January 2016 Leadership Development Carnival

Welcome to the January 2016 edition of the Leadership Development Carnival!

2016 has been declared the International Year of the Pulses by the United Nations General Assembly. Why would a year be dedicated to beans? It has to do with making sure everyone worldwide gets fed. We appreciate how each of you does your share to "feed" and inspire leaders. Just like with legumes, great potential exists within small unassuming seeds!

Let's Get Started

Anne Perschel of Germane Consulting submitted Leading With a Pause. Anne shares, "More than ever, leaders with whom I work are expressing the need to 'Step back,' 'Stop and think,' and 'Be more intentional.' They're practicing solutions I created called Door Knob Moments and Leading with a Pause." Locate Anne on Twitter at @bizshrink.

Art Petty of Art Petty Group sent Leadership Caffeine: It’s Time to Become Better Informed Leadership Consumers. Art says, "There’s a lot of happy talk in books, on blogs and in articles about leaders and leading. From revisionist histories of yesterday’s great CEO warriors to the feel-good advice that is so eagerly consumed by the masses of workers yearning for liberation from the tyranny of lousy managers and cubicle kingdoms, there’s no shortage of opinions on how to get this act and role of leading right. I applaud the efforts, but I decry much of the advice—it lacks the critical connection to reality that we need to get leadership right in an era rightly characterized by overload, ambiguity and conflict." Find Art on Twitter at @artpetty and @leadershipcafn.

Bill Treasurer of Giant Leap Consulting contributed So You Want to be Mentored?. Bill recaps, "Many people complain about not having a mentor. But mentoring works much better when the mentee takes responsibility for choosing a mentor. The first place to start is: get yourself a mentor!" Follow Bill on Twitter at @btreasurer.

Chery Gegelman of Giana Consulting shared Truth, Freedom and People Need You - A Call to Action from our Shaking World . Chery writes, "Leadership is not about us and it’s not just about our workplaces. It’s about using our knowledge, our relationships and our passion to make a difference. Check out the 5 tips at the end of this post that will help you create positive change in your company, your community, your nation and our world." Chery is on Twitter at @gianaconsulting.

Chris Edmonds of the Purposeful Culture Group contributed Your Leadership Team's True Purpose. Chris summarizes: "Does your department or division or company’s leadership team see it’s core 'reason for being' to drive results? Results and profits are important but they are not the primary reason for a leadership team’s existence. That team’s primary purpose is to create workplace inspiration which drives results and service. Tweak your leadership team’s purpose to serve employees first. Learn how in this post." Follow Chris on Twitter at @scedmonds.

David Dye of Trailblaze, Inc., shared Is Servant Leadership Bullsh-t?. David writes, "It’s the most common question David hears when he speaks: If human-centered, character-based leadership works, why don’t we see more of it? David answers the question and shares cautionary traps to avoid." Discover David on Twitter at @davidmdye.

Hollis Thomases of ReinventionWorks provided Mega-Reinvention 2016. Hollis tells us, "January is National Reinvention Month and shares a resource interested learners can use to take control of their next future." Follow Hollis on Twitter at @hollisthomases.

Jesse Lyn Stoner of the Seapoint Center provided How to Create a Dynamic Strategic Plan in an Unpredictable World. Jesse summarized: "The traditional approach to strategic planning is obsolete in today's fast-paced, unpredictable world. (60-80% of firms fail to execute their strategies). But planning is essential to success, if you do it right. Here are 5 guidelines to create a 'Dynamic Strategic Plan' that will enable you to respond quickly and to be creatively proactive." Follow Jesse on Twitter at @JesseLynStoner.

Jim Taggart of Changing Winds submitted A Female Warrior Leader’s Journey. Jim says, "This is a leadership story about a woman who as a young teenager almost lost her life. But she not only survived but went on to become an outstanding First Nations female leader who represented Canada later in life at the Olympics. She has maintained her focus on improving the conditions for Canada’s First Nations peoples. Her life has been one of contribution and steadfast principles." Find Jim on Twitter at @72keys.

Joel Garfinkle of the Career Advancement Blog submitted FOMO Sufferer – “Fear of Missing Out” & Addicted to Technology? Joel recaps: "FOMO is why teens text while driving, while having dinner with their parents, and probably while sleeping. Heaven forbid that a friend might be going to a party, a movie, or the mall—and they missed it. You have the same attitude toward your work. You truly believe your job, your boss, and your co-workers can’t get along without you." Discover Joel on Twitter at @JoelGarfinkle.

John Hunter of  Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog shared Culture Change Requires That Leaders Change Their Behavior, which touches on several authors and books who have influenced him. He says, "I believe for significant changes to culture transformation of the individual is required; I have seen this take place many times. Changes to the culture come from significant changes in how people think." Follow John on Twitter at @curiouscat_com.

John Spence of Achieving Business Excellence with John Spence contributed On the Intolerance of Mediocrity.  John shares insights from a top chef's four-step formula for excellence. Find John on Twitter at @awesomelysimple.

Jon Mertz of Thin Difference sent Compromise vs. Compromising: More of the First, Less of the Latter. Jon summarizes: "How can we compromise without compromising? It's a fine line leaders must navigate.​" Discover Jon on Twitter @ThinDifference.

Linda Fisher-Thornton of Leading in Context contributed We're All Padawan Learners. Linda recaps, "Have you ever noticed that no matter how many times the forces of good overcome the forces of evil in the Star Wars movies, there is always another challenge? There is never a moment when the characters 'arrive' and are exempt from ethical challenges. They can never let down their guard." Find Linda on Twitter at @leadingincontxt.

Lisa Kohn of The Thoughtful Leaders^TM Blog provided 3 Reasons to Dance. In this piece, Lisa shares: "why dancing is a best leadership practice, and how leaders can learn and allow themselves to dance." Follow Lisa on Twitter at @ThoughtfulLdrs.

Mary Ila Ward of Horizon Point Consulting submitted Why You Need to Schedule a Think Week for 2016. Mary Ila writes, "The best leaders schedule time to plan and develop ideas in order to drive innovation and direction. To put your best leadership foot forward in 2016, schedule a week to do so." Discover Mary Ila on Twitter at @maryilaward.

Mary Jo Asmus of Aspire Collaborative Services, LLC contributed Moving into Possibility and Potential. Mary Jo says, "It’s all too easy for leaders to get so dragged down by those they view as underperforming that they can miss the possibility and potential in them. Here are some ways to notice and bring out the best in those who just might surprise you with their latent abilities." Find Mary Jo on Twitter at @mjasmus.

Neal Burgis of Burgis Successful Solutions sent Start Being Creative in the New Year-2016. Neal writes, "With the New Year just starting, now is the time to begin getting creative in order to help your business thrive beyond survival mode. Helping you with this journey, I can consult with you about getting started on the How and Where of creativity." Follow Neal on Twitter at @exec_solutions.

Paul LaRue of The Upwards Leader contributed Leadership Accountability is a Two-Way Street. Paul continues, "Accountability organizations are popular and effective. The best ones, however, work when leadership goes out of their way to be held accountable themselves. Here are some strategies on how to do so." Discover Paul on Twitter at @paul_larue.