Why Does Fear Lead to Failure?

While touring the States doing TV and radio interviews recently, I had the chance to listen to the story of a once very successful business in Connecticut which was announcing the layoff of 475 workers. What had gone wrong?

The CEO was interviewed and he said that their business started hitting bad times 4 years ago and their strategy was to cut, reduce and eliminate expenditures since then. He went on to say that they had been trying to avoid these layoffs for sometime but they no longer could.

He had excuses as to why this had to happen, including blaming the economy. The way he recounted the past, he made the company and the employees all victims of circumstance.

In other interviews, I saw the despair of some of the workers that were losing their jobs. They talked about events and circumstances as well as their fears of this happening. It was obvious that they never made any connection to their thoughts, feelings and actions and what they were seeing in their outer world.

Never once during all the newscasts, interviews and subsequent articles did I ever hear or read about the creative measures that the company took to turn the business around. Instead everyone from the CEO on down continues to focus on lack, limitation and outside influences as the basis of their problems. The responses to their creation are tactics that are killing the business.

People in this company, including the CEO, showed their ignorance of the law of sowing and reaping; also known as the law of cause and effect. It is absolutely impossible to create a healthy, wealthy, thriving business while holding thoughts of worry and doubt; feeling fearful and full of anxiety and taking destructive actions. Whatever we think in our minds must grow.

The condition is the effect that we see; it is not the true cause that we see. One must dig down deep into their mental storehouse to find out what is that cause. If they cannot discern it, there are others who can. Now I have no doubt that there were people that supported the actions that the CEO took; so therefore it is critical to look at the results of any advisor. If you are going to follow someone, make certain that they are achieving great results.

This business is not where it is today because of outside conditions. This CEO programmed the company for failure by the very actions he took based on the wrong thinking. The very things he feared are what he has created and he will continue to do so until he changes his vision.

There are many people who live and die and never know anything different from what has been handed down to them. However once you change your vision, you will change conditions. Only when we cease to recognize a condition do we cease to attract or create it. The only way we can cease to recognize things is to change our minds about them.

There are 3 enemies which must be cleared out in order to achieve success in any endeavor. These are fear, worry/doubt and indecision. They always go together. If a person is timid, backward or fearful, fear will act as a brake to retard their progress. Fear is main cause of failures; it cannot be eliminated by either drugs or a surgeon's knife. The only remedy known for fear is understanding. This requires a commitment to studying and applying what is learned. It definitely requires getting out of the comfort zone - to stop doing the same old things that aren't working.

Indecision is the seed of fear. Indecision turns into doubt. The two blended together become fear. This blending process is often slow, which is the main reason why these 3 enemies are so dangerous. They are insidious and grow without their presence even being noticed. Many times people fool themselves to think that they are being cautious when they are actually breeding fear.

Fears are nothing more than a state of mind. One's state of mind will set the course and direction of their future. Doubts and fears about the future are pointless, but even worse; they will create an unwanted future.

Conversely, success is predicated on bringing one's self and actions to a higher standard. When the heart is right, the head thinks right. The fact that someone desires to succeed is evidence that they have the power to succeed; otherwise they would not have been urged to aspire towards success. Understand that you cannot aspire to succeed unless you have the power to succeed. Desire creates the power; power inspires the mind of the person, and success is the result of that inspiration rightly applied.

Success then is the way we learn to use 2 valuable things - our time and thought. Knowledge alone is not success; it is the way we use that knowledge...

by: Susan Bagyura

Ismael D. Tabije

Publisher

What Makes a Leader Great ?

You may have heard that great leaders are made, not born. You may know a great leader when you see one, but have you really thought about what constitutes somebody who has a potential to be one?

A Great Leader Is Not

1) Made through position or connections. Being in a leadership position or knowing great people does not make you a great leader.

2) Appearance in dress or manner. Five stars on a uniform does not make one. Nor does standing tall or talking proudly.

3) Made through intimidation or fear.

4) Made through unjust or unrighteous causes. A leader may possess nearly all the qualities of greatness, but if lacking in the ability to discriminate high value from low value, this sort of leader is the worst of all kinds.

A Great Leader Is

1) Made through investigating themselves thoroughly. All famous leaders from the past have a hunger to know themselves and engage in deep introspection.

