Daring To Find Higher Purpose Beyond Crippling Disappointment

Again? Seriously? It’s that gnawing feeling. Those recurring thoughts you hate.You know the ones:

• It’s too late for you.
• You’ve stayed in that job too long.
• You’ve made too many mistakes.
• You’ve wasted too much time.
• You played it safe for so long
• You let your best years slip away.
• You’ve burned too many bridges.
• You’ve lost hope of your life ever changing.
• If it weren't for all of those mistakes.

When you hear talk of purpose in life, you think that’s just for the under 30 crowd. You know, those who still have plenty of time. Whose prime of life is still in the future.Or it’s the overachievers who have it all together.You know the ones who haven’t made as many mistakes as you have made. They haven’t  squandered the opportunities you have. They are yet to know the disappointments and devastation you’ve known.That purpose stuff is for those “perfect people” with the “perfect families”, the “perfect jobs” and the “perfect life".Oh poppycock! 

It's Not Too Late!

Whoever you are, wherever you may be right now as you read this. Even if you are able to read this and someone is reading it to you, there’s still time for you. Time to find…and fulfill your higher purpose in life.Yes indeed.Your failures, or the failures of others that were forced on you haven’t disqualified you from living a life of higher purpose.Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Take my friend Tiffany. She was abused as a child — certainly that was not anything of her own choosing or doing. She could have checked out in life. Been a victim and lived into that victim identity.Instead, she realized the pain of her past uniquely equipped her with insights, understanding, and compassion that  allow her to connect with children currently living in similar circumstances and situations.Today, she and her family, lead an orphanage in Guatemala and care for 80 girls rescued out of similar situations. Tiffany now realizes that the love that has filled her heart and life is her greatest asset for serving others.[Tweet "You are not defined by your past. Rather, you have been refined by it."]Just because you’ve been knocked down, doesn’t mean it’s over.

My Dark Season

Let me take you back to perhaps the darkest season of my life. I left a great job with a Fortune 50 company just six months after finally landing my dream job. You see, that dream job wasn’t all I had dreamed it would be.I had friends who were in the early phases of a promising high-tech start-up. I jumped ship. I walked away from a secure jog and a promising career. No bed of roses either.Within six months the bubble burst. The economy collapsed. Our start-up folded. Jobs were disappearing. People and companies filed record numbers of bankruptcies.I was hosed.In eight short months, we went from being in the best financial position of our married life to being in the worst. Yes, I said we, for I took my family with me on that ride. I didn’t drag them, they went willingly. And supportively.I was out of work for an extended period of time. Broke. Humiliated. Hopeless. Strapped. Angry. Perhaps worst of all, Isolated.And then it got worse. After a couple of months of rejection and unemployment that depression kicked in. Those were long, dark days and longer, darker nights.I wish I could tell you that everything changed overnight. That wouldn’t be the truth. That’s not how it was for me.What I can tell you that is true is that overnight, everything began to change.

To Risk or Not To Risk

I still remember visiting a church service with a friend. That day, the sermon was on faith. The pastor said, you could spell faith, RISK. Later in the sermon he said,[Tweet "For some of you, the greatest risk you will ever take, is to take no risk at all."]Bullseye! He was talking to me. I may not have been the only one he was talking to. But he was talking to me.You see, my failures had closed me off to risking anything. Ever. Again.I had determined to play it safe. To never ever do anything that involved any degree of risk again.[Tweet "The walls I had erected to protect me, had now become my prison."]The restlessness wouldn’t leave me alone. I wasn’t content playing it safe or small. It’s not how I was wired.It was bad enough that I wasn’t making a difference for anyone. What was worse was I wasn’t even making many dollars either. It was a desolate and desperate place.At that moment I made a decision. A decision that I would be willing to take risks agains. Actually, I think I realized I had to take risks again. As Marianne Williamson put it, “Your playing small does not serve the world.”While I may not be able to relate to your specific journey or circumstances. I have known disappointment, discouragement, and disenchantment. Actually, they still show up on a regular basis. More often than not, I recognize them and send them on their way.There’s more to my story, maybe I’ll share it later. There’s more to your story too.

Start Writing Your Next Chapter...NOW

Your current situation, however difficult or dire it may be, does not have to the final chapter of your life. I invite you. Actually, I implore you, dream again!Be willing to risk. To reach within and discover your unique contribution to the world and the next step to take to bring it to life.Silence those nagging notions that it’s too late for you by taking action right now! Download The 5 Questions You Must Answer to Align Yourself With Your Higher Purpose. Invest the time for introspection to discover your answers to these five questions. Then commit to taking a next step. It doesn’t have to be the perfect next step. You simply need to move. Forward.Find someone to talk to. Someone with whom to discuss your answers to these questions.Buy Profiles of Purpose: Stories of High Achievers Who Chose a Higher Purpose and read the stories of others, like Tiffany, who chose to find and fulfill their higher purpose in life.  

How to Find Your Life's Purpose...One Day, One Step At a Time

 We love the idea of overnight success. Let’s face it, many of us may even harbor dreams of one day being an overnight success.We imagine stepping onto the stage, the big screen, or the red dot and in just a moment — 3 minutes of a song, 5 minutes of an interview, or 17 minutes of a TED Talk, we instantly become an overnight success. Instantly, we are transported from obscurity to having our own hashtag (#Kev — catchy, eh?)Really? Is that how it happens?Is that how you imagine living into your life’s purpose? One day, you just magically step into your destiny.Or it that the myth we hold on to?

Gradually, Then Suddenly

Perhaps Ernest Hemingway’s brilliant description of how people go bankrupt also applies to how we find and fulfill our purpose and destiny in life. When asked how people go bankrupt, Hemingway said, “Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.”Think about it. Yes, there is a specific point in time people declare bankruptcy, but they were on the journey for months or even years leading up to that moment of “sudden” bankruptcy. It doesn’t happen overnight.[Tweet "Gradually, then suddenly, is how most of us discover our life’s purpose."]Consider this, even Jesus spent 30 years in relative obscurity before stepping onto the world stage. I imagine his life included some mundane moments working away in his father’s carpenter shop.I believe the same is true for how we find and fulfill our purpose in life.We don’t just wake up one morning and shazaam our life’s purpose happened overnight — while we were sleeping. On Monday life was dull, aimless, and unfulfilled only to awaken on Tuesday and “poof” we’re transported into a life filled with meaning and purpose.[Tweet "We live our way into life purpose one day, one decision at a time."]And for many of us, it’s a long and winding road we travelled to get there.

