What do you think of when you hear the word “holistic”? I would dare say you think of something in it’s entirety, and that is correct. Something that is whole is complete. A holistic leadership leader understands their entire being. They recognize they are not defined by what they do, but who they are. Holistic leadership is also organizational; however, we are going to look at it from a personal leadership standpoint.

For an individual to be whole and complete is a challenge because no matter how hard we try to maintain balance, life is always changing. Life brings unexpected complications and opportunities. As a leader we want to become aware of how we best maintain balance and live an integrated life. A holistic leader is self-aware and understands their values and what drives them. A holistic leader knows there is harmony to maintain between both the mind and body as well as relationships, finances, community and spiritual being.

As a leader people are looking to you to maintain symmetry. They do not expect you to be perfect, but they do need their leader to know who they are and live a life that sets an example holistically: body (taking care of your physical body -eating healthy, exercise, and rest), soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit.

Here are a few things you can do to lead holistically:

1. Know who you are and were you come from

2. Know what your values are and how they tie into your life story – this will help you prioritize

3. Know what motivates you both intrinsically and extrinsically

4. Know how to take care of yourself emotionally , mentally and physically and the importance of valuing and prioritizing these components

5. Be aware of relationships and the value they play in who you are

6. Identify what is important to you spiritually and be true to that

7. Practice financial awareness and balance this with your extrinsic motivations

8. Build a support and accountability group to help you practice being holistic and authentic.

Good Morning Friends! It has been a crazy busy last two weeks between work, our daughter’s graduation, our son coming home from college and family coming in for the events from CA. I the midst of all this business I was feeling very stressed this morning thinking about how “unproductive” I was being with work. That is when I had this check about what is being productive? I am working with several leaders and groups right now on authentic leadership – which also keeps me in check. Yes, I indeed have to a responsibility to my clients and have to be productive; however, I also have a responsibility to my family. Thank you to my clients! Working with you keeps me focused on my values as well. If I say in my list of values and priorities family in number one then my actions both internally and externally need to line up… This is the perfect example of how authentic leadership is an ongoing journey not something we arrive at and are done! Make it a successful day and be authentic!

Does What I Do Make Me Who I am?

Michelle Braden

Here in America we define ourselves and those around us by what we do. Think about the first question we ask after introducing yourselves…. “So where do you work?” and “what do you do there?” In part, this is good small talk. We naturally ask these questions in succession. The other part has to do with sizing people up. We determine before we even get to know someone whether we think they are successful or not based on how they answer these questions. Is it any wonder why we personally define ourselves on this same measurement? This type of stereotyping begs the question many are now facing, what happens when what we “do” is done away with? What happens when companies go bankrupt, jobs are outsourced, people are downsized or laid off? How then will we define ourselves, our friends, colleagues or family members? Although what we do is obviously important we have to learn a better self-awareness of who we are being. Who we are “being” is who we are, our character, values, beliefs and passions. It is not determined by titles, salary or prestige. To discover who we really are beyond the titles we hold is a challenge. Think for a minute about who you are…. If I asked you to describe yourself could you do so without talking about what you do? The goal is that who we are being works collaboratively with what we do but it does not define us. I recently asked a client of mine while working through the “being” vs. “doing” question, “how would you respond if you lost your job for one reason or another and the only thing you could find was working at a fast food restaurant wiping down tables?” His answer was the best I have ever gotten. He said, “well I guess I would have to work hard and rise to the top in that industry!” Now that is knowing who you are being no matter what you are doing! I want to encourage you whether you are in the most secure position you have ever been in or if you are having to re-define yourself due to job loss – search yourself to know who you are being in this world. Here are some suggestions as you go through this process: Be insightfully straight with yourself. What transformations do you want? What are your personal values, passions, beliefs? Write a paper about who you are. Write a paper about who you want to be. Be in your possibilities. Dream! This can be an eye opening experience if you allow it to be. We would love to hear your feedback on this exercise and if it was beneficial…. As always if you are interested in further assistance or coaching don’t hesitate to give us a call at 804-502-4319/434-293-5758 or info@msbcoach.com.

Character Vs Ability

This blog in no way is intended to be political in nature or reflect on any one person in leadership.  I am just putting some thoughts out there in the world I have been pondering regarding the importance of character/integrity vs. ability.

