Category: Demo

Becoming More Open

Posted on by Byron Darden

After looking honestly at your leadership style and examining your biases, you might want to become more open or at least want to cultivate openness as a leader.

One of the fastest and most effective ways I’ve learned to practice openness is to master two things. Number one, be genuinely curious; number two, find something about what you learn or hear that resonates.

Want to know how I do it? Become fascinated with your limited knowledge about whatever the other person is sharing. An example of this might be that you do not relate to playing golf as your senior leadership might. You may not even like the game of golf, yet that is what senior leadership values. You might ask yourself how much you know about golf to connect with them. Instead, learn why they like the game so much. Here are six actions you can take:

  1. Expand your knowledge about the activity (in this case, golf).
  2. Gain insight about golf that you did not know. Showing your interest can go a long way when it’s genuine.
  3. Gain insight about the person or persons to whom you are opening up.
  4. Recognize this as an opportunity to learn about their passion. It could prove an ideal insight into building that relationship.
  5. Demonstrate compassion for what is meaningful to them.
  6. Look for something about what you learn that resonates with you or connects to your business issue.

I cannot stress enough the importance of finding something that resonates with you. Pretending to be curious is like an actor pretending to be a character. It won’t fly with an audience, and your reputation will suffer. Faking curiosity is like rotting fish; you smell its presence long before encountering the actual fish. As a dear friend reminds me, the fish rots from the head down. When you smell it, know that the rotting smell trickles down from its beginnings. Remember that when a leader is not genuine, that attitude will permeate the entire team over time in much the same way that rot spreads.

I learned this as an actor when I landed my first role, leading me to become a professional. It was a role that opened me up to the possibility that what I experienced in my personal life, I also experienced as my character interacting with other characters facing the same issue of being marginalized in the story unfolding on stage. That was a crossover moment for me.

OPEN YOUR MIND

Why is it Important to be Open?

Posted on by Byron Darden

Limiting thoughts nurture limiting words and actions that render little.

Should you find yourself closing down toward someone, that is an excellent time to ask yourself these questions.

  • What am I not aware of in this moment? Remain patient and allow insights to occur to you in their own time.
  • How can I respond to the other person by choosing to become curious? Demonstrate curiosity about what impassions this person rather than the topic alone.
  • How does this person’s experience resonate with me? Rather than dismissing and limiting your thoughts or opinions, identify with whatever engages you. Ex: Golf may not resonate. Being outside may!

There are numerous benefits of openness in the workplace:

  • Discover new perspectives. Those from different backgrounds from us tend to think differently or see a situation from a different angle. When you are open, you can hear ideas without prejudice and develop more than just your one point of view.
  • Promotes a friendly and collaborative environment. Being open means not taking things personally. It means open communication and the capacity for trust and teamwork.
  • Contributes to flexibility and teamwork. Openness encourages new perspectives and open-minded thinking. In addition to expanding your knowledge base, it will help you work well with others – a valuable soft skill in any environment.
  • Willingness to take risks. When you work in an open environment, you are more likely to feel comfortable expressing your opinions, and your authentic self will shine through.
  • Nurture leadership skills. Openness is a valuable leadership quality, so when you are ready to take the next step up the corporate ladder, being open is worthy of your portfolio of skills and behaviors.
  • Builds trust. As we open up to others, they are more likely to open up to us. Similar to taking risks, experiencing others taking risks builds our own faith in what we are capable of as well. When we discover that our environment is open to risk, we trust more in what we may have to contribute to it.
DISCOVER

Nurturing the Openness Mindset

Posted on by Byron Darden

It isn’t necessary to agree with everything and everyone. You will want to be curious to understand more effectively why they think the way they do and how their thinking informs their actions. Then you will experience a favorable outcome for getting to know others as you want them to know you. Before long, you can let go of that baggage that no longer suits you.

You gain so much when you move from closed-minded thinking to openness. Liken it to opening the door to a whole new world of possibilities.

