Do you have the Guts of a Leader?

What courageous act of daring do will you face today as a woman leader? Will you have to give someone negative feedback or a bad performance review? Will you have to share some bad news to your employees or subordinates? Will you have to tell your boss something they don't want to hear? Will you have to take responsibility for someone else's mistake, because you are the boss? Will you have to humble yourself to a customer because you failed to meet their expectations?

It is scary to be a woman leader today. It really takes courage to communicate bad news, give someone feedback that they may not want to hear or take responsibility and all the hits that come with it.

"Life is sad, believe me Missy,

When you're born to be a sissy,

without the vim and verve"

(From the wise lyrics sung by the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz)

The mark of a truly great leader is courage. Think about the leader that you most respect and I bet they showed courage under fire. They didn't back away from tough conversations, or delegate the job of sending bad news. No, they took responsibility, and responsibility takes guts.

Eight to eighteen amazing women will be working on their bravery as we delve into the 'stomach' of a leader on the third day of our four day Leadership Anatomy Retreat for Women, November 18-22, 2009 in the Sonoma Valley of California. Will you have the courage to be one of them?

The Importance of Getting Away

Ladies, it is so important to get away to reflect, connect and recharge your battery. Most of us just don't take the time to pause. We are so busy with the business of our multiple roles, day after day, year after year, and we can lose track of our goals and dreams.

No worries...

Nestled high on a Redwood tree ridge, the Alexander Valley Lodge offers panoramic views of the Russian River, Geyser Peak, Mt. St. Helena and the beautiful vineyards of Alexander Valley. Centrally located in Sonoma Wine Country and just minutes from the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valley wineries, the Alexander Valley Lodge is the perfect site for privacy, beauty and relaxation. Ahhhhhh...

That's where we will spend Wednesday afternoon night to Sunday morning for our Leadership Anatomy Women's Retreat November 18-22, 2009. Patty Sadallah, President and Founder of the Redwood Sisterhood (that's me) brings 28 years of experience in coaching and facilitation to this retreat. We'll be looking at body parts as metaphors for outstanding leadership while we enjoy the fellowship of amazing women, challenge our own thinking and enjoy local vineyards and beautiful surroundings.

Wednesday night, we'll get to know eachother and play a fun whole body metaphor exercise to get us rolling. Thursday we'll explore the 'Outside Leader Self' which includes the face that you present to the outside world; the eyes of a visionary, mouth as the voice of the organization and the ears that hear the trends and patterns in your field or industry. Friday we'll address the "Inside Leader self' that will address the roles and responsibilities of leading within the organization. We will cover the shoulders that bear responsibility within an organzation, the stomach or guts that have courage to lead, and the feet that walk the talk. Saturday, you will bring your personal case and challenge to the women and get feedback in an interactive peer coaching intervention. Sunday we'll close down our experience in a profound and memorable way.

Join us! REGISTER before Sept. 14, 2009!!!

Check out the location at http://www.alexandervalleylodge.com/

You Don't Need a Crystal Ball

Can anyone really see the future? No one knows for sure what will happen in the future, but, the present holds a surprising amount of clues about the future if we pause to take notice. The secret to seeing a glimpse of the future is observing patterns and trends in the present.



In the year 2025, there will be more retired baby boomers than people in the workforce. This is a statistical reality. Our parents had more children than people are having now. This demographic sign alone will affect jobs, lifestyles, and the economy. Predictably, cruise lines, drug stores, vitamin supplements and assisted living facilities will see an increase in sales. But, not all of those seniors can live in assisted living facilities, so there may be opportunities for residential elevators and escalators, in-law suite additions, or we may see hotels and motels being turned into senior living facilities. There are a variety of possibilities that will be needed to address this reality.



Our present day concern for the environment will see an increase in alternative fuels, green building, recycling and other more efficient uses of resources. Our expectation of immediate information won't lesson. So, expect faster, smarter communication devices to be making our lives more and more comfortable. What present day clues will affect you, your job, industry, market and life in general in the future?



Leaders have a responsibility to themselves and their organizations to see the future in the present. Knowing your own industry trends, as well as how national and global issues effect your organization and it's market is part of the job. Poor leaders forget this and can be blown in the wind of change and then act like it came out of nowhere.



Get in on this discussion at our next Blog Talk Radio show of Leadership Anatomy 101 in which we will discuss the Eyes of a Leader. The show is live Thursday, July 2, 2009 from 1:00PM-2:00PM. We'll talk about what do you tend to see and not see, your ideal future vision and how to make it a reality, and more about seeing the future in the present. Click the Blog Talk link in this post to set a reminder. Hope to SEE you then.

Leveraging Other People's Skills through Community Bartering

The rich get richer by leveraging other people's money. Not rich? Here is the good news: Women can get help and succeed in these tough economic times by leveraging other people's skills through time banking, a community bartering program at the Redwood Sisterhood.


Starting or keeping a small business alive in 2009 is tough work. How successful would you and your business be if you had expert help with strategic planning, marketing and public relations, search engine optimization, social networking, financing, legal, copy writing, ...etc. You may be strong in some of these areas, but who can be an expert in every area? Most start-up business owners just don't have the cash to pay for help in all of those areas?

Since most of us can't afford all of that help, we do without; spinning our wheels, reinventing the wheel, taking one step forward and three steps back, (the metaphors can go on forever on this one). Even though we muddle through and learn something new each day, one thing is certain, we can't do it alone, and most of us can't afford to buy the help. Time banking can help!

