Rural Leader Magazine January 2016

January 2016

Don't go through life, grow through it!— Eric Butterworth

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Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMagazine.com Contributing Writers Helena Broderick Managing Consultant CollierBroderick Management Consultants Bill Burch President Morgan E. Cline Companies And Founder Commercial Resources, Inc. Chris Henderson Founder Leadership Connections Dr. Sylvia LaFair Author, Executive Coach, Leadership Expert, President Creative Energy Options, Inc. Dr. Harvey Robbins Author/Speaker/Educator Ed Sykes Author/Leadership Expert/Professional Speaker Burt Workman Executive Coach/Leader Development Specialist

Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine.

By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at editor@ ruralleadermagazine.com— 2

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Contents 4 Six Simple Ideas for Living Happier in 2016 6 Honoring the Legacy of Mentorship 8 How to prepare an outstanding presentation in 30 minutes or less 10 Accomplishments Reported for Common Community Vision 11 Simple Ways to Kick-Start a Financially Healthy 2016 14 Three Steps to Help You Erase Debt 15 What United and Captivated Americans in 2015?

16 Financial Resolutions: Are you Saving for Retirement?

17 Diversity and a Strong Tech Industry 18 Five things to leave

behind in the New Year 19 Leadership Techniques for Anyone: How Kermit Shared 5 Leadership Secrets with the world 20 Apostle Claudette Dixon Wilson: On A Global Mission for Christ 22 Leaving a Leadership Legacy 24 Collective Leadership and Dysfunctional Leadership Teams 26 Developing the Leader Within Yourself 28 How one man changed Rural America 31 Leadership Development and Times of Transition 32 How to Create a Personal Development Leadership Plan

Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com

Rural Leader Magazine, LLC 245 North Highland Avenue Northeast Suite #230-1010 Atlanta, Georgia 30307 info@ruralleadermagazine.com 1-866-293-1162 Fax 866-477-8873

Editor’s Note

Reader's Voice Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I like it and it inspire our small town people, I look forward to reading it.

Thanks to you.

—Dollie R. Cuthbert, GA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Dr. Murphy you are doing a great job as a leader...My hat goes off to you..

—Genett J. Cuthbert, GA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks for the article, Five ways creativity matters to

leaders. The article was timely and informative.

—Canton W. Norfolk, VA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks for another great issue!

—William S. Quincy, FL Dear Rural Leader Magazine, The 2015 Forty under 40 issue was phenomenoal!

Thanks so much for recognizing such deserving young folks —Vanessa C. Tellico Plains, TN

Dear Reader, Happy New Year! I am excited about 2016, and I hope that you are as well. This year, you can enjoy Rural Leader Magazine each month, and I am so ecstatic to present to you the first installment.

This issue focuses on personal development, which is such an important facet of not only leadership, but life. With each New Year, many establish goals and resolutions in hopes of self-gratification and goal achievement.

Inside this issue, we’ve put together various articles rich in content to help you live your best life in 2016. Discover six simple ideas for living happier (page 4). Learn how to jumpstart a financially healthy 2016 (page 11) and how to get out of debt (page 14). Also learn how to create your own personal development plan (page 32), how to leave a leadership legacy (page 22), and other leadership development techniques (page 26).

And learn about two phenomenal leaders from rural America: Morgan E. Cline (page 28) and Claudette D. Wilson (page 20). Discover how Cline made a lasting impact in his hometown and how Wilson is on a global mission for Christ. And much more!

Enjoy the issue and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn! P.S. Thanks again for making the Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People issue one of the most popular issues of 2015 with nearly 17,000 views nationally and abroad.

Regards,

Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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Six Simple Ideas for Living Happier in 2016

Saving money and staying fit are traditional New Year’s resolutions, but overly packed schedules and the materialistic focus of modern day life are inspiring a new goal for many people: to live happier in 2016 and beyond.

“To make 2016 the happiest year ever, think about how you rest, eat and move,” says Matt Johnson, health and performance expert and president of On Target Living. “I am a believer that mental health is directly related to physical health. For most of human existence we have viewed the mind - the head - different from the physical body of the neck down. New research is showing they have everything to do with each other. If you want optimal physical health, you need optimal mental health and happiness.

When people are happier they tend to improve all aspects of their life.”

Johnson offers six surprisingly simple, yet profoundly effective ways to boost mood and overall happiness in the new year: 1. Make sleep a priority Getting seven to eight hours of

sleep each night is critical for the body to produce hormones that trigger happiness, explains Johnson.

“I am a big fan of always going to bed with a positive attitude,” he says. “If you go to bed angry, worried or stressed, that tends to come back the next day. Do what you can before bed to reset your mood. Read, take a bath, exercise or talk face-to-face. Try to avoid screen time.”

2. Make more time for family “Over the last 20 years, family time has vanished. Sporting events, projects, work and technology have swallowed this time,” says Johnson. “As the author of the cookbook Target to Table, I think family face-to-face time is the most important part of a healthy family relationship and happiness.”