2) Made through conscious control of emotions. Because they know themselves so well, they have fortified their mind from external forces, to the point where they choose what influences them.

3) Aware of objective reality and striving to gain knowledge from as many sources as possible to develop an accurate perspective.

4) Not easily intimidated by the powerful. Leaders get their power from within, no source shines brighter than what is inside.

5) Centered in spite of extreme pressure. Balance allows great leaders to make effective decisions; great decisions are the product of great leadership.

6) Severe in demanding more of themselves than they would demand of others. Personal discipline is built in to great leadership.

7) Unique in that they are both confident and humble. Confident in their cause and humble in their ownership over the Ego.

You will notice that qualities such as leading millions of people or winning a war are not qualities of great leadership. Circumstance or outcomes do not necessarily define a great leader. The qualities of a leader are what matter most. If any individual possesses these qualities, great leadership will emerge; whether on a local or world stage.

Chance dictates that some poor leaders will emerge victorious and some will fail, but great leadership overcomes great odds and thats the point. Failure does not define a great leader, leaders approach and response to adversity defines greatness.

A position of great leadership is not given but rather it is earned. A person possessing qualities that others admire in themselves and earn the position of great leadership if for no other reason, one hopes that by being in the presence of a good leader the secret to power over oneself will be revealed.

Full Potential Action Steps:

A) Do you have what it takes to be a great leader, why or why not?

B) Are you willing to do what it takes to be a great leader?

C) How well do you know yourself? (Rate on a 1- 10)

D) Are you willing to open your mind and seek out many sources of conflicting information to gain an accurate perspective?

E) What will it take for you to become a great leader? What will you have to do? What will you have to give up doing?


by: BMA Editorial Team 3

Ismael D. Tabije

Publisher

What Does It Take to Become a Leader?

Many people think that you are simply born a leader however this could not be further from the truth. Each and every one of us has the skills to lead, however we seldom put ourselves forward or find ourselves in situations when we have to take this sort of responsibility.

Of course there are certain skills you need to be a leader and each of them are more suited to certain people than others. However to become a great leader it is about having that burning desire to want to improve and hone all the necessary skills. The following therefore is a list of the traits needed to be a good leader.

Communication

This is a vital component. A good leader needs to be able to communicate ideas effectively and to great understanding. You may be excellent at building strategic plans but without having the skills to communicate them effectively you will always fall short.

Decisiveness

A strong leader needs to be able to make decisions based on logical reasoning when under pressure. In times of need people will look to you and a split second of doubt or appearing visibly distressed can undo years of hard work building trust.

Listening Skills

Listening skills is important in most parts of life. As a leader you should have the ability to pay attention and understand people and this includes taking on board criticism.

Prioritisation

What task needs doing first? You need to be able to prioritise tasks based on what you think is most important. Without good prioritisation the task at hand can be doomed to failure before it even begins.

Self-Control

The ability to keep your emotions under control is vital. You will have to deal with many different people and situations, a lot of which will most likely put you out of your comfort zone. It is important therefore that you keep calm and collected at all times.

Self confidence

Being self-confident goes a long way. If you appear fully confident then it will rub off on your team making any task a lot easier to accomplish. A certain amount of self-confidence also helps you to assert yourself when the time comes.

Pro Active

As a leader it is your duty to keep your team on their toes. Taking a back seat or being lazy creates complacency therefore it is important you take a pro-active approach.

Good at Planning

Simply knowing what needs to be achieved is not enough. To be a good leader you need to be able to create a plan of action that will work to achieve the end goal. A poor plan will scupper the chances for success and so this skill is vital.

Have Respect for Others

You may be in a position of power as a leader but your team will not willing follow you if you have no respect for others. Respect goes a long way and the best way to earn it is by respecting others.

Build Trust

Trust is a fragile but the most important aspect. Without trust you will never be a god leader. By improving some of the factors listed above it should go a long way to helping build trust quickly.

The beauty of all the aspects listed is that you can easily be trained to improve. There are many courses that can help you improve your leadership skills including numerous aspects not mentioned here.

