A friend recently shared a simple reminder with me. It was “The first place we lose the battle is in our own thinking. If you think it’s permanent, then it’s permanent. If you think you’ve reached your limits, then you have. If you think you’ll never get well, then you won’t. You have to change your thinking. You need to see everything that’s holding you back, every obstacle, every limitation as only temporary.” Leader’s know that our thinking impacts the outcome—for good or bad. Thinking positively means we accept accountability for the outcome. ─ Christy Beem ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

By Ken Chapman, Ph.D Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc. Once you learn how to listen, your leadership skills will improve dramatically. You will communicate better and solve more problems. Here are some exercises that will improve your listening skills and help you get the most out of each meeting with a team member. 1. Clean off your desk when meeting with team members. If there are loose papers on your desk, you will unconsciously try to fiddle with them and may even start to glance over them. Clear your desk for every conversation so you can focus your attention on what is being said. 2. What is the color of the person’s eyes? Train yourself to notice eye color at the start of every conversation. It ensures that you will make significant eye contact which leads to more productive conversations. Most important, do not focus so much on eye color…

Leaders know that what is best can also be sad. Even good employees can be overwhelmed by the tragedy of their life away from work. Few decisions are more heart-breaking than severing the otherwise good employee, whose personal circumstances have destroyed his/her professional performance. Leaders who feel awful at such times hold on to their humanity, even as they make a necessary decision. ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Leaders know the power of passion. Caring passionately whittles the world down to a more manageable size. It places the spotlight on what can be done, rather than on what cannot. Leaders make things happen. ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

“Dear George- Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings. – Clarence.” That was the note written to the main character in the classic movie Its A Wonderful Life. Often developing lasting friendships, most of us spend at least as much or more time with our co-workers as with our family members. Leaders recognize how important friendships in the workplace are to each person’s overall well-being and even to their level of performance. Leaders know that workplace lunches and social opportunities have a great deal more meaning than just the meal itself. ─ Derek Conrad Brown ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

During her time hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone, Cheryl Strayed experienced moments of doubt and fear. She states, “Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story from the one women are told. I decided I was safe. I was strong. I was brave. Nothing could vanquish me.” Be bold. Evaluate whether the story you are telling yourself is working for you or against you. ─ Whitney Tate ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

When Admiral Mike Mullen became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he recalls receiving this warning from his predecessor: “You’ll eat some very good food, but be prepared never to hear the truth again.” The higher the leader is in the organization, the more reluctant others are to risk the leader’s displeasure by voicing a dissenting opinion or sharing bad news. Leaders know the value of receiving candid and timely input. A leader’s success may well depend on how safe an employee feels speaking truth to power. ─ Deb Miller ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

The popular host of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon, has a comedy skit about high school superlatives being used for current NFL players. It is a reminder that those high school year book superlatives are more humor than prophecy. However, what if your team was unanimously voted titles by the company? Would the list be “Most Likely to Bite off your Head” “Most likely to Exaggerate” or “Biggest Gossip?” Or would the list be “Most Supportive” “Greatest Team Cohesion” or “Most Compassionate and Honest Feedback?” ─ Christy Beem ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

By Ken Chapman, Ph.D Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc. Two men were traveling together through a forest when, without warning, a huge bear came crashing out of the brush near them. One of the men, thinking only of his own safety, shoved the other aside and scrambled up a tree. The other, unable to fight the bear alone, threw himself on the ground and lay very still. He remembered reading somewhere that a bear would not touch a dead body. It must have been true. The bear sniffed at the man’s head for awhile and seeming to be satisfied that he was dead, walked away. The man in the tree climbed down. “It looked just as if that bear whispered something in your ear,” he said. “What did he say?” “He said,” answered the other, “that ‘playing possum’ was clearly a better strategy than counting on you.” Well-founded confidence in…

Leaders master the art of patience. Impatience breeds fear, discouragement, and failure. Leaders know patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which given time, leads to success. ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.