Profiles of Purpose

In Profiles of Purpose: Stories of High Achievers Who Chose Higher Purpose, I explore the pathways travelled by seven friends on their journeys to finding and fulfilling their higher purpose in life.And guess what? While each of them is a success in their own right, not one of them got there overnight. They each found their life purpose one day, one decision at a time.Get your copy of Profiles of Purpose exclusively from Amazon. As you read it, I trust you’ll be encouraged to take your next step on your journey to your higher purpose in life. If you've not yet downloaded your free copy of The 5 Questions You Must Answer To Align Yourself With Your Higher Purpose, grab it too as it will help you.What's a decision you recently made that helped you align with your life's purpose? Please share it in the comments below.

Which Road Did You Take On Your Way to Higher Purpose

Has your life journey been more of a straight line or a winding road? Given the choice, I’d pick the straight line — more out of my desire for speed and efficiency. Yet, as I look back on the path I’ve traveled, it’s been much more of a (cue the Beatles) The Long and Winding Road.Maybe you can relate to the twists and turns that life often takes. Or maybe you can’t relate, because you’re one of those who knew from kindergarten the path for your life and have beelined your way there without any deviation.

Writing straight with crooked lines

Either way, I hope you’ll read on. If you’ve taken the express route in life, maybe what follows will help you better understand those of us who haven’t. If you’re on the winding road, I hope this helps make sense of the journey you've traveled.Years ago I stumbled upon this saying, God writes straight with crooked lines. The winding path, while not always the most direct route, still leads forward (take another look at the image attached to this post). Often, the ascent of the climb is too much to tackle all at once, so you zig-zag your way up the mountain.Here's a brilliant insight that helped me,[Tweet ""Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." Søren Kierkegaard."]While we are in the throes of life unfolding, and yes, there are seasons when it seems more like life unravelling, it’s often hard to see any pattern, path, or purpose to the events of our lives.However, when we allow ourselves some room for reflection, and look back over a season, or seasons, of life, we probably see patterns. We may even realize that there was a pathway and that all along the way, we were on the course to discovering our life’s purpose.

How did you get here?

Let me share a story that illustrates this.A few years back, I had facilitated a two-day workshop in Seattle. The workshop had just ended, people had said their goodbyes, and I was packing up before heading out.Just then, I noticed Marcus making his way to the front of the room. He offered to help. Naturally, I accepted his offer.We chatted as we finished packing. It’s one of those conversations that still rings fresh in my ears.

Marcus began, “How did you get trained to do what you do?”

I responded with a bit of nervous laughter.

“Is that a silly question?”, he asked, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“Oh no! Not at all. It’s just that my answer may not be that helpful to you. Why do you ask?”

“Well…” Marcus was a bit timid. Earlier I had learned he was a veteran recovering from PTSD. “I want to do what you do.”

“I’m not sure my answer is what you’re looking for, but it is the truth…Nothing. And everything.”

At that moment, Marcus had that deer-in-the-headlight look, “Huh? I was hoping you could point me to a program or school to learn to do what you do.”

I continued, “Let me explain, nothing in the sense of receiving formal education or specific training to do what I was doing. However, everything I have ever done, in one way or another, has equipped and prepared me to do what I do.”

It clicked. I saw the light begin to shine in his eyes.

“Marcus, I believe all of your life experiences have prepared and equipped you to do something similar to what I do. You need to believe it and launch out to discover just what that is for you.”

Marcus smiled. He understood.

What about you and your path? 

What has your life journey prepared you to do?Can you relate to that nothing and everything comment from my conversation with Marcus? As you look back, can you now see how the dots connected to form a pathway? Are you able to trace straight lines from your crooked path?I sure hope so and I’d love to hear your story. Perhaps you’ll share some of it in a comment below. If you’re still trying to make sense of the path you’re traveling, maybe I can help.I’ve developed a framework, the Higher Purpose Pathway. It’s one of the tools I use to help people discover and fulfill their higher purpose in life. (And I believe we’re all hardwired for higher purpose.)I do this in both one-on-one sessions as well as in small group settings. We begin by mining the riches of your life’s journey to help you discover how you’re wired and what motivates you to make the world a better place.With that understanding in place, we map the path that leads to your ideal future. What’s the difference you dream of making in the world?From there, we muster the resources (including courage) needed to bring your dream to life. Then it’s time to mobilize for action and get you on your way.I’ve developed five-questions to help you get started and take the next step on your Higher Purpose Pathway. It's free! Download them now and carve out time in the next 24 hours to discover where you are, and what the best next steps are for your journey.And of course, I’d love to hear whether your path has been more zig-zag or straight line. Either way, keep living forward.

Pursuing Higher Purpose Globally via Tweetable Moments

Like many of you, I am passionately pursuing purpose in life. Not just any purpose, higher purpose. You know, those of us who actually believe we can make the world a better place. If not the whole world, at least our part of it.Recently, I had the privilege of gathering with 3,000 other passionate pursuers of higher purpose at the HOPE Global Forum. The common higher purpose that united us?  “Creating an inclusive economy that works for all citizens.” You can read why I considered HGF "unbelievably amazing" here.

Tweetable Moments

I know some of you are wondering, exactly what is a tweetable moment? And how do you tweet a moment?For those that ‘get’ Twitter, little explanation is needed. For those that don’t get Twitter — and that’s the larger crowd — I hope I can shed a little light here.Twitter is a social media platform. The real purpose of social media is sharing, not shouting.  It’s an opportunity to connect people — who may not otherwise ever meet — around a cause. However, we all know the shouters who think social media is their global soapbox for pontificating. We also know those who share everything... and wish they wouldn’t.Now, whenever I attend a conference, I am looking for tweetable moments — keen ideas or insights worth sharing with others who may, or may not, be in attendance.That’s accomplished with the use of a hashtag. The “#” with some letters or numbers after it. Following a hashtag allows you to see all of the posts from others who are also tweeting their takeaways.Here’s an example from HOPE Global Forum which was #HGF2016.Early in the conference, John Hope Bryant, founder of Operation HOPE made the comment, “PhDs are good, PhDos are better.” Now that’s tweetable! For starters it falls easily into the 140 character limit for tweets.  It’s also pithy and provocative.[Tweet "PhDs are good; PhDos are better! @JohnHopeBryant."]This tweet also allows room for commentary. Knowledge is necessary, but it must be combined with action to make a meaningful difference. I was amazed to watch how quickly ‘PhDos’ spread and the frequency with which subsequent speakers did a "call back" to the PhDos reference.

