Читать книгу Leading with Character - Джим Лоэр, James E. Loehr - Страница 11

Eleven years ago, I was incredibly fortunate to be a student of Dr. Jim Loehr's, as I attended training he led at the Human Performance Institute (HPI), which he co-founded with Dr. Jack Groppel 25 years ago. The experience at HPI in Orlando, Florida, was life changing. Jim guided me through the difficult and important work of facing the truth about how I was managing my energy, and who and what was getting the best of it; and he pushed me to engage in soul-searching to define my purpose and life mission. I had to rewrite “my story,” identify strategies to become more physically energized and mentally and emotionally resilient, and lay out a plan to ensure that when I depart this Earth, I will leave a legacy I can be proud of, measured by my impact on the people who mean the most to me.

Since then, I have been blessed to call Jim a dear friend, mentor, and colleague who continues to profoundly impact my life. His work was foundational to the Premier Executive Leadership™ program, which I was honored to have the opportunity to build for the Human Performance Institute in 2016 and continue to lead. This first-of-a-kind executive development and well-being program takes a whole-person, whole-life approach to helping leaders thrive in an increasingly complex, nonstop, stressful world. It leverages an integrated three-coach approach (executive coach, exercise physiologist, and registered dietitian), 360 stakeholder interviews, family engagement and training to create an ecosystem of support, a comprehensive executive health assessment, and assessments in energy, well-being, resilience, and character strength. The assessment and training on building character strength is one of the unique components of this program. While other leadership training has focused on leadership authenticity (which is different from character) and the media are beginning to focus on the character of the company, few if any focus on the leader's personal character, which is the content of one's legacy. It is a “muscle” that can be strengthened and is arguably the most important component of this training.

I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to contribute to this book and share what we learned through our work with some of the many global leaders who have passed through the Institute; through intimate engagements with our Premier clients that provide a rare view of the complex and personal struggles leaders face today; through my one-on-one coaching and engagement with executive clients; and our ongoing research into how best to unleash potential for leaders and others who want to become the best possible versions of themselves, in the most meaningful areas of their lives.

And there has never been a more important time to focus on character – not only because leadership dismissals due to ethical lapses are at an all-time high, but because the complexity and stakes are now larger than ever due to the increasing demands, scrutiny, and expectations placed on leaders today. The current COVID-19 pandemic provides a perfect example of the intense moral dilemma faced by business, government, and healthcare leaders throughout the world. But this goes beyond being a business, political, or healthcare issue. It's a moral issue, deeply connected to our families, our jobs, our welfare – with life or death consequences. Leaders have to choose between stakeholder health and well-being and shareholder financial rights … between abiding by mandatory government shut-down of all non-essential businesses to prevent the spread of the virus and honoring civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights … between saving lives by the enforced closing of businesses and the loss of jobs that force some into bankruptcy and poverty … between who gets prioritized medical attention and access to a life-saving ventilator that is in short supply … and who is left to die. The pandemic descended upon us like a tidal wave with no preparation or playbook. The fast-moving, unpredictable, and deadly virus required swift daily decision-making despite multiple unknowns, no easy answers, and the fact that any and every decision would have painful consequences. While many of us are fortunate to not have been in the position to make some of the heart-wrenching decisions related to the pandemic, we will continually be called upon to make difficult choices in our lives that have an impact on others and the world around us – often in a very profound way. The good news is that we now have the opportunity to develop our own playbook and moral compass so that we are prepared for the inevitable storms and dilemmas that will test, tempt, and challenge us – and lead with character, confidence, and a strong connection to our deepest values. But we must first do the work.

To live a successful life and achieve a meaningful leadership legacy require a deep connection to a purpose focused outside oneself and intentional, ongoing investment in the strengthening of one's character. This book will expose the character vulnerability that lies below the surface in each of us and take you through training exercises designed to strengthen your Character Muscle – or collection of muscles, really – so that vulnerability is vanquished. It will guide you through the most important moments and decisions in your life, critical episodes we may be ill-equipped to manage if we haven't done the character work necessary to meet those moments. Grandiose as it may sound, this book can help you to achieve a personal legacy that will transcend your time on this Earth.

Caren Kenney

Only one kind of leadership can successfully respond to a moral crisis: moral leadership. It's especially in times of crisis that people naturally look to authority for truthful answers, wise guidance, courageous action, and hope.

– Dov Seidman, author of How