New Blog Spot for FLIP Leadership

New Blog Spot for FLIP Leadership can be found at http://flipleadership.blogspot.com/ 

We look forward to exchanging insights and ideas about developing the elements known to be essential in preparing our kids to lead their own lives well.  

When parents and educators leverage the compelling findings of thousands of evidence based research studies on developing leadership and innovation, we prepare our kids to live successful lives filled with meaning and joy. It's more fun, engaging and meaningful.  The leadership path gets to happy. And healthy.  And fulfilling their potential. That's what we all want for our kids. 

Leadership Development Talk in Newport Beach

I am excited to be returning to CdM High School in Newport Beach for the second in the Workshop Series on Leadership Development for students and parents. We achieved our objectives in the first session - understanding how leadership can provide a strengths based edge for success - and how important it is to step back so our kids can step up as authentic and capable young leaders.

We'll continue the work in the second session as students begin to apply what they're learning about themselves as leaders. The students will complete their strengths assessment using Gallup's StrenghtQuest book and on line assessment (Thanks to Gallup for their support of the program). And parents are encouraged to complete their assessment using Gallup's StrengthFinder 2.0 book and on line assessment.

The Parent Session is open to the CdM community and will be held at 8:15 on Friday morning 4/23 in the campus library. The student session is limited for now - and will likely be expanded in the future as we marshal the resources necessary to support this important work.. Come if you can!

If you'd like to learn more about scheduling a program in your community or workplace, take a look at the BR2FR.Com website and/or contact me at laurie@br2fr.com.

Public Seminar in Danville April 15: The Leadership Edge

I will be in Danville this week to present The Leadership Edge: Preparing Our Kids for Success. On April 15 at 7:30, The American Association of University Women is sponsoring the talk at the Shadow Hills Cabana (1001 El Capitan Drive). A focus on leadership and strengths gives kids an edge to compete effectively while sidestepping the high stakes, high pressure culture. It's open to the public - so come if you can!

PLAY CATCH!

Catch your kids demonstrating every day leadership - and share it with us!

At every age, kids are discovering, developing and trying out their leadership skills - which include actions such as taking initiative, communicating effectively, and creatively approaching/solving problems. Our kids will be called on to use all of these skills when they get to college & the work force in order to create meaningful success in their lives.

When parents, teachers, coaches, instructors notice and comment, it serves as THE MOST POWERFUL tool to enhance and shape their leadership skills. Positive reniforncement. It's a fundamental best practice approach everywhere - at work, at home, in school, and in the community.

When we don't notice, or worse, when we interfere and take over, we stifle leadership development, increase dependency and retard initiative. Comprehensive studies* in companies across the country find significant deficiencies in leadership, communication, and initiative. So in addition to looking at our kids leadership skills - we must also take a look at our own! We need to catch ourselves BEFORE we interfere, before we micromanage, before we do something - anything - for our kids that they can do for themselves. Because when we do... what they get is that we don't think they're capable. And that ...kills...confidence and initiative. Rather than rob them of leadership development experiences, let them do it themselves. Even when they make mistakes. Or aren't perfect. It's harder for us - and often for them, but it is absolutely critical. And the sense of accomplishment and acknowledgement they feel when they get it (mostly) right is invaluable. Leading by example - modeling great leadership - is powerful.


Play catch with your kids and (with yourself) - and let us know what you find!

*www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/FINAL_REPORT_PDF09-29-06.pdf -

The Case for Creativity: Video Link

Both Reward and Punishment Kill Initiative

The question most often asked at the Board Room to Family Room workshop, The Power Within: Inspire Your Teen is "Which is better, punishment or reward? I can't get my kids to do anything without telling them 10 times - even when I reward/punish them - it drives me crazy!"

The answer, which is evident when you look at the dismal outcome, is neither.

Both punishment and reward kill initiative, self direction and drive because... they are both external controls. We all want our kids to show initiative - and we'll do whatever it takes to let them know it: take away privileges, pile on privileges, direct, berate, and lecture. But as becomes clear, these techniques have a diminishing effect over time at best, and the opposite effect at worst.

What does work? In the office, we know that employees of managers who create an environment where employees understand the short and long term goals, where they feel empowered and in possession of the necessary skills to complete their job, are three times more likely to report an excellent quality of life and are six times more likely to be engaged in their jobs as measured by increased productivity, profitability and retention. (Marcus Buckingham, Now Discover Your Strengths).

So how does that translate at home? Parents who effectively develop, model and teach leadership skills to create a shared, age appropriate perspective of the future, and who teach the necessary skills, can empower their kids to act with initiative and self direction: to do the job for the intrinsic reward of contributing something of value on their way to the future they believe in. When we think of our kids as management trainees who will one day be doing our job rather than entry level employees requiring continuous instructions, we can change the fundamental dynamics of our families for the better.

Find out how to use 5 best practice leadership principles create an environment at home where kids can feel empowered at http://br2fr.com/

Leadership Principles That Work At Home

JOIN THE MOVEMENT to EMPOWER & INSPIRE the NEXT GENERATION
Meaning and joy are as essential to success as the sustainablility of people - which is as critical as the sustainablily of our planet . Character, Health, Independence , Connection, Creativity, Enthusiasm and Achievement are all critical elements of success.

A Leadership Approach:

As good parents of good families, the challenges we face are unfolding exponentially. We look to be in pretty good shape - especially in the early years. But with escalating competition, expectations (and attitudes), we can find ourselves increasingly off balance, perplexed as to how to proceed. Often it seems that the more effort we put in, the worse it becomes: family dynamics are strained, stress is up, preparedness - for both school and work - is down*. And now experts have identified our efforts as contributing to the growing problem: interfering, entitling, micro managing, over scheduling. But what else can we do when the risk of being ordinary, left out, or left behind is so high? Creativity, leadership, initiative, and communication skills - all are now known to be essential in providing the edge our kids need to succeed. But all have been shown to be increasingly lacking*. What can we do? Is there a way to take our families from good to great? Yes: the Board Room to Family Room leadership approach. See br2fr.com for more information.

About Me

As a Mom with an MBA and 20 years experience in executive strategy and leadership, I have identified striking similarities between exceptional businesses and exceptional families. I now work to translate best practice leadership principles to support families in creating an environment where everyone - parents and kids - can be their best as they attain success, meaning and joy. When we think of ourselves as leaders and our kids as management trainees who will one day be doing our job, the dynamics of our interactions become more about empowerment than in we parents being in control of our kids forever. When we use a leadership approach, we put ourselves in a position to take our families from good to great, while giving our kids the edge they need to find their own path to success. In addition to Board Room to Family Room work, I serve as an adviser to STANFORD University’s new national campaign for the well being of youth, CHALLENGE SUCCESS: Championing a Broader Vision of Success for Youth, created by Denise Pope, professor in the School of Education at Stanford, and Madeline Levine, author of The Price of Privilege.