An Addiction to Speed

Currently, we are living our lives at the speed of software and believing that there is an app for everything. However, the reality is that we are not generating more time or space in our lives for clarity or for the things and people that make our life meaningful. Instead, we just feel more hurried and pushed by endless e-mails, meetings and unrealistic timelines.

After considerable reflection, I believe we have loss touch with what it means to live a life as a leader that is balanced, clear, happy, and healthy. In particular, we have lost the body memory of what this feels like to be rested. We also have loss touch with ourselves and with role models of people who live a clear, balanced and healthy life. Instead, we, as leaders, often feel we are all alone with the weight of the world on our shoulders. No one comprehends the magnitude of our decisions or the complexity and ambiguity that surrounds us on a daily basis.

However, over the last decade, I have witnessed something that is very unique. When people participate in the From Vision to Action Executive Roundtables, they discover a room of kindred spirits who are aware and understand the difficulties and challenges of leadership. They discover others who are wanting and attempting to transform their organizations into something better. They find people who believe and are graciously sharing the lessons they’ve learned along the pathway to the future. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, these participants discover a room of possibilities, potential and opportunities. Rather than feeling drained, they feel reenergized by the experience.

On April 11-12, the Spring 2013 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable will take place at the Courtyard by Marriott in West Des Moines - Clive, Iowa. Already a wonderful group of people have signed up. If you and members of your team would like to participate, there is still time and space for this to happen.  Here is a link for more information: http://www.chartyourpath.com/VTA-RT-Details.html

I hope you can join us at the Spring 2013 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable. 

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

The Need For Clarity And Alignment

Right now, many people in leadership positions are still trying to discern what are the best choices to make in 2013, especially given all the challenges happening at the federal and state levels of government. Most read the tea leaves about what it all means for the future and come up confused and frustrated. To say we live in a time period of strategic ambiguity is an understatement. In many companies, executives share with me that they believe we live in a time period of strategic avoidance and strategic ambivalence.

However, when I step back from the pressing issues that cross my path and listen deeply into what is being shared with me about strategy and strategic choices, I believe we are heading into another round of significant challenges. Former CEO of Intel, Andy Grove called these points a “strategic inflection point”, i.e a time when change in the competitive environment requires a company to make a major adaptation to new circumstances, or risk extinction. In short, he is saying we are approaching a change or die scenario. 

Yet, the response in some executive suites is to act like turtles with their heads and limbs pulled inside their corporate shells. They have chosen a path of taking less and less risks, and instead focused on control, compliance and compensation rather than strategy, talent and execution.

But the best companies I know are not falling into this trap and are instead focusing on two key concepts, namely alignment and clarity. Patrick Lencioni in his book, The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business (Jossey-Bass, 2012) writes “Within the context of making an organization healthy, alignment is about creating so much clarity that there is as little room as possible for confusion, disorder, and infighting to set in. Of course, the responsibility for creating that clarity lies squarely with the leadership team.”

However, many senior leadership teams struggle with creating alignment and clarity. Therefore, I have chosen creating organizational clarity to be the central theme of the Spring 2013 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable on April 11-12, 2013.  Here is the agenda for your review:

Thursday: April 11, 2013

- 8:30 am - Registration

- 9:00 am - 10:15 am - The Prerequisites For Organizational Clarity

- 10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break

- 10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Creating, Communicating & Cascading Clarity

- 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch and Networking 

- 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm - Reinforcing Clarity Through Systems

- 2:45 pm - 3:00 pm - Break

- 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Managing Clarity & Performance

- 4:30 pm - Adjourn

Friday: April 12, 2013

- 9:00 am - 10:15 am - Finding & Creating Personal Clarity

- 10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break 

- 10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Integration and Application

- 12:00 pm - Adjourn

We will be meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott in West Des Moines - Clive, Iowa. Here is a link to this location: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dsmch-courtyard-des-moines-west-clive/

If you and members of your team want to attend, then here is a link to the registration form: http://www.chartyourpath.com/pdf/2013-From-Vision-To-Action-Exec-Roundtable-Regist.pdf

In a year where we need to be achieving focus and alignment throughout the entire organization, now is the time to sign up and participate in the Spring 2013 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable. It will help you and your organization to be well prepared for the future.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

2013 Spring Roundtable - Early Bird Special

Now that the New Year celebrations have passed, it is time for us to turn our sights on the 2013 Spring Roundtable! 

On April 11-12, 2013, we will gather at the Courtyard by Marriott in West Des Moines - Clive, Iowa for the Spring 2013 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable. Here is a link to this location: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dsmch-courtyard-des-moines-west-clive/

Here is the agenda for your review:

Thursday: April 11, 2013

- 8:30 am - Registration

- 9:00 am - 10:15 am - The Prerequisites For Organizational Clarity

- 10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break

- 10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Creating, Communicating & Cascading Clarity

- 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch and Networking 

- 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm - Reinforcing Clarity Through Systems

- 2:45 pm - 3:00 pm - Break

- 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Managing Clarity & Performance

- 4:30 pm - Adjourn

Friday: April 12, 2013

- 9:00 am - 10:15 am - Finding & Creating Personal Clarity

- 10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break 

- 10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Integration and Application

- 12:00 pm - Adjourn

Starting today through Thursday, January 31, I am offering an “early bird” registration price for the Spring 2013 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable.

If you sign up during this time period, and submit payment before 1/31/12, the price will be $ 275.00 for the two days and $ 175.00 for a single day. Here is the link to the registration form: http://www.chartyourpath.com/pdf/2013-From-Vision-To-Action-Exec-Roundtable-Regist.pdf Please write “early bird special” on it when you send it to me by mail or fax (# 319 - 643 - 2185).

After 1/31/12, the registration price will be $ 295.00 for the two days and $ 195.00 for a single day.

I hope you will reserve April 11 - 12 on your calendar, and e-mail me today about whether or not you and your team are coming. Then, in April when the ground is waking up and daffodils are starting to bloom all we will need to do is meet at the Spring 2013 From Vision to Action Executive Roundtable.

Thinking ahead and looking forward to seeing you in April!

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257