Also, I’m going to write more.

Maranda Gibson´s last blog post..Happy New Year

That was more than 140 characters.

“Random Acts of Leadership”

Now those are powerful concepts. Good thinking, susan.

I also think that leadership is something you sometimes have to force on people who are reluctant to step forward. Maybe they don’t feel ready, but few of us ever are. We don’t know until we’re tested.

An acquaintance runs a company with his daughter and for years both had been dancing around the ticklish issue of succession. She was making progress in her knowledge of the business but not fast enough for him, plus she hadn’t made a definite commitment to take over, and he was approaching 60.

He figured it was a 5-7 year job to get her ready — completely ready — so he could move on with assurance the company would survive and be able to retain talent, provide the daughter with security, pay him in retirement, etc.

Perhaps she felt she wasn’t ready. Or maybe it was because he had always been there to work long hours to do whatever was necessary for success. Whatever was holding her back, he decided to take a big risk and just pulled way back on his involvement; stopped being the “go-to” person for everything. He moved his office into his house and basically telecommuted. They communicated daily and he supported her in every way, but he left decisions to her that had always been his to make.

Long story short, the daughter finally understood that she had to step up if the business was to survive — and she did. Three years later, she’s a confident leader and taking steps to expand the company. She still has things to learn, but the man’s goal to force her to decide have been realized.

He knew she was ready but no amount of words could get her to accept the role. She did it once it was clear that she had no choice.

I believe that when a leader recognizes talent it should be their goal — no, maybe their duty — to push a person into a leadership role. Let them fall down so you can pick them up, dust them off and send them back in again.

John Maxwell says that the only real job of a leader is to create more leaders.

That makes sense to me.

Impacting only the few clients I can adequately support on my own in one year is just not enough – it’s time to think much bigger. I intend to learn to leverage social media to cause that explosion. Just finished redesigning and am ready to “relaunch” my blog Random Acts of Leadership to cultivate the notion in the world that committing an act of leadership can be as simple and meaningful as committing an act of kindness.

I love what you said @JerryRoberts about making it THEIR year. I will also continue to support those who are in positions of leadership in helping others to discover their own leadership capability and voice.

I am so excited about getting the fence sitters to take ownership of their health in 2009. It is my mission, my passion.

A lot of work in the making, but this is the year everything is coming together. I will be creating many opportunities in the near future, which also makes me proud to be a business developer!

Best Wishes to everyone fo 2009!

Craig Stark´s last blog post..8 Experts weigh in on 2009 Web 2.0 Trends

I’m just launching a new site that gives a different voice to workplace issues and working relationships, unlike most of what’s in the market today. It will view issues from the unique perspectives of frontline workers and managers — often simultaneously.

Workplace problems aren’t as insurmountable as most people claim. If you can get past your own ego, solutions are usually pretty close at hand.

But this takes the ability to listen. If I’m going to help people do better in 2009 I have to be able to listen better … and listen MORE. Zip my lips and really hear what the other person is saying. Get the context, not just use that moment to formulate my next response.. Really listen.

Thanks for the opportunity, Danny, and best wishes for your own great year in ‘09!