Welcome
Welcome to this month's edition of People Matter, produced by CustomerClix.
January, of course, heralds a New Year. So what are your New Year resolutions? Is your work all consuming or, this year, will you strive for a better work / life balance?
I wish you all the very best for 2012. And if we can help you with your personal development needs, to ensure that you meet your New Year resolutions, then do get in touch. We really do want to help you. New Year, New You.
Warmest wishes
Kim Crosby
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Want to be a remarkable leader?
Five tips for adapting to change
As a leader in transition, you may face new experiences and have surprising expectations placed on you from every direction. While you may deal with those shifts relatively quickly, your comfort level in adjusting to your new landscape can add stress to the process. Bold, new perspectives that will help you succeed don’t come automatically, and they don’t come in some sort of secret leadership rite-of-passage manual, either. However, the following five perspectives can help you make your transition smooth and your leadership effective:
(1) More future, less past: As a leader you are trying to move yourself, your team and your organisation toward a desired future. Yes, we can learn from the past, but we can’t relive or wallow in it.
(2) More positive, less negative: Everyone believes that enthusiasm is contagious. Here are the twin truths that come from this fact: The opposite of enthusiasm is also contagious, and people tend to ‘catch’ their attitude more easily from their leaders than from others. Unless you want your team working in a negative environment, you must lead from a positive perspective.
(3) More asking, less telling: When we become leaders, we sometimes think we are now expected to have the answers. Yes, we may have some answers, but we will be more effective when we engage others and get their opinions. If you want to influence, if you want people to have ownership and if you want to develop others, you must ask more than you tell. The leadership perspective of asking will serve you well at any level of leadership.
(4) More proactive, less passive: As an individual contributor we could, perhaps wait for things to happen. As a leader, we must be the ones to... lead. If we wait, who are we waiting for? This proactive perspective may be the one that helped you get promoted to leadership; this perspective is a hallmark of the action of leadership, not the title of leader.
(5) More we, less me: As a leader you must think about the team, the larger perspective and the organisational good. We must become less focused on ourselves and more focused on others. As a leader you are now a part of multiple teams – the team that you lead, your peer team of leaders and perhaps a variety of other ad hoc or project teams as well. The perspective of remarkable leaders is always about we, not me.
While these perspectives may matter in a leadership transition, they apply to all of us as leaders every day. Wherever you are in your journey, think about how you can apply more of these perspectives in your work.
Want to be a remarkable leader?, p26, Toastmaster magazine, Nov 2011, Toastmasters International
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Poet’s Corner: A Song for New Year's Eve
Those of you that have attended our public speaking training sessions know the importance of working with words to craft compelling speeches. So, each month, we feature a topical poem or passage that illustrates this point, using lyrical English.
This month features a poem that pays tribute to the passing of the Old Year and heralding in the New Year. Enjoy...
Stay yet, my friends, a moment stay—
Stay till the good old year,
So long companion of our way,
Shakes hands, and leaves us here.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One little hour, and then away.
The year, whose hopes were high and strong,
Has now no hopes to wake;
Yet one hour more of jest and song
For his familiar sake.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One mirthful hour, and then away.
The kindly year, his liberal hands
Have lavished all his store.
And shall we turn from where he stands,
Because he gives no more?
Oh stay, oh stay,
One grateful hour, and then away.
Days brightly came and calmly went,
While yet he was our guest;
How cheerfully the week was spent!
How sweet the seventh day's rest!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One golden hour, and then away.
Dear friends were with us, some who sleep
Beneath the coffin-lid:
What pleasant memories we keep
Of all they said and did!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One tender hour, and then away.
Even while we sing, he smiles his last,
And leaves our sphere behind.
The good old year is with the past;
Oh be the new as kind!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One parting strain, and then away.
William Cullen Bryant, (1794-1878), American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post
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Quotations
The time is always right to do what is right, Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968), US black civil rights leader & clergyman
Be great in act, as you have been in thought, William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English dramatist & poet
Every day, people settle for less than they deserve. They are only partially living or at best living a partial life. Every human being has the potential for greatness, Author unknown
Celebrate what you want to see more of, Thomas J Peters (1942-), American writer of business management practices
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And if your birthday is in January...
Birthstone: Garnet
By her who in this month is born
No gems save garnets should be worn
They will insure her constancy
True friendship and fidelity
Anon
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Volunteering: Mind
Many people do much for worthy causes. Thus, every month, we feature an organisation that requires volunteers and / or other forms of help to support its work.
If the organisation featured this month is of interest but is not local to you, perhaps you could contact a similar organisation near you to volunteer your help?
Mind
Mind is a leading mental health charity based in England and Wales.
Mind believes that no one should have to face a mental health problem alone. The charity's vision is of a society that promotes and protects good mental health for all, and that treats people with experience of mental distress fairly, positively, and with respect. Mind provides information and support and campaigns to improve policy and attitudes and, in partnership with our network of over 160 independent local Minds
offer local services. The charity does this to make it possible for people who experience mental distress to live full lives, and play their full part in society.
Mind's work can be supported in many different ways such as joining Mind on Facebook or following Mind on Twitter.
Or click here to view voluntary or paid positions at the charity or click here to donate.
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Forthcoming CustomerClix training courses
Tue 10th Jan 2012 - 09:00-17:00 (coffee from 08:30) - Public speaking: You can do it - Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5ED, United Kingdom - Price: £495 per person + VAT - Click here to reserve your place
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Forthcoming get togethers
Would you like to mingle and have fun? If the answer to this question is yes, do come along to the following events. But do let us know beforehand that you're attending so that we can rendezvous with you. And please extend the invite to others - the more the merrier!
Tue 24th Jan 2012 - 18:30-20:00 - Lecture: Shareholders or Patients First? - Free - Business School, Imperial College, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
Wed 25th Jan 2012 - 19:00-20:30 hours - Lecture: Cutting Edge 2012: Beyond basketball - £10 per person - Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4BS, United Kingdom
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