The great thing about taking the decision to improve is that what you learn can be applied to all walks of life. So remember, we all have it in us to be a leader it's just about bringing out those qualities...

by: BMA Editorial Team 3

Ismael D. Tabije

Publisher

Leadership Transcends Leaders

As much as the concept of leadership can spark a debate as to who are good leaders and who are bad leaders, the essence of the debate rarely touches on an often overlooked, seldom mentioned, but critical component of the dialogue. Though personality, skill, style and circumstances are the most frequently researched elements, it is interesting to note that the ‘mindset' of a leader has only begun to inch its way into mainstream recognition.

The notion of mindset has little to do with high or medium intelligence, street smarts, political aptitude or business cunning. These are all by products of the greater positioning of a thought process that moves beyond established boundaries and into a realm in which the product or service transcends the existence of the leader. This ‘transcendent leadership' mindset represents more than a leader making a contribution, which satisfies many of the short term requirements for living, but is fueled by the idea of making a difference, which addresses the long term requirements for advancing humankind.

While research in this area has just started to emerge, the concept is not without working models in which to analyze and stimulate the thinking for future leadership development activities. The framers of the United States Constitution were clearly well-schooled, committed scholars and fighters who, individually, understood the importance of braking from the restrictive practices of an established government. The numerous biographies written about these men are woven around a common thread of dissatisfaction with the status quo and the recognition that something needed to change.

As individual leaders, the effectiveness of their styles have been picked at and picked on through a series of scholarly reviews of their writings and actions from that era. However, collectively, the framers were a perfect example of the transcendent leadership mindset. They knew that what they were creating would be something that would outlast and transcend their existence. The long term effect would be for future generations to enjoy the benefits of a country in which individual freedom would be more important that governmental restrictions. As the last signer of the constitution faded into oblivion, he had to take some delight in knowing that many of their names would not be known among 21st century school children, but they would truly feel the impact.

Walt Disney understood something about the nature of human beings that went beyond the classic debate as to whether man is good or evil. As a cartoonist and creator of ‘basic-values based' entertainment, it must have dawned on him that man's good or evil is rooted in being ‘playful' and if given the opportunity to play, we will. The thought process that went into the formation of Disneyland is indicative of a ‘transcendent leadership mindset'. While there were competing studios that managed to grind out a slew of characters designed to entertain the short term requirements of their audience, Disney saw beyond the silver screen and into the long term access to playfulness that would draw generation after generation to the Magic Kingdom.

A transcendent leader connects today with tomorrow by looking past the inner drive that anchors personal behavior and ego-centric limitations and focuses on how any organization can move beyond just meeting its goals. Having the ability and fortitude to take something that is static and make it dynamic, to elevate behavior to the next level of interaction and to position the mind to think as a ‘difference maker' are only a few of the known qualities that are gleaned from the models established by the Founding Fathers, Disney and others.

There are overlapping qualities from other models that also serve the mindset of a transcendent leader. Clearly the ability to formulate a vision that moves an organization to think beyond its bottom line is an important piece to this mindset model. We have thousands of examples of how to transact and transform organizations, but those organizations that are rooted in a transcendent leadership mindset are, understandably, few and far between...


by: Lee Meadows

Ismael D. Tabije

Publisher

Top Tips and Advice for Successful Leadership

The Great Leader: Top Tips and Advice for Successful Leadership

by: BMA Editorial Team 3

Whether you're a manager at work or a leader of some organization, getting people to do what you want and need, can often seem like a daunting task. But it doesn't have to be. There's no need to be ultra-nice, or mega-mean. The key to good leadership is following these expert tips:

Don't Play the Blame Game:
Whether a project deadline is missed, or someone forgets to order the T-Ball trophies, don't blame others when things go awry. After all, your in charge, and that makes you the one responsible for everything - even when things go wrong.

Be Clear About Your Expectations:
It's hard to follow the game plan if you don't know what they are. Be clear and concise when handing out orders. Clearly explain what you want done and what you expect each person to handle. Then, allow them to go off and handle it in the best way they know how.

Accept That Everyone's Style is Different:
Sure, you may know that folding the company newsletter one way is the best way, but someone else may disagree. Don't be knit-picky over small details and accept the fact that everyone does things differently. As long as the end results are the dame, does it really matter that Joan calls clients at 10 am instead of 3 pm?

