March 2013 Newsletter - Moving From Survival to Growth and Opportunity
Letter from the Editor
When Susan and I moved to Montana 18-months ago, we dove right into soaking up the mountain life; enjoying our new surroundings, playing with our dogs, welcoming visitors, and finishing my new book. In the winter months, large chunks of my days are filled with snow removal… lots of snow removal! In the warmer months, I perfect my lawn mowing skills with countless hours spent keeping our property maintained. (Susan’s really hoping I retained last year’s lesson involving how NOT to mow a hillside!), and in between it all, I’ve had the privilege of continuing my coaching career, albeit a scaled back version of my previous pace. Susan and I are living our dream, and as much as I’ve enjoyed the relaxing pace, something has been missing.Hunkering down on this mountain has kept me from fully making the difference I am meant to make on this planet. So, I’m choosing to crank things back up to full speed, because frankly, this planet needs the help!
I couldn’t just sit and watch the world doing what it’s doing anymore without jumping back into the fray 100%, to make a difference where I’m able to. Now, I am not saying that I have the solution to the world’s problems, but I do know that I have been blessed with the ability to make a difference in the lives of families, individuals, and companies. Over the years, many people have honored me with their trust and commitment to improve their lives, their businesses, and their relationships. Am I perfect? No, but I am committed!Who I am is:
“I make a difference with anyone I’m standingnext to, anywhere I’m standing on the planet.”
So, as I step out of semi-retirement, I want to say “Thank you” to all of you who have been a part of my 30+ year journey as an executive business coach. And, if you know anyone that may be able to benefit from my expertise, please share with them your own journey with Clay Nelson Life Balance, pass my information along to them, forward them this newsletter, and/or encourage them to be in touch with me. Together we can make an even greater difference in this world!It is an honor to be a part of your life, and I am definitely looking forward to continuing this journey of making a difference with each and every person I meet.Best regards,
Clay S. Nelson
Moving from Survival to Growth and Opportunity
As a leader whose company has weathered the turbulent economic times of the last several years, you deserve to be congratulated! In order to survive, you no doubt reined in every expense possible, honed down your team, and refined your processes. Your company is surviving. Now, as a leader, what's next? You have to grow as a leader and step your team and company out of survival mode, and into growth and opportunity!Sharpening your leadership skills, and moving out of survival and into growth and opportunity, requires:Commitment: Without commitment, you would never get past the question of, “How am I going to do it?” If you want to move forward as an incredible leader to what’s next, you absolutely must take on your commitment, to getting what you say you want, no matter what. When you 100% commit to something, the “how” will show up! And, guess what? The very first thing you need to commit to is taking better care of you!Taking care of you: The survival posture that so many took on over the last 5 years, has created a huge deficit in the personal batteries of many, many leaders. However, in order to get to what’s next, you MUST take better care of yourself. This includes: down time that refreshes you mentally and physically, doing things that you love, and doing them with those you love most.Vision: BE a visionary leader, thinking outside of the proverbial box, and willingly take on what you don’t even know will allow you to step past where you have been and into opportunity and growth.Planning: Write your plan and include clear and concise by-whens regarding what will be done and by-whom. Your written plan will communicate to your team what your expectations of them are in terms of what they are to do, and the results they are expected to attain. It will communicate where you are going and by-when you are committed to being there, leaving no room for assumptions or for people to ‘make-up’ what they think you want them to do.Teaching: In order to get to where you are going, you MUST have a team who is capable of seeing your vision through and implementing the plan… none of which is possible if you don’t teach them what they need to know. When a team member comes to you with a question, be the question, instead of the answer! Ask your team member what they think; ask what they would do if you weren’t there.Delegation: No one can afford to be in an “only I can do it” mindset, especially given the difficult conditions today’s market continues to face; none of us can afford to do it all! To not just survive, but to take the offensive and thrive, you must become a master delegator. Remember: if you could get to where you are going by yourself, you would be there already!No matter who you are, or what successes you have obtained, YOU have room to grow. Now, growth is not mandatory. However, if you choose to take on the growth and opportunity that is available to you—if you choose to take on what’s next—you have to take on who you choose to BE as a leader by sharpening your leadership skills.
Leadership Essential: Use Your Power Wisely
Have you ever had a ‘bad day’ when you allowed yourself to be less than powerful? Let’s face it. We’ve all had days like that, days when a circumstance has us by the toes screaming to be let go. So, as a leader, who do you have to be to stand tall no matter what sudden and unexpected circumstances confront you?Get present to and acknowledge that you are stopped. You can’t get unstopped until you can admit that you are stopped and stymied by the circumstance at hand.Get clear. Call a trusted member of your team and ask for permission to clear your mind. Just speaking what is there for you in terms of your upset and general feelings will allow you to channel your power toward a resolution. Or, in some circumstances, clearing will simply allow you to put the circumstance aside and move on acknowledging that there really is nothing you can do.Ask for help. Why do we expect ourselves to know everything? Most often the circumstances that get to us the most are those that leave us feeling helpless and vulnerable. So, rather than making yourself wrong for not having the answer to everything that comes along, which drains your power even more, ask for help!Get in action. Admittedly, there isn’t always something we can do to fix a circumstance. No matter what the situation, however, we do retain responsibility for how we react to our circumstances. It is up to us to choose to use our power to be outrageous and unstoppable or sullen and stopped!Remember: As leaders, we are responsible for using our power wisely. We can create amazing possibilities with our power, and we can destroy months of effort by not being present to how we are using our power when a ‘bad day’ rolls around. Keeping this in mind, the next time you have a ‘bad day’ how will you choose to use your power?