#HGF2016 Tweetable Moments

What follows are other Tweetable moments from #HGF2016. I’ve used Click to Tweet to make it easy for you to share your favorites with others. All you have to do is click and share right from the blog post to your Twitter account. I invite you to give it a try and see what happens.[Tweet "You get more out of a conference when you give something to it."][Tweet "The most dangerous person in the world is the person with no hope. #HGF2016 @johnhopebryant"][Tweet "If you hang around with 9 broke people, you'll soon become the 10th. #HGF2016 @johnhopebryant"][Tweet "Cynicism is not the antidote to hopelessness. @ChelseaClinton"][Tweet "#HigherPurpose transcends partisanship and politics."][Tweet "#SocialGood doesn't just happen; it's the result of #leadership decisions + intentional action."][Tweet "Creating #socialgood good is less about WHAT you do and more about HOW you do it. @KatColeATL"][Tweet "Partnering with your community is easy when you have the right partner. #HGF2016 @KatColeATL"][Tweet "Everyone has a strength to share! What is your strength? How are you sharing it? @KatColeATL"][Tweet "You can't have a movement without young people" #HGF2016 @AmbAndrewYoung"][Tweet "You don’t have to have money to be a #philanthropist; you only need a heart. @FrancineLeFrak"][Tweet "Who, in your community, can you share your story with? @KatColeATL"][Tweet "Everybody is somebody's hero. Whose hero are you?@KatColeATL"]

Have a Tweetable Moment to Share?

If you attended HOPE Global Forum and had other takeaways, feel free to add your tweetable takeaway in the comment section below.For your next conference, whether you’re the meeting planner, a speaker, or participant, consider how you can extend the impact of your conference through social media sharing.If you found these Higher Purpose Highlights inspiring and would like to download a printed version, click here.

Unbelievably Amazing! HOPE Global Forum 2016

When was the last time you attended an UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING conference?For me, it was just last week.The conference? Hope Global Forum 2016.What made it unbelievably amazing?The serendipity of several things. Let me share a few of those here. I’ll share more takeaways in future posts.

About Hope Global Forum

Sponsored by Operation HOPE, Hope Global Forum (HGF) is “a community of events that serve as a call to action: to inspire innovation and thought leadership around an inclusive economy that works for all citizens.”

HGF is higher purpose in action.

My personal mission is connecting high achievers to higher purpose. HGF attracts my kind of people for my kind of purpose -  high achievers from all sectors and several countries, each with a passion for making the world better place.There were actors, activists, and athletes engaging together with pundits, politicians, and preachers. It was an environment ripe for serendipity, that is, for experiencing good things not sought after.

How I got to HGF

In two words: “social media.”My favorite social media outlets are LinkedIn and Twitter. Both were instrumental in getting me to HGF.Back in November, I read John Hope Bryant’s book, How the Poor Can Save Capitalism. I tweeted highlights from the book as I went through it on my Kindle. (You can view my Kindle highlights from the book here.) John is the founder of Operation Hope. He responded to my tweets and we forged a connection 140 characters at a time. What a great guy!Then in December, I received a LinkedIn invitation to connect with Louis Enrique Negron, the President of the Atlanta Market Region for Operation HOPE. I accepted and we immediately engaged in deeper dialogue. As with John, a social media connection led to a personal bond. Another great guy!Naturally, when Louis invited me to attend HGF, my enthusiastic response was, “Yes!”So, you see, social media was my onramp to HGF.I believe that social media channels can lead to real relationships. Granted, there are many people who don’t understand that and use their favorite social media channels for self-promotion and pontification. But, don’t let that dissuade you from the really rich relational potential of social media.

Purpose attracts

One of the goals Operation HOPE has for the HGF is to connect people and stimulate partnerships that continue after the Forum.HGF recognizes that:[Tweet "Purpose attracts! The higher the purpose, the stronger the attraction."]While the HGF participants shared a higher purpose, it was certainly a diverse crowd. Diverse in age, experience, profession, political persuasion and passion.In a manner of speaking, HGF served as a great international banquet hall where people of purpose came together to meet, greet and eat.

Meeting, greeting and eating

Those of us who grew up in the southern United States recognizing that combining all three - meeting, greeting and eating - is a great way to begin a friendship.Indeed, at every conference you can meet people and most conferences provide opportunities for greeting, but as I see it, eating is essential for human connection. Through my connection to Louis, I managed an invitation to grab a bit during the “pre-reception reception.”A pre-reception reception. Who knew those existed?To my amazement, serendipity abounded at the pre-reception reception. During that 90 minutes I met purpose-driven people and engaged in several rich conversations over bites of nachos, guacamole, and popcorn.For example, I had a rich conversation on the development of leadership and organizational capacity in the social sector. In another conversation we explored the importance of marketing and messaging to mobilize the masses. Good food, great company, stimulating discussions.

Social media redux: JuJaMa

The HGF organizers used JuJaMa, an online platform and mobile app that facilitated interaction among meeting participants — before, during, and after the forum.I used JuJaMa in advance of HGF to connect with people I knew and to make sure we met while at the conference. I love how JuJaMa integrates social media, especially LinkedIn right into its platform.A pleasant surprise for me - in other words, serendipity - was the number of people with whom I reconnected during the three days. Some, I hadn’t seen in a few months. For others it had been 8 - 10 years since our paths last crossed. But there we were, intersecting again, attracted by higher purpose.And then there was the opportunity to connect on-land with people I have only known online. There were a few of those. This might sound strange to some, but several, of my online relationships are every bit as authentic as those relationships with people whom I see regularly in person.

Chatting and chewing/developing and doing

I love healthy dialogue and robust discussions. I can “chat and chew” for hours.The theme of HGF was “Reimagining the Global Economy” as one that works for everyone — whoever and wherever you are in the world.Included in the program were discussions of policy, showcases of innovative thought and action across all sectors: business, industry, government, arts, education and entertainment. All focusing on what’s being done or could be done to increase opportunity and participation in the global economy.There was plenty to chat and chew about between sessions.But it wasn’t just talking heads and bleeding hearts. It was a call to action. Informed, passionate, purposeful, personal, and professional.Knowledge is essential. But unless knowledge leads to informed action, what good is it?Or as John Hope Bryant put it, [Tweet "@johnhopebryant PhDs are good, PhDos are better."]Here’s one way I spin that:[Tweet "The sooner chat and chew becomes develop and do the better."]

Business-in-a-Box - everyone wins

One primary way that Operation HOPE promotes action is through HOPE Business In A Box. This program provides educational opportunities and mentorship to young entrepreneurs.Friday’s lunch session featured a “Pitch Competition” showcasing four organizations founded by young entrepreneurs putting their learning into practice. The pitches rivaled any you would see on an episode of Shark Tank.The young entrepreneurs wowed the judges and the audience with their entrepreneurship. But unlike Shark Tank, is there were no losers in the Pitch Competition. Each contestant received financial support, technology, and most of all, mentoring.The winner was Alexia of Miniature Chefs. She’s one to follow on her journey.

What’s next after HGF?

Now I’m digging out after three days away at a conference. Following up with phone calls, emails, tweets, and LinkedIn connections. Finding ways to take action on the ideas we explored. While the precise date for next year’s HGF is not yet finalized, the meeting is slated for March in Atlanta and will celebrate 25 years of Operation HOPE. I can’t wait! And I hope to see you there, virtually, and in person.Looking to learn more about Operation HOPE? Check them out via their website or follow them on Twitter (@OperationHOPE).I’m compiling my Tweetable Takeaways from HGF in what I’m calling the Higher Purpose Highlights inspired by Hope Global Forum. I'll share those soon to inspire you on your pursuit of higher purpose.

