Greetings!
Are you out of your mind? I don't actually recall anyone asking me this with that exact phrase (except probably my father on numerous occasions) , but, as a leader and entrepreneur, it's surely a question I've asked myself, and something others, whose lives I impact, have definitely thought and sometimes asked, if not in so many words. In today's issue, I'll point you to two recent articles that speak to "your mind" and a terrific TED video on the brain that may, well, blow your mind. Psychologists explain that the tendencies that serve as our personality, determines how we process information and how we behave relative to others and situations is solidly formed by the time we are about seven years old. The behaviors that make us dominant or introverts; determine whether we are steady and precise or drive hard, shooting first and asking questions later, were not determined at birth. Somewhere during our earliest formative lives, those behaviors were borne out of our strategies for survival in the unique environment we were raised in, and helped us get what we needed and wanted. Eventually, this actually becomes hard-wired into our brains. These are the behavioral patterns that are profiled in the assessment instruments such as DISC, Carlson CPQ, Predictive Index, Caliper and the full battery that all of these are derivatives of, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the dozens of assessment and profiling tools that are available on the market today. I have worked with several personality assessment instruments (the providers remind us that these are NOT tests - as there is no right or wrong answers!) to help leaders understand functional dynamics within their workplace teams, how to coach people for better performance and, with certain legally qualified instruments, as a pre-hiring assessment to check against my own observations. (Please note that while the use of personality and other tests to pre-screen candidates is legal, there are some legal issues surrounding tests that are either not professionally validated - and those that may be deemed as primarily a tool for diagnosing medical disorders, which are in violation of ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] regulations. All of the better known instruments are fine.) While on the topic of the brain, learning is one of the most important aspects of leadership. For an organization to grow, it's leaders must grow as well. I have observed that as successful adults we tend to keep learning about things we already know - or are even expert at. Beyond the benefits of stretching ourselves to learn things we know nothing about, we also benefit our companies when we demonstrate to employees that learning is an integral part of a successful growing company. Peter M. Senge writes extensively about what he calls the "learning organization" - as discussed below. And Sir Ken Robinson speaks to a slightly different aspect of learning in his book, quite aptly titled, "Out of Our Minds: Learning to be creative."
As always, wishing you a great and successful week ahead. 
Philip R. Liebman Managing Director, Strat 4 Group Chair, Vistage International P.S. Time is running out for guest registration at the Vistage NJ All Cities CEO Conference on March 8th. This is an exclusive, member-only event that will be attended by more than 100 CEOs from the region. We have created an opportunity for a select group of invited guests to attend. There is a strict limit on the number of guests that may attend, and invitations are available only to CEOs that qualify for Vistage membership and are interested in learning more about the benefits of being considered for membership. Please contact me right away if you would like an invitation to attend as my guest. |
And while on the topic of how great entrepreneurs think, you may find this companion article, How to Make Money is Six Easy Steps, by Jason Fried a worthwhile read as well. Fried addresses the concept of learning as applies to the most fundamental of all business advice: how to get good at making money. Jason and I actually have a lot in common. Like him, I too grew up wanting to be a great drummer... and it was my father, who in his infinite wisdom, asked me if "i was out of my mind?" and suggested I learn something I could do to actually earn a living!
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And while at TED, you should also watch this profoundly moving and educational presentation by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist who studied her own brain, from the the inside as she fell victim to a devastating stroke. She describes this in "A Stroke of Insight"
Most CEOs I work with bemoan the fate of manufacturing in the United States, citing the bleeding of jobs and opportunities to China, India and the Pacific Rim. This article published in this past Friday's Wall Street Journal paints a very different and surprising story, especially in terms of the increase in American productivity over the past 40 years.
