High Performance Leadership

Creativity expands possibilities. Clarity defines your boundaries. Great leaders know that you must have both. There is a misconception that creativity has no boundaries. Maybe in some areas, but what great leaders know and put to use is that creativity has is most power when there are some constraints. When you have boundaries it gives you focus. When you have focus, you gain energy. When you gain energy, things get done. So by all means develop your creativity. Just point it in a direction where you can get something done!

Do you always tell the truth? Take your time with a question like that, because the answer is not always as clear as we may think. So many times we can bend the truth until it distorts and slips into an area we can't even see as untrue. If we're not careful we can even fool ourselves. If we're not careful our attempts at hiding our frailties and issues becomes an inner marketing campaign of perpetual dimensions. It takes energy. It takes deception. And it can't last forever. No matter how protected, guarded, shielded and practiced a lie may be, it can not survive forever. Eventually people find out whatever it is that your shielding. The truth will always bubble to the top. High performance leaders make it a practice to tell the truth from the start. Even when it's difficult. Even when the facts may be open to interpretation. Dialogue requires a willingness to state your truth. The truth takes courage. The truth requires clarity. When it is controversial or tough th...

What is your organization's vision?   All of your strategic direction and clarity begins with an inspiring, articulate vision. It should be something worth striving for and something that prods you on even when times are difficult. Your vision should prevent you from wandering into endless distraction. It should focus and energize everyone who comes into contact with it. High Performance Leadership is the official blog of Front Range Leadership, a metro Denver area leadership development company. Our vision: Developing centered leadership with courage, creativity, compassion, and clarity. From time to time I'll be writing more about that and what it means, not only to FRL but also to you as a leader. What does it mean, and what does it take to develop courage, creativity, compassion and clarity. Why are they so important to high performance leadership? And what exactly is centered leadership? Stay tuned and drop by for the conversation.  -- Douglas Brent Sm...

While looking for something else, l  found this quote: "Appreciate you without judging. Join you without invading, Invite you without demanding. Leave you without guilt." --  Virginia Satir It reminded me that part of a leader's role is in leading relationships. That's not the same as directing or controlling them. Leading relationships has more to do with taking personal responsibility for what you bring to a relationship -- whether that's at work, in the community, at home...anywhere. Relationships can not be taken for granted. To truly lead, we must remain attentive to the kinds of relationships we are co-creating. Appreciate you without judging We don't always have the answer, but we usually think that we do. Effective leaders listen with their whole being. We bring our soul to the game. We wait to be touched before reaching out to correct. We appreciate and allow for differences.  Courageous leaders correct dangerous situations, but hold ...