Chris Widener's Ezine
September 23, 2005
Issue 23

Welcome!

What do you get when you go from Seattle to Taipei to Hong Kong to Singapore to Taipei to Seattle, all in just 82 hours?

Jet Lag! And... A deep sense of satisfaction!

Just last week I did the above trip in order to speak to the Singapore managers of AIA - a subsidiary of AIG, the insurance giant. Yes, as you can imagine, it was tiring, but when people ask me why in the world I would do that, I tell them the simple truth: I love speaking to people about personal development and leadership. I am absolutely passionate about it and will go anywhere, anytime to help people transform their lives!

Most people, yourselves included, belong to at least one group that brings in speakers to help them. If you have the need, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with your business or group! Feel free to take a look at a brand new short promo video we have available at http://www.chriswidener.com/speaking.asp and feel free to pass it on!

If I can go to Singapore for a one hour speech, I would love to come join you at your next meeting!

Have topics, will travel. :-)

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener

In This Issue.......

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article
2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary
3. The Last Word...
4. New Release! The Winning With Influence: 12 Characteristics of Dynamic Leaders, Sales People and Top Performers
5. Customer Feedback
6. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article

Being an Extraordinary Leader Through Tough and Challenging Times by Chris Widener

Tough and challenging times will surely come. That is a given. The question is what kind of leadership we will demonstrate during those times. Those who are weak leaders will see lasting damage done, if not see the organization fall apart completely. With Extraordinary Leaders at the helm, however, an organization can actually become stronger and thrive in spite of the tough and challenging times. That should be our goal, so here are some ideas on how to be an Extraordinary Leader in tough and challenging times!

1. Keep Your Eye on the Big Picture.
When things get tough, everybody's temptation is to become acutely focused on the problem. The Extraordinary Leader, however, will keep his or her eye on the big picture. This doesn't mean that we don't address the problem. In fact, we have to address the problem. But what separates a leader from a follower is that the leader doesn't get caught up in the problem. The leader sees the big picture and keeps moving toward the vision. The further they take their followers toward the vision, the further away from the problem they get.

2. Don't Get Caught in the War or the Friendly Fire.
When it gets tough even the most loyal team members can be tempted to start shooting and, unfortunately, they sometimes shoot each other! Rather than focusing on the enemy on the outside, they begin to question each other and find many faults with one another that they normally would not have seen. The Extraordinary Leader is the one who can keep from being drug into the fray. They keep their eye on the big picture and act rationally and objectively. They understand that people are heated and are saying things they don't really mean. The people are firing because they are angry or scared. The Extraordinary Leader understands this and rises above it. This way, they take fewer arrows and they set the example for their followers.

3. Be First to Sacrifice.
When it gets tough, like when there has to be cuts in salaries etc, the leader should do just that - lead. They need to not only be the one who is rewarded the greatest when all is well, but they need to be the first to sacrifice. The Extraordinary leader says, "I know many of you are concerned with the salary cuts. I am too. In the long run we will be healthy again but for the mean time, this is necessary. Understanding this, I want you to know that I am taking a 20% pay reduction myself. I want you to know that we are in this together." The Extraordinary Leader is the first to sacrifice and will be rewarded with the loyalty of his or her followers.

4. Remain Calm.
Panic is one of the basest of human emotions and no one is immune to it. The Extraordinary Leader, however, takes time out regularly to think the issues through so they can remain calm. They remind themselves that all is not lost and there will be another day. They remind themselves that being calm will enable them to make the best decisions - for themselves and for their followers. Panic only leads to disaster, while calm leads to victory.

5. Motivate.
In tough and challenging times, people are naturally down. They tend to be pessimistic. They can't see how it is all going to work out. Thus, they have a hard time getting going. The Extraordinary Leader knows this and will focus in on being the optimistic motivator. He or she will come to the office knowing that for the time being, the mood of the group will be carried and buoyed by them and their attitude. Above all else, they seek to show how the end result will be good - and with this they motivate their followers to continue on, braving the current storms, and on to their shared destiny.

6. Create Small Wins.
One of the ways to motivate is to create small wins. The Extraordinary Leader knows that in tough times his or her people think that all is lost. They wonder if they can win. So the Extraordinary Leader creates opportunities for the team to win, even if they are small. They set smaller, more achievable goals and remind and reward the team members when they hit those goals. With each small win, the leader is building the esteem and attitude of his followers, digging them out of their self-created hole of fear.

