Are you dealing with a Narcissist?

Posted on 20 April, 2014 by jasbindar.singh

looking through an empty picture frame“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” Samuel Johnson

Dan presents as an intelligent, charismatic and charming man. He has recently joined the executive team of a multi-national with high hopes on the part of the CEO and Board Chairperson to get his division “firing”.

Dan was noticed for being articulate and “schmoozing the right people”.  “We mean businesss”’ was his favourite mantra.

In the beginning, it all looked good as Dan presented confidently his big ideas for a major turnaround in the business.  He took charge – beginning with restructuring his immediate team – promotion for one, a few unchanged positions and the end of careers for others.

A couple of those made redundant had been loyal, well-liked and long-serving, capable team members leading to questions and “talk” in and outside the organization. Continue reading →

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Five mistakes companies make leading to their demise

Posted on 2 February, 2014 by jasbindar.singh

how the mighty fallOver the holidays, one of the books I read was “How the mighty fall” by Jim Collins.  One of my clients lent me his copy as a must read and I am glad that he did. In fact, I think this ought to be in the reading list of every manager and leader and in every company’s library!

The book is based on his extensive research resulting in a five-stage framework of how companies decline.   As someone who has also studied how companies become great, the author declares that, “assembling a data-driven framework of decline proved harder than constructing a data-driven framework of ascent.”

His model consists of five stages, which proceed in sequence.  Please note the shortened summary below is pretty much verbatim from this excellent, highly recommended, easy to read book.

STAGE 1: HUBRIS BORN OF SUCCESS. 

Great enterprises can become insulated by success; accumulated momentum can carry an enterprise forward, for a while, even if its leaders make poor decisions or lose discipline. Stage 1 kicks in when people become arrogant, regarding success virtually as an entitlement, and they lose sight of the true underlying factors that created success in the first place.

When the rhetoric of success (“We’re successful because we do these specific things”) replaces penetrating understanding and insight (‘We’re successful because we understand why we do these specific things and under what conditions they would no longer work”), decline will very likely follow. Continue reading →

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What does success mean to you?

Posted on 9 January, 2014 by jasbindar.singh

components of success, conceptSuccess is something most human beings desire and gravitate towards. The word itself has a rich, positive connotation.

A lot of products and services get sold based on the promise of success. Buy this or do that and will find yourself in the winner’s camp!

But what does success mean to you? Is it about the achievement of short or long-term goals or more external measures of what society defines as successful? Or fundamentally is it about the quest for happiness and well-being that we think it will provide?

Success may be an abstract term but it has a lot of emotional and psychological currency attached to it.

For me, the essence of success embraces the gift of learning, growing and developing both personally and professionally and then being able to contribute in a meaningful way.

How about you? How do you measure your success? Continue reading →

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MANDELA: 7 Heroic Principles for Transformation

Posted on 22 December, 2013 by jasbindar.singh

Nelson_Mandela,_2000_(5)

I am delighted to bring this thought provoking guest blog to you by Sharif Khan. Sharif  is a freelance writer, inspirational keynote speaker, and author of Psychology of the Hero Soul, a leadership book on awakening the hero within (mentioned in USA Today and Reader’s Digest). Based in Toronto, Sharif’s latest project is the completion of a manuscript for a heroic fantasy novel. Visit his website www.herosoul.com or contact him directly at sharif@herosoul.com

 

What can we learn from Nelson Mandela’s heroic legacy of hope to become better human beings? 

Let us use his name as an acronym for remembrance and change:

Mission. Action. Nourishment. Discipline. Education. Love. Attitude

Mission. Mandela had a deep sense of mission. In his fight for freedom from apartheid in South Africa he declared: 

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities… If needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Mission creates meaning, and meaning is the fuel for sustained achievement. People are willing to lay down their lives for a worthy cause.

Do you have a mission statement for your life and career? What about for your family, team, or organization?

Action. Too many political leaders today do not back up their empty rhetoric with action.

Mandela at his core was an activist, a man of action; so much so, that even in his later years amidst failing health when he announced he was “retiring from retirement,” he still managed to found the Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust promoting economic assistance to Africa.

He also campaigned successfully for South Africa to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Are you actively campaigning for your mission? Do you back up your words with action?

Nourishment. Imprisoned for 18 years at Robben Island for his anti apartheid activities, Mandela was confined to hard labour in a lime quarry where the glare of the sun burned his tear ducts, making it difficult for him to weep for his lost youth. Continue reading →

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Leadership wins and bloopers

Posted on 9 December, 2013 by jasbindar.singh

forest walkwayThe holiday break naturally pre-disposes us to a more reflective mindset about the year that was whilst also looking ahead into the new year.

Here’s my suggestion on a light-hearted yet meaningful exercise to engage in as part of your reflective practice.

In thinking about 2013, what have been your:

1)   Wins

2)   Challengers

3)   Bloopers/stuff ups!

