On Caring

Dear Leader,
I'm so glad you care.
Just testing:
What's the cleaner's name?
How many kids does she/he have?
What are there names?
Just wondering
Regards
Someone who cares

A commandment

Dear Leader,
Don't always do unto others as you would have them do unto you...
Do unto others as they would have done unto them.
What matters to you may not matter to them...And what matters to them may not matter to you.
But it should.
Take care,
Your Friend
Commandment

Mindful of the future

Dear Leader
What are the characteristics of future leaders?
1) Know what it's all about (your field, your discipline).
2) Be Creative.
3) Bring together things that seem to be apart .
4) Respect others.
5) Remember the importance of values and ethics.
Regards
Your Friend
Futurethinker

Fun...

Dear Leader,
Remember the fun we had as children?
Are your people having fun?
It's funny, but sometimes it's worth more than money.
Your Friend,
Play

Conducting Leadership

Dear Leader

Ever noticed that great leaders are like the conductors of an orchestra?

They bring out the best in the different players...

And they have their back towards the audience.

Even more...

When there is applause, they indicate that it should be given to the players (orechestra).

Keep Conducting.

Your Friend,

Classical Composition

Why you are where you are

Dear Leader,

You are where you are because someone, somewhere believed in you.

Return the favour today.

Believe in someone, create opportunity.

That’s where true leadership begins.

Regards

Potential.

What balance?

Dear Leader,
I've spoken about this before, but I want to remind you again...
Balance does not come naturally. You have to fight for it.
If not, your time is going to disappear, and shortly after that, so will you family, your social life and your friendships.
It's going to be a tough battle!
And long.
Keep fighting, it's worth it.
Regards
Your friends and family

On legacy...

Dear Leader,

What will they remember about you 5 years after you have left?

What would you want them to remember?

Keep working on it.  

And make sure it's about them and not about you. Otherwise you were not leading, but merely taking a walk.

Your Friend

Legacy

The Power of Perception

Dear Leader

Why do people listen to you?

Because they fear you?

or

Because they respect you?

Think hard about it, many leaders get confused between the two , and think they are respected when, in fact they are feared.  

Respect is gained.  Fear is imposed.

Know the difference.

Your friend

Reflection.

Leadership is not easy

These days there are so many Quick fix books on Leadership. But is Leadership that easy. When does a leader really understand the context in which he/she finds him/herself? Just think of Mikhael Gorbachev in Russia. Did economics force him to change the world order by negotiating a "free" Russia? Or did he have the vision to see the disasterous route the Cold War was going? What was the price he had to pay? He lost his position because he allowed people to criticize him (Glasnost and Perestroika allowed this). Today all leaders are told to be transparant and democratic. But what if that can lead to the leader's downfall? And that is the problem we are grappling with. Leaders need to survive and take care of their families before they can take the risk of opening up and changing for a better cause. FW De Klerk who was responsible for the major changes in South Africa was also ousted from politics later on. Had he not been taken care of financially - he would have been a poor outcast today. How many real leaders are out in the desert today??