7. Keep a Sense of Humor.
Look, hardly anything in life can't be laughed at. The Extraordinary Leader knows that even if the whole company goes down the drain, we still go home to our families and live a life of love with them. The Extraordinary Leader keeps perspective and knows that we humans act irrationally when we get scared and fail, and sometimes that is humorous. Don't ever laugh at someone's expense in this situation, because that will be perceived at cold and heartless, regardless of what you meant by it, but do keep the ability to laugh at yourself and the situations that present themselves. By doing this you will keep yourself and your team in an attitude that will eventually beat the tough times.

Chris Widener



2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"Your short-term tasks, multiplied by time, equal your long-term accomplishments." -- Chris Widener

Chris' Commentary:
Successfully accomplishing something is easy, really. I truly believe that. Success is usually just a process of doing the right things long enough. Do you want to write a book? It seems overwhelming unless you write just one page a day for a year. Want to lose fifty pounds? Simple, if you do what it takes to lose one pound a week. In a year you will have a brand new body! Want to have a huge nest egg when you retire? Invest $100 a month for 30 years. Slow but sure, whatever you do on a regular basis becomes your long-term accomplishments. If you do nothing daily, you will accomplish nothing. And if you diligently chip away at it, you can accomplish anything you set your heart on.

Action Point: What do you want to be your long-term accomplishment? Now what can you do today to become closer to that? And the next day? And the next day? This is the way to accomplishment!



3. The Last Word...

Recently I received a question from one of my ezine readers that I felt would be a great question to share with others who might be experiencing a similar circumstance or situation.

Q: "I have a question to which you may help or point me in the right direction. I have begun a business venture with a person who although he talks about being positive is, of himself, very negative. He does not believe this about himself. Is there anything you could suggest that I could do or read that would help me help him?"

A: Sounds like you have a tough situation. Mainly because you and he perceive things differently. I am assuming that you want a long term relationship so you need to work things out. I always suggest the direct approach. The direct approach requires boldness tempered with humility. That is, you need to talk to him and tell him how you feel while at the same time not making him defensive nor coming across as condescending. I would suggest approaching him about the topic of being positive in general. Let him know that you agree that it is important and that you know we all have room for improvement. Maybe even ask him how he feels that you could be more positive yourself. That may open the door for him to ask the same. The fact may be that you both honestly disagree on what the "positive" outlook on any given situation may be. All in all, the best thing is to discuss it, but in a way that allows him to receive your words rather than be defensive. Good luck! -- CW

 

4. New Release! The Winning With Influence: 12 Characteristics of Dynamic Leaders, Sales People and Top Performers

5. Customer Feedback

Here are some of the testimonials and comments we received over the past week from our Ezine subscribers. We love receiving comments and feedback from our readers - so keep it coming!


Chris: As a budding new professional speaker, I can't tell you how timely your recent ezine on The Winning With Influence is for me. I have recently moved across country from Arizona (home of NSA) to Arkansas, leaving behind the "igniters" in my sphere of influence that keep me motivated. Many of the "imagine if's" in the ezine that you pose are exactly the areas in my life that I have identified as the necessary ingredients for achieving the possible mission, especially as I am now needing to re-establish my local sphere of influence and look to be an igniter in others. My passion is leadership development, especially in the area of young, up and coming leaders that will be dispersed into our workforce and government, molding our future for generations to come. Thank you again for your passion. I look forward to the day that our paths will cross at an NSA event. Maybe someday, we will find the opportunity to share a platform.
-- Loreesa Botkin

Hi Crystal, thank you again for your speedy and efficient attention to all the details. It is now no surprise but ALWAYS appreciated. Many thanks. And great about the CW consulting session. Thank you!! I know him from the 2004 Event DVD and have read "The Angel Inside" he is completely brilliant!
-- Lesley

I have given away every ANGEL INSIDE book. Only have about 20 left. It has had an awesome effect on my church and personal life.
-- Tim Walker

Hey, Chris! Very nice Ezine I will forward to some folks I know and family.
-- AL

Hi Chris, thank you, for all the positive feedback in your newsletter (Chris Widener's Ezine). It helps me a lot in my work environment and at home.
-- Tania Vickers


Thank you Ezine readers, for the sincere and kind words of encouragement and appreciation you sent us this week! -- CW
 

6. More Information