Title: Richard Branson Video
Description: This video is an interview with Richard Branson in which he describes his philosophy behind a successful business and how employee and job satisfaction play a key role in success. He believes that making every single employee- from a CEO to a secretary- feel important and valued is one of the most important things a company can do. When people feel valued and appreciated their performance reflects this.
Reference information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlweQSVs4Vw
Reason included in toolkit: I think this is a very valuable philosophy to remember when being a leader in any role. Richard Branson is not only one of the most successful business men of the current day, but he has also helped hundreds of others become very successful. His thinking is inspiring and admirable.
Tips on use: Use this when you need a reminder of why you’re where you are, and that where you are, isn’t because of only you. Everyone on your team, everyone working for you and with you plays a key role in the success of your business. At times when you may lack appreciation, watch this.
Title: Do Lecture by Gerd Leonhard- The journey from egosystem to ecosystem
Description: This video discusses the future of businesses and the importance of moving from a system of working for themselves to a system of collaborating with everyone as a whole.
Reference Information: http://www.thedolectures.com/gerd-leonhard-the-journey-from-egosystem-to-ecosystem/#.VAoRCfldVgk
Reason included in toolkit: I think this is super important to keep in my toolkit to keep in mind the direction I may want to go. I think that it is a very interesting and valuable belief that companies must forget about creating a profit and success for themselves only. Instead, we need to shift our thinking to creating a profit and success for every business and company as a whole. When everyone succeeds, we all benefit.
Tips on use: Watch this when you need inspiration that your efforts won’t go unnoticed and your desire to collaborate and work for the greater good is truly the way to do business.
Title: The Dance by Giles Hutchins
Description: Poem written by Giles Hutchins that inspires individuals to look within themselves to be better people for others.
Reference Information: The Dance by Giles Hutchins
Know Thy Self
To know others
See thy reflection
To see others
Internalise the externalities
To clarify the view
Picture the whole
To synergise the parts
Co-operate and collaborate
To educate and innovate
Dance with diversity
To create and communicate
Each day offers freely the chance
To place new steps of change
Actions speak louder than words
I’ll see you all at the dance said He
Reason included in toolkit: Inspirational read and way to reconnect with yourself.
Tips on use: Read this poem when you need to reconnect with your purpose and remember that it isn’t always going to be easy. I am a firm believer that the journey is far more important than the destination.
Title: Knowing Yourself by Warren Bennis
Description: This reading is a chapter from Warren Bennis’s book, Knowing Yourself. The William James quote that introduces the chapter is a good description of his thinking. He believes that breaking out of the typical expectations others have of you isn’t always easy, but it’s important, as it is the time when the real you shines through. You must separate who you are and who you want to be from what the world thinks you are and wants you to be.
Reference information: https://learn.mcad.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-490515-dt-content-rid-747079_1/courses/SD-6750-20-F17/SD-6750-20-F17_ImportedContent_20170719011516/SD-6750-10-F14_ImportedContent_20140725105657/b%20Weekly%20Folders%20%20b/Week%206%20%20%20Knowing%20Yourself%20Lesson%206.2%20%20%20What%20it%20means%20know%20yourself%20as%20a%20Creative%20Leader%206.2%20Resources%20Knowing%20Yourself/embedded/Warren%20Bennis%20-%20Knowing%20Yourself.pdf
Reason included in toolkit: This may be the most important resource to me from this course. I think the hardest thing for me to do is to go against the norm and step into the unknown. This entire course has inspired me to do just that, and this reading is uplifting and motivating that it is a good thing to follow who you truly are, and when you follow what it is you want in life, you are far more successful and satisfied with life.
Tips on use: Read this when you need a push to step outside your comfort zone and need motivation to go after the scary unknown or the taboo dream you have that nobody else understands.
© Warren Bennis
Title: Do Lecture by Phil Parker
Description: This is a lecture by speaker Phil Parker. Phil Parker is in a sense a motivational speaker that uses easily understood language and thinking to communicate and inspire people to believe in themselves. He does this by believing in you first!
Reference information: http://www.thedolectures.com/phil-parker-why-the-words-you-say-to-yourself-matter/#.Wi3yx1WnGpo
Reason included in toolkit: I think a lot of leaders fall short because they lack the confidence that they are capable and more importantly, that they are great. I think when people feel motivated by others and feel like others believe in them, they are more willing to believe in themselves and be more successful in their role.
Tips on use: Watch this when you are doubting yourself as a leader.
Title: Changing Yourself, Changing the World
Description: This is an article that discusses the struggle sustainability leaders face when they pressure themselves too much. It talks about the importance of working on changing yourself before, or while, you work on changing others.
Reference information: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/coping-methods-work-burnout-business-values?CMP=
Reason included in toolkit: I think it is important and valuable to remember that at times on this journey I will feel defeated and exhausted. There are times I will fail. It is important to remember that I must value and love myself so that I can be a better agent of change for others.
Tips on use: Read this when you may feel a bit off track. When you struggle to connect with your personal self, remember the importance of caring for you so that you can be a better leader for others.
Title: Do Lecture by Steve Edge
Description: This guy is the perfect example of finding out who you really are and rolling with it. He is funky and excited and presents himself in a fun and crazy way. He has suffered his entire life from dyslexia and in a sense found himself by accepting this. He found his strengths and passions in a way he can communicate.