Destined for Significance, Settling for Success

Have you ever received advice on how to be successful?  Probably, especially if you grew up in the good ole USA. It could have been advice from a relative or the keynote speaker at your graduation — whether college or kindergarten. “What you need to succeed" is always a hot topic for commencement addresses.Perhaps you went searching for advice on “how to be successful”. If so, I hope you had a source other than Google to consult. Or at least, I hope you had a more specific query for your search.  Otherwise you’ve got a lot of reading to do.According to the query I just ran on Google, I found 703,000,000 — thats 703 MILLION sources of advice on how to be successful. That’s a lot of advice! Much of it is questionable. And a whole bunch (technical scientific term) of it is outright bad.

The Quest for Success

How do I know? I’ve heard it, read it, and even practiced it. In case you’re skeptical, let me share this small sampling:

30 Habits You Should Adopt — Seriously, 30. Why not 100? Habits are so easy to adopt. If you accept the data that it takes 21 days to adopt a habit and there are 30 to adopt, that’s only 630 days to secure those habits. Now some “experts” say it takes 66 days for that habit to stick — ugh, that two years extends to 5.5 years.  Good luck with that.

11 Books That Will Teach You to Be Successful — Really? Just 11 books to read.  Wonder if there is any conflicting or confusing advice in those 11 books? If so, how do you know who’s right? Just thinking out loud here.

How I Became Rich Before 30 and How You Can Too — Oops, should have found that one a few years ago. If, like me, and already past 30, just skip that one.

21 Ways to Achieve Wealth and Success — Once again, I appreciate the simplicity of having only 21 more things to master.

6 Things You Should Quit Doing…hope none of those were one of the 30 habits you spent 630 days adopting. And the list goes on.

Trust me, after spending 15 years in corporate sales in a Fortune 50 company, I sat through my fair share of success seminars. I can’t say I’ve heard it all, but I’ve heard most of it. Some of what I heard was nonsense and I immediately dismissed it. Much of it was commonsense that affirmed what I had learned from my parents and teachers.There’s one thing I wish I had heard earlier in life.[Tweet "Success is a poor substitute for significance."]Success may get you to the door of significance, but success alone, won’t get you through the door. What do you mean, Kevin?Well, success may bring you to the place in life where you realize there is more to life than winning the next championship, closing the big deal, acquiring another company, or summiting a higher mountain. Your success in life, in all of the various domains of life, may bring you to the threshold of significance, but success does not guarantee significance.

Four ways significance differs from success

Success is short-lived, significance endures. Records will be broken. Your best performance will, sooner or later, be bested by others. Success always demands more.  It’s amazing to hear of Olympic athletes who just won a Gold medal and set a world record wondering what’s next and if their best day in life is now history. Acts of significance, even if done in obscurity will endure.Success can be a solo quest, significance always involves others. While none of us truly succeeds alone, we need the support and encouragement of others. However, in many arenas, success recognizes the one in the winner circle or the spotlight. And, granted, there are times, winners forget about the others who contributed to their success.Baseball legend, Jackie Robinson offered a keen insight. “A life isn't significant except for its impact on other lives.” You can’t be significant in isolation. In some way, directly or indirectly, you must make an impact on others to truly be significant.Success results from striving, significance results from serving.  No doubt that long hours, consistent effort, and hard work are necessary for success. Success is often focused on self — honing your skills, developing your talents, sharpening your abilities. The path to significance is found through serving. Serving is the giving of your time, resources, and self on behalf of others.Success is achieved, significance is bestowed. You earn success by accomplishing goals, shattering records, or besting the competition (with yourself or others). And you can demonstrate your success by your achievements. However, you can’t climb or earn your way to significance. It’s bestowed on you by others for the benefit they have received from your contribution to their life, organization, or community. I applaud your drive and desire to succeed. At the same time, I encourage you to consider the higher purpose your success makes possible — for you and others.

If you're destined for significance, why settle for success?

[Tweet "Don't settle for success when you're destined for significance."] If you’re looking for help identifying your higher purpose, I’ve got five questions for you to ask and answer to get you started and you can access them below.Want more help? Let’s connect on a call and get you plugged into our next group event or even a one-on-one if you can’t wait.

How To Dial In On Your One Thing

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”That’s the BIG question Gary Keller poses in his New York Times bestseller The ONE Thing.Pat Flynn suggested I read the book. I did. Honestly, I’m still struggling to make this work as an organizing principle for my work.Why is that?Well, there are so many things vying for my time and attention. It’s easy to flit from one thing to another and I was taught to create to-do lists, LONG lists.Heck, there were many days when I started making my list, that I would put 2 or 3 things on it that I had already done just so I could experience the joy of checking them off. Some of you know what I mean. I’ve seen you do it too.Come what may, at the end of the day I can look back at all of the check marks on my list and get some sense of satisfaction of having accomplished something. After all, look at all of those checkmarks!Can you relate?

You Were Made For More Than Checking Things Off!

That’s how many people approach life. We fill our days, nights, and weekends with lots of activities. We may not be making real progress towards any worthwhile goal, but gosh darn it, look at all of the things we did!So we flit from one thing to the next.

• Make sure you get the kids to the practice on time!
• Don’t miss this week’s game!
• Oh, did you pick up refreshments for the meeting?
• Did we get that dinner with the Jones’ scheduled?
• Remember, we’ve got that birthday party for Susan on Sunday afternoon.
• You did call your Mom this week, didn’t you?
• What time is the PTA meeting this week? This week? I thought it was next week!

Oh, and then there’s that deadline on the BIG project at work. And the potluck at church.  And I promised to take the kids skating this week. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a nap. Don’t have time for a nap? Just hit me up with a triple shot espresso.Most of us are so busy doing so many things, who could possibly squeeze one more thing into your schedule? Into your life?A common response — What do you mean ONE thing? I’ve got a million things! STOP! This is insane! And I’m not just talking about this post. I’m talking about this lifestyle.

We’ve gone from “s/he who dies with the most toys wins” to “s/he with the busiest schedule is the most fulfilled.”

REALLY? Recall these words I love from Gandhi, “Speed is irrelevant if you’re going in the wrong direction.”Sprinkle this in from Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”WOW! Who cares how many things you get done, if the things you’re doing are trivial and meaningless? Why bother cramming one more thing to an overfull life that is void of fulfillment?Instead, simplify. Rather than trying to do it all, focus on doing what matters most.And when do you suggest I have time to do that, Kevin?Well, this is important enough that I suggest you begin carving out time. Even 5 minutes — 5 undistracted minutes will help. Begin by discovering the unifying theme of your higher purpose in life. Yes, you have a higher purpose in life. I believe you have ONE thing that matters more to you than all of the other little things in life.Don’t misinterpret me here. I’m not saying you have ONE, and only ONE thing in ALL of your life and that it never changes. I am suggesting there is ONE things that matters more than much of the clutter you’ve collected. Dialing in on that ONE things brings clarity and focus to the other things.

