Hi!
At my wedding -- on December 21, 1980 -- my wife's grandfather wryly told me how smart I was for I'd chosen the year's longest night for the occasion! Yes, the days darken now, until they begin to lengthen yet again. Amidst the gloom, we ready for a new year, and there is a sense of hope -- for renewal in our world and in our selves -- is there not?
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In this issue
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Tips for managing a world turned upside down
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In the media
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Where in the world is Total Leadership?
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From our community
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Tips for managing in a world turned upside down |
In this month's Harvard Business Review I contributed an article to a complilation which starts thus: "The knee-jerk response in an economic downturn is to wring greater productivity out of your workforce by making employees work harder. But this can hurt more than help, by fueling resentment and burnout. A smarter approach: Be open with employees about the business problems you face, and invite them to be part of the solution while encouraging them to meet critical needs in other parts of their lives. Do this right and you'll reduce stress, decrease wasted time, boost trust, build resilience, and improve productivity." Read more (free this month only). In a recent blog post, Do Not Waste This Crisis, I asked, "What's the opportunity inherent in the crushing economic news that is pounding us day in, day out?...An economic world turned upside down makes it easier to take a fresh look, and this can open the door to making changes that will benefit you and the most important people in your life, now and in the long run." Read more.
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| In the media |
 In this amusing New York Times article I offer some advice on how to use Total Leadership principles to enhance your leadership impact at holiday gatherings, including this: " 'A good leader,' Mr. Friedman said, 'shares all the credit and takes all the blame.' " Read more.
In the current issue of Human Resource Management, Matt Buttell's article, "Tipping the Scales," observes: "As Total Leadership generates support and helps participants feel more connected to the important people in their lives, Friedman believes the key to leadership success lies in offering more resilience to the unpredictability of today's turbulent markets, and the turbulent world as a whole. By becoming open to discovery and feeling more hopeful and enthusiastic about our futures, Friedman's program shows, in very practical and meaningful ways, how to get the power to shape them." Read more.
Total Leadership is featured in the current Selling Power: Here's the abstract: "Of all the myths about success, this one might be the most pervasive: the superstar executive who has sacrificed home life, friendships, and maybe even health to get to the top. Stress and isolation are the prices paid for success, and in order to hold on to it, the executive must take on ever-increasing workloads, making sure the focus on the job never wavers.
"Not so, says Stewart D. Friedman, best-selling author of Total Leadership: Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life ... Friedman shares the surprising news that in order to be successful, you don't always have to make painful trade-offs between the most important areas of your life. Instead, you can win in all dimensions simultaneously and -- here's the kicker -- as your general satisfaction with your life rises, so does your performance." Find this article and others on our Press page.
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| Where in the world is Total Leadership?
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International impact in '09: Watch for news about our initiatives in S. Africa, Chile, Israel, Korea, and Spain.
With my prayers for peace, love, and understanding, Stew
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Gift this book! |
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Start your own book group, as people around the world are doing right now. Check out the Appendix (p. 201) for a guide to creating your coaching network.
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From our community |
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At the end of the Total Leadership program -- the commencement, that is -- I ask participants to reflect on whether they see themselves as leaders in a new light. Here's a representative example of what the 47 students in my Executive MBA class at Wharton wrote earlier this month:
"My conception of myself as a leader has changes in four fundamental ways. First, I now view myself as a leader in my life rather than a leader at work. I view leadership more broadly. Things I used to categorize as 'problems' or 'circumstances' or 'constraints' in my personal life are now more likely to be viewed as leadership opportunities.
"Second, I view myself as being responsible for establishing an environment where others can do some of the things I have learned to do in TL. For example, as a leader at work, I want to create more ways for people in my organization to achieve four-way wins in their lives, such as negotiating flexible work arrangements, work-from-home opportunities, etc. As a husband, I want my wife to have more time to fulfill her 'self' domain, and so forth.
"Third, I am much more communicative now as a leader; not so much at work, where I have always been a good communicator, but outside of work, especially with my family, friends, and professional network. I have a natural inertia against making the effort to meet new people and asking for help from my network, unless it is necessary. I now see that I must combat this natural tendency and make a deliberate, sustained effort to reach out to people and build relationships.
"Finally, I feel that I am better able to lead changes in my life."
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