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Dr. Francine Thirus – Ten Tips for Topping the Success Ladder

February 11, 2015 by Dr. Gia 2 Comments

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In our culture, we pay homage to those who are “The First.” George Washington, the first president of the United States. Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. Diana Nyad, at 64, swam over 110 miles without a cage (from Cuba to Florida).

This reminds me of Roger Bannister. He was the first to run the mile in less than 4 minutes. Prior to this achievement it was believed that it was not possible for a human to run the mile that fast. In 1954, he ran the mile in 3:59 minutes. Given the perceived impossibility, one might think this was an anomaly and would never happen again.

But something very strange happened.

Since his accomplishment, multiple individuals has since broken the “four-minute-barrier.”

Why?

Perhaps this story sheds some insight into why we pay difference to “The First.”

Henry Ford said, 

if you think you can or if you think you can’t either way, you are probably right.

When something hasn’t been done, it is sometimes perceived as “not able to be done.” Those who have the courage to believe they can and DO, gives the rest of us permission to dream bigger, strive more, and reach higher.

There is one such person in my family. She was the first of her siblings to earn a college degree. She received a law degree from Creighton University Law School in Omaha Nebraska. And even after a successful and accomplished career, went back and earned a second terminal degree and  severed many years as a Methodist Minister and Pastor.

Her example while growing up, gave me permission to dream bigger, strive more, and reach higher. I asked Dr. Taylor-Thirus. 

“What skills do you believe are required for Leadership?”

Below is a list that includes some of the critical skills Dr. Taylor-Thirus learned personally, and from others, required for leadership.


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Exploring

“In leadership, you have to do a lot of exploring. You must have a curious nature. You can’t be satisfied with what you see in the moment. You have to be really curious, willing to explore, and think outside of the box.”

Preparation

“You also must prepare. Even if you are gifted by God, you still have to practice and prepare.”

Inspiration

“You have to have some means to be inspiration. Whether it is church, reading quotes, or meditation. You have to refill. I can’t be filled today and have it last until next week. It is on a continual basis.”

Determination

“You must have determination. People asked me “How did you do that?” I respond, “ you just have to keep going.” Anybody can do the things I’ve done if they just keep going.

I remember when I went to law school – I called it my 1,000-day journey because it was three years. I counted off the days. Sometimes it’s not about talent or skills but it is stick-to-it-iveness and determination.“

Communication

“You first have to know yourself. Learn to communicate with yourself, learn to listen to yourself, and then learn to communicate with others. Be a listener. That is very important.

I am reminded of the saying, ‘you have two ears and one mouth for a reason, so you can listen twice as much.’”

Influence

“You also need to be influential. And that means that if people don’t admire you, they aren’t going to follow you. You have to realize that to be a leader you have to influence people. And to influence people, they have to respect you more than just a paycheck. If it’s just a paycheck, they are going to undermine you.”

Compassion

“Compassion is also very necessary. It allows you to be able to feel what the people around you feel.”

Delegation

“Another important leadership skill is delegation. Delegating is the way I can get more out of the person, or the people who are working with me; to encourage them to feel that I have confidence in them and for them to go on and to be as much as they can be.”

Passion

“And, of course, you need passion. If you don’t like something, then don’t come, just don’t show up. You might be able to skim by for a while, but after a while it’s just going to blow up in your face.”

Follower

“Lastly, to lead, you must know how to follow and be willing to follow. You must walk in the shoes of the people you will be leading, to understand their world needs. You must develop the attitude of being the best you can be early in life in whatever profession or job you are in. The skills and characteristics needed for leadership must be developed before becoming a leader.”


I am grateful to Dr. Francine Taylor-Thrius for the time she so graciously gave me to interview her for this article.

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Inspiring People You Should Know – Hayward Suggs

January 13, 2015 by hsuggsmb@aol.com Leave a Comment

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According to Dortch (2000), the author for The Miracles of Mentoring,

a mentor is a trusted guide, provider of wise counsel, and a confident.

Clearly my mentor say his primary role differently. My mentor challenged, pushed, and provoked me.

He’d make me angry, frustrated me, and then would remind me that I was not obligated to our mentor – mentee relationships (ugh!)

Case in point …

books-441866__180After a rather intense negotiation, he hired me to manage his training department. My first week on-the-job, he gave me a book to read. Two days later, I returned it and sat down in the chair across from his desk, prepared to discuss its content.  He took the book, handed me another, and dismissed me.

Yup, I use the word “dismissed” because I felt like I’d just left the principal’s office.
 Two days later I returned the book.  He took it and handed me another.  After about a month into this process, I was pretty sick of reading.  I decided, after I finished my current book I would not return it. After about a week, he came to my office t0 “check on me.”  I told him that I’d finished  the book … I just needed a break.

He simply said, “you are responsible for your own development and apparently you are done.”

I sat there for a second with my hand in my head, then I  grabbed the book and took it to his office and yup … he gave me another book.

s41921cb112662_22very_largeDoneMr. Hayward Suggs is an executive coach, soft skill training expert, and the right consultant to have on your team if you are successful yet desire to dramatically improve your work or business performance outcomes. Hayward brings Velocity to your personal and business success.

Below is a transcript of a portion of our interview on leadership.


 

Hayward: You must be able to evaluate, make effective decisions quickly, and respond. You must be open to changing directions if you need to. You must be able to communicate with others in a way that builds relationships. Most importantly, listen. You also have to have the ability to “keep moving.” The issue of leadership is that there is followership. If the leader is not moving, how can someone be following? The leader is accountable for the mission. The “Mission” means there is an undertaking, that you are going somewhere.

Gia: What is your leadership style?