Here are 5 questions to help you dial in on the ONE thing that matters most in this season of your life.

The ONE thing that at the end of your a week, a month, a year, even a lifetime, you can look back on and find great fulfillment in having done.

1. What’s ONE thing you never grow weary of doing? Actually, instead of getting tired, you are energized by doing it?
2. What’s ONE thing that riles you up faster than anything else? Is it a social justice issue? An issue of equality or inequality?
3. Is there ONE group of people (or place) for whom you are most concerned for or committed to serving?
4. If you interviewed 5 people who know you well and asked them, “What’s ONE thing I do best or better than most?” Would you find a common theme in their answers?
5. What’s the ONE dent in the universe you want to make?

As you reflect on your answers to these questions, is there ONE thing that stands out to you?Perhaps that’s the ONE thing you want to accomplish in life so that having accomplished it, or at least invested your best energies and efforts in it, you’re living a life worth living. A life pursuing your higher purpose.

Hardwired For A Higher Purpose: Yes, You

You are on a quest. As am I. It's great that our paths have crossed at this time in our respective journeys.All of humanity is invited to join this quest.  Viktor Frankl called it the search for meaning. Yes, deep inside, we want to believe life has meaning and purpose. That it’s no accident that we’re here and that there’s more to life than bumbling and stumbling through it.It’s not enough to believe there is meaning and purpose to life in some broad,  generic sense. Each of us wants to believe there is meaning and purpose to our life.You want to believe it’s true for you, just as much as I do for me. And you want to discover, embrace, and fulfill your life’s purpose.We don’t want to be spectators, simply sitting on the sidelines or in the stands watching others as they live magnanimous lives of adventure and purpose while we muddle through the monotony and mediocrity of a mundane existence.Frankl had a label for that too. He called it the existential vacuum. The zombie-like state of bouncing from one activity to the next in hopes of drowning out the longings and emptiness we might otherwise have to acknowledge.And Frankl observed this boredom at a time when most televisions had only three channels. Of black and white pictures at that. News? It was delivered twice a day rather than every minute of every day.But that’s not the kind of person you are.You are one who has been awakened or aroused out of this existential vacuum and you are searching for answers or, at least, clues to the specific meaning of your life. And once you discover that meaning, you won’t be content until you find ways to live it out.

The Second Most Important Day of Your LIFE

There’s a great line attributed to Mark Twain, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Day one? Check! Yes you are alive.Day Two? Hold that thought for a moment, please.Solomon, highly regarded by many for his great wisdom, declared that God set eternity in the hearts of men and women. C.S. Lewis expounded on that a bit by saying, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”Eternity in our hearts? Really? What does that mean? How can it fit?It means we have desires that aren’t satisfied simply by doing more, having more, or achieving more. These desires require us to become more.I see this as part and parcel of our search for meaning. It’s discovering the design and the designer of life. I call it higher purpose. We are all invited to higher purpose living. Living for something more and something beyond me, myself, and I.You are meant for more, but what more were you meant for?So what about your second most important day that Twain mentioned?

Discovering the why of your life. How do you do that?

That’s the quest. It’s what I call the Higher Purpose Pathway. And if you’re still reading, I’ve got great news for you. You’ve already begun the journey!Asking questions, coupled with a willingness to wrestle with your answers to those questions (and then acting on what you find) are essential elements. These help you unlock the doors and facilitate the discovery of who you are, why you are here, what your unique contribution to the world is, and the people or people groups you want to serve.The clues are abundant. As a matter of fact, they are all around and in you. You are uniquely made. There is no one else exactly like you. Even if you’re an identical twin.You are endowed with gifts talents, and abilities — strengths and skills. Your passions and perspectives are uniquely yours. What gives you great joy, what riles you up and gets your juices flowing — it’s all unique to you and revealing about you.Your specific journey, perspective, and life experiences make you one-of-a-kind.Besides that, there are some people (or people groups) for whom you have a soft spot in your heart. They are your others. The people for whom you want to make the world, or their world, a better place.

Higher purpose always includes someone else.

Jackie Robinson put it like this, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” You are not the center of the universe. Who is your other? Whose world do you long to impact?I want to help you discover the higher purpose of your life and the best next step for you to take to live into your higher purpose. I’ve got a resource to help on your quest. It’s five powerful questions to illuminate your path.Up and to the right is where you can download your free copy. Carve out 5 - 10 minutes to begin answering the five questions. You can complete it electronically or print it out and complete it manually. The key is finding your answers to these questions and taking your next step.Do it now. Take a bold step into your bright future. Discover the purpose you are hardwired to fulfill.

"He knew my name!" Big Deal?

Who were those who helped shape your understanding of leadership? Specifically, how did they do that?Those questions framed a discussion I led last week with a group of 32 leaders from around the world in the Leadership Institute Master Class (LIMC) for Project Management Institute (PMI). LIMC is a yearlong personal and professional development journey sponsored by PMI that encourages and equips leaders for greater effectiveness.For the past two years, I have had the privilege of serving alongside my friend, Aileen Ellis, to co-facilitate the three-day leadership intensive that launches this journey. In the, “Discovering the Leader IN You” session, I guided Master Class members through three guided reflections on what it means to be a leader and to lead well.In the opening, we explore the first leaders we encountered and how did those encounters shape our understanding of leadership.It’s often enlightening to consider the roots of how our leadership perceptions. Indeed, the discussion at LIMC that totally WOWED me last week.After exploring how our group first learned leadership, I teed up the discussion by encouraging participants to, “Think about a leader you admire — it can be someone you know personally, a leader from history, or someone on the world stage.”

First impressions, lasting encounters.

As I floated around the room, I heard two stories worth repeating.Beth Rick from Ohio shared of an encounter she had five years ago when she spent a day serving as host and handler for General Colin Powell when he was in Columbus to keynote the Professional Development Day for PMI Central Ohio Chapter.Beth shared how nervous she was as she anticipated spending the whole day with a person of such power and stature. She wondered, “Will he be intimidating?”After all, he was a four-star general in the United States Army, had served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the US Secretary of State.And then there was the limo.Apparently, General Powell’s speaker’s bureau inserted a provision in his contract that he be picked up in a limo.Beth didn’t know what to expect.But as it turned out, General Powell was a kind and compassionate man who immediately put her at ease. Maybe it was his quip about, “What? Are we going to the prom?” when he saw the limo.And he was genuinely interested in her as person and a great conversationalist.She was struck by his authenticity and how, throughout the day, he made it a point of recognizing all the people who crossed their path who were doing what many might consider “insignificant jobs”. You know, the servers, whether they were serving food, cleaning facilities, or attending to the AV. General Powell recognized them and thanked them for their service.

