As we approach his two + years in office. What is President Obama’s score as a Principled-Center Leader?

1. He is a masters of live–long learning.
2. He is always looking to understand and be of service to others. (Empathy)
3. He models positive energy and calm under adversity
4. He believes in other people
5. He leads a balanced live.
6. He sees life as an adventure.
7. He is synergistic in his approach to problem solving (Thinking Win-Win)
8. He practices self-self-renewal and personal change.

 

Please rep[ort your scores so we can give the President our scorecard. Thanks.

 

Negotiation by White House Team failed! Why? Incompetence.

“The country needs & demands bold, persistent experimentation…take a method & try it: If it fails, try another.” FDR

President stepping on it. The bear trap was set and the president and his so-called negotiating team walked right into it and are now stuck. What went wrong? Let me lay out a few errors in the White House deal with Republicans:

1. President Obama talked about changing or letting the tax breaks for the wealthy expire during the campaign. He even said the “tax cuts for the wealthy offended his conscience”. (Indiana Speech on the campaign trail 2008) . Then when elected and having the political capital to do something about these taxes the White House and Congress did nothing but “kick the can” down the road. Then at the 11th hour Obama refuses to take a strong stand and hands off the negotiations to, Tim Gittner  and his Budget Director, two incompetent weak links, who caved-in to the “Party of No”.

2. White house had no negotiating strategy but to get something done. They are incompetent or disinterested in representing the people who elected him.

3. Sent VP Biden down to the Congress to tell the Democrats who had just come through a tough beating in the election. Biden’s message on the Tax Cut deal–” take it or leave it”. This is arrogant and unacceptable way to treat dully elected officials. A serious miscalculation and unacceptable and incompetent way to govern in a Democracy.

2. Republicans are now circulating a strategic memo to start calling the new tax cuts if passed the Obama tax cuts. Then when they come into power they can start screaming about the deficit and failed Obama policies.

3. Didn’t realize you can’t negotiate with a dishonest broker, someone who has a hidden agenda. or is operating to destroy you.

4. Democratic negotiating team had no vision or clear-cut goals going into the negotiation

5. President Obama is obsessed with bipartisanship at any cost. 700-900 Billion to the top 2% wealthiest people in the US.

What is next–a revolt of the true democrats and smart policy makers to not let this happen on their watch. For example, Nancy Pelosi will not let a vote happen on this horrible tax plan.

Where do you stand on this Tax Plan?

 

Challenge for Obama’s Presidency: What went wrong and where to go from here?

Obama caves-in and gives the Party of No another astounding victory against the majority of Americans declared opposition to wealthy tax cuts, those of us who expected an assertive and pro-active President are puzzled by his inept style of negotiating with himself before confronting the Republicans failed policies of more tax cuts, greed and accumulation of more money for the wealthy.  Obama announced yesterday to continue to play “kick the can” with the Republicans at the expense of the middle class.  It seems to me this White House does not care to or want to fight for the 84% of the Democrats who said no more tax cuts for the wealthy and no more deficit spending. This was a moment of truth for this President in the war for the soul of our Representative  Republic. He failed by looking weak and incompetent.  We must try to save him from his own tragic and ill-advised strategy of “rope a dope.”  Maybe he just wants to be known as a nice guy. But really how many punches can you take before fighting back?
    

 

																

After the Mid-Terms: Obama’s Leadership Imperatives

"America was not built on fear. America was built  on courage, 
on imagination and unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." Harry Truman 1947
As President Obama offers another olive branch and marshmallows one wonders if he understands the war for the soul of our Representative Republic he is in the mist of.  Maybe he just wants to be known as a nice guy. His new strategy is the one  he has been taking for two years-"Let's all just get along". I guarantee you this will not work when the Republicans are spouting off about the goals for their governing strategy--defeat Obama and take this country back to the future with more tax cuts for the wealthy and dismantling the New Deal cornerstones Social Security and Medicare. Maybe taking a page out of Harry Truman's  approach would suggest another and more assertive way to handle the party of "No"--Let's get the job done. 

																

To Be a Committed Leader–Dream and DO

Committed Leader by M.W. Hardwick, Ph.D.