Johnson suggests planning family dinner two to three times a week. “When we start to eat dinner as a family in the home, our health and happiness will follow,” he notes.

3. Carve out whitespace Whitespace is time you dedicate to yourself to refresh, unplug and

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rejuvenate. This could be making time to do yoga, enjoy a hobby, read, meditate or take a bath.

“People who have hobbies and activities that give them balance tend to be happier,” Johnson says.

“If your hobby is texting, checking social media or watching TV, this will set you up for a feeling of emptiness. These things are fine in short periods, but too much will take away what life is giving us.”

4. Achieve work-life balance With the expanse of the Internet and mobile commuting, workers are now connected more than ever before. But this connectedness can get out of control when answering emails 24/7, so work-life balance is important for overall happiness.

“We all want to be successful, but with anything you need proper balance,” says Johnson. “If you look at professional athletes, the best ones try to find activities outside of their sport that help them stay hungry, engaged and excited.

Find things that help you create balance in your life.”

Johnson suggests: * Don’t check email after 8 p.m. * Go on a date night or family

night * Exercise at a time that fits your schedule * Walk during lunch * Schedule a massage once a month 5. Fuel happiness from within “I believe we have more behavior and mental health issues than we should, and a big part of this is the lack of proper nutrients,” says Johnson. “The most important nutrient when it comes to brain health and mood is omega-3s.”

America is one of the most deficient countries when it comes to omega-3s, with an estimated 91 percent of people not getting enough. “The way that I encourage people to get omega-3s is Nordic Naturals orange-flavored Arctic Cod Liver Oil - it tastes like an orange oil drop,” Johnson says. “Adding Nordic Naturals cod liver oil to your diet can be a game

changer for your mental health.”

6. Embrace gratitude Thinking of the things you are grateful for can have a dramatic effect on your satisfaction and overall happiness. Do this daily as you wake up or make it a conversation you have with your children right before bed.

“Telling yourself you are grateful for your health, family, friends, job and life gives you that pat on the back we all need,” Johnson says. “I also think we don’t tell people how much we appreciate them until they are gone. I encourage everyone to write a handwritten letter to one person each year who made a huge impact in their life. They may not know or maybe you don’t tell them often enough. My last letter was to my Mom. She is the glue in our family.”—BPT

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Honoring the Legacy of Mentorship

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rowing up in Florida, Whitney Stewart never thought at any point in her life she would climb a mountain. That changed when she was 13 and took a trip with her local Boys & Girls Club to Colorado. At first she thought the mountains were just there to look upon, but then one of her Club staff members informed her she would be climbing one of those mountains.

“I was thinking, I’m a Florida girl, I don’t do mountains,” Stewart recalls.

Hours later, she was at the summit where she recalls a staff member telling her, “Today you climbed a mountain, if you can do that you can do anything.”

“That was said to me at one of my lowest points,” Stewart notes, “and I really took that to heart.”

Through the direction given to her by her Boys & Girls Club mentors, Stewart became a leader in both her school and community. Currently enrolled as a freshman at University of Pennsylvania, Stewart was recently given the honor of being named Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2015-16 National Youth of the Year.

It’s hard to overestimate how much a mentor can impact a child’s life. Through guidance and a simple unwavering belief in young people, mentors can provide the guidance so many young people like Stewart need. In fact, a recent study showed that among Boys & Girls Clubs alumni, around two-thirds remember a specific staff member who made a positive impact on their lives.

With nearly 4 million school-aged kids in more

than 4,100 Clubs across the country, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s vision is that through providing a safe place for kids to go during out-of-school hours, all its members will graduate from high school with a plan for the future that is built on good character, citizenship, leadership skills, academic success and a healthy lifestyle.

Today, it is estimated that one in every 16 Americans is a Boys & Girls Clubs alum. This has created a network of successful community leaders and professionals in every field, from lawyers and doctors to engineers, artists and entrepreneurs.

In an effort to draw on the collective strength of this large network of alumni, Boys & Girls Clubs’ Alumni & Friends Club has been established in order to give former members an opportunity to reconnect, work together and give back to kids and families in need.

It is estimated that there are more than 11 million kids in the United States who have no place to go after school. These kids lack simple, yet important things like safety and the guidance a mentor can provide. In response, thousands of alumni have taken the opportunity to help make a change by joining the Alumni & Friends Club. The goal of this alumni network is to keep former members connected and give them a way to foster hope and opportunity in a new generation.

To join your fellow Club alumni, visit www.bgcalum.org and learn how you too can impact a kid’s life forever.—BPT

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How to Prepare an Outstanding Presentation In

Minutes Or Less

By Ed Sykes

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It's 2 p.m. and your manager walks up to you with that look on his face. He announces that the company president wants you to give a presentation to him concerning the high profile project you have been working on…and he wants the presentation to start in thirty minutes. Now you have a look on your face as if you had just seen a ghost.

No problem. The following are seven secrets to preparing an outstanding presentation when you have less than thirty minutes: 1. You Don't Need the Perfect Presentation Get started! Don't freeze expecting perfection. When you think you need to be perfect, this can lead to paralysis. Management realizes, because of the short time period, that you will not be perfect. The key is to work quickly, not frantically.