If asked which is more important I would have always said… character and integrity any day.  However, recently I found myself pondering this.  I have been reading “The 8^th Habit” by Stephen Covey and he addresses this issue.  In one of the chapters he posed the question “who would you rather have working on you…. a mediocre surgeon who has character and is honest or the best surgeon who has poor character and is dishonest.”  Wow I had to think about this… which led me to think about a lot of things….

We like to think things are black and white and there definitely things that are.  Unfortunately the more you mull over a thought, the older you get and the more people you meet – you realize there is so much grey.  This frustrates me… I like the black and white.  It seems to make decisions easier.

Last night when our former President Bush gave his welcome speech in TX he said, “Popularity is fleeting, but character and integrity are our oaks….”  So I started thinking about this regarding our country.  Would I rather have a leader who can make me successful or one that has integrity… why can’t we have both?  I think we can and I think this what we are finally hungry for in America…. enough with the empty promises.  I think when it is all said and done I would still rather have character, honor and truthfulness.  What about you, I would love to hear your thoughts on my quandary….

Character Vs Ability

This blog in no way is intended to be political in nature or reflect on any one person in leadership.  I am just putting some thoughts out there in the world I have been pondering regarding the importance of character/integrity vs. ability.

If asked which is more important I would have always said… character and integrity any day.  However, recently I found myself pondering this.  I have been reading “The 8^th Habit” by Stephen Covey and he addresses this issue.  In one of the chapters he posed the question “who would you rather have working on you…. a mediocre surgeon who has character and is honest or the best surgeon who has poor character and is dishonest.”  Wow I had to think about this… which led me to think about a lot of things….

We like to think things are black and white and there definitely things that are.  Unfortunately the more you mull over a thought, the older you get and the more people you meet – you realize there is so much gray.  This frustrates me… I like the black and white.  It seems to make decisions easier.

Last night when our former President Bush gave his welcome speech in TX he said, “Popularity is fleeting, but character and integrity are our oaks….”  So I started thinking about this regarding our country.  Would I rather have a leader who can make me successful or one that has integrity… why can’t we have both?  I think we can and I think this what we are finally hungry for in America…. enough with the empty promises.  I think when it is all said and done I would still rather have character, honor and truthfulness.  What about you, I would love to hear your thoughts on my quandary….

What’s For Dinner?

Michelle Black/Braden

Life/Business Coach, wife and mother of two teenagers

www.msbcoach.com

The dilemma of what to have for dinner….  Am I the only one that get’s stressed when it comes to making the weekly dinner menu?  Why, as the mom, is it our responsibility to be continuously creative with this daunting task?  I know those of you who love to cook, (or you few men who do the cooking in your home) feel as though I am being sacrilegious here; however, I know I can’t be the only mom who finds this a chore.  Cooking dinner is not as bad as creating the menu…. I am always stuck once I write down, tacos, spaghetti and…. Well I have a tendency to get lost after that.

Pondering this predicament, I created a clever way to get myself out of this responsibility, or at least lessen it.  It also indirectly created family time, taught my children responsibility and life skills.  And to think, I was only looking for a little help.  If your children are infants, this won’t work, but if they are old enough to tell you what they like to eat, they can participate (it does get easier and more fun as they get older). 

I first printed a large calendar for the current month; then I called a family meeting.  I have two kids (13 & 15 at the time).   Each had to choose two nights they would be responsible for cooking dinner.  According to the nights they chose, they had to completely prepare the meal and the other family members were responsible for clean up.  This worked great, and better received than I had imagined. 

I now had two kids cooking four of the seven meals a week, what more could a mom ask?   And if you have a husband or more kids to throw in the mix you may get out of cooking/menu making all together!  The key to success is having each person write on the calendar the meal plan for their nights, make a grocery list of what is needed at the store, and wala…. You have creative help with dinner.

I must be honest there are a few pitfalls to this plan.  The first being (as with anything that is done for the first, oh say million times) it takes practice to be a good cook, so you have to be willing to eat dinners that may not be the best.  The other is holding each person responsible to make their grocery list, cook their meals, and be home in time to do so. 

