Start Your 100 Day Leadership Plan!

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

100 Day Plan for Leaders: Duck!

Background: How The 100 Day Plan Evolved

Photographer notices "the usual" and snaps the unusual. Sends image to creative writer. Writer's imagination stirred up - weekly.

Result? The innovative intersection which results in:
This blog.

My husband Richard is the photographer who inspires my writing. I never know what he's going to send as this week's theme.

My challenge: allow the story to unfold from the image.

As the lead facilitator for Leadership Thunder Bay - and in my "other practice" as a professional speaker and master coach, I need to keep my mind sharp and my brain flexible. Coherent.

Leaders expect me to guide them to the place where "they get it". Most of the leaders I work with, aren't familiar with the intimate details of how their brains get locked into familiar patterns and expectations. They need to experience as well as learn the theory.

My weekly musings and writings based on pictures, are just one example of how creative thought works in real life. I simulate and stimulate my own thinking style weekly. How could I expect others to do the same, if I don't take the lead? Let me share how this all happens. (And then we'll get to the 100 Day Plan: Duck!)

The Process (in short form)

• Image received... "Duck enjoying shower on a hot day"
• Research (what do I know about ducks?)
• Reflect (what do ducks and leaders have in common)
• Intersection of multiple ideas (key question: what else happens in 100 days)
• Hatch: 100 Day Plan Duck! for Leaders?
• Experiment: Draft 1 or 2 or 3...
• Laugh! (if it's not amusing or titillating, start again...)
• Action Plan: Write, edit, write, edit
• Remarks - comments - thanks!

That was the process. Now, for the real point of this column:

The 100 Day Plan for Leaders: Duck!
The intersection of Duck Maturity & Innovative Leadership Thinking

The research says:

Ducks incubate for up to 30 days. Hatch.

Ducks mature - reach that independent stage - in another 70 days or so.

Total? 100 Days...

Here's the bottom line:

The 100 Day Duck Growing Up Plan also applies to Leaders who want to grow.

If you, as LEADERS, could strategically incubate an idea or two - reflect - for 30 days and then move to action for another 70 days...

In 100 days, the changes you want to happen - your "tipping point HOT Seat GOALS - could begin, and also be measured.

* Always think in 100 day blocks of time.

(a) What is the concept you would like to take forward?

Take the time to reflect. Incubate. Don't rush.

Then hatch the central core of the plan.

(Let the duckling of an idea emerge slowly from its shell...first glimpse of surroundings, new environment...

(b) Work on the action plan - who else, what else, how. Research. Make intersections of ideas. Write it all down.

(c) Set up the standards and measurements, loosely at first

(d) Be aware of the "red flag" moments - do not discard what is niggling...find the texture and context of the part that doesn't seem to fit. Source the danger - get out of the nest. This could be the best part!

(e) Look ahead to the 100 day deadline (duck line) and back to measure your growth as you go. Allow natural growth. Do This Daily. Take notes.

(f) Start the next 100 days.

If Canada Day (July 1) marks Day 1, then Canadian Thanksgiving could be the 100 Day closure point.

What could you and your team accomplish during this 100 point continuum of thinking and actions?

If ducks can fly in 100 days......what about what you want to do?

Let me know!
***

Maggie Chicoine is Leadership Thunder Bay's Lead Facilitator for 2009 -2010 and a professional speaker, master coach and professional writer. She specializes in "Strategies to Think Ahead". Her experience speaks...with a twist of ingenuity.

807 939 3000 maggiechicoine@gmail.com

Ripple Effect

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009






Dream...Believe...Achieve

How does a leader move from “intention” to “achievement”?

Our graduates vocalized 23 different versions, all incredibly powerful and from the heart. I’d like to share six randomly chosen comments from...

Your Hot Seat Moments

“I needed to see through the tunnel or barrel, rise out of my comfort zone. I am LEARNING that nothing is really that scary.

(Except maybe the monsters that still live under the bed and in the closet.....and we all have those)”

These challenges have changed me.
Stop, look, listen, inquire, be calm and stop blaming.”

“I’m quiet, and I’m comfortable with that.
If I don’t understand you, you’ll hear from me.
If I don’t agree with you, you’ll hear from me.
If I have something to say, I will add value.
Or if I’ve had too many drinks...”

“It’s about being able to give them permission.
It’s a relationship, a delicate process.
As a leader I may have to ask friends to do things they don’t like.
I don’t go out for coffee with them as often as I used to, because they need time to bitch about management,
and that used to be one our (and my) favourite topics.
I have to hold back.”


