December 2012: Understand the power of purpose.

One of the responsibilities of a leader is to help people connect their work to a higher purpose: the ultimate difference they, and their company or organization, are making in the world.  Everyone wants to find meaning in their work, and having a sense of purpose provides that vital connection. It not only helps to inspire and motivate others, but also helps you lead more effectively.  Using purpose as a guide, your decision-making becomes easier, goal-setting becomes more clear and you're less apt to sweat the small stuff.  A higher purpose gives you courage and conviction to step up to new challenges.

December brings the anticipation of a new year, and with it, new opportunities.  Now is a good time to step back and re-ground yourself on the purpose your work serves.  If it's a little foggy, spend some time sharpening it, and remember the importance of communicating it effectively. Dare to dream a big, purposeful goal, and you and your organization will be better for it.

August 2012: Don’t underestimate the power of intuition.

Each of us is born with an amazing gift: intuition. It’s our internal navigation system; a source of knowledge from within.  It is constantly sending us messages that tell us whether we’re making the right decisions or moving in the right direction.  These messages come in the form of a hunch, a sense about something; a “gut feel.”

Many of us fail to realize the full power of our intuition because we’re either too frenetic to hear it or we don’t trust it enough to act.  We discount it. We worry that it’s wrong.  We second-guess ourselves.   And in the end, we allow our heads to overrule it – often to the detriment of ourselves and our organizations.

Today, take a moment to write down all the times you have had an intuitive hunch. Note where you listened to your gut. What happened? Note where you didn't listen to your gut. What happened?

What does this tell you about your own intuitive power?  Your intuition is there to serve you.  So let it!