So give it a try, its fun, promotes family dinners together, life skills of:   making a menu, creating a shopping list, food preparation, clean up, and cooking…. One of the skills my kids have out done me in, but that’s ok because no one has me beat me on tacos or spaghetti making!

What’s For Dinner?

Michelle Black/Braden

Life/Business Coach, wife and mother of two teenagers

www.msbcoach.com

The dilemma of what to have for dinner….  Am I the only one that get’s stressed when it comes to making the weekly dinner menu?  Why, as the mom, is it our responsibility to be continuously creative with this daunting task?  I know those of you who love to cook, (or you few men who do the cooking in your home) feel as though I am being sacrilegious here; however, I know I can’t be the only mom who finds this a chore.  Cooking dinner is not as bad as creating the menu…. I am always stuck once I write down, tacos, spaghetti and…. Well I have a tendency to get lost after that.

Pondering this predicament, I created a clever way to get myself out of this responsibility, or at least lessen it.  It also indirectly created family time, taught my children responsibility and life skills.  And to think, I was only looking for a little help.  If your children are infants, this won’t work, but if they are old enough to tell you what they like to eat, they can participate (it does get easier and more fun as they get older). 

I first printed a large calendar for the current month; then I called a family meeting.  I have two kids (13 & 15 at the time).   Each had to choose two nights they would be responsible for cooking dinner.  According to the nights they chose, they had to completely prepare the meal and the other family members were responsible for clean up.  This worked great, and better received than I had imagined. 

I now had two kids cooking four of the seven meals a week, what more could a mom ask?   And if you have a husband or more kids to throw in the mix you may get out of cooking/menu making all together!  The key to success is having each person write on the calendar the meal plan for their nights, make a grocery list of what is needed at the store, and wala…. You have creative help with dinner.

I must be honest there are a few pitfalls to this plan.  The first being (as with anything that is done for the first, oh say million times) it takes practice to be a good cook, so you have to be willing to eat dinners that may not be the best.  The other is holding each person responsible to make their grocery list, cook their meals, and be home in time to do so. 

So give it a try, its fun, promotes family dinners together, life skills of:   making a menu, creating a shopping list, food preparation, clean up, and cooking…. One of the skills my kids have out done me in, but that’s ok because no one has me beat me on tacos or spaghetti making!

So Many People Wonder Why They Should Hire A Coach… Well, Check This Out!

1.      The higher an executive advances up the organizational latter, they are less dependent on technical skill and require more effectiveness in interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.

2.      Coaching is an effective tool for improving the bottom line performance in executives and organizations.

3.      Coaching builds skills and capacities for more effective working relationships.

4.      Coaching paves the way for decision makers to create higher levels of organizational effectiveness through dialogue, inquiry and positive interactions.

5.      Coaching helps identify when teamwork is important; the how and when to apply the skills necessary to foster it.

6.      Coached executives have reported improvements in the following areas:

a.       53% in Productivity

b.      48% in Quality

c.       48% in Organizational Strength

d.      39% in Customer Service

e.       34% in Reducing Customer Complaints

f.        32% in Retaining Executives who Received Coaching

g.       23% in Cost Reductions

h.       22% in Bottom-line Profitability

Research from the Center for Creative Leadership

Maintaining the Yard

Michelle Braden

Life/Business/Team Building Coach

Like a finely manicured yard, so it is with your business or department.  As leaders, we drive hard to get our organizations and teams running smoothly.  The poignant thing is, the grass keeps growing, the weeds keep coming and everything needs watered.  Like it or not your business (just like your yard) is a living being.  We have to maintain and continually grow and develop.

Several years ago, I lived in a subdivision in the lovely little town of Venice.  This was a beautiful community.  I have never seen such finely groomed and landscaped yards.  Of course, everyone who lived there seemed to be retired, or somehow had much more time on their hands than I.  All the villagers despised our yard.   Working full time, two children, sports and community service often left our grass a little too high for our fellow citizen’s comfort.  They kept their grass about ¼ and inch from the ground, so anything looked high to them.   We did not plant flowers or carve our bushes into dolphins.  I did, however, have a dehydrated fern hanging on the porch.  This disparaged our “Leave it to Beaver” neighbors.  As in many life experiences there is a more meaningful lesson to learn.  This situation was no exception.  I learned a lesson far greater than ‘how to teach your neighbors to loathe you.”  I discovered if I would constantly maintain my yard, it would not require as much work.  If I could motivate myself (or bribe my children) to work in the yard every day (as my diligent neighbors did), even a short time each morning, I, too, could have a handsome yard.  Instead, I chose to wait and only do the yard when I had to (which usually made for an all day event) and when I was done, it still did not look nearly as good as the neighbors. 