Nurturing the Openness Mindset

Old Way of ThinkingMoving Toward
Remains in the “Box”Expands the box by flexing Ideas
Lack of ImaginationAbundance of Creativity
Relies on What They’ve Been TaughtCuriosity for/about the Unknown
Limited to Concrete ConceptsThinks in the Abstract; Embraces Possibilities
Sticks to the Tried and TruePushes Boundaries; Takes Risks
Prefers to Stick with Like-Minded PeopleEmbraces Diversity and the Gems that Follow
NURTURE

What I’ve Learned From Becoming More Open

Posted on by Byron Darden

Openness has proven key to my leadership and success in everything I’ve done in my life. From my grandmother instilling the importance of taking risks to my parents continually repeating, “I can be whatever I want to be and do whatever I want to do.” Then living in New York, where such a diverse population relies on tolerance to live among one another.

What I’ve encountered over the years is that people who look like me are not often taught those valuable lessons early on. Should the opposite beliefs be passed on, self-limiting beliefs control our thoughts, words, actions, decisions, and feelings about what is possible.

Should it be true that we are what we eat, we are certainly what we think! As a result, I became chief of staff, cashier, entertainer, choreographer, instructor, coach, board member, committee chair, director, president, facilitator, business owner, and now leadership consultant. What is it that you want to become? Click on the button below, and let’s schedule a time to explore how open you are and how that aligns with the impact you want for your teams and projects.

LEARN

Measuring Openness

Posted on by Byron Darden

Your openness is subjective based on how you feel and how others perceive you. A self-assessment quiz can gauge your level of openness. Read these statements and consider the degree to which you agree. You tend to be very open when you strongly agree with these statements. Disagreement with most of these statements indicates you are likely lower on the openness scale. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. The important outcome is a level of awareness.

  • I have an active imagination.
  • I have creative hobbies.
  • I enjoy being around people with diverse backgrounds.
  • I’m naturally curious about many things.
  • I thrive in brainstorming sessions.
  • I enjoy philosophical discussions.
  • I enjoy cultural events.
  • I’m more comfortable with theoretical discussions than with small talk.
  • I think of myself as an artistic person.
  • I can keep an open mind during discussions where I disagree with the other person or group.
MEASURE

Open Your Mind

Posted on by Byron Darden
When knowledge is power, we grow in responsibility for it. Then power is a source of comfort. We experience greater comfort in knowing.

When you find yourself on the lower end of the openness scale and desire to nurture the traits that will open you up to possibilities, there are several things you can do.

  • Get out of your comfort zone by engaging in activities you usually would not do. Go to the theater or art museum. Be curious enough to read a book about a subject you know nothing about. Strike up a conversation with someone outside your inner circle.
  • Spend more time listening rather than talking. Reserve judgment. You might be surprised at what you learn.
  • Schedule a call with me. Together we can nurture this critical personality trait that can give you the edge in the workplace.

“The only thing that permits human beings to collaborate with one another in a truly open-ended way is their willingness to have their beliefs modified by new facts. Only openness to evidence and argument will secure a common world for us.”    Sam Harris

Learn more about me at www.byrondarden.com/about, and while you are there, schedule a breakthrough session where we can have an honest conversation about openness and elevating your leadership style.

CONNECT!

Founder’s Corner

Posted on by Byron Darden
“Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.” –Belva Davis

As we step into March to celebrate women’s month, I’m reminded of the first African-American woman to become a television reporter on the US west coast and winner of eight Emmy awards. Journalist Belva Davis shared these wise words to encourage all of us to live by, “Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.”

Belva Davis and her wisdom inspired many journalist who came after her. The sentiment behind Davis’ words are familiar to me given the similar message I grew up hearing from my mother. I include her in this month’s celebration of women as March also represents the month of my mother’s birth. She was one of the most influential women in my life who inspired me to focus on women in my coaching practice along with other, often marginalized communities striving to be recognized for what (value) they bring to the table in leadership.

