PassionPulls

No, this is not a blog post about sex.  (Sorry, if you're disappointed.)

Passion is one of the most common attributes of exemplary leaders.  Who among us prefers to follow dull, uninspiring, visionless leaders?  We much prefer to hitch our wagons to those leaders who grab us by the imagination and energize us.

The leaders I admire (and emulate) most are pretty good at the following Passion Pulls:

• They "see" a better future, one that depends on us collectively taking some bold and proactive steps.
• They persistently, relentlessly describe that future (mostly through stories) so that we can also "see" how we fit in to that future and how we can, from our various stations, contribute to its realization in meaningful ways.
• They LISTEN; well, often, attentively, painfully, patiently.
• They create and demand LEARNING environments at all levels in which it is always OK to question, to experiment, to tinker on the edges, to take risks, in the interest of pursuing those better futures.
• They encourage and cheer us as we enthusiastically pursue those better futures together; they also console us and empathize with us when we've fallen on our asses in the effort.

If you haven't already, consider finding and following leaders of just such ilk.

Better yet.......................BECOME one.

SizingPeopleUp

I recently read Sizing People Up: A Veteran FBI Agent’s User Manual for Behavior Predictionby Robin Dreeke and Cameron Stauth (2020).  

My top takeaways include:

·       Behavior Prediction Sign #1:  Vesting – Creating symbiotic linkage of mutual success.

·       Behavior Prediction Sign #2:  Longevity – Believing your bond will last.

·       Behavior Prediction Sign #3:  Reliability – Demonstrating competence and diligence.

·       Behavior Prediction Sign #4:  Actions – Displaying consistent patterns of positive behaviors.

·       Behavior Prediction Sign #5:  Language – Creating connections with masterful communication.

·       Behavior Prediction Sign #6:  Stability – Transcending conflict with emotional accord.

·       Trust should be viewed as predictability, not morality.

·       5 HACKS TO ACCELERATE THE TEMPO OF A RELATIONSHIP: 1. Intensify the experience.  2. Ritualize the relationship.  3. Begin at the end.  4. Demonstrate people’s value.  5. Decode the “Code of Trust.” 

·       How to apply the “Code of Trust”:  1. Suspend your ego.  2. Validate people.  3. Don’t judge people.  4. Be reasonable.  5. Be generous.

·       The truest measure of love is not how you feel, but what you do.

·       Exemplary communicators don’t “win arguments;” they listen intently and completely.

My favorite quotes:

“Trust creates a state of calm and creativity, animates everyone involved, and unites entire nations. It sits at the top of the human hierarchy of positive actions, because it is the action-equivalent of love—and often exists in combination with love.” (p. 11)

“The content was excellent, because the absolute essence of great communication is to focus on the other person, instead of yourself. ” (p. 170).

“Love is the pure essence of the quiet mind, and fear is the constant cold shriek of the noisy mind.” (p. 214)

This one is an excellent, and contained numerous very nice literary morsels (somewhat unexpected from an ex-Marine and ex-FBI agent).