I trust you see the parallel between a poorly kept yard and your business or team. Maintaining customer service, relationship with coworkers/employees, budgets, evaluating what is working, what is not, communication, conflict resolution and the like is easier in the long run than having to give a major overhaul.  We work so hard to get the “machine” running smoothly doesn’t it make since to maintain it?  We know the rules, similar to automobile maintenance:   change the oil, rotate the tires, check the fluids, brakes, timing belt…. You know the drill; all make the automobile run longer.  Simple as this principle seems, I am often amazed how many business owners and managers sweat blood and tears to achieve a level of excellence, then think they can sit back and enjoy the ride.  Unfortunately, this does not work in any aspect of business.  “Business is like an automobile.  It won’t run itself, except downhill” unknown.  Don’t let drought occur or weeds grow up and destroy all your hard work.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Business is like an automobile. It won’t run itself, except downhill.

- Unknown

Cultural diversity echoes significance in groups as narrow as our families.  Let’s meet a young man of Brazilian decent, his name is Antonio.  Antonio was raised in an established, undemocratic, proletarian, hard working middle class family.  He meets an all American young woman named Ellen.  Ellen was raised in a single parent home.  Her mother died when she was eight, her father loved her keenly; but, was away from home much of the time working to provide for Ellen and her three older brothers.  Hard though he tried, Ellen’s father did not know how to relate to her artsy free-spirit.   As a result, she was provided for monetarily, but more often than not, Ellen was a student of the school of hard knocks. 

Antonio and Ellen fall in love.  After a few years of break-ups and getting back together they ultimately decide to marry.  Through ups, downs and learning one another, they finally begin to settle into the routine of married life.  All is peaceful, then finally Ellen and Antonio discover they are expecting!  A beautiful dark haired baby boy named Jack is born into their lives.  He is their dream, but resolute and defied authority at a young age.  When Jack was almost four, along came Sarah.  Sarah was a bright eyed, spirited and full of energy, she captivated everyone’s attention; however, she often spoke out of turn like her mother.  Quite unplanned, Ellen found herself expecting again when Sarah was one and a half.  The baby of the family was Frank.  He had red hair like his grandfather.  Frank was a passive child, but cried rather easily.

To the world, they were a picture perfect family – everyone was strong and healthy, but all different….  How could this be?  Each one came from the same parents.  What a challenge for Antonio and Ellen to not only continually learn about each other, but now to learn, lead and maintain peace amongst this new baraid of blessings.

There is a parallel to learn from in this classic family story.  Similar to families, businesses also undergo growing pains.  Take the story of two successful; driven and talented individuals who unite forces to pioneer a company.  They work through oppositions, have challenges, but ascertain to work together.  The company continues to develop and hire their first employee.

As time passes the need arises for another employee and another, on and on it goes until the company has advanced to seventeen employees.  Each team member comes from different ethnic backgrounds, education levels, strengths and ideas.  This diversity gives opportunity for growth in areas the company has never known.  Nevertheless, to reap benefits from this team they must discover how to:  appreciate others strengths, value ideas, learn from their own weaknesses, respect one another, be open minded to other ways of thinking and unite with leadership.  This opportunity could position the company for greatness.  However, if the contrary happens and the team begins to disrespect each other, belittle new ideas, become defensive of shortcomings, undermine leadership and are threatened by others strengths – just as in families, the organism will destroy itself.  An ancient Hebrew proverb says, “A house divided against itself can not stand.”

Diversity spans from age, education, culture, financial status to religious beliefs.  It is not just a cultural challenge we face in order to create unity.  Yet, this challenge merits undertaking and learning how to profit from one another.  Everyone has something to contribute when given the opportunity.

www.msbcoach.com