To lead is to dream and do…

to let go of fears and criticism

to see beyond the obvious …

to give credit away…

to lead at the pleasure of followers…

to see and share a vision

to anticipate and articulate a new way forward

to be enthusiastic, passionate and on PURPOSE…

to care

to focus

to flex

to deliver

to be open-minded

to be in touch

to collobrate , cooperate and above all

TO RESPECT. BE RESPONSIBLE…

TO APPRECIATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE …

and say THANK YOU, thank you, thank you…

and  PLEASE ….more often …

and…and… and … remember

LIFE IS SHORT AND DEATH IS LONG…. ENJOY THE HERE AND NOW…

The successful of the world have used their imagination. They think ahead and create their mental picture in all its details…steadily building.” Robert Collier

Does Obama have the courage to step-up and emulate FDR?

I think the question for President Obama is: will he use  his big “megaphone to” to  tie the unnecessary Wars together with the need to rebuild our homeland. The power of the Presidency to humanize the economic pain being experience in America is palpable. Of course he and the Democrats are not to blame for the mess Bushy got the country in, and now they are responsible.

We don’t need to rediscover the wheel when comes to solutions. All we have to do is have the courage to do what FDR did –Put people back to work. This renewal of the FDR type of jobs program like the WPA and CCC will restore people’s faith in Government and retraining for themselves. The Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area which was about 55 miles from Washington D.C. and Baltimore,MD provide the model for integrating work with skill development. By the way the President could go take a look at this area because Camp David, the President’s weekend retreat sets within the Catoctin Mountains.

The Works Progress Administration (renamed during 1939 as the Work Projects Administration; WPA) employed millions of people to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and educational literacy projects. It fed children and redistributed food, clothing, and housing. Almost every community in the the United States had a park, bridges or schools constructed by the agency. This program worked then and with a a slightly different focus on infrastructure and the creation of industrialization of green jobs it can work again to renew America. Expenditures from 1936 to 1941 totaled nearly $12 billion. See summary at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration. Today, it will take about 700 billion, but we would have new roads, bridges and grid improvements and powerful green manufacturing base to get us out of this Depression or what many call the Great Recession.

• Aligning your own party, followers and opponents takes more than awareness that CHANGE IS NEEDED. It takes being assertive to your true values and principles. It will take political courage.
• Best vision, strategy and plans, like Health Care, Financial Reform, Education and Energy etc.,  are not enough to guarantee success for a change agenda. It is people, not plans alone that determine outcomes and results. What people need now are jobs.
• Maslow was right about the hierarchy of needs–when the people feel a threat to their basic needs for safety and survival they become anxious, angry and often frozen in place clinging to the status quo. Current day example the say no republicans and the new reformers the Tea Party.
• Leaders often present logical, rational and right brain change goals but this approach is limited because it by passes the critical emotional elements of  core principles based on values and passion. These elements are  essential to sell and build commitment for change.
• Vested interest will not let go of their advantages and status without strong pressure from the leader and his followers.
• Bipartisanship is a wonderful, if not a little Pollyanna for a pragmatist like Obama, and you need honest brokers on the other side who are committed to concept that we are all in this together and support programs and policies that are aligned with the moral imperative of the ” greatest good for the greatest number.”
• Don’t start from a position of weakness and compromise before negotiations start. You will end up with less than what you want and are open to being seen as “soft”
• To as successful as you want to be . You must identify sponsors and willing partners for change–From the onset of HC and Financial Services Reform the Republicans  strategy was just say NO.
• Time is not always on your side–it taks longer to make change happen than anyone usually thinks.

But MR. President the time is now. People are hurting and need help. I know this won’t be easy to sell but the URGENCY OF NOW calls you to act.

Does White House–Know how to treat supporters with respect and dignity?

“Power has only one duty — to secure the social welfare of the People.” Benjamin Disraeli

Maybe it’s time for the “White House” to put away their rabbit ears and be less sensitive to suggestions and disappointments voiced by  the liberal or progressive left. We ar not “fucking retards”  as Mr Emanuel, Chief of Staff said. Or to paraphrase Robert Gibbs, White House Communications guru, said yesterday–Liberals don’t give the President enough credit and won’t be happy till we have a Canadian Nationalized Health Care System etc. Remember power resides with the wealthy–that’s why people say: Wealth is power, and power is the only thing about which contemporary culture cares.