Leadership at its best!

Next, Merete Munch Lange from Norway was recounting an experience from the process of joining her current employer, Sopra Steria.Between the time she had received the job offer and her official start date, she was invited to attend a special company meeting. Imagine her surprise when Thomas, the firm's Managing Director and her bosses' boss, sought her out, addressed her by name and said, “We’re excited to have you join us.”Her response? “He knew my name.” I had not yet met him, I don’t even work here yet, and he knows me by name!As we sat in last week’s LIMC session, more than 18 months had passed since Merete had that experience. Yet when prompted to reflect on leaders she admired and why, that seemingly insignificant event was top of her mind.What had that encounter communicated to Merete?That she mattered. That she was viewed as a valuable member of the team, a key contributor. It validated her. As a person.That simple act — welcoming her by name — was a big deal!

Little things matter most.

Merete’s story underscored the importance of connecting with people as individuals. Seeing them, knowing them, and calling them by name.One of the primary things I’ve learned in my work developing leaders— little things matter most. Never underestimate the power of connecting with people as individuals. In my experience, the best leaders connect with everyone on your team by name.Without you even knowing it, your seemingly insignificant act may actually shape the understanding of what it means to be a great leader for people in your life like Beth and Merete.

7 Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Consulting

Every journey has milestones of one form or another – markers of time, distance or achievement. Some milestones are large while others seem small.What’s your favorite way to celebrate reaching a milestone?You do celebrate milestones, don’t you? When you reach one, do you take time to slow down, reflect, and celebrate your accomplishment?Or do you keep rushing forward, more concerned about the leg of the journey ahead than the leg of the journey just completed?If the latter, I can relate. That’s how I used to be —busy with the “real” work and finding little time for “warm and fuzzy” stuff like quiet, mindful reflection.In a few days, I’ll celebrate a big milestone in my professional journey — ten years as an independent consultant. In September 2005 I took the plunge and launched X Factor Consulting. I have been working as a consultant ever since.I’m planning to celebrate in several ways — many of which involve sharing. I’ve benefitted from dozens of people have invested richly in my success and I want to do the same for others. To start my celebration, I’m sharing seven key lessons I’ve learned over these past 10 years.

1. Consulting is a people business at its core. Every business is a people business. I learned that from my Dad. Firms don’t hire firms. People hire people — usually people they trust and like. Tip — the best way to develop business is to connect authentically and network naturally on a daily basis with people who value relationships.
2. Mindset matters. I believe Henry Ford was right when he said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” Your first sale can be the hardest because the first person you’ve got sell is yourself. It may be hard to get a client to believe your services are valuable if you don’t believe that yourself. Tip — develop routines and rituals that keep you centered, believing in yourself, and perpetually in a growth mindset.
3. Sharpen the axe. And I believe Abraham Lincoln was right when he said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Of course, we are the axes and our consulting projects are the trees. The investments I’ve made in my professional development have benefitted my clients and me. Tip — invest richly and regularly in your ongoing professional develop. Find mentors and masterminds to help you grow.
4. Clients are more interested in their results than your process. Say it isn’t so, but it is. In my experience, it’s rare when a client hires a consultant because of “how” they produce; they hire you because of “what” you produce. And, back to point one, people hire people, not processes. Tip — learn to ask great questions about clients, the results they seek, and the barriers that stand in their ways. Then, listen to the answers.
5. Balance working “in your business” and “on your business.” Every slow season I’ve experienced in my 10 years of consulting came after spending a disproportionate amount of time working in the business (delivering client work) rather than on it (business development, developing systems, etc.). Tip — develop systems and checklists to make sure you’re doing something to work on your business sometime every week.
6. Do more than you say you are going to do. I am regularly amazed to see consultants who simply don’t do what they say they are going to do. Few things alienate a client faster than breaking a promise, even a trivial one (“I will send you that document later this afternoon”). As the saying goes, it’s best to under promise and over deliver. So don’t say yes to something if you can’t complete the tasks and commit to the timeline. Tip — find a reliable system — maybe another person to act as an “accountability partner” — or some other way to hold you accountable.
7. Think before you speak, especially when saying yes. Every decision involves tradeoffs. And every time you say yes to one opportunity, you’re actually saying no to something else. There simply isn’t time to do it all, so choose wisely. Tip — learn to say, “no”. Yes, you can learn to say no gracefully and resolutely and you must unless you’re fine allowing others to control your destiny and establish your priorities.

While these aren’t all of the lessons I’ve learned over the last decade, these seven are significant and I trust they will help you on your journey.*******If you are looking to launch a consulting business or lift your current practice to the next level, consider joining me for our next two-day Consultant’s Launch and Lift. Email me at kmonroe@xfactorllc.com for details.

Why America Needs a Servant-Leader - 5 Values

Were you expecting a national discussion of servant leadership in connection with the next U.S. presidential election?That’s what Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz started last week with an op-ed in the New York Times entitled, “America Deserves a Servant Leader.”Schultz advocated servant leadership as the essential element needed for all of today’s leaders, including the next U.S. president. Here’s my favorite line from the piece:

‘The values of servant leadership — putting others first and leading from the heart — need to emerge from every corner of American life, including the business community.”

So, what are the values of servant leadership that are particularly relevant for leaders in every corner of American life?Here are five that make my list:

1. Service above self. Simply put, it’s about putting aside ego and focusing on the needs of those we’re privileged to lead. Servant-leaders sense a calling to serve others first, not to be self-promoters. In politics, it’s about putting the “service” back in “public service.”
2. Power from paradox. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best when he exhorted us to be both tough-minded and tender-hearted. Servant-leaders inevitably make tough decisions. But at the same time, they unlock immense power by uniting heart, head, and hands in service to others.
3. Unity over divisiveness. Leaders and followers are all part of one single human family. Servant-leaders have a particular appreciation for systems thinking, seeing the big picture and understanding the interconnectedness of the modern world. Naturally, they lead by uniting people, not by dividing them.
4. Listening and learning. Robert Greenleaf, considered the founder of the modern servant leadership movement, advised servant-leaders to respond to any problem by listening first and speaking only when words would improve upon the silence. Modern politicians tend not to heed Greenleaf’s advice. If they want to grow as servant-leaders, they should.
5. Stewarding and sharing power. All leadership involves power and history warns of the corruptive nature of unbridled power – especially in the political arena. Rather than seeking power for personal gain or shunning it out of fear, servant-leaders seek to harness power to build a more just and sustainable world and share it with others willing to do the same.