2. Start With an End in Mind Ask yourself, "What do I want to accomplish with my presentation?" Do you want to persuade, entertain, or move the audience to action? Once you have these answers, work to develop your presentation to achieve these goals.

3. It's About the Audience Ask the following questions: * "Who is my audience? * "What does the audience want?" * "What does the audience want to gain from the speech?" * "What is the level of expertise of the audience members?" Once you have the answers to these questions, you can tailor your speech to meet the audience's needs.

4. Keep It Simple Don't be overwhelmed with information overhaul. Keep your presentation clear and concise by focusing on three main points. This will save you time when collecting your backup information.

5. Make an Outline Create an outline of your speech. Depending on your own individual thought process, you may want to mind map, a freestyle way of putting ideas together, or outline. Outline your beginning, body with three points, and ending.

6. Start and End Strong Concentrate on knowing the beginning and ending of your presentation. Feel confident in giving the beginning of your presenta-

J a n u a r y

tion, and you will become more comfortable giving the rest of your speech. End on a strong note because your speech ending will be the last thing your audience will remember about your presentation.

7. Your Presentation Starts in the Mind Find five minutes before your presentation; go to a quiet place, if possible; and meditate. Think about the positive results of your presentation. Visualize your giving an outstanding presentation and how well the audience is receiving your speech.

Also find a mirror; hopefully, in a private area; and look into the mirror and say any of the following affirmations: * "This presentation is a great opportunity for me." * "Every opportunity to speak is an opportunity for success." * "I am a great speaker." * "The audience will enjoy my presentation." * "I have something of valuable to share with the audience." * "I appreciate this opportunity to make a presentation."

Note: Your affirmations become more powerful when you keep them short and keep them in the present state (Future state example: I will become a better speaker.).

Now that you have read these secrets, you have twenty-five minutes left. Remember, the speech will not break your career. However, being able to rise to the occasion and give an outstanding presentation can enhance your career, business, and life opportunities. Apply these seven secrets and you, too, will give an outstanding presentation in less than thirty minutes. – About the Author Ed Sykes is a highly sought after expert, author, professional speaker, and success coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, customer service, and team building. For more INFO, write to esykes@thesykesgrp.com or visit online at TheSykesgrp.com, or call (757) 427-7032.

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Accomplishments Reported For Common Community Vision In January 2014, the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization, the federally-designated regional transportation planning agency, adopted the Common Community Vision for Greater Lowndes County. For the second year the VLMPO has produced a Report of Accomplishments to highlight how local organizations are working towards a better community.

The Common Community Vision document outlines 18 aspirational goals for the community to achieve in 10 theme areas, including education, transportation, housing, healthcare and public safety.

In cooperation with other planning efforts by other local jurisdictions and agencies, the community can work together to achieve a Common Community Vision that helps us succeed in economic development and provide a high quality of life for our residents.

The Valdosta and Lowndes County region observed ample success and movement towards its vision and goals in 2015. The annual Report of Accomplishments highlights a few of these successes and ways that the community is working together to promote economic development and a high quality of life. Some of the highlights from this Report of Accomplishments include: Moody Transition Employer

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Workshops, Government Contractor Workshops, more than $27 million in private economic development investment, a new Urgent Care Center, VPD and Lake Park body camera upgrades, deliberation of zoning near Moody AFB, the new Valdosta Youth Council, VCS purchase of propane-powered school buses, Grassy Pond Recreation Area opening to the public, Georgia Grown Products and Agri-toursim Events highlighting the agricultural roots of the region, VLMPO adoption of the $1 billion 2040 Transportation Vision Plan, and many other accomplishments.

The full report can be viewed on the Southern Georgia Regional Commission Website at www.sgrc. us. Residents are encouraged to a take a few minutes to reflect on the successes of the past year in Valdosta and Lowndes County and the work our local partners are doing to achieve a Common Community Vision.

For more information about the Common Community Vision and transportation planning in Valdosta and Lowndes County, visit www.sgrc.us or call Corey Hull at 229-333-5277.—

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Simple Ways to Kick-Start a Financially Healthy 2016

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ou banked your holiday bonus and landed that raise you’ve been hoping for, but the post-holiday bills are coming. You may be wondering what more you can do to ensure you’re on the right track financially in 2016. Fortunately, you can do a lot right away to start the year off strong. * Reassess your budget; if you don’t have one, make one. A budget is an essential tool for planning how you will spend, save, invest and enjoy your money. It should be a guideline to how your money will work for you, but it’s not written in stone. Life changes, and outside influences mean you need to periodically examine and update your budget. Start by jotting down your financial goals for the year, then review your budget to see if it’s going to help you achieve those goals, or if you need to make adjustments. * Pay off holiday bills immediately, and if that’s not possible, then as quickly as you can. Each month you carry a balance on a credit card, interest rates increase the actual out-of-pocket cost of those holiday gifts you purchased. If possible, pay balances in full right away during the month of January. If that’s not possible, create a payment plan for yourself with the goal of paying off the total balance in as high an increment as you can afford, so you minimize the time you’re carrying a balance. * Maximize “found” money. Gift cards have been the most-requested holiday gift item for nine years running, according to the National Retail Federation, but not everyone uses all the cards they receive. In fact, a survey by Coinstar Exchange found 37 percent

