A Year in Review…and a Hint at What’s Next

This week, like so many, I’m looking back on the blog posts I have written over the past year, and offer those that resonated most with so many of you who have been good enough to read “You’re Not the Boss of Me”.

1.  First up is Leadership…and All That Jazz. This post considers the metaphor between leadership and jazz.  While many of us would like leading others to be more like a symphony, in perfect harmony, in reality, we know it to be a lot messier than that. Oh, and if you have the time, don’t forget to check out Oscar Peterson at the end.  It’s music to soothe the soul.

2.  I often draw inspiration from real life stories.  Encouraging Dreams highlights two such stories and also, I think, gives us an opportunity to consider dreaming as a practical tool for achieving great things.

3.  I wrote Unlocking the Energy – Another Job for Leaders because I was thinking about what it actually takes for people to unlock hidden reservoirs of energy from others and have them use it willingly in the accomplishment of great work.  I was also thinking about what it takes to make me give my best.

4.  I’m an admitted Miss Manners and so I couldn’t let the year go by without writing something about being mindful of others, at work, or anywhere really. So here’s another look at Four Reasons Why Civility in the Workplace is a Must.

5. Managing & Leading…Lessons from Gilbert & Sullivan was really fun to write.  As a visual learner, I love getting leadership inspiration from movies.  Topsy Turvy is an entertaining movie with some great actors and wonderful insights into human nature.  And, it helps if you are a Gilbert & Sullivan fan too.

6.  I often think about what it takes to move from being an individual contributor to being a boss.  It’s not as easy as it may seem to some.  This post, Becoming a Leader…Shifting the Balance of Power tells a personal story that illustrates what can happen if we aren’t careful.

7.  I Love to tell stories.  And hopefully the stories I tell have a message for those who are in leadership roles and willing to look in the mirror once in a while. Managing Your Personal Impact…One Boss’s Story will show you what I mean.

8.  I wrote Leadership and the Attitude Contagion because well, I just think we pay too little attention to how our moods and behaviours affect others.  I believe the job of a leader to include being Chief Attitude Officer. Check it out to see more of what I mean.

9.  Toward the end of 2010, I began to think more about what it takes to lead in a world, which, through technology, is becoming smaller.  Our borders are blurring and our people entwined with each other more than ever before.  To me, this calls for emphasis on the more feminine side of our leadership palette and on language and practices that have, in the past, been viewed as being of secondary importance. The Language of Leadership in the 21^st Century takes a look at this language and its applicability in the new world.

10.  Finally, before moving on to 2011, I went back to a post I wrote in June, 2009.  I chose this to highlight here because it kind of illustrates an important focus for me going forward.  It’s called In Praise of Peacocks, Nerds, Dorks and Dweebs and it emphasizes the importance of valuing diversity between and among people.

My focus for this blog in 2011 will be to continue to support those who see great leadership as being key to creating successful, functional and happy workplaces.  This could take many forms, but mostly what I want to do is shine the light on some leaders, some practices and some writers who may not currently be on the leadership radar but whose message, in this new Century needs to be heard.

Thank you for your readership and your support over the past year.  I hope you will continue to come along for the ride as we go forward…and bring your friends.

And, as always your comments are more than welcome.