Lead By Example:
Never expect more form your employees or volunteers than you are willing to do yourself. Show everyone in your office that you're willing to kick in and help get things done, no matter what. They'll be much more eager to stay that extra hour or two to finish up an important project if you are to.

Learn from Your Mistakes (and other's too):
Everyone makes mistakes - so why not learn from them. Whenever you or someone else makes a big boo-boo, be sure to take stock and see how the situation could have been handled better. Then follow that advice in the future!

Give Credit Where Credit's Due:
Never accept all of the accolades for yourself (no matter how great a leader you are). Give credit to people who contributed to your success and make them feel as if you couldn't have achieved it without them. The odds are good that you couldn't have, no matter how hard you tried.

Being a good leader means being able to work well with others, no matter how different your style of doing things, and being able to bring out the best in everyone in your group.

LEADERS DO NOT SHIFT BLAME.

One of the best ways to exhibit social grace and decorum is to accept responsibility for our actions and every decision we make. Nobody else should be held responsible for our mistakes, even if we did not directly make them.
But human beings naturally tend to blame somebody else for their misfortunes. To err is human and shifting blame for errors is a natural human attitude. When somebody does something that hardly suits his status, he becomes defensive and points accusing fingers at other people. We live in a society where putting the blame on someone else appears to be the norm. But blaming other people when things go wrong does not really make problems go away. Instead, it transfers responsibility for the problems to someone else and delays the process of finding a solution.
Yet being accountable is not always easy. When the result, situation or circumstance is different from our expectations, we usually want others to take the blame and not us.
Although we may feel that shifting blame to someone else makes us look better, it is at best a short-term solution. Finding a solution to problem requires learning to control our reactions.
In the beginning, the first man and woman were involved in this undignified blame shifting game. Adam blamed Eve for his disobedience to God. In turn, Eve blamed the serpent for deceiving her.
Once, a scene in a TV play-let showed two little children pointing accusing fingers at each other. They were both playing and in the process, they ruined some toys. When their mother asked who destroyed the toys, both of them simultaneously pointed at one another and said, "He did."
Blame-shifting is a vicious and an unending cycle that leads us to nowhere. So if everybody keeps pointing accusing fingers at the other person, then we are very far from making any significant progress as individuals, as a nation.
To own up to or faults and to accept responsibility for our action is a very humbling and great way to make progress in life. People want to be built up and not torn down. So they naturally gravitate away from those who constantly shift blame on them and make them look bad. Blame-shifting also has a tendency to make others reluctant to work with us.
The key to truly winning the blame game is to stay focused on the wider purpose. If we allow ourselves to get caught shifting blames, who wins becomes more important than the thing we want to create or fix.
But if we keep our reactions aimed at the real problem (not who said or did what), we can be successful; not only in a particular situation, but in every aspect of our lives.

PROBLEMS OF LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA

PROBLEMS OF LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA

For half a century leaders have fooled the masses. By all standards, leadership is not supposed to be a tea party like many have taken it to be. Leadership is strictly an instrument for development, unity, peace, and security. Society is usually exposed to varying degrees of threats, whenever leadership fails.

It often said that bad workmen quarrel with their tools. The same thing applies to leadership. Bad leaders are fond of blaming others for their failures. One prominent characteristic of bad leaders is the readiness to invest in recruitment of orators and propaganda wizards to help deceive and pin down the patience of hapless citizens.

The blame culture our leaders indulge in has helped to expose one painful fact, most public office holders do not understand the true meaning of leadership. Some, therefore, see leadership as opportunities to advance tribal or religious agenda. Others simply see leadership as platforms to amass wealth. Except our leaders begin to appreciate what leadership truly is, Africa might continue to suffer underdevelopment, unemployment, poverty, crime and insecurity.

It will be an understatement to declare that Africa has lacked purposeful leadership for the most part of its existence, there is no doubt that Africa has one time or the other, been blessed with honest leaders. The problem has been that these honest leaders mostly surround themselves with dishonest people in the form of advisers, ministers, and confidants. It is natural for honest leaders that accept support from dishonest people, to become dishonourable within a very short period of time.