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of people who received gift cards in 2014 still haven’t used all of them. If you have gift cards sitting around, they can be a great source of “found” money. Take your gift cards to a bright yellow Coinstar Exchange kiosk at your local grocery store and exchange them for instant cash. Put the extra money toward paying off holiday bills, boosting your emergency fund or for something you really want or need. Visit www. coinstar.com/coinstarexchangekioskfinder to find a Coinstar Exchange kiosk near you. * Review all your credit accounts. Even the most careful shopper can fall prey to crooks, who are particularly active and crafty during the holidays.

Look over your credit card statements to ensure you authorized all the charges that appear on them. For an extra layer of safety, check your credit report; it can help you detect signs of identity theft or other fraud as quickly as possible. * Increase your savings. By now, you’ve reviewed your budget and cashed in your unused gift cards, so you’ve got some extra money in your pocket. Instead of spending it, use that money to increase your savings. It’s especially important to have an emergency fund equivalent to a few months of living expenses.

Those savings can help protect your financial health against unforeseen circumstances like a big auto expense or home repair bill, or even job loss. While it’s always great to save more, setting aside even $10 a week can have a big impact on your financial future.

Many financial goals require long-term planning, but others can be done quickly and easily. These simple, do-it-now steps can yield instant gratification, and help ensure you get a good financial start in 2016.—BPT

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3 Steps to Help You

Providing for a family. Getting an education. Striving for the American dream. Sarah Thomas of Bono, AR, was like so many others, trying to better her life.

She got a master’s in nursing in order to give herself and her son a bright future, but soon after found herself overwhelmed by loans.

“I pursued an education and ended up with a ton of credit card debt,” says Thomas. “The American dream gone wrong.”

She’s not alone. The average U.S. household with debt carries $15,355 in credit card debt and $129,579 in total debt, according to nerdwallet.com. And the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike this month means that you will be paying even more interest on your debt; that 0.25 percent rate increase equates to $2 billion in extra fees for Americans next year. For people like Thomas, the weight of paying off high-interest loans can be overwhelming.

Thomas was able to consolidate her high-interest debt and take control of her finances. If you want to take control of your financial future and eliminate debt, these simple yet highly-effective strategies can make a big difference.

Step 1: Build a solid budget Use an online budgeting tool like Mint.com to organize your spending. Even if you aren’t able to stick to the budget you set every month, it’s important to know where your dollars are going so you can take action accordingly.

Step 2: Consider cost-cutting measures Can you switch to a cheaper phone plan? Could you cut cable? What about buying generic brands? These are important questions you can ask as you audit your expenses and take appropriate measures to trim

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unnecessary spending.

Step 3: Research debt consolidation options Marketplace lending, also called peer-to-peer lending, is an alternative to traditional loans through which borrowers get access to low, fixed rates (insulated from further rate increases by the Fed) with no hidden fees or prepayment penalties. The industry is growing rapidly, with one of the leading platforms, Prosper, surpassing $5 billion in loans this year.

For many, a debt consolidation loan helps simplify things. Instead of having multiple bills with varying high interest rates, you can take out a loan to pay off all your debt, and then simply repay the one loan at a lower fixed interest rate. For many people, having one payment versus many makes it much easier to feel like they are in control of their finances.

An added benefit is that rates are often lower than with a credit card. According to a WiseBread. com article, it’s important to begin the peer-to-peer lending process by getting a rate quote. Then you can do the math to determine how much money you can save consolidating your debt and paying it off at an accelerated pace.

Thomas decided to consolidate her debt through Prosper. She went to www.prosper.com and selected the loan’s amount and purpose. “It’s been the easiest, most streamlined process that I have ever had,” says Thomas. “I am so thankful that we now have an attainable way to pay off debt. That way we can be proud of our hard work rather than forever burdened by it.”

To learn more, check out Prosper’s blog at http:// blog.prosper.com.—BPT

What United and Captivated Americans in 2015?

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merica is made up of a patchwork of different opinions, voices and people who have come from every corner of the planet. From such diversity, politicians, historians and ordinary people often ask and debate the question: What unites the country?

While it’s unlikely such a big question will be answered soon, breakthrough techniques in data analysis are now able to reveal the issues and events that captivate and unite millions of Americans at any given time.

One way researchers do this is by looking at data from billions of anonymous searches conducted on Bing, Microsoft’s search engine. The resulting lists of searches, from top celebrities to the most impactful news stories, offer a snapshot of what grabbed America’s attention in the past year. These numbers give a unique perspective on the moments and people that shaped the year and made it memorable.