Reference information: http://www.thedolectures.com/steve-edge-why-you-should-have-a-party-everyday#.VE2T6Pl4oZg
Reason included in toolkit: I think this is a fun video that is a good reminder that our situation is exactly what we make of it. We can always find something good in every situation and sometimes we truly find ourselves in those moments of struggle.
Tips on use: Watch this to remember that every situation will be exactly what you make of it.
Title: Is There An Equation For Happiness?
Description: This is a post from the blog Delivering Happiness. It is an interview with Chip Conley and his beliefs and insights on happiness and the process of getting there. Chip believes that to find happiness you must appreciate the good and the bad. Chasing happiness too aggressively leaves people feeling empty and unfulfilled.
Reference information: http://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/blog/is-there-an-equation-for-happiness
Reason included in toolkit: I think it is a good reminder that things will not always go as planned. There will be periods in my life when I stumble and struggle to stay afloat. Recognizing what the lesson or purpose of these times helps to work your way out of them and towards your happiness.
Tips on use: Read this when you are struggling or feel like you are stuck. Everything that we go through in life has meaning, and learning to interpret and appreciate this meaning is important and necessary.
Title: Getting People on Your Side by Warren Bennis
Description: Warren Bennis talks about what he believes to be the most important qualities a leader can have. He touches on qualities such as empathy- a quality most believe you either have or you don’t- and how a lot of qualities are ones which can’t be taught. Bennis believes the most important factor in having people on your side is trust. He breaks this into four traits of leaders that generate and sustain trust- constancy, congruity, reliability and integrity.
Reference information: https://learn.mcad.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-490495-dt-content-rid-747076_1/courses/SD-6750-20-F17/SD-6750-20-F17_ImportedContent_20170719011516/SD-6750-10-F14_ImportedContent_20140725105657/b%20Weekly%20Folders%20%20b/Week%207%20%20%20Understanding%20Others%20Week%207%20Activities%20and%20Assignments%20Week%207%20Resources%20Getting%20People%20on%20Your%20Side/embedded/Bennis%20-%20Getting%20People%20on%20Your%20Side.pdf
Reason included in toolkit: I think this is a good reminder of how our traits and qualities as individuals affect the dynamic of our groups.
Tips on use: Read through this when you feel disconnected from your group or need a reminder of the importance of reconnecting to them.
Title: What is the Socratic Method & Tips for starting and facilitating a Socrates Café!
Description: The Socrates Café teaches a way of communicating and solving problems by answering more general questions about a topic. Instead of focusing on a select area, propose a more general question to get people involved. It looks at an issue from many different vantage points.
Reference information: https://learn.mcad.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-490479-dt-content-rid-747119_1/courses/SD-6750-20-F17/SD-6750-20-F17_ImportedContent_20170719011516/SD-6750-10-F14_ImportedContent_20140725105657/b%20Weekly%20Folders%20%20b/Week%209%20%20%20Learning%20with%20others%20as%20Creative%20Leaders%20Week%209%20Activities%20and%20Assignments%20Week%209%20Resources%20Socratic%20Inquiry%20resources/embedded/socratic%20method.pdf & http://www.philosopher.org/uploads/3/4/5/5/3455578/tips_for_starting_and_facilitating_a_socrates_caf.pdf
Reason included in toolkit: I had a very successful experience with this. I think it is valuable to have a basic knowledge of different ways to communicate and solve problems as a group.
Tips on use: Use this when you are struggling to connect with your group or you feel that other attempts at discussions have failed. Open up dialogue to include more general concepts and ideas that will hopefully lead to a more defined solution.
Title: Levels of Listening
Description: This document talks about listening and the different levels at which we listen. Listening is certainly not just hearing someone. There are several different levels at which we understand the words that are coming out of someone else’s mouth.
Reference information: https://www.businessballs.com/building-relationships/empathy-158/
Reason included in toolkit: Listening may be one of the most important skills someone can have as a leader. It is important to understand that listening is far beyond just the words someone is saying and the way your respond, both verbally and physically, is noticed by the individual speaking. Being aware of this is important.
Tips on use: When I need some refresher on important listening skills and the importance of each.
Title: My Life as a Leader
Description: This is an exercise where you rate yourself using a 1-10 scale on specific qualities.
Reference information: https://learn.mcad.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-490467-dt-content-rid-747102_1/courses/SD-6750-20-F17/SD-6750-20-F17_ImportedContent_20170719011516/SD-6750-10-F14_ImportedContent_20140725105657/My-Life-as-a-Leader.pdf
Reason included in toolkit: I think it is really valuable to do exercises like this where you are forced to think about qualities you possess that you may not otherwise think of. It helps to better understand yourself and maybe areas where you would like to make changes.
Tips on use: When you are feeling off or unsure of who you have been lately, redo this exercise and it will help you better understand where you have been lately and maybe shine some light to where you would like to go.
Title: Can Introverts Lead?
Description: This is a Harvard Business interview that discusses how introverts- or the quiet bosses- are sometimes better. Dependent on the types of followers you are leading, being an introvert can actually be a good thing.
Reference information: http://youtu.be/filvlODRukw
Reason included in toolkit: I am an introvert. I have always thought of that as a bad quality I possess. It is refreshing to hear that being an introvert is not always a negative thing.
Tips on use: This is a good reminder that being an introvert isn’t a bad thing. It is more about the relationship a leader has with the followers and the types of followers a leader is leading.