What Does Exceptional Business Success Require of Us?

To excel in business we need conscious command of all our faculties, mind, body and heart to ensure our work/life balance. Then we can seize the moment of opportunity and create exceptional results.

Western business schools us in our physical and mental aspects of business. We learn the requirements for:

1. Great processes to deliver complex team results, and,

2. Great strategies to out perform the competition and deliver to our client's expectations and beyond.

In contrast, Eastern business schools us in the discipline of our heart and physicality, to remain committed and involved to the outcome of the project, regardless of the distractions.

The image of the samuri comes to mind, waiting in absolute presence for his opponent to be distracted so that he can conclude the task at hand.

Western business gives us the opportunity to gain experience. From this we learn what we need to do to become physically and mentally competent for most situations, most of the time. It is also hoped that we will sort out any heart discipline issues that interfere with the delivery of our true potential.

Organizations do not know when their business circumstances will change radically. What leaders will they require, who may not flourish in their current environment, to seize the presented opportunities for success?

How do we unleash the true potential of people who have great abilities that are inconsistently delivering on time and on target?

Humans are consciously and unconsciously emotionally-conditioned beings. "There is a plethora of elegant neurophysiological data suggesting that the nervous system is not capable of taking in everything, but can only scan the outer world for material that it is prepared to find by virtue of its wiring hookups, its own internal patterns, and its past experience."(1)

The brain's development reflects this, with the emotional patterning center maturing in utero, whilst the rational center begins to mature at 4-5 years of age and reaches full maturation in the late teens to early twenties.

From our early explorations of how to be successful in this world, we have formed some linked memories of actions, thoughts and emotions. Some of these are strongly self-limiting. The priority of any change management program is to deactivate these associated memories that are potential landmines!

So Why Don't We Have Schooling to Ensure our Hearts' Discipline?

Hogan (2), through analysis of 300 published studies, has concluded that as human beings we are very poor judges of our own reputation: what others know of us, because we are preoccupied by our identity: what we would like to believe is true about us.

Our colleagues may hold a consistent view of our abilities as pushy and we cling to our beliefs about ourselves that are in opposition. We are seen to 'not walk our talk', or our heart is distracted and unsteady. However, we may not share this perception.

Some football teams unconsciously understand this. They taunt their competition until they have distracted them from their game. They then play their best football whist the competition turns to fighting them!

There are two choices here:

1. Winning: To be more disciplined in their hearts and remain focused on winning, or,

2. Losing: To be manipulated into losing by changing the focus to fighting the competition.

The discipline of our hearts' requires us to learn the nature of these choices within us, to be willing to consistently choose, and, accept the consequences of our choices. Then we begin to learn the wisdom to be a great leader and achieve the success we seek.

NB. This process is not logical or linear as memories are stored by association. Non linear learning was pioneered by the Russians and has become popular through accelerated learning techniques in the West.

(1)2Dr Candice Pert is a Research Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University Medical Centre in Washington, D.C. She was the first to map the receptor patterns of heroin in the brain and show its emotional 'high' characteristics. She lectures extensively throughout the country.

(2)Dr Hogan is an eminent psychologist whose personality and leadership profiles are utilized by over 50% of the Fortune 100 companies in the USA. He has over 300 publications to his name.

This article may be reproduced in printed or web format, provided the resource box below is included.

Rosemary Johnston is a professional corporate, business and personal coach. Working with executives from some of Australia's largest and most successful companies for over 15 years as well as numerous professionals. Rosemary's new book, "How To Develop Your Leadership Style and Skills to Take Charge of Your Career and Life" is now available to download at her web site. Read about how you can share some of the success Rosemary has had coaching leaders in Australian blue chip companies. http://www.leadershipfirst.com.au

---

The Leader Within

Each and every one of you has hidden deep inside... Read More

Get What You Want - Negotiating Skills for the Timid!

OK, I know this title sounds self-serving and hard nosed,... Read More

Leadership

Webster's defines leadership as : "1. the office of position... Read More

What Kind of Leader Are You?

There are literally millions of words written and spoken each... Read More

5 Steps on How to Set and Achieve Your Goals

Which one is a goal? I will lose 15... Read More

Helping Others Develop Their Potential

Most of us find ourselves in a position to help... Read More

Make The Elephant Jump -- Leading With A Kind Heart

Leadership is not about getting people to do what they... Read More

Effective Leaders are (#3) Communicative

LISTEN, WRITE, AND ARTICULATE EFFECTIVELY: Leadership positions require effective communication... Read More

Steps to Becoming a Good Leader

STEPS TO BECOMING A GOOD LEADER: 1. Develop a master... Read More

Embracing Adversity for Achievement

"Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll... Read More

5 Human Capital Asset Enrichment Strategies for Leaders!

Here's a really simple way to think about the ins... Read More

All You Really Want Is Feeling Good

If I asked you what your goal in life is,... Read More

Ten Ways Women Can Visualize Themselves As Leaders

Women should not be afraid of or feel guilty about... Read More

Wanted: A Dictionary-Perfect Leader

Answers are often before our very eyes or in front... Read More

In Leadership, Good Enough Is Pretty Bad

The first time I meet a leader to decide if... Read More

Value Driver Leadership

CHAPTER 1 ************ VALUEThose qualities regarded by a person or... Read More

Character Traits of Extraordinary Leaders

When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to... Read More

Lead People...Manage Things

Master The Five Key Facets of High Performance LeadershipMany people... Read More

Business Leadership: How Much is in Your Credibility Bank Account?

Business leaders have more than a title on their doors.... Read More

Make the Most of Your Mentoring Relationships

Mentoring is one of the best ways to learn, to... Read More

On Being A Born Leader

"Leaders are born, not made." Right? Let me ask you... Read More

The Three Essential Attributes of a Leader: The Demonstrated Abilities

Leaders need to:1. Have a vision to which they are... Read More

Leadership: Wisdom of the Ages

If you gather 100 experienced leaders together to share with... Read More

The Leadership Strategy: An Unmined Comstock Lode of Results

During the Second World War, Winston Churchill had a framed... Read More

Tough Times Demand Resilient Leaders

The stock market gyrates with unpredictable and heartburning results. Icons... Read More

Rationalize Success Away

I was invited to do a Leadership workshop at a... Read More

Using Your Intuition

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our... Read More

Leadership Skill Training

Quality leadership is a positive asset that is needed in... Read More

Four Obstacles to Exceptional Leadership--Part 1

"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of... Read More

Leadership Training and Character

The vast majority of leadership training available to managers focuses... Read More

Leaders ARE; Are you?

Identity CrisisIt's not only the knowledge you carry around in... Read More

UNCLOS III Process model

The United Nations Conference on Law of the Sea was... Read More

Leadership - Passion, Purpose, Profit - Its Not That Hard

Go to any educational institution, look at airport bookshelves, shopping... Read More