You’ve seen this term tossed around, extensively, thanks to the Debt-Ceiling debate.
For absolute clarity, I went to the always friendly and readily accessible source, Wikipedia, and it offered this insight:
Brinkmanship is the practice of pushing dangerous events to the verge of disaster in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome. This maneuver of pushing a situation with the opponent to the brink succeeds by forcing the opponent to back down and make concessions.
For some reason, I don’t usually see those underlined phrases as principles espoused by leadership experts. This approach is, quite literally, about beating your opponent into submission. It’s pure level 2 (catabolic) energy — to borrow from the Energy Leadership lexicon for a moment.
While, like some catabolic energy, it can achieve a result, we need to consider at what cost.
Consider these questions:
• What pathway does this create to foster collaboration?
• What example (or precedent) does this set for others to follow?
• What’s the likely response you’ll receive from others?
• How does any of what has transpired inspire a nation to come together?
• What was the real goal of this debate?
Our communities, our nation, and our world are begging for collaboration, for help, to stand united and not divided.
The above would simply say the goal of a debate is to win. I’d look for a new goal. In my opinion, debates are, by and large, invaluable for an expression of divergent ideas that push each party past their comfort zones and points of view — the goal being the expansion of ideas to ensure the discovery of new points of view and the creation of new alternatives, which are greater than any one individual could have seen from the start.
The result of a debate may or may not be a “win” in a traditional sense; however, the manner in which a debate is conducted can demonstrate leadership and partnership, and pave the way to collaboration.
Stepping away from the political arena, rarely do we find that after a good, healthy debate, can we declare victory and move on with our plans without the other person involved. Whether the other people at the table (in the debate) won or lost, or are in the majority or the minority, simply doesn’t matter. In the business arena, as in life, we move forward together. And that’s pretty hard to do when you take an issue to the brink in order to force your opponent to back down and make concessions.
The next time you’re debating how to approach a challenging situation, consider the real goal – meaning what the collective group is trying to achieve, NOT simply HOW one side wants it done. Consider how all sides may need to work together to take action once a course has been charted. Consider that all sides might just be adding new perspectives and viewpoints. And, consider the example that you want to set, as a leader, for all those involved – on both sides of the table.
P.S. “Fire” breathes knowledge, wisdom, and consciousness as it spreads light upon darkness driven by ego, arrogance, and narrow-mindedness. Use the fire wisely, or it’ll burn you up in the process.
How often do you – or do any of us — actually smile without a real reason?
Smiling is a statement of content that is contagious, not only to others, but within our very cells. It’s easy to smile when someone smiles first or if something pleasurable comes our way. Those who create the first smile, regardless of outer events, are those who inspire others to joy.
This week, don’t wait for an excuse. Smile each day…and as many times as you can remember.
In Part Two of our interview with Zack Lemelle, iPEC’s Managing Partner of Corporate Engagement Services, Zack discusses leadership in today’s economy, the difference between a good leader and a great leader, and the impact Coach Centric Leaders™ have on creating a truly great company.
Want to learn more about becoming a Coach Centric Leader™? Download a copy of “The 12 Talents of Coach Centric Leaders™” today and begin impacting your organization — and your world — every day, starting immediately.
The Core Energy Coaching™ process takes everything that makes you who you are – your purpose, beliefs, values, strengths, etc. – and engages that capacity on the specific goal you want to achieve, the role at which you want to succeed, or the task you are undertaking.
This is Core Energy Coaching – the process by which you connect your inner purpose and passion (who you are) to your outer goals and strategies (what you do and how you do it). This process means that you’re developing your own unique success formula – it helps you figure out how YOU do things.
Consider for yourself:
• How do you want your values to show up in your role as a leader, educator, or parent?
• How does your current job reflect the overall purpose you have in life?
• Which of your strengths do you most enjoy using, and how are you currently using them to achieve your goals?
What do you believe you could accomplish if you were able to completely engage your full capacity, take action with courageous authenticity, and focus it all on what you want most?
Our previous post about catabolic profiles highlighted the negative effects that catabolic energy can cause if it’s allowed to cultivate in an organization. As catabolic energy can cause negative effects, a small change toward energy in the anabolic range can result in business gains, creating a positive impact on an organization’s bottom line.
While catabolic energy can cause a negative ripple effect throughout an organization, anabolic energy can create a strong tide that can deliver the inverse result. Anabolic energy promotes productivity and innovation, and leads to a decline in negative factors for an organization, such as absenteeism, turnover, and employee disengagement.
Focusing on the origin of an individual’s level of engagement is critical to making a change in one’s energy. Since engagement stems from core energy, one’s core energy must be shifted from catabolic to anabolic in order to make effective changes in the areas of productivity, life and work satisfaction, leadership ability — and more.
Extensive research has helped to develop iPEC’s Core Energy Coaching™ process, which is specifically designed to enable individuals to shift their energy from the catabolic range to the anabolic range. Coaching using the Core Energy Coaching™ process addresses individualized perspectives and intrinsic values, and then works on obtaining buy-in to shift one’s thoughts and behaviors, and therefore energy, accordingly.
To sustain the corresponding change in one’s energy, the process continues by helping individuals integrate their new perspectives and purpose with organizational culture and goals.
This sustainable change in energy has ripple effects that will more broadly move the needle for an organization. Saving jobs, improving culture, and increasing profits are just the beginning.
What would be the greatest impact on your organization by shifting energy?
Live on Fire!
D. Luke Iorio, CPC, PCC, ELI-MP
President & CEO
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
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