Welcome to the first issue of my eNewsletter.

Welcome!

Competent leadership creates motivated staff. You are receiving my newsletter because we met at an event or were introduced by a colleague or friend. I'm grateful to have you in my network.

The reason I'm starting a newsletter is so I can stay connected to you, and also because I've gained valuable insights in my 20 years of leadership coaching. I'd like to pass those insights along. My hope is that you find them helpful.

Reflecting is more than looking in a mirror
My goal for sending the newsletter is to give you practical work-related tips. I want to inspire you to keep going, especially on the really hard days, and encourage you to pause and reflect. One of the reasons coaching is so valuable is because it forces us to pause - and reflect - on what we're doing and why. Reflecting gives us a minute to catch our breath and detach from the ongoing demands of people, projects, and information overload.

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One of my dearest colleagues, Kevin Cashman, has written a book titled The Pause Principle: Step Back to Lead Forward. We know from Kevin, as well as Harvard-based research and other sources, that stopping to reflect is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. And reflecting is one of the first things we give up to our busy schedules if we are not committed to reflection. 
 
Don't wait for a thaw to dig deep
Take three minutes right now - yes, right now - and pause. If your first thought is, "I have way too much to do to stop and reflect right now," that may be a clue that stopping and reflecting is a leadership tool from which you could benefit.
 
Our best decisions and greatest thinking come from deep inside. We can't access the best parts of who we are if we don't dig deep. We can't dig deep without stopping and tuning into the wisdom that's inside us.

Set the timer on your phone for 3 minutes

So go ahead; set the timer on your phone. 
Take three minutes
right now. Simply ask yourself, "What do I need to know?" Then get quiet and listen for the answer. It will come from the still, small voice within.

Set the timer on your phone 
for 3 minutes.
 
Now take one minute more to email me and tell me what you experienced. rita@wiseleader.net
 
Till next time - Connect, Reflect, Achieve, 

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