One of the most apparent trends in the Bing search results is that 2015 was a year in which strong and talented women were recognized as a prominent source of leadership and inspiration.

A year of embracing change and identity The chilling events of the Paris attacks, the heartbreaking images of refugees and the devastating earthquake in Nepal topped the list for most searched news stories.

Other top searches reveal Americans in 2015 were eager to confront these global tragedies with an attitude that embraced change and looked forward to a more open future.

This was evident in the list of most searched for celebrities. At the top of this list was Caitlyn (formerly Bruce) Jenner. After coming out as a transgender female, the former Olympian and TV reality star gave a powerful interview on 20/20, posed for a now iconic Vanity Fair cover and won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS. Jenner’s story inspired millions to find out more and learn about identity issues through online searches.

Second on the list was singer Miley Cyrus, which proves colorful antics and outfits are still attention-grabbing. Third was singer Taylor Swift, whose high profile grievance with Apple Music led her to becoming the youngest woman to make the Forbes Top 100 Most Powerful Women list.

Both Jenner and Swift took a stand that became a source of inspiration to millions, and showed celebrities can provide a showcase for social issues.

Sports Women not only dominated the Top Searched for People list, but Bing’s 2015 Most Searched Athletes list as well. There were twice as many women on the list in 2015 as there were in 2014, and in many areas, women took top honor in fields previously dominated by men. For example, Ronda Rousey, became the second most searched for athlete of 2015 following her high-profile UFC fight against Holly Holm. And in fact, their fight was the most searched UFC fight of the year, male or female.

Serena Williams, already a legend on the tennis court, triumphed not only at Wimbledon, GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2016 15

the French Open and the Australian Open, but completely dominated her male competition when it came to searches - with more searches than the top five male tennis players combined.

In addition to the top people and athletes that captivated the minds of America, there are many more lists and data that are sure to lead to thoughtful

conversations as the year comes to a close. Looking back at the billions of searches conducted on Bing this year reveals the powerful moments and the people that stood out above the rest to make 2015 memorable. The complete list of Bing search trends is available at BingTrends.com.—BPT

Financial resolutions: Are you saving for retirement?

The start of a new year is a great time to look forward with a fresh outlook, as well as to set goals. As you think about what you want to accomplish next year, consider your financial savings habits. How much are you putting away for the future? Could you begin to save for retirement, or increase how much you’re saving? What financial actions have you put off because of lack of time?

Setting financial savings goals can be overwhelming, which may be why 31 percent of Americans report having no retirement savings or pension, according to a recent Federal Reserve Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households. Putting together a plan can make saving for the future much more manageable. Whether you haven’t started saving or simply want to challenge yourself to save more, use the following tips to make 2016 the year you focus on preparing for retirement. * If you aren’t already saving, start now. You’re never too young - or too old - to begin saving for retirement. Whether you’ve just completed high school and are working your first job, or your career is nearly complete and retirement is in sight, determine how much you can save and which savings vehicle is right for you. If your employer offers a company-sponsored retirement plan, take advantage of the

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opportunity to save automatically via payroll deduction. If that’s not possible, consider opening a myRA account, the U.S. Treasury’s new retirement savings program for individuals who don’t have access to retirement savings plans at work. * Seek opportunities to save more. If you’re already saving, that’s a great start, but you can always save more! If you earn an annual bonus, a salary increase, or even a tax refund, consider depositing it in a retirement savings account. You can contribute up to $5,500 each year to a myRA, Roth IRA, or Traditional IRA account (or up to $6,500 if you’re age 50 or older). Keep in mind that the more you save early on, the more time that principal amount has to grow interest. For example, if you have a balance of $3,000 in a savings account that earns three percent interest, adding a lump sum of $1,000 at the beginning of the year will earn an extra $30 in interest over the next 12 months, and that amount will compound even more as the years go by. Note that in 2016, you can elect to deposit all or some of your tax refund in a myRA account. * Make a plan and follow it. Resolve to make a financial savings plan this year and review your progress regularly. As a starting point for your plan, Continued on page 33

Diversity and a Strong Tech Industry

Last year, a number of tech firms released reports on the demographic makeup of their employees and highlighted how diversity is severely lacking in the industry. Google indicated that 61 percent of its employees were white, 30 percent Asian, 4 percent identified as two or more races, 3 percent Hispanic, 2 percent black and 1 percent other. These numbers were fairly consistent among other prominent tech companies, including Apple, Facebook and Twitter.

When those same companies released progress reports this year, little to no gains were made.

In response, Twitter has teamed up with diversity organizations and colleges that serve minorities, and also encouraged in-house initiatives among employees. Apple has committed more than $50 million to diversity efforts. Despite such efforts, many feel that more needs to be done to cultivate diverse perspectives in the tech industry and to expand a pipeline of talent that better reflects society.

How can the country tackle such a problem? Many believe the next generation of technology leaders cannot emerge, let alone include children from diverse backgrounds, until children in K-12 classrooms receive earlier access to tech education.

