A note to our leaders

As we begin…

By Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey, Spirit of CAPS recipient

Welcome to the never-ending journey of an evolving career and focus on personal leadership development. Changes in global perspective have placed a new focus and an increased pressure on finding and applying more productive uses of our assets and updating our own and our employees’ and team’s skills to compete successfully. These pressures also impact our volunteer teams as we work to complete our common goals.

The world needs courageous leaders who are willing to step up and take their place in tackling these pressures and challenges. Whether your leadership path is personal, as a volunteer, serving as an elected official, or is organizational (positional) you do and will make a difference.

Taking personal leadership in your own growth and success in that leadership role is worth the investment. This is where you apply ‘leverage’ to dynamically succeed!

Personal leadership – The Power of One! leads to engaging the passion of many and allows you to walk ‘In The Company of Leaders’.

·        Too many leaders remain blind or distracted and miss the opportunities and responsibilities of creating and nurturing those who would follow them.

 ·        Too many miss the opportunity to play an active part in the selection and growth of those who would succeed them.

Leadership at its ‘best’ is about developing other strong leaders. Bob Hooey

There is increased acceptance for using personal leadership and coaching in the workplace. In the past, coaching has been regulated or known only as a remedial method of helping employees improve sagging or deficient performance. It still has a valid use in these skills enhancing and supportive areas.

However, in recent history, workplace coaching has a new leadership focus. Leading edge employees, managers, volunteer leaders, and executives have been experiencing positive results from enlisting the help of a leadership coach to help them improve in specific areas or to achieve specific goals. People have been going ‘outside’ the corporate arena and enlisting or recruiting personal or leadership coaches. They want to change, to improve their performance, and to enhance their ability to win! Perhaps you are one of them?

Many world leaders, executives, and managers have also seen the wisdom and a positive return on their investment of time and resources in training and coaching their employees, teams, and future leaders for ‘optimal’ results. Things are changing in the boardrooms, on the sales floors of businesses, and in organizations around the world.

Our intention in our writing is to provide a variety of perspectives, expertise, and experience in leadership that each of us can draw from (a well of wisdom, if you will) in our own quest to either, claim, enhance, or hone our respective leadership skills.

Leadership success is an educational journey where you learn-on-the-grow. As someone once said, "For the leader, school is never out." Leadership is definitely a learn-as-you-grow proposition. You garner knowledge from reading and interacting with other leaders. You anchor it and prove its value in the field working and with real people.

The ‘Legacy of Leadership’ you choose to ‘lead’ is founded on those lessons and the interaction you've had with the people you were leading, as well as those who have invested in your own leadership journey. Leaders help other leaders grow. “Leadership at its 'best' is about developing other leaders.” This is what motivated me to enlist the help of these amazing authors and leadership experts to create ‘In The Company of Leaders’. Our desire is to invest in your leadership growth and to help equip and inspire you to succeed in your leadership journey. The world needs more committed and courageous leaders. Will you step up?

People experience problems and challenges in their performance for four major reasons:

 ·       Poor or inadequate training

·       Inadequate equipment or support services

·       Time constraints and poor time management

·       Motivation (or lack thereof)

Use our wisdom, insight, and knowledge as a resource guide for your own leadership growth. Use it, as well, as a personal success guide to engage and equip other leaders who will take on increased personal leadership in their own lives.

Unfortunately, many of these reasons can be traced back to poor or uninspired leadership.

© 2013-2022 Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey excerpted from In the Company of Leaders

 Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey, DTM, PRA, CKD-Emeritus, Accredited Speaker, 2011 Spirit of CAPS recipient is an inspirational leader, speaker, and a prolific author whose works include ‘Legacy of Leadership, Strive for significance – lead on purpose!’, ‘Speaking for Success’ and ‘The Courage to Lead!’ His articles have been featured in a multitude of North American trade and global consumer publications. He is a respected leader who has been honored by CAPS, NSA, Toastmasters, and the United Nations for his leadership contributions. His creative Ideas At Work have allowed him to travel the globe sharing insights, encouragement in 61 countries, so far. With Covid-19 he has been zooming around the globe to share his ideas. His innovative Ideas At Work! have been successfully applied by global leaders as well as Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies. Visit www.ideaman.net