Comments on: Choosing http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:15:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-422 Mary Jo Asmus Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:47:58 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-422 Great thoughts as always Monica. Thanks for your comments. Great thoughts as always Monica. Thanks for your comments.

]]> By: Monica Diaz http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-421 Monica Diaz Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:01:48 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-421 Intentional choice is the stuff that true leaders are made of. They are aware of themselves, of how their choices affect their own life and how they affect the lives of others. I would add that right choices express honesty, integrity and congruence in ways that nothing else can. Wally's comment about awareness is so central to this concept. I believe we all choose just about everything in our lives. It is how much of it we choose with awareness that truly makes a difference. In that sense, the leaders' first responsibility is to just be aware. To realize where she wants to go. Which battles he cares to fight. Which direction they will move in. Intentional choice is the stuff that true leaders are made of. They are aware of themselves, of how their choices affect their own life and how they affect the lives of others. I would add that right choices express honesty, integrity and congruence in ways that nothing else can. Wally’s comment about awareness is so central to this concept. I believe we all choose just about everything in our lives. It is how much of it we choose with awareness that truly makes a difference. In that sense, the leaders’ first responsibility is to just be aware. To realize where she wants to go. Which battles he cares to fight. Which direction they will move in.

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-420 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:18:48 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-420 Susan, great comments and thoughts. You might recall that my previous blog was called, "Intentional Leadership" for all of the reasons you provide. Even though this one is called "Mary Jo Asmus", I have no "intention" of giving up the stand for "conscious leadership" (as opposed to "unconscious leadership"). A leader's choices are usually more obvious, for good or for bad, than those of others, so intentionality is crucial! Susan, great comments and thoughts. You might recall that my previous blog was called, “Intentional Leadership” for all of the reasons you provide. Even though this one is called “Mary Jo Asmus”, I have no “intention” of giving up the stand for “conscious leadership” (as opposed to “unconscious leadership”). A leader’s choices are usually more obvious, for good or for bad, than those of others, so intentionality is crucial!

]]> By: Susan Mazza http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-419 Susan Mazza Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:08:08 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-419 You make a great case for mindful leadership. I don't think we can ever be reminded enough that we have a choice in every moment. Unconsciousness is certainly an easier road, but as you point out it has consequences that are far more costly than many people in leadership positions realize. To Wally's point I would venture to say that if our responses are unconscious then they aren't choices at all. You make a great case for mindful leadership. I don’t think we can ever be reminded enough that we have a choice in every moment. Unconsciousness is certainly an easier road, but as you point out it has consequences that are far more costly than many people in leadership positions realize. To Wally’s point I would venture to say that if our responses are unconscious then they aren’t choices at all.

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-418 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:23:07 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-418 Cirel, good for you that you live your life this way. Many (most?) do not. It is possible to to make subconscious choices conscious, and "awareness" is the first step. Not everyone is as aware as you are. Cirel, good for you that you live your life this way. Many (most?) do not. It is possible to to make subconscious choices conscious, and “awareness” is the first step. Not everyone is as aware as you are.

]]> By: Cirel http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-417 Cirel Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:35:27 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-417 Great post! I believe in the power of choice, and yes, even the smallest kind can make the biggest difference. My parents made sure that I understood how precious time is and made it clear to me that every second that passes by is a second that I will never get back. Consequently, they instilled in me the desire to not ever waste a second of my life. This post made me realize that I have chosen to live life this way (though it never seemed like a choice to me since it came so naturally). I guess, sometimes, our choices aren't always a conscious one. Some can be impulsive or simply instinctual. I am not sure how it can be done, but perhaps it would be beneficial for someone to learn how to make subconscious choices into a conscious one, especially if they are the kind that has a negative impact on the person and everyone else around him. Great post! I believe in the power of choice, and yes, even the smallest kind can make the biggest difference. My parents made sure that I understood how precious time is and made it clear to me that every second that passes by is a second that I will never get back. Consequently, they instilled in me the desire to not ever waste a second of my life. This post made me realize that I have chosen to
live life this way (though it never seemed like a choice to me since it came so naturally).
I guess, sometimes, our choices aren’t always a conscious one. Some can be impulsive or simply instinctual. I am not sure how it can be done, but perhaps it would be beneficial for someone to learn how to make subconscious choices into a conscious one, especially if they are the kind that has a negative impact on the person and everyone else around him.

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-416 Mary Jo Asmus Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:26:41 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-416 Wally, thanks. I had read it last week, but re-read after getting your comment. It is a good match! And to think......I teased Dan about the touchy-feely stuff :^). Wally, thanks. I had read it last week, but re-read after getting your comment. It is a good match! And to think……I teased Dan about the touchy-feely stuff :^).

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-415 Mary Jo Asmus Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:01:39 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-415 Brittany, thanks for the affirmation. Tanveer, I firmly believe that the other things that can prevent leaders from being aware of their choices include a lack of "being present", lack of self awareness, and the fast pace of their (our) lives. For the latter reason, I'm a firm believer in having a reflective practice of some sort (journaling, meditation,etc.). But I also recognize that having a reflective practice is a very tough sell to an executive; I've been pretty unsuccessful with that one. Brittany, thanks for the affirmation.

Tanveer, I firmly believe that the other things that can prevent leaders from being aware of their choices include a lack of “being present”, lack of self awareness, and the fast pace of their (our) lives. For the latter reason, I’m a firm believer in having a reflective practice of some sort (journaling, meditation,etc.). But I also recognize that having a reflective practice is a very tough sell to an executive; I’ve been pretty unsuccessful with that one.

]]> By: Wally Bock http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-414 Wally Bock Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:56:51 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-414 Check out Dan McCarthy's post titled "Heard any good news laterly?" Good match. Check out Dan McCarthy’s post titled “Heard any good news laterly?” Good match.

]]> By: Tanveer Naseer http://www.aspire-cs.com/choosing/comment-page-1#comment-413 Tanveer Naseer Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:19:11 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=410#comment-413 It's an interesting point you bring up here, Mary Jo. Intuitively, it would seem obvious that leaders would understand that every choice they make is being carefully watched by those under them as a means of understanding the perspective of those in charge. I think part of the reason for this disconnect is because the focus tends to be on those elements that companies monitor in their metrics or which they announce the yearly shareholders' meeting; things that can be easily quantified and tracked. Unfortunately, somewhere down this line, we've forgotten that the road we travel is as important as the destination we're aiming to reach. Your piece here is a great reminder that even the little choices we make every day can have a lasting impression well after that moment has passed. It’s an interesting point you bring up here, Mary Jo. Intuitively, it would seem obvious that leaders would understand that every choice they make is being carefully watched by those under them as a means of understanding the perspective of those in charge. I think part of the reason for this disconnect is because the focus tends to be on those elements that companies monitor in their metrics or which they announce the yearly shareholders’ meeting; things that can be easily quantified and tracked.

Unfortunately, somewhere down this line, we’ve forgotten that the road we travel is as important as the destination we’re aiming to reach. Your piece here is a great reminder that even the little choices we make every day can have a lasting impression well after that moment has passed.

]]>