Time Banking Assumptions

• We all have the same 24 hours in a day,


• We all have different gifts, talents and skills that we can use to help others,


• We all need some services for which we are not experts and for which we cannot afford,


• Time can be a currency in and of itself without money values attached to it.
  

How does Time Banking Work?

Redwood Sisterhood Exclusive Access members receive 'time dollars' for either participating in Redwood Sisterhood activities, or for sharing their expertise with others within the community. One hour of time equals one time dollar. These time dollars can be banked and spent on any service offered by any member within the nationwide community.

How is Time Banking different than Regular Bartering?

Time Banking is completely tax free because no money values are attached to time, and exchanges occur within the community and not between two parties. You cannot exchange time for something other than time. So, services need to be defined in time hours and not end product deliverables. For example, a strategic plan document is not the deliverable, but the consultation time to help you to get a strategic plan could be purchased with time dollars.

TIME is of the Essence

There is no time to lose. You can be getting and giving help within an amazing community of women now. Join the Redwood Sisterhood Today as an Exclusive Access Member and you can be saving money and getting the help that you need from experts nationwide. Click HERE for more information about the other benefits of Redwood Sisterhood community. Join before July 31, 2009 and save $100 on membership. 'Together we grow Stronger'

Did you hear that?

I have this clock in the kitchen. Every 15 minutes it chimes .. bum bum bong bum ...one time. Every hour on the hour it follows that chime with bongs, one for every hour. Visiters to the house would say.. 'Doesn't that incessant clock drive you nuts?' I don't even notice it. We don't even realize what we tune out.

How many times have you heard some old relative in your family say that God gave you two ears and one mouth, so stop talking and start listening? It's true. We are much better talkers than listeners and we don't even realize it.

Duane Wade and I kicked off our Leadership Anatomy 101 Blog Talk Radio show with Ears of a Leader last week. Yeah us. What fun. Each month we will dialogue about a new body part as a metaphor for leadership.

We chatted about 4 listening styles and preferences and what we tend to filter out. Do you tend to listen more for information related to people, actions, content or time? We also discussed how you stretch beyond your preferences and share information with others respecting all styles.

You can listen to it now by clicking on the blog talk icon on the right column. Click on the Blog Talk Radio Link above to set a reminder for our next show, Eyes of a Leader on July 2, 2009 at 1:00 EST. SEE you then.

Grammy's Secret

My Grammy was a very wise woman. She only had an 8th grade education, but she was one of the wisest women I have ever met. I would sit near her when she was baking or ironing and take in her wisdom like a sponge.

I can remember one of our talks on the eve of my wedding day. She told me that the secret to a strong and happy marriage was to give more than you ever expected to receive. Service was the ultimate love language and if you put other people's needs ahead of your own, you will reap rewards beyond your imagination. Something wonderful happens in your heart when you give, she would say, and when you receive something from someone out of service and love, your heart wants to give back. This is the power of reciprocity. The Pay it Forward movie was about that.

She was right, and not just for marriage relationships. We live in such an entitlement culture that sometimes we forget that giving is the secret to receiving. To take money out of a bank account, you first have to deposit money. It's no different with relationships. Give in service to the relationship bank and then you can withdraw from it when you need to in the future.

The vision for the Redwood Sisterhood has always been to create a true support community, women helping other women. So, in keeping with the spirit of reciprocity, we will be starting a new 'time bank' service. It will be our national service skill swapping program. Exciting details to follow!

What is your Metaphor?

You may not realize it, but all of us allow metaphors to powerfully affect our thoughts and feelings. If we aren't careful, a negative metaphor will get a stronghold and really take us down. A positive one can catapult us forward.

Negative metaphors lead to negative thoughts that lead to negative behaviors. Battle and conflict are at the core of the negative metaphor worldview. With this mindset there are winners and losers and too often, we associate ourselves with the losers.

How have you allowed the economy to affect your mindset, for example? I recently caught myself with a bad metaphor. I was sharing with a colleague my frustration with the slow nature of my business growth in these tough economic times. I told her that I feel like I am pushing my business uphill by myself and it's getting heavier. Or maybe you feel like the Dutch boy with his thumb in the dam, knowing that sticking his thumb in the dam isn't the solution, but not knowing what else to do.

Positive metaphors have the power to have you see tough times and challenges as opportunities. They are win/win scenarios that are put in your life to teach you lessons, make you stronger and better.

What if we chose to embrace a positive metaphor instead? That layoff was a gift which allows you to be an explorer on an exhibition; seeking the next exciting opportunity or discovery of how to use your gifts, talents and passions in a new way. Or maybe you see your future as a blank canvass and you can paint it fresh and new in any way you choose. Can you see how waking up with that as a metaphor would change your thoughts and your behaviors?

Now I choose to look at my business challenges as walking through a giant maze. There will be a reward when I find the right path, so, I need not be too frustrated on the journey. I may have to step back a few steps and try something new, but eventually, I will get the the reward at the end of the maze and the path will become clearer. I just need to keep my eye on that prize.

Metaphors are powerful things. They can be used to uplift and propel you forward, or they can be used to hold you back. The metaphor that you choose to control your thoughts is up to you. So make it a good one!

What is your metaphor?