It would be wonderful if the discussion instigated by Howard Schultz continues throughout this U.S. election cycle. Discussing ideas of how to best serve the needs of all Americans would certainly change the tone and tenor of future debates among the candidates.You can read Howard Schultz’s op-ed piece by clicking here.And if you want to learn more about servant leadership at Starbucks, you might enjoy my recent podcast with Howard Behar, first president of Starbucks International and a powerful voice in the servant leadership movement.

The Transforming Power of Servant Leadership -- 6 Reasons

“Servant leadership is very strong stuff. If you really live it, servant leadership changes everything.” That’s what Ari Weinzweig, CEO and Co-founder of Zingerman’s Deli, told me in one of our Servant Leadership Sessions podcasts.In our latest Servant Leadership Session,  Dr. Ann McGee-Cooper voiced a similar view: “Servant leadership is something that, if you dare to bring it into your life, transforms everything about who you are and your values, how you think, your priorities, how you live your life.”The transforming power of servant leadership: Why does that theme appear so regularly?Here are six reasons I have identified.

1. Servant leadership is holistic. It’s a philosophy of leadership and life. If you’re serious about it, servant leadership is 24/7. Servant leadership impacts every area of your life — what you do as a parent, partner, parishioner, or PTA member. It harmonizes all areas of your life into a beautiful symphony of service.
2. Servant leadership taps into the transcendent. Something larger than self-interest calls a servant-leader to serve. For many, the source of transcendence is their religious faith. For others, it’s a noble cause or mission. In either case, people find servant leadership provides immense power from outside them.
3. Servant leadership bonds leaders and followers. I’m amazed how servant leadership unites leaders and followers into a collective we. Servant leadership dissolves individualism and replaces it with trust, camaraderie, and shared purpose. Nothing is more effective for team building.
4. Servant leadership makes followers into leaders. Self-interested leaders seek to transform people into their followers. Servant-leaders seek to transform people into leaders. A servant-leader seeks relentlessly to pass on and develop the servant leadership spirit in her or his followers.
5. Servant leadership makes meaning of the mundane. Life contains far more moments of tedium than opportunities for grand adventure. Servant-leaders are everyday heroes. Their transformative power comes from the ability to bring meaning to the small things – listening attentively, shaking hands, asking “how are you doing?” and meaning it.
6. Servant leadership is egalitarian. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve…. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love."

For me, the transforming power of servant leadership comes from all these six of reasons, working together. The diversification of this “portfolio” is the source of its effectiveness. Servant leadership adapts to each new day, each new context, and each new human interaction.Have you been touched by the transformational power of servant leadership? Has a servant-leader in your life helped you change from follower to leader? What would you add to this list of 6 reasons, and why?

The Transforming Power of Servant Leadership

Have you ever encountered a person who truly challenged your understanding of the world? Ann McGee-Cooper encountered such a person in Robert K. Greenleaf, the humble man credited with launching the modern servant leadership movement.Bob Greenleaf mentored Ann during the last 10 years of his life. He helped Ann realize,

Servant leadership is something that if you dare to bring into your life it transforms everything about who you are and your values, how you think, your priorities, how you live your life.

Ann embodies servant leadership. Like a true servant leader, she has inspired many others. Her influence is still felt today in such great companies as Southwest Airlines, TDIndustries and The Container Store.Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Ann for our Servant Leadership Sessions podcast. It was a rich and transformative conversation, so rich that we’re making two episodes out of it.In this episode, we explore what Ann learned through her relationship with Bob Greenleaf and how it transformed her life and work. Some of what you will hear includes: deep listening, looking inward, true dialogue (including silence), and the value of slowing down.One of the great reminders that struck with me from my conversation with Ann was, “Your role model is your most powerful teaching tool." I'd love to hear your key takeaways after you listen to our conversation.You can listen directly from our website or download from iTunes. Hope you find encouragement for your servant-leader journey.

What if Small is the New BIG in Employee Engagement?

When it comes to enhancing employee engagement, what if your biggest gains actually result from something small? That's what Kevin Nakao and his colleagues at TinyHR believe. And it's what led them to create TINYpulse, short weekly surveys that provide leaders with actionable insights that improve employee happiness, productivity, and engagement.Kevin Nakao, head of employee engagement at TinyHR, is our guest for this month's Servant Leadership Session podcast. In it, we discuss how little surveys --pulse surveys -- are leading to big improvements for a host of companies seeking to improve workplace happiness and employee engagement.While pulse surveys aren't a silver bullet solution. They are instrumental in revealing the concerns, challenges, and celebrations of your employees in real-time (well, almost).The magic -- if you want to call it that -- comes from using survey results as springboards for candid conversations and allowing those conversations to result in informed action.If this sounds interesting to you, we invite you to listen to our complete conversation. Who knows? It just might lead to your next big insight.

4 Revealing Responses to Mistakes

Misteaks happen!And when they do, what happens next reveals much about an organization's culture.Think back to a recent mistake in your organization. How was it handled? What was communicated —overtly and/or covertly — to everyone else about mistakes,? What were the consequences and how did they affect future behavior?Granted, we all make mistakes and not all mistakes are equal. Some are minor and insignificant while others are major with extremely significant, and in some cases, costly, implications.Here are four typical responses to a mistake – be it minor or major – and what that response says about organizational culture.Cover it Up. If news of a mistake can be contained, then a typical next step is the cover-up – hide it, bury it, sweep it under the rug – anything but disclose the mistake to others. (Teams go for the cover-up as do individuals.) When cover-up is the first response to a mistake, it is a good sign that fear rules the day. It is also a good sign that risk-taking, innovation, and out-of-the box thinking have left the building.Pass the Blame. Often, the first course of action after a mistake is to play the blame game, which has two parts: (1) identify the responsible parties; and (2) avoid being identified as among the responsible parties. The blame game is played in a punitive culture, one that believes the stick is mightier than the carrot. In a punitive culture, resources are wasted in insignificant risk reduction activities and, of course, in the multiple maneuvers to CYA.Blow it Off. “Hey, it was no big deal, everybody makes mistakes.” One way to downplay mistakes is to take a laissez-faire approach where no one interferes with the personal freedoms of their team members. And of course, this you-don’t-mess-with-me-and-I-won’t-mess-with-you approach can seem to work in interest of everyone – except the organization itself. An organizational culture that has abandoned accountability has also compromised its future success.Learn from It. There is a story that gets told in different forms about Thomas Watson, Sr., founder of IBM. As the story goes, a new vice president had led a risky venture which ended up losing a million dollars, no small sum in IBM’s early days. Watson summoned the vice president to his office. “Do you know why I called you here?” Watson asked. “I suppose to fire me,” the vice president replied. “Fire you?” Watson bellowed, “We just spent a million bucks to educate you!”In a learning culture, it’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it.Eliminating mistakes is not possible; developing healthier responses to mistakes is. We can bury, blame, blow ‘em off – or, in the spirit of Thomas Watson, we can turn them into valuable learning experiences.What will you do to ensure the next mistake in your department becomes a learning moment?

