How We Move Forward.
Leadership is how we move forward. My mindset, when it comes to leadership is – leaders build leaders, leadership starts with self, leadership is how we move forward.
What are our options?
You can stop. You can start. Or you can continue doing what you are doing. The three questions that help me with this and help those I work with.
How am I leading our business ( Catalyst ), our clients, our family?
I’m leading through questions. Not answers.
These questions usually reveal the answer. The path. The next logical step. And typically that is based on a foundation that includes clarity around definition.
When you identify the next logical step, it is up to you and your team to take it. When you take those steps, reflect, and iterate. Progress typically follows.
Let’s start with Mindset
Mindset = Attitude + Beliefs + Clarity of Definition. This is a complicated definition, but a simple equation. It has a lot of words, but at the same time creates clarity. Mindset is a lot of things pushed into one thing.
What’s your mindset when it comes to leadership? Do you have one? If not, steal or borrow mine.
“Leaders build leaders, leadership starts with self, leadership is how we move forward”
― Mike Simmons
It’s one thing to define it. It’s another thing to do it and be it.
Skillset.
The definition of leadership will help you agree on the necessary skills to do and ultimately be. From my perspective, the foundational skill is communication. Everything is built on a foundation of communication.
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
― George Bernard Shaw
So, let’s start with a definition on communication. Communication from my perspective, is the art and science of conveying a thought or idea.
We communicate in a couple of ways. Often, we communicate with the written or spoken word. Sometimes we communicate with our actions, our motions. The non-verbal stuff. When we communicate, remember – there are things that are said, there are things that are heard, there are things that are remembered. Rarely are all three the same.
If we clarify the thing that was heard, we can bridge the gap between said and heard and create space for remembered.
The simple question “what did you hear me say?” – can solve for a lot. Or the statement “here’s what I heard you say…” – can solve for a lot.
You can also use a tool like an tool like the "4 Steps to Better Meetings" to help prepare for conversations, prepare for meetings, prepare for communication.
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I’m going to go a bit deeper on this in the newsletter this week @ findmycatalyst.com
Communication is the foundation. Here are a couple of other key skills that will increase in value as we figure out how to leverage emerging and enablement tech. They always have.
Follow me Mike Simmons for more on those.
Toolset
When you have skills – like the leadership ones listed above. You can use tools to create leverage.
“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”
― Archimedes
AI is an emerging and enablement technology. It is a tool. A fool with a tool is still a fool. A tool in the hands of someone without skill is both dangerous and wasteful. A tool in the hands of a craftsman with skill, can create something amazing. X is a tool. The keyboard is a tool. What could Archimedes have accomplished if he had access to the tools you have today?
The first time you used a fork, your parents might have been worried you’d poke your eye out. You figured it out over time. And you will figure this out. When you apply your skills.
How do you build skills?
I’m glad you asked. From my perspective. You learn things and you do things. The gap between learning and doing is thinking.
Learn.Think.Act.™
Learn– we are always learning. At least I am. Learning is fundamental to being human. We observe new things, gain new perspective, envision what can be. We learn through access. We learn through experience.
How do we bridge the gap between learning and action?
Think– we reflect, we think, we connect dots. When you connect the dots between what you know and what you learn, things start to make more sense. These are those “ah-ha” moments. The “now I get it” moments.
Act– this is the doing part. Nothing happens without action. When you do the work, take the step, apply thinking – you can reflect on what worked, what didn’t work, and where are you stuck.
Doing is critical. Thinking is critical. Learning is critical. The cycle repeats. And the faster it repeats, the quicker you move forward.
We learn. We think. We act. Learn.Think.Act.™
So, if you read the Matt Schumer piece on “Something Big is Happening” – it is. And, we have been here before in different contexts. And the fundamentals – LEADERSHIP fundamentals will help you move forward.
I don’t know what the future holds. But I’m optimistic about what the future holds. And I’m optimistic about our role. Your role, and my role.
I’ll sign off with one of my favorite lines from The Matrix –
“Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you.”
Follow me here Mike Simmons for more content like this. You can also Find Your Catalyst in our weekly newsletter findmycatalyst.com, and on the Find My Catalyst Podcast.
Mike Simmons well said. This reminds me of my yearbook quote “The greatst thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving" - Oliver Wendell Holme