To illustrate the urgency, consider how computer programming jobs are growing at twice the national average compared to other industries. This makes particularly troubling a recent finding by Code.org, a non-profit organization committed to expanding participation in computer science, that nine out of 10 high schools in the U.S. do not offer computer sci-

ence classes. What’s more alarming is that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020 1.4 million computer science jobs will be available nationally, but only 400,000 computer science students will be available to fill those roles.

With such numbers, the need to encourage children and adults from all backgrounds to pursue STEM fields and build careers in tech cannot be understated.

Because specialized training for many sectors in the technology field begins in college, the higher education sector is in a unique position to expand opportunity in underserved communities and increase the diversity of the workforce in the tech industry.

One institution that has spearheaded such efforts is University of Phoenix. Given the unique needs of the students - many of who are working adults - the University developed degree programs in Information Systems and Technology. These programs provide students with a wide range of technical and organizational skills, as well as an understanding of core business concepts that emphasizes how technology is the bridge that connects them with their future careers.

This is one example of how industry leaders across the public and private sectors are making a commitment to building diversity in the workforce and filling the important rolls that the tech industry needs to stay strong.—BPT

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5 Things to Leave Behind in the New Year It’s that time of year again, when you cast off those bad habits and recreate the new, better you. If you’re ready to recreate yourself and save a little money in 2016, here are five things you’re better off leaving behind in 2015.

1. A latte-a-day. Coffee, sodas, maybe that mid-morning snack - these small daily expenses may seem like a minimal hit to the bank account, but they can add up over time. To control spending, create a monthly budget for only these types of perks.

This way you know exactly how much you have to spend on those daily extras without going over your planned budget.

2. Your overpriced wireless contract. “Spend less money - save more,” was among the top six resolutions for respondents in 2015, according to Statista.

This year, don’t get oversold on paying for more than you need. Total Wireless is making wireless service simple again by offering plans that give you everything you need and nothing you don’t, now and into the New Year. For $35, Total Wireless gives you unlimited talk and text, plus 2.5 gigabytes of data for 30 days on America’s largest and most dependable network - all with no contract required.

3. A packed calendar. Don’t start your New Year off playing catch up because you’ve already overscheduled yourself. Instead, slow down and allow

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appropriate time to complete tasks. This way you don’t feel overworked and you have time to stop and smell the roses. Allow time for buffers and schedule that much needed vacation time!

4. Procrastination station. If you’re a procrastinator, tomorrow is a wonderful place where and when everything will magically happen. Don’t let this defense mechanism distract you from reaching your full potential. In 2016, get out and get ahead of tasks by doing a little at a time, rather than leaving it all until the last minute. You’ll be amazed how much you can accomplish when you make tomorrow, today.

5. Fear of the unknown. If you really want to recreate yourself and make the most of 2016, you can’t be afraid to take chances. Instead of worrying what will happen if you make a change, start worrying about what will happen if you don’t. Jump on new opportunities this year and you’ll find yourself smiling about the chances you did take instead of lamenting the ones you didn’t.

The new year brings new opportunities for you to grow in your professional and personal relationships.

Kick off 2016 with everything you need and nothing you don’t, and you’ll be on your way to making it your best year yet. —BPT

Leadership Techniques for Anyone: How Kermit Shared Five Leadership Secrets with the World

by Ed Sykes

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the funeral of my friend Kermit. A pleasure, you ask? Yes, a pleasure and a honor, because it was a great celebration of Kermit’s life and the passion and spirit he brought to living it. Usually, when I go to funerals, the spiritual leader (pastor, minister, rabbi, cleric, etc.) goes on and on about the deceased, a person he barely knows; and maybe one or two friends or associates might say something about the deceased.

Well, Kermit’s funeral was special. The pastor spoke briefly, a singer sang a hymn, and then the pastor asked for comments from the audience. That’s when the funeral became really special. After one and a half hours later, over forty people had gotten up and shared their positive experiences and what Kermit meant to them. People from their 20’s to well over 60-year-old people from different spiritual, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds stood up to make comments. People who served with him in the Navy (Kermit retired as a Commander) stood up and spoke about how Kermit changed their lives. There was story after story about how Kermit made the speakers overcome obstacles and made them believe they could do better, and did this with passion.

Some of them were as follows: 1. Past ballplayers talked about Kermit’s cowbell as a rallying cry at their ballgames.

2. A woman told of having a flat tire on a busy roadway and Kermit, whom she didn’t know at the time, stopped and helped her fix the tire; and then they became friends.

3. A businessperson talked about how Kermit volunteered his time to help him launch a business that is still going strong after ten years.

4. Give of Yourself Kermit always gave his time,

energy, and passion without “keeping score.” In return, the people he helped not only helped him, but went on to make a difference in other people’s lives.

Take the time to go the extra mile to see how you can help your employees, your team, and/or your organization without “keeping score.” Your employees will feel that you care, and then they will go to a new level of caring.

