The need for contemplation

As I start  this new day I take a few moments just to think, contemplate, meditate, pray and take time to allow my thoughts to settle.

It is my cave (or quiet) time, where nothing matters apart from stillness of the heart and mind. I can sit and watch the world go by without participating in its busy-ness. Sometimes I think about the work I must do, but, the most  important thing I do is to just sit and in quiet contemplation just allow myself to listen.

Contemplation, meditation and prayer, to me, are much more about spending time listening than about the process or method or in the case of prayer, speaking or asking for things. When we sit and listen we discover many things about ourselves. Some are good some are not so good, but it is always for us to be encouraged about something or challenged to work on other things or even just to be a peace for a short time in our busy world.

Whether you are a Christian, as I am, or have another faith or even no faith at all, let me encourage you to practice the art of just “being”, sitting for a few  moments everyday in quietness just to listen. You will be amazed at what you will discover.

Paul S Allen

Interlude

Sometimes just to relax, you need to take a few moments out to just “be”. In this process of “be”ing you can take stock of your situation, breath deeply and refocus your attention.

As a musician I will often just pick up my guitar and play a few chords.

Please take a minute and enjoy this musical Interlude.

Paul S Allen

“Interlude”
Music and Video
©Paul S Allen 2010

Surviving Leadership

Tips for leaders on how to survive leadership

Remember leaders are human, they are not perfect and they make mistakes.

Leadership has sometimes been described as a lonely place; this should not be. As a leader you need to establish key relationships and friendships outside of your organisation. These people should be able to give clear and objective views about you and support you in your leadership.

Leaders need to be accountable to others.

Establish great governance structures around you.

Learn to delegate, equip those you delegate to and empower them to be able to make decisions on their own.

Let those people you have delegated tasks to do the tasks without your input or micro managing.

Learn to serve, a great leader is a great servant and people will follow a strong example.

Leaders are, by nature, involved in the lives of people. Learn to manage people well.

Learn to manage your time well. If you say you will be there at a certain time be there at that time, just as you expect others to do.

Have a clearly defined and written job description for your role as a leader and stick to it. It should include what all your levels of delegated authority are.

Know when it is your responsibility to make decisions and when it is not your responsibility to make them.

The health of the leader is the responsibility of the leader alone. (Physical/mental/emotional/spiritual.)

Have a healthy respect for the role of leadership; do not be afraid of questions that appear to challenge your decisions/values/beliefs.

Investigate all opposing arguments to your own opinions to find the truth, and then be prepared to face the truth and act on it.

Leaders are not invincible

Honesty and humility are the greatest character traits a leader should possess.

All organizations have people in them therefore all organizations are political.  Learn to deal with politics.

Have people you can safely offload to. Deal with personal issues quickly and appropriately with the right people.

Take time to learn, develop your skills.

Recreation time is essential to refocus and strengthen yourself.

There is freedom when you recognise that all leaders are just fallible humans.

The key to being a great leader or fulfilling any other role is to learn how to “be” before you start to “do”.

Paul S Allen

Throw out your To-Do list

Have you ever been paralysed by a to-do list that keeps getting longer?

Perhaps it’s time to stop doing them and work on those things that the highest priorities for your business.

Group tasks together under major headings then match the importance of those categories to the goals and values of your organisation.

Then start with the most important first. Don’t be fooled by the urgent, there are at times urgent things that should get our attention, but the main area that you should focus on is the important.

There are many thing that can distract you through out your day, perhaps when you are feeling distracted the most stand up stretch get the blood flowing again then make a clear decision to get the task down.

It is amazing how a micro rest can clear your head and improve your productivity.