What Effective Leaders Know

Leadership Lessons Learned

This month the International Association of Coaching celebrates its 5th anniversary. As president Natalie Tucker Miller approaches the end of her multi-year term, she shared with members leadership lessons she "learned, relearned or reframed."  

Prepare to shift your thinking as you read what Natalie now knows for sure.

• There is no urgency, ever. (when you remain present in the moment)
• Great things happen when you feel safe and are in an environment rich with possibility.
• You can learn a lot about how someone feels about themselves by listening to what they are saying about others.
• The notion that nothing is personal has more power than anything else I've learned.
• Life will deliver to you what you expect.
• If you want quality, abandon deadlines. Instead, target dates will keep you on track with built-in flexibility that nets more satisfying results.
• There is always a choice.
• Replacing self-criticism with self-reflection has magic powers.
• Inspire others by being inspired by them.
• Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end.

I find the last lesson learned-"If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end"-to be truer than I'd like it to be. Which nugget of leadership wisdom most appeals to you?

Is it nudging you to shift your mindset? What new attitude or action does your leadership insight invite you to practice?