I think both Gibbs and the Rahm Emanuel comments are unfortunate and maybe symbolic of the “tin ear” and strategic clumsiness of the White House Staff. Have they forgotten all the time, money and work people put in to get the President elected.  We don’t expected to be taken for granted just because we don’t have any other place to go. But we do want this President to succeed and that can not happen by compromising with ourselves, playing nice with a greedy and self-serving political opposition who have no intentions of collaborating on solutions for the worst economic problems and job crisis since the Great Depression. The  just say NO folks want the President to fail so they can return to the failed policies that caused most of these problems in the first place.

People want their leaders to be responsive and sensitive to solving real problems. The elected officials need to take responsibility for creating environments that encourage  open and respectful discussions ( not name calling), problem resolution ( not filibusters that stop constructive action on solving problems) and truth-telling ( not made-up bullshit to harm the opposition) and development of an informed and educated citizenry.  People in leadership positions set a tone for public discussions. Furthermore, our leaders need to model good behavior in which people feel valued as unique individuals.

So let’s get back to working together to build a better America. If at the very least, if you feel powerless and insecure at work and other community and organizational environments to create a civil and respectful tone, you still have the power and role when interacting with friends and family to create a positive climate of respect, growth and security. Remember, people grow in places where honesty, integrity and trust can be counted on and rewarded. What have you done lately to create a healthy environment where you work and live?

Abilene Paradox and Obama’s “Groupthink” decision on Afghan War

Talk about story telling. This is a powerful one. This story by Dr. Jerry Harvey provides insight into the potential downside of team agreements and uncritical “group think”   ” July afternoon in Coleman, Texas (population 5,607),was very hot – 104 degrees according to the Walgreen’s thermometer. In addition, the wind was blowing fine-grained West Texas topsoil through the house. But the afternoon was still tolerable – even potentially enjoyable. A ceiling fan was stirring the air on the back porch; there was cold lemonade; and finally, there was entertainment. Dominoes. This was perfect for the conditions. The game requires little more physical exertion than an occasional mumbled comment, “Shuffle’em,” and an unhurried movement of the arm to place the tiles in their appropriate positions on the table. All in all, it had the makings of an agreeable Sunday afternoon in Coleman. That is, until my father-in-law suddenly said, “Let’s get in the car and go to Abilene and have dinner at the cafeteria.”

I thought, “What, go to Abilene? Fifty-three miles? In this dust storm and heat? And with no air conditioning in the car.”

President OBAMA–Assertive Change Leader or Compromising Peacemaker?

“Assertive leaders are not afraid to lose fans as they keep their loyalists and base consistently delighted. If we are to secure the change we voted for we need more assertiveness from President Obama..”

Change and leadership are  not just about vision, strategy, balancing the budget or reducing the National debt. It is hooking followers on ownership, commitment and responsibility to something they believe in emotionally. It is about engaging people both inside and outside an organization in a clear and common sense approach to solving problems and creating new opportunities to create a BETTER LIFE. Leadership is about uniting in a shared goal and agenda AND ACCOMPLISHING SOME WOW’S. Remember wow is defined as a striking success not just small victories.

Oil Spill fiasco shows “Achilles Heel” of Obama’s Leadership Style

“Confidence–thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Today we are going to take a look at what may be missing in President Obama’ leadership style that is shaking our confidence in him as a transformational leader. Maybe it is the loss of his campaign’s bold vision being turned into action or the need for a more Assertive Style of Leadership that relies more on protecting the public good than negotiating with corporate criminals and unethical leaders. There is no doubt that creating a perception of being assertive, in control, calm and decisive in times of crisis or chaotic situations  is critical for anyone who wants to be a leader. There needs to be a healthy fear that the leader has the power and willingness to act in the best interest of American public.

When a crisis hits there  is little time for just talk and false promises. The great management expert, Dr.Peter Drucker, once said: “leadership is not about charisma, or appearances but is all about responsiveness and performance”.