Hayward: I have the ability to “push-lead” from the back, be out front, or even in the middle. I do not often allow my ego to influence my decisions. Public recognition is subordinate to the outcomes. I don’t have to be in the forefront to lead; however I can be if that is what’s needed. For that matter, once I ensure that we are directionally correct, I am also willing to just go along and enjoy the ride. Leadership is like the geese that fly south for the winter. There should be fluidity, sometimes you are in the front leading the pack and others you are bringing up the rear.

Gia: What ethical issues have you faced?

Hayward: Balancing economics and a social agenda. There are times when a decision that has the ability to make the organization economically stronger can sometimes be at the expense of social benefit. Some social agendas are tremendously underfunded. The charge is to figure out how to reconcile the seemingly opposing agenda socially, politically, and economically. “No margin, no mission” -Peter Drucker says. Right now there is a tremendous amount of pressure to cut costs; however, cutting costs also means that a lot people who need help and support won’t get it. Especially right now, during a time when they may need it the most. Sometimes there just isn’t available money to pay for the services that are most needed. Even when you give your best, it sometimes feels like your best is not enough.

Gia: What do your constituents expect of a leader?

Hayward: Perfection! They expect you to be right, directionally correct, approachable, knowledgeable, and competent. They want to be heard and affirmed. Even if there isn’t agreement, they expect affirmation. Sometimes, you can be so gifted at articulating your point that people do not want to speak up and challenge your position or provide feedback. As a leader, you have to create an environment where people can be and are heard.

Gia: What paradigms impact your career?

Mr. Suggs: One is Peter Senge’s paradigm regarding “working on the system” verses “working in it.” The goal is to work on the organization. However, as a part of the organization you are “in” it. By not maintaining an organizational perspective, you risk responding in a truncated manner. When your focus is “in” the organization, you can only see so far. However, if you can just make it over the top, your perspective will be different and your decisions more effective. It is hard to get better when you are “in” it all the time, especially when you are dealing with hard things over a long period of time. The side effect of this is a tendency to start looking at what is in front of you instead of what is ahead. You risk losing vision. This is when, as a leader, it is important to acknowledge that you need help from other people. This admission is a sign of strength.

Gia: Is there anything you would like me to know that might help prepare me for future leadership / future leadership challenges?

Hayward: Stay open to learning and listening. Create an environment where people want to approach you and tell you things. If not, they will tell other people. 
 Courage is also critical. Stephen Covey talks about the need for balancing courage with consideration. [Winston] Churchill said that, “courage is the element of discipline that makes all the others disciplines possible”. He also said that, “you have to have the courage to stand up and the courage to sit down and be silent”. You also have to acknowledge and embrace your fears. Churchill says, “if you turn and run from your fears they double, but if you face them, you cut them in half.” That is hard to do when something is coming after you. However, that is often what’s required of a leader.

Gia:  Anything else?

Hayward: Have some fun. If you are not having fun, what is the point? If you are not having fun, then you are probably not leading the right charge.


I’d been accepted into the doctoral program.  My first day of class we were given a stack of books.  There were so many, they could not physically be carried.  They gave each of us a rolling backpack so we could get them all to our cars. That stack was very intimidating. One guy stood up and just walked out. We never saw him again.  I just looked at my stack and smiled … several of them I’d already read.  Thanks Mr Suggs!


 

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Inspiring People You Should Know

January 6, 2015 by Dr. Gia Leave a Comment

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English PoetJohn Donne was an English Poet in the 17th century. In his 1623 devotional series, he wrote the line,

No man is an island

As a successful public speaker and coach, yes … I am aware that this is a conundrum.
As a self-described ardent introvert, I frequently seek out the most private and remote islands I can find.

In my pursuit of solitude, I often inadvertently keep out individuals that have the potential to impacted and inspire me.

According to motivational speaker Jim Rohn,

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

We are, without exception, profoundly impacted by those around us.

I count it as a one of my most sincerest blessings that there were individuals who were able to build a bridge to my island and motivate, influence, and inspire me in ways, for which I am forever grateful.

One such individual is Sharon Green. I am not sure she is at all aware of the esteem in, which I hold her. I certainly never told her.

There are a few moments in my career, I regard as pivotal. She made a huge impact on one of them.

It was my first “lead” role. It was a statewide initiative that required:

  • town hall meetings to massage the huge change we new employees would resist,
  • the development of technical and operational trainings,
  • and the implementation of a train-the-trainer program to prepare staff, whom would then be deployed to facilitate the trainings statewide.

MeetingMy first town hall was a colossal failure.

I saw my role as an, informer. You know the, “this is what will be” approach.

“If you do not like it, find another job!”            (I know … awful).

About 60 individuals left the meeting that day far more angry, confused, and frustrated then they came. I clearly was not doing very well as a change agent.

I approached Sharon after the meeting, clear that it did not go well. I apologized for my failure and offered to stay on the team, but to step down so that someone else could lead.

(Pause for dramatic effect … signature life moment ahead …)

She said,

No, you will lead this project.

Given my vulnerability at that moment, a “Yes” may have changed my course in history. I believed my skills were inferior and not suited for leadership.

I asked her if there was anything I could do different the next time to improve my outcomes. She said,

Yes, listen.

I took her feedback to heart and changed the course of that project. To this day, I still apply the 80/20 rule when I engage my clients.

80% listening and only 20% talking

It is perhaps relevant to note, I now have a doctorate in leadership, I develop and facilitate leadership/soft skill development programs for my clients, and am an adjust professor for a Master of Organizational Leadership program … thank you Ms. Sharon Green.


Over the next few weeks, I would like to introduce you to two additional individuals who have both inspired and impacted me in ways that helped charter the path for a successful career.

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Hayward Suggs, MS, MBA
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Attorney & Reverend Francine Taylor-Thirus

I believe their interviews will inspire you, as they have inspired me.

Dr. Gia Consulting

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