5. Share the Knowledge Kermit took the time to share his knowledge with others so that they become more successful. Whether it was coaching a sports team, helping a friend start a business, or sharing his experiences to get a person through a difficult time, Kermit took the time to share his knowledge with others. Because Kermit shared his knowledge, other people became more successful and they shared their knowledge with others so that they could be more successful. What special knowledge do you have that can help others succeed? Don’t hoard your knowledge, share it. By sharing your knowledge, you multiply yourself and become known as a developer of people. Your knowledge, once you share it, will live on after you are gone.

Apply these five leadership techniques and create success in your business, with your team, in your community, and your life. Just like Kermit, you will also see instant results. Thanks for sharing, Kermit, and making the world a better place. — About the Author Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and leading expert in the areas of leadership, motivation, presentation skills, customer service, and team building. Write to esykes@thesykesgrp.com or (757) 4277032. Visit online at TheSykesgrp.com, and signup for the free newsletter, OnPoint.

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2016 19

Apostle Claudette D. Wilson

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Courtesy Photo

Apostle Claudette Dixon Wilson On a Global Mission for Christ

L

eadership takes many forms and is not confined to business, government, and education.

Leadership is also the foundation of the faith community.

Claudette Dixon Wilson was born and raised in a two-parent home in a small town called Foley, Alabama-population approximately 15,000.

Claudette is one of eight siblings and grew up in the church. Her father was very instrumental in ensuring that she attended. This foundation allowed Claudette to learn the ways of God early.

“When I was extremely young, I recall having prophetic dreams and visions that were extremely vivid.

I remember sharing my experiences with others and often a short time later, those dreams would come to pass,” she said.

At the age of 20, the Lord began to pursue Claudette more aggressively. Her dreams and visions increased. However, like most young people, Claudette had other plans.

“I had a knowledge of God because I was reared in the church, but more interested in doing my own thing, like clubbing and hanging out with friends,” she said.

Sometime later, all that would change for Claudette when she attended a worship service in Pensacola, Florida. While there, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and began prophesying to the parishioners.

God confirmed Claudette’s prophetic gift, and she began to operate in the gift.

Shortly thereafter, she married and gave birth to a son Elijah in 1996.

Claudette began to utilize her prophetic gift. She and her then husband established a church in Foley, Alabama. With God’s anointing and Claudette’s leadership, the church flourished.

“People were receiving Christ and being set free.

Without realizing at the time I was operating in the apostolic. I found myself traveling more and reaching

out to ministries to help in various capacities. Wherever, God sent me, I’d go. God began to give me a global vision.”

Later, Claudette established her own church called International Eagle’s Fellowship, Inc (IEFI). She also began to minister the Gospel online live broadcast at Eternal Life TV. “In ministry is where I really began to thrive. God allowed me to use my gifts to help and to lead others to salvation. At International Eagles Fellowship our mission is to help support, build, and grow the Body of Christ for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…

My leadership philosophy encompasses two things: God and love. God must be first in all things and of course, we must not only love others but also self.

God ministered to me and gave me this phrase: ‘Loving who I am now while on my way to who I am becoming.’ It’s so important to love self through everything,” she said.”

There are also two organizations under IEFI's umbrella: H.U.S.H and CHAMP. H.U.S.H is an acronym that stands for “Help Under Strategic Help” and is a mentoring organization for women. CHAMP is also a mentoring organization for men. Both organizations serve ages 18-40.

Today, Claudette continues to push forward for Christ with her global ministry. December 5, 2015, she was formally confirmed as an apostle. Though the New Year had just begun, she has an impressive itinerary, including London, England, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Germany, and Ghana, South America.

“My primary goal for 2016 is to take the nations by storm with His grace and His Salvation to reach all mankind.”

Learn more about Wilson’s ministry on Periscope at Claudette Dixon @szx.—

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2016 21

Leaving A Leadership Legacy

By Dr. Harvey Robbins

T

ake a look at all the leaders who have left a positive legacy of organizational effectiveness, and what do you find. Breadth, depth, and talent. But what do they actually do? They develop themselves, they develop others, they develop big ideas, and they develop high performance cultures. They leave a legacy by leveraging their natural personality gifts to guide choices about acquiring skills and developing their organization’s culture. One in which people have clearly defined goals, continuous feedback, and career alignment all within a culture driven by the excitement of achievement and the vision of destiny.

After a combined 45 years of experience in the field of leadership development, my wife, Nancy, and I have concluded that much

of what is currently written about leadership is both confusing and misleading. It’s mostly descriptive, not prescriptive. First of all, leaders are being encouraged to think “outside the box;” attempting feats of magic and leaps of faith that go well beyond what most normal people can do (baring some major life-changing experience like a near death experience or getting married). They are told to think like Queen Elizabeth, Buddha, Attila, Zen, Tao, Jack, Al Jesus. As a result, people start popping their heads out of their comfort zones, start looking around, grasping at straws, and ignoring what’s under their noses. This is unreasonable, unnecessary, and contrary to human nature. Besides, thinking and acting are two different things.

Second, there are just too many leadership dimensions discussed

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(over 50) for any reasonable leader to master. Yet try they do. I’ve coached senior leaders responding to their organization’s leadership competency model trying to perfect all dimensions in the model.