"I'm now a better public speaker, and I accept the person that I am, not who I should be. I spent so much time looking inward, not so much on community. This forced me to take the time to reflect."

“I had some things written down, but now I’m going to wing it,
talk from the heart because that’s what I do.
LTB has opened my eyes so wide; I came out of my box totally, doing things like chairing meetings, helping with the food bank now instead of waiting for Christmas and even got my husband involved.
I’ve loved this year, meeting everyone.
I was so nervous at first in going to Sibley.
My level of confidence has gone through the roof.”

“I was surprised at how painful it was, internally.
I felt like I wanted to be a leader, and then, no I don’t. I would feel this conflict, learn about myself.
I misunderstood what a leader is.
I can be a leader with my kids.
Leadership means self care and integrity. That’s a priority.”

“I’ve heard over and over again, that leadership is
to become the person you want to be.
But pull it back from there: be who you are, look in the mirror.
A better expression by Glenn Gould is
the only thing that matters is the person you are.
It really comes back to being honest with who you are.
It’s a process of working and then stepping back: what’s my part in it?"


Kudos to Curriculum Committee member, Glenn Allison for suggesting the Hot Seat! based on his vibrant experience with the Leadership Waterloo program.

As we’ve heard from numerous presenters, stating goals verbally and publicly, concisely, articulately, helps them - and their teams - move from intention to positive action.

Here is Glenn Allison’s Hot Seat message to the class:

The Nature of Promise

I’d like to send a brief comment to our graduates on the Space of Possibility and Commitments as Who We Say We Are.

......forgive the ramblings of an old man, but I recalled something from my past at Leadership Waterloo that might prove helpful, and would connect.

In my day we used to speak of the Technology of Agreements.
Basically, it was about keeping your word and it went something like this:

* as fish are to water, and birds are to air, human beings live in language

* we speak our world into being (One of the most memorable is Martin Luther King’s: I have a dream......)

* so too, our world speaks us if we let it

* leaders know the personal and collective power of the given word. (For example, marriage is essentially the community called together to witness the word of relationship...)

* being one with our word is how we remain whole and healthy: in other words, (I am who I say I am, I have what is mine, and I will do what I promise)

* when we break our word,
we are no longer who we have said ourselves to be:

we are no longer integral with our word
- we have absolutely no place to take a stand.
The world is quicksand.

The trick here is being responsible,
without burden, fault, praise, blame, credit, shame or guilt.

As you walk your leadership journey,
* make sure that you communicate that you are and
will continue be - your word once given, and always be so.

Then, you will have for your self - the space to stand.

You will be grounded.

* what are our collective agreements as opposed to personal agreements? How do find out space in family, in group, in society?

* what might the world be like if we were all whole, if we all kept our word?The Buddhists have an expression that, when paraphrased, goes like this:
When you keep a promise, you are profoundly human.
When you don't, you are ass wipe. And who needs a room full of that?

So I ask, in a magical counter-cultural way,
that you consider yourself as space.

You are, after all, the space in which your own life happens.

In all probability, after LTB, you are in
an inspired space of community wellbeing.

You were the space of inquiry, curiosity, wonderment and growth as you entered the programme.

As you leave it, you are being asked to consider what that space now looks like.

What do you find arising in that space?

What kinds of commitments do you sense are developing in the space that you now are.

How do you regard your own leadership space?
Cheers and I look forward to your successes. - Glenn Allison


May your lives be rich and rewarding. May your efforts - large or small - ripple into our communities - large or small.
May you always remember this experience in leadership and your colleagues who have had a hand in your journey.

- Maggie

PS: Now that you've finished your official program and you have time to reflect...these XOWhat blog archives may be interesting reading... and may even make more sense!
Your comments always appreciated.

This blog is officially taking a break...until next August, when the class of 2009-2010 checks in...Your subscription never ends...
Please feel free to contribute to these resources.

Do Be

Remember? Opening Retreat 2008
Tipping Point Hot Seat LineUp - see below:)

DO Leadership & BE Leadership

It’s been quite the year!

We’ve done our best to grow your leadership style and strengths - in both DOING leadership and BEING leadership. There’s a difference.

Anyone can talk the talk. Walking and talking leadership requires vision, purpose, skills and to top off the equation - passion!

At our final learning day, it's all about you.