As we kick off this historic month devoted to women, we begin this 5 part series on The Executive VOICE. This month we are focusing on values. In April we will turn our attention to intentionality followed by May when we will focus on consistency. We will then wrap up the series discussing the importance of engagement.

I trust you will gain much from this month’s focus on values as we explore what values based leadership is and how to begin thinking about the values you hold dear. We will continue our journey taking a look at ways to measure the culture value in your organization. We will touch on what it means to evolve as a leader with a few tips and considerations for how to deepen your understanding for why leading from your values benefits your organization, the teams you lead, the customers you serve, and You!

Values-Based Leadership

Posted on by Byron Darden

Most companies have guiding values they expect every member to follow. These values set the tone and direction for every decision the company makes – from a decision on what product or service to sell; to how they deliver those goods and services; and with whom they choose to collaborate on their journey.

Successful companies have strong leaders that encompass values through their speaking, writing, and body language, which sets them apart from others. While values can evolve depending on a person’s experiences, there is an underlying thread of consistency that can be relied upon.

Effective leaders are genuine and lead with integrity and authenticity; they remove the mask they are hiding behind and share their true selves. Rather than focusing solely on the bottom line, a values-based leader focuses on achieving goals through a standard set of values.

They are successful without having to fake it until they make it. They know who they are and what they stand for. Whether you meet them in a boardroom or at Starbucks, their true nature shines through.

When a leader is authentic and leads by a known set of values, their employees intuitively sense this and want to follow.

What is values-based leadership, and how can you become a leader that encompasses these traits?

LEARN WITH ME!

What Kind of Leader Are You?

Posted on by Byron Darden

Consider stereotypical leaders. Some are solely concerned with the bottom line and willing to do whatever it takes to turn a profit, including questionable or illegal actions. They fail to care about who or what gets impacted along the way – whether it be people or things.

Some leaders focus on the bottom line, and their manner is gentler. They are still the boss, profit reigns supreme, and they do their best to stay neutral and avoid controversy.

Then there are the leaders who inspire and lead by example. Values-based leadership requires a combination of ingredients that will cause your success to be realized and from which much profits. Your presence will permeate the air almost without you doing more than show up authentically as a value add to your organization.

The guiding principles of values-based leadership are:

  • Lead guided by purpose – the most crucial concept is about how you lead and how that choice speaks to your deeply held values.
  • Success is for all with the intension of being contagious – employees will take inspiration from the leader’s actions and want to join in the process.
  • People/Job – a values-based leader employs people that are able to follow the same values. In addition, they will ensure that the person is suitable for the job.
  • Character Fully Realized – take time to develop your beliefs and values. Ensure you know what you stand for and can articulate that to others.
  • Differences Fuel Innovation – recognize that differences encourage growth. When considering suitability, take into account diverse views.
DISCOVER YOUR LEADERSHIP VALUES

What Are Your Values?

Posted on by Byron Darden

Take time to define your values through self-reflection, a balanced perspective, self-confidence, and humility. When any one of these aspects is less than authentic and genuine, the whole of values-based leadership is not realized.

Here are some action steps you can consider.

  • Self-reflection – take time to reflect on recent actions. What was your motivation? Did it align with your values? A change in perspective can make a big difference.
  • Balanced perspective – look at actions from all points of view. Do you understand opposing sides and are able to spot the silver lining of each?
  • Self-confidence – surround yourself with others that complement your values and can help you evolve as a leader. Understand your strengths and growing edges to realize what more you have to learn.
  • Humility – keep yourself grounded. Having a fancy title attached to your name, which gives you authority, also means carrying the responsibility to engage with others effectively. Pompous behavior can work against you as a leader.

Leaders who know and are connected to their values tend to show up more committed to their work. They demonstrate a positive influence with a primary role as support to their teams.

EXAMINE YOUR VALUES