4)   Lessons

5)   Discoveries e.g. unexpected opportunities, unappreciated strengths

 

In looking ahead to 2014, what might you be: 

1)   Moving away from

2)   Moving towards


Here are some useful products for you, your team or other special people in your life:

1)   For building inside out leadership fundamentals including values of trust, integrity, self awareness, building resilience and taking action NOW, get a copy of my e-book:

LEADING FOR SUCCESS

2)   A lot of bright executives are IQ smart but could do with building greater capability in the EQ ( emotional intelligence) domain. Here’s a booklet including a questionnaire I put together that has helped my coaching clients grow themselves in this domain:

HOW TO ATTRACT, ENGAGE AND RETAIN YOUR EMPLOYEES

3)   If you or a family member or friend have lost your mojo and are going through a career/life transition, consider getting the workbook in e-book format or hard copy or the book itself. Check out:

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A bonus:

Buy any and you will go in a draw to win another product of your choice!

And very finally, wishing you a joyous and safe holiday season and much success in 2014!  Kia Kaha.

Warm wishes 
JASBINDAR

Jasbindar Singh is a leadership coach and business psychologists who loves helping people achieve their dreams and aspirations. She thoroughly enjoys working with senior leaders develop their EQ including self awareness and other capabilities.

 

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13 insights on leading with integrity

Posted on 27 October, 2013 by jasbindar.singh

integrityAfter my last newsletter on ETNZ and Dean Barker’s leadership and teamwork, I received some fairly consistent feedback from you. You liked how Dean led his team and despite the outcome, you still view him as a winner and hold him in high regard.

The more vexing question you asked me was the relationship between integrity and leadership in the aftermath of the mayoral race.

Some common feelings and questions included:

• How am I meant to feel about someone in a public trust role who I voted in and who has demonstrated a breach in integrity?
• Can someone who has demonstrated a lack of integrity in one area of life be trusted to show integrity in other areas of life?
• How can someone who has demonstrated integrity and then behaved dishonestly return to a state of integrity again?
• There has been such a betrayal of trust by someone I voted because I thought he made a good leader.
• Does power seduce those in high office or is it that a certain type of individual drawn to these positions?
• How do we know when someone has integrity or not?

No doubt you will all be making up your own mind about how you answer these and other questions.

Here are my top 13 points on integrity – leader or not. Continue reading →

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ETNZ: What we can learn from Dean Barker and his team

Posted on 14 October, 2013 by jasbindar.singh

ETNZ-2The 34th America’s Cup – what times of great thrill, frustration and deep sense of loss we endured individually and as a nation.

But we also saw what an engaged, high performing team and great leadership looks like.

Here are six lessons on deeper values that we can learn from Dean Barker and his team.

1) Honesty and integrity – with Dean there is no acting, clichéd lines or “talking up” because that is the thing to do. What we get is a rare and refreshing sense of a real person with heart, soul and guts who calls it as he sees it.

A great embodiment of authentic leadership.

It is not surprising that the whole country got behind the team, despite the loss.  Honesty is a prized value appreciated by most.

2) Humility and grace – even when ETNZ were on a roll the first half of the race, Dean Barker showed no sign of arrogance about his team or getting personal about the defenders in any way.

Not only did he stay a true professional and great sportsman-like but he also showed that rare quality of GRACE. Continue reading →

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Inclusivity in diversity paves the way

Posted on 10 October, 2013 by jasbindar.singh

DH fireworksThere is energy and vibrancy in the air. The sun is about to set but this signals even more adventures to come. The night is just beginning for all the thrill-seekers, celebratory parties and even the odd, quiet observer like me.

There are young women dressed to the nighs, groups of ‘hen parties,’ hand holding couples – the newly in love as well as the vintage variety and other groups about to board the harbour cruise.

What delights me as I make my way through the throngs in Darling Harbour is that within meters I’m picking up the many different accents. I recognize a few – Turkish, Hindi, Spanish, Chinese and Punjabi. Continue reading →

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Leadership bumps – why these can be good for you!

Posted on 9 October, 2013 by jasbindar.singh

Speed Bump Road SignBumps, jolts, or experiencing the unexpected can actually be good for us although it may not feel like that at the time.

Have you heard a bump or jolt lately? A bit of a shake up if you like? Perhaps things are not quite going as you would have liked? What you got was different from what you had planned, desired or expected? Continue reading →

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What is your leadership legacy?

Posted on 9 September, 2013 by jasbindar.singh

Cornwall ParkLike many others, I too cringe when a word has been oft-stated. Legacy is one of these words. But there is a reason that such words are used so frequently – because it has meaning, relevance and an enduring quality.

I was truly humbled when some weeks ago I attended the funeral of my favourite teacher’s husband. You know – the teacher who had an impact, who made a difference, the one who could see something in you when you did not even know who you were leave alone your capabilities. Mrs. Chandra was it for me.

She instantly caught my young girl’s attention. Growing up in little town called Lautoka, Fiji she represented ‘difference’ and worldliness. She was worldly – she had traveled in her earlier life including having been a nurse in London and Scotland amongst other things before she started to teach. Continue reading →

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