Another New Start

Starting. Over. Again. Do you ever feel like you're starting over again? You know like your first day at a new school or new job. Not knowing anybody. Not quite sure what to expect. Hoping you'll find some friendly faces and people that will look you in the eyes rather than looking the other way. People who will extend a hand and say, "Hi, you're new here, aren't you? Let me help you get acquainted."That's sorta what I feel writing this first post. It's a starting point. After all, this is my first entry on my new blog site. A site I said I'd never have. Yet, here it is after a year or so of putting it off. A site with my name as the domain. Yuck! I resisted this for years. Yet, now here it is and here I am.Starting over. This is not my first time blogging. I blogged for years through my company site, X Factor Consulting. Those posts were painful. Painful to write because they were written more like term papers than blog posts. And if I'll be honest, they were probably painful to read -- unless of course, you're a teacher or professor. Then they may have still been painful, but you might have had fun with your red pen.I also write some of the blog posts for Cairnway -- a boutique firm that I co-founded along with Joe Iarocci. Those posts center around our work in leadership development and servant leadership advancement.Starting over again. This is a fresh start. A new site. A home base where I write about things that may not neatly fit into the work I do through X Factor Consulting or Cairnway Center for Servant Leadership Excellence. Topics that are important to me. More importantly, I'm looking to connect in community with likeminded people from all around the world. Perhaps we live close enough together to connect for coffee. Or perhaps we'll have an opportunity to work in your company or community. Or maybe we just connect through sharing comments here or on other social media outlets.As we're just getting started, I'm inviting you to join our mailing list. At this moment, I don't have an incentive to offer. Just the offer of relationship to a community of likeminded people -- people of purpose and passion who want to offer their contribution to make the world better. I'd also love to connect with you on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.  

Is Servant Leadership Suffering an Image Problem?

Not long ago, I interviewed a best-selling author whose book advocates servant leadership ideals but never uses the term “servant leadership.” I asked if the author was familiar with servant leadership.“Yes, I think so, but I’m not sure how you define servant leadership. If you mean that leaders must always sacrifice themselves for those they lead, then I’m not a big fan.”If you define servant leadership that way, then I’m not a big fan of it either. To always sacrifice your self for others is not service – it’s martyrdom.Upon reflection, I realized that my author friend was not a big fan of servant leadership because he held a caricature of it in his mind.Many caricatures of servant leadership result from its blending of two seemingly contradictory elements - “servant” and “leadership” - into one powerful philosophy.Let’s explore three of the most frequent caricatures of servant leadership:

1. Servant leadership is soft. Martin Luther King, Jr. may have put it best when he admonished that, “We must always be tough-minded and tender-hearted.” That’s a great characterization of servant leadership – hard and soft at the same time. Servant leadership blends both competence and consciousness. It requires tough, hard-edged, strategic actions on one hand; on the other hand, the servant-leader always considers how those actions affect the people involved. Oh, and if you are not totally persuaded, just ask softie organizations that practice servant leadership – like the US Navy Seals, for example – just what they think.
2. Servant leadership is faith-based. Servant leadership is certainly consistent with all the great religions of the world, but no religion would rightly make an exclusive claim to it. Servant leadership requires that we submit ourselves in service to something bigger than ourselves – a cause, a community, our company, for example – and all the stakeholders thereof. Servant leadership is powered by what philosopher’s call transcendence and that does make it seem religious. But at the end of the day, servant leadership is as appropriate in the corporate boardroom as it is in any particular place of worship. 
3. Servant leadership requires subservience. This last caricature can be the harshest, especially for groups that historically have suffered oppression. No doubt, the word “servant” is loaded with negative connotations and many people are turned off by it. But at the same time, many other people are drawn to the paradoxical aspect of the servant-leader as a person in some position of power choosing to use that power for the benefit of others. That’s a radical notion and one that is certainly transformative. Servant-leaders are the most powerful leaders precisely because they share – and thus multiply, power. Servant-leaders are the ones with the most devoted followers, the greatest influence, and the ones most likely to bring sustainable transformation.

What other caricatures of servant leadership create barriers for people? How do you help people in your spheres of influence embrace an accurate understanding of servant leadership?Looking forward to your input and appreciate you sharing this post with others.

5 Ways Servant-Leaders Enhance Employee Engagement

If every manager were a servant-leader, employee engagement would be at an all-time high.Instead, as we saw in a previous post, the 2015 Edelman Trust Barometer shows employee engagement is now at an all-time low.And, as we explored in last week’s post, Gallup’s research shows that an employee’s manager makes or breaks employee engagement. I think most of us know this to be true from our personal experiences.So, we need more servant leadership in the workplace – now!Why does servant leadership lead to high employee engagement? Here’s our short list of reasons:

1. Servant-leaders choose to serve those they lead. A commitment to servant leadership changes the power dynamics between manager and those managed. Rather than demanding that followers serve them, servant-leaders find meaningful ways to serve those they lead. They regularly ask, “How can I help you succeed?” The effects of this “serve first” on employee engagement are dramatic.
2. Servant-leaders make sure other’s highest priority needs are being served. Come on, how often have we seen managers try to remedy low employee engagement in purely tactical ways? Employees like tactical things – but they need strategic things: connection to a larger purpose, a sense of belonging and continuous personal growth. Managers take note: Addressing high-priority needs results in richer engagement than creating short-term incentives or gimmicks.
3. Servant-leaders believe work is meaningful. Work exists for the person as much as the person exists for the work. Servant-leaders see dignity in all work. They seek to match the worker to the work. As Howard Behar says, “the person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.” (You can hear more from Howard on this Servant Leadership Session podcast). Where employees find meaning, there they are engaged.
4. Servant-leaders develop others to be leaders. Servant-leaders are committed to the growth of people and invest in their development. They build personal trusting, relationships with the people they lead. “I’ve got to know you to grow you,” says Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. This allows the leader to discover the aspirations of each team member and identify developmental opportunities that allow for growth.
5. Servant-leaders inspire virtuous cycles of service. When managers take their responsibility to serve employees seriously, the employees catch on quickly. In turn, they are more serious in their efforts to serve their customers and each other. The magic of servant-leadership is the way it creates virtuous cycles of service. Working in an environment like this is fun, fulfilling and energizing. Being a customer can be the same. Think of your encounters with Southwest Airlines or The Container Store – or any other workplace with high engagement.

Servant leadership may not be a fast track to higher employee engagement. But among the tracks we know, it is the fastest and most direct route to sustained results.If you have something to add to the list, please do so in the comment section below.If you’d like to explore how servant leadership could improve employee engagement at your company, contact us.