It’s hogwash! To invest across the board in development can result at best in mediocrity on many fronts.

Average, no matter in how many arenas does not produce above average results.

Successful leaders don’t waste their time acquiring skills they don’t need. And since your brain is only so big and can only hold so much stuff, it becomes critical to optimize your capabilities.

You don’t need to master the 50 dimensions required to be the perfect leader, just those that you need to be successful right now.

Finally, not only are there too many leadership dimensions, but

the words and adjectives used to define leadership overlap to the point of creating confusion, both in literature and practice. A recent factor analysis performed on a 360 degree feedback instrument (a questionnaire with self, boss, peer and subordinate ratings) found only two major factors underlying the 50 leadership dimensions: “smart” and “nice.” The “smart” factor is action and thinking skills and the “nice” factor is people skills and character.

Becoming a legendary leader and creating a high performance culture is not that difficult if you are willing to follow a few rules.

1. Be outcome oriented.

2. Be feedback rich.

3. Create a balanced approach that gives people the motivation to move forward and a vision (and a pathway) to achieve success.

4. Know yourself.

5. Coach others.

6. Push for those ideas that will change the way you operate. – About the Author A world class speaker, author, and educator, Dr. Robbins focuses on transformational leadership by providing leadership skill training, team building / team leadership training, management development training, and executive coaching.

Randolph County Georgia Community-Wide BBQ

A Community-Wide BBQ will be held Saturday, March 26, 2016 at the Day Park in Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia. An informal mentoring group called, No Excuses will sponsor the inaugural event.

No Excuses is compose of several Randolph Clay High School Alumni, including Mario Mitchel ’06, Britney Johnson ’07, Frank James ’06, Eric Thomas,

Jr., ’06, and Rashad Brown, ’06. The event will be a fun-filled family event with activities for children, free food and drinks, music, live performances, and more!

If you or your organization would like to sponsor the event or volunteer, please contact Mario Mitchell at 229-310-0237 or write to mmitchell.noexcuses@ gmail.com.—

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2016 23

Collective Leadership and Dysfunctional Leadership Teams

I

n my experience most leadership team members spend a day a month meeting together and the other 29 days complaining about what a waste of time it was and how they aren’t talking about the ‘real issues’.

Almost everyone I say that to cracks a wry smile. We’ve all seen it. Most of us have suffered the effects of it. Many of us have even been part of it. It seems to me that most organizations seem to survive in spite of the fact that their leaders don’t work effectively together – and yet few organizations

By Chris Henderson

are actually doing much about it!

But, before we get too smug, aren’t we all members of ‘leadership teams’? Whether it’s the team that heads our part of the organization, things we’re involved in outside work or being part of the team that runs our household and family - we all have leadership roles which we share with others. I call this kind of leadership Collective Leadership and I think it is a vital area that is little written or spoken about.

Levels of leadership Essentially, collective leadership

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is where we need to lead together to achieve things that we cannot do alone. It has been said that ‘nothing very significant in life can be achieved alone’ and it is easy to agree. Collective leadership, however, challenges our ideas of leadership. Generally, when we talk about leadership we are talking about an Individual with some sort of positional power or authority whose role is to set direction first and then mobilize people towards it second. This model is increasingly flawed in the modern world. However senior

we get, we keep discovering that we don’t have direct or complete authority over the people we need to influence to accomplish things. Even where we do, our ability to exercise that authority is significantly diluted by the agendas of others and their ability to find creative ways to achieve their ends whilst doing the minimum possible to help us meet ours.

So why is it so hard to make leadership teams work? The core of the problem is in the division of responsibilities. Ever since Henry Ford invented the production line, we have been ever more keen to divide up work and give people individual accountability for elements of it. The big advantage of this is that each person can focus and specialize on their part of the jigsaw and, over the years, we have become more and more creative at ways of reinforcing that focus through measurement, performance management and reward of all kinds. The challenge that this brings is that when groups with different responsibilities come together they become representatives for their agendas rather than members of a collective team. This in turn leads to meeting agendas that are typically full of items from each department seeking the support of the heads of other departments. In this way the leadership team’s time together becomes crowded with decisions on marketing or operations or HR etc. Limited time means that, as a result, the big issues like strategy, customer service, processes, people and leadership are either not discussed at all or don’t get enough time. Because they affect everyone they can only be progressed by the leadership team working together so they tend to remain unresolved as running sores. These in turn create a series of problems and symptoms in Marketing and HR and Operations that require top team agenda time.

So what can we do to get our team working? The first thing to do is to clarify what the big, collective issues are. My experience is that there is rarely a consensus on this and the way to begin is to talk to each member of the team to find out their views

before presenting a consolidated view back to the team for discussion and agreement. Once this is clear and agreed, meeting agendas can be changed to reflect these priorities. This will involve some debate and creative thinking about where the decisions that the team were previously making should be dealt with. The team is likely initially to need help to work together in new ways. Typically these will be more ambiguous than the tactical content