You will be presenting your

“Tipping Point Leadership Goals” on the Hot Seat.

Stating your intentions out loud, to a collection of your colleagues is one way to move out of good intention into action.

In case you’re wondering how to hone your message into a two minute timeslot, here’s a quick template that may help you (get some sleep!).

_________________
V.P. + V.P. + C

Vision + Purpose + Values + Passion + Commitment
_________________

V = What’s the Vision or big picture? What are you stretching toward?

P = What’s the Purpose? What is at the core of your goal?

V = What Values keep you on track? What do you really believe in?

P = Passion, passion and more passion.

What can’t you live without?

What makes this goal a burning issue for you?

C = What do you Commit to?

How will you know that you’re making progress?

What are your standards and how will you measure?

_________________

Here's an example:

I thought I’d share my personal thoughts on this as well, as an example and FYI

(in case you’re interested. If not, skip ahead to the day’s Hot Seat Line Up).

Maggie's Tipping Point Goal:
to be recognized as an innovative and respected leader of leaders.

Vision = to role model leadership for others
(experienced and at "first exposure" levels); to be the leader of leaders
in the community as well as through my business

Purpose = being the role model means that I have to practice what I preach daily.

This keeps me transparent, and on top of new information, and creates connections with other leaders and their teams.

Values = I believe in congruent, innovative and engagement centred leadership,

where the best of the best happens because of connection and dialogue.

I also believe that when you mess up, you fess up.

Passion = Simplify! Make it Sweet! Keep it spirit centred.

I know what’s not passion - and I let go of those activities or relationships.

Commit = I keep my word and go beyond expectations consistently.

I keep my promise to my mentor, Ernie Checkeris: “Stay humble”.

If you need help with your 2 minute chat, just ask!

The Hot Seat Line-up

Remember the photo on the dock at Silver Islet? That’s the order for speaking about your Tipping Point on the Hot Seat.

Starting at the back row: (L-R)

Jacki Alto, Tammy Orr, Sylvia Renaud, Brad Bonazzo,

Sarah Kerton, Robert Berardi, Kristen Oliver, Mika Lees, Peter Evans, Catherine Hilgers, Cathy Matthews, Paul Wolfe, Michael Mehagan,

Margie MacDonald, Kathleen Eaton, Nicole Landgraff, Stewart Kallio

Front Row: ( L-R)

Tammy Chiodo, Rosanna Scaffeo, Nancy Kos, Kelly Litt, Tracy Puurunen, Nicole Maillette-Seller

Jacki - you're first!

Nicole - you're the finale!

Format:

You speak for 2 minutes about your tipping point leadership goals.

Whatever you’d like to say ... is totally up to you.

You respond to your colleagues’ questions and comments for 4 minutes. How you use your time is up to you.

You are in control of these interactions.

Total time = 6 minutes per person. I will signal the 6 minute mark.

Comments and questions should support you in your goal - and possibly spark someone else’s thinking and planning for their own leadership quest.

It's about DOING leadership and BEING leadership.

And then....it’s GRAD! You deserve a first class celebration!

Thanks for a great year!

- Maggie

Go With The Flow

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

Overprepare & Then, Go With The Flow

Look up....waay up....

What does it take to go fly a kite?

Let me take that one step further: what does it take to lead?

The answers are similar...

"Over-prepare and go with the flow"

Kites, as you may know, were a Chinese invention more than 2500 years ago. Silk sails, resilient bamboo frames and strong silk flying line were the ideal materials to constuct art works, displaying mythological characters. Ingenious tails kept the kites flying forward. Not just entertainment, warrior kites were designed as a sky-field battleground, with opponents cutting each others lines to show dominance.

Much like leadership.

How resilient are you? How sturdy and how flexible your frame?

What is your visible shape and form?

What colours do you fly?

How do you manage tension?

What's your Plan B when the wind disappears, storms hover and environmental conditions are not ideal?

Who is the enemy who cuts your line?

When did you last check the condition of your kite, your tieline?

Who is helping you to fly?

How do you celebrate a perfect flight?

How much joy results from your leadership? Is it work and play in harmony?

And finally, what is your purpose?

Child's play? Not so. Learning to fly a kite can teach all of us about the balance required in leadership. Something to think about.... as you move toward "graduation" this month.

Enjoy!

PS: If you're wanting to chat about your "Tipping Point Goal", just ask! Email or phone: I'll help you fly.
- Maggie