Mental Toughness- New factor for Leadership

Obama seems to have it –calm and”kool” under pressure and John McCain seem to lack it. (Remember the response by both candidates to the economic melt down) This somewhat vague concept  of MT could be the critical factor for identifying effective leaders in the 21st Century. So what is mental toughness? It can be defined as the ability to access and maintain focus and determination to complete a course of action despite complexity, difficulties or unknown consequences. Some say it is the will to never give-up or quit. So the question is- Can “mental toughness” (MT) be taught or is innate? Let’s look at the sports world where MT is often used to describe super stars. Many athletes and coaches think, MT is an innate quality or talent that you are born with and they believe can’t be taught or learned because it is a part of your DNA or it isn’t. According to this school of thought mental toughness is usually something you’re born with or develop very early in life due to your parents up bringing and environment. These authorities believe  it’s hard to take a sensitive “mommies boy” and make him tough no matter what you do. This obiviously is the nature argument. The nurture position states that people can be shaped and learn from different experiences, modeling and teaching.

Motivation and MT roots
The root of mental toughness lies in motivation. Those who are deemed mentally tough typically exhibit what sports psychologists call “intrinsic achievement motivation.” A study featured in Psychology of Motor Behavior and Sport defines this as the desire to be self-determining. People who are intrinsically motivated are self- starters, willing to push themselves to the brink for the love of their sport or activity. They need little encouragement to give their best effort, and they often do well setting their own goals. For others, who are called “game players” they only begin to jell when the pressure of competition is on. They go through the motions in practice and drive coaches crazy. They only shine in the chance to compare themselves with others. These guys have what’s called “achievement motivation”  and play best under the gun. You hear them say things like give me the ball I want to take the penalty kick or final shot when the BB game is on the line. They do not fear failure failures and  all things being equal between two competitors, whoever is higher in achievement motivation will be the better athlete, hands down.

Other researchers have said that motivation is important but brain chemistry can over ride desire/motivation if  the player experiences anxiety. With too much anxiety detrimental changes in our brain and biochemical reactions take place. Stress research calls this the flight or fight response.  Now we have new brain research evidence reported by Dr. James Loehr, a famous performance psychologist, and Daniel Goleman, known for his work in  Emotional Intelligence, that links negative thoughts and arousal with the stress hormone cortisol.  Cortisol is produced by the adrenal cortex.  Cortisol has been associated with feelings of anxiety, tension, helplessness, and loss of control.  Positive thoughts and pleasant experiences are linked to a positive trigger or rush of adrenaline, and an increase of epinephrine and norepinephrine. The positive jolts make for better performance.

Having an optimistic attitude can help increase the positive effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine.  Optimism, which produces these positive brain chemicals reduce many anxiety symptoms and can provide performers with the positive energy to focus and concentrate on the activity at hand.

By learning to “look on the bright side,” of challenges and seeing stressful situations as opportunities for growth, you increase the likelihood of producing a positive mental and arousal state.  This positive mental state leads to a chain of biochemical events that mobilize the brain and the body to cope more effectively with the situation.  A positive reaction to stress can then lead to what Dr. Loehr, calls the challenge response, which counteracts the negative effects of stress and improves your performance and enjoyment in presenting and speaking to groups. The challenge response helps leaders and high performance jocks to be more calm, relaxed, alert, energetic, inspired, and enthused.

Message for President Obama– Lessons Learned about Complexity of Change.

“There are three principles in man’s being and life, the principle of thought, principle of speech and the principle of action. The origin of all conflict between (the leader) me and my fellow-men is that I do not say what I mean, and that I do not do what I say.  This position confuses and poisons … the situation between myself and the other man, and I in my internal disintegration, I am no longer able to master it but, contrary to my illusions, I have become its slave.”

Martin Buber, The Way of Man

Change and leadership is not just about vision, strategy, balancing the budget or reducing the National debt. It is hooking people on ownership, commitment and responsibility to something they believe in emotionally. It is about engaging people both inside and outside an organization in a clear and common sense approach to solving problems and creating new opportunities to create a BETTER LIFE.

Many Americans got hooked on the optimistiism and passion of  ”Change We Can Believe In” and

“YES WE CAN”.  After about a year and half of victories, frustrations and continued wrangling in the Senate I recently started to reflect on where are we on the change agenda we voted for in the last election? Here are some of my ideas about lessons learned: