winning_teams – Maureen Monte

KINSHIP

Kinship. Noun. “The feeling of being connected to other people.” Our performance, and even our survival, depends on the feeling of kinship we have with others. To underscore its importance, I will share two stories of two very people, from two very different parts of the world, whose lives were transformed by kinship. Both were problem children; nobody benefits more from kinship than a problem child. Why? Because others often turn against them, leaving them feeling isolated, undervalued, and beleaguered. In such circumstances, kinship can be a lifesaver.

God’s 2×4

A few mortals find enlightenment by following the leader. For the rest of us, enlightenment often arrives in the form of a sharp crack from God’s 2×4. The University of Michigan’s basketball team received one of those “God gifts” this week when they survived an aborted takeoff and then overshot the end of the runway. They crashed through a fence, ran across a road, and ended up in a ditch. Burning rubber, fuel, and fear filled the plane. What happened next is a remarkable lesson in leadership.

The Janus Effect

Janus was the Roman god of transitions, passages, and gateways. He could look forward and backward with equal clarity. As 2016 ends and 2017 begins, many of us feel compelled to find our inner Janus. My inner Janus sees the past progress and the future potential of my clients. I want to share a few compelling stories, and ask you to support one of my customers, Amy Peterson, whose future includes an appearance on the Harry Connick Jr show!

Ideas Welcome

I am an Idea Machine – Ideation is my number one StrengthsFinder® talent. While I was watching TV on Monday, I saw a marvelous GE commercial on how the corporate world responds to people who generate ideas. It absolutely knocked me off my feet. The Idea is represented by a creature that looks like an offspring between Big Bird and a peacock. It is repeatedly kicked to the curb, locked out of the building, and trashed as being undesirable until, morose and deflated, it walks through the doors of GE.

Labor Less Achieve More

In honor of America’s Labor Day holiday, I’m celebrating people who labor less to achieve more. These talented individuals leverage their strengths. Case in point: Usain Bolt runs the 100 meter dash in 41 steps, fewer steps than anyone else in the race. 100 meters divided by 41 = 2.44 meters per stride. For those of us who went to Romeo High School, that equals eight feet. Eight FEET! With each stride, Bolt covers ground that is longer than some cars! This gives him a distinct competitive advantage. He labors less to win more – which is exactly what you should be doing to achieve your maximum potential. Here are a few thought starters.

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