Let's clear up some misconceptions about Leadership.

The word 'Leadership' has become rather loosely and over-used in recent times. It's a bit like 'iconic'. Is the One Show iconic? Is Lady Gaga iconic? Is everything iconic? I hope not. But anyway back to leadership.

Nowadays several things are being put forward as 'leadership' that IMHO are not at all leadership. For example doing your job as expected is not really leadership, is it? Doing as you are told by your boss or teacher isn't really leadership. In fact it isn't leadership at all. What our current politicians in the UK are doing does not look to me like leadership either. Leadership isn't following public opinion or trying to win votes by doing what the majority want you to do or say. It can be the opposite of that, at times.
Leadership isn't towing the party line and saying what's expected, and that's one of the main reasons why people have come to distrust politicians from the main parties.

So what is leadership? I'm no expert, but here's what I think as a professional trainer with global experience in many of the world's top corporations:

Leadership is about leading people. This means that you are going places BEFORE everyone else goes there. You are at the leading edge of change and development.
Leadership is about having courage and beliefs founded upon tried principles. A leader is ready to be unpopular and even hated if necessary. For years, Steve Jobs was something of a pariah figure, but his vision proved stronger and more relevant than those who turned their back on him.
Leadership is about having a message that inspires people and being able to communicate that message in a way that gives them fresh hope.

A leader is ready to look bad if necessary and takes risks to get their message across. Richard Branson is a good example of someone that has taken risks with his public image (and his life) in order to communicate his vision of the Virgin brand and has generally made it pay off in a big way.In addition to courage, having a clear vision and seeing what others do not see is a must for leaders. This is what actually makes them leaders in the first place.
One more thing: A leader is all about empowering others to go beyond their limitations. A leader isn't just looking for glory. Someone may be brilliant at what they do but not a leader in this respect.

Leaders are people who are exceptional. They have gone beyond the top of their profession, and way way beyond what is reasonably expected. They have firm convictions for which they may even be willing to die, if it comes to that. They uplift others and look for the best in everyone they come into contact with. They are always learners, always wanting to expand their knowledge as they share generously what they have of their own.

Let's not devalue important concepts by cheapening their cache of meaning. It takes remarkable qualities to really move people and surely we need to recognise this in our use of descriptions.

Don't let negativity become your wallpaper.

Our thoughts are the wallpaper of our lives. We become so accustomed to the voice in our heads that we stop noticing it most of the time. These thoughts, the product of the mind, become our living environment. The mind is constantly commenting on the world, adjusting and creating the lens through which we see everything.

When this lens becomes clouded over with negativity it can lead to serious problems. Sometimes a negative thought loop is introduced into our minds from outside, perhaps a friend says something and your mind takes it in. Like a virus it takes up residence in our mental eco-system, polluting and tainting what we see happening around us. After a while it becomes part of the wallpaper and we actually stop noticing the negative loop in the same way we stop noticing the wallpaper in our homes. We have accepted it into our lives and it has literally become part of our daily reality.

We need to become aware of these loops and how they may be sabotaging whatever we do. It's not always easy because they often come with ready-made justifications for why they should be allowed to remain in our awareness. These explanations are very convincing and allow us to opt out of changing our situations for the better. An example might be something like the following:

I'm not going to do my best work because my boss doesn't appreciate me and doesn't respect who I am. Therefore I'm just going to do the minimum at work and not put in any extra effort. After all, the pay's not very good and I didn't get that promotion last year so why should I?

See how this loop comes with plenty of justification built up to support it. It's a very simple and typical type of sequence that leaves us feeling cynical while we actually sabotage our own career. After a while it becomes part of our mental furniture and we no longer have to play the whole thing every time because we know it all by heart.

To overcome such sabotage and move on we need to be very alert, noticing our thoughts as much as possible. Only then can we challenge them and put them to one side if they do not serve us.

It may be helpful to write them down. Our negative mind hates exposure, so seeing the words in front of you and being able to challenge them head-on is a great way to make progress here. It does take strength and persistence but with determination you can deal with your own demons in time.

Stay strong, stay positive!

Why the election is irrelevant!

Hey there. I expect you've heard there's an election coming, ANOTHER election coming. The news media are of course getting into their usual frenzy. People on either side of the political divide are getting nasty and personal. ("I'm right" "No!I'm right!"). The politicians are gearing up to drive their oh so important messages home.

But here's the thing. You know and I know that after it's all done it ain't gonna make any difference. Not really. You'll still have the same problems you've got now. Even the country will still have the same problems it's got now. The economy will still go down and up again, some things will be under funded, others won't. People will continue to squabble about which things are more important. They will also still have the same problems in their own lives.

Why? Because it's all a great distraction from the really difficult stuff. The really burning questions of our existence. Let me ask you a question: how many previous elections have really made your life better or worse? Answer: none. Reason: we all continue going around in the same old loops and patterns. In denial about our problems, about where we fall short, about what we REALLY need to do to change our lives. The whole political game is a great way for people to relieve themselves of responsibility for their destiny and blame outside factors. In other words, it's a victims game and even the politicians know that. They know that you and I cannot win through the political game but as long as they can keep you engaged with their agendas they will have a career and they will be listened to and they will be considered important.

What do you think of Donald Trump? Theresa May? Maybe you hate them but I'll bet you still pay attention to what they say, spend time, your precious time slagging them off or thinking about how they've ruined everything.

It's irrelevant guys. It won't make any difference. Okay in some ways it makes a difference if a politician gets us into a war or something. But it's unlikely.

If you take a look at how bankrupt and uninspiring the messages of the two major candidates in this election are, you'll immediately turn away and occupy yourself with something more engaging. Where's the sense of wonder and possibility? The reality is that these people are absolutely lost, as individuals. They have nothing to offer you and I. No fresh ideas, no charm, no direction home.

The answers are elsewhere. The answers you need, we all need are inside of us. That's the real game, the hard one that very few people know how to win. So, in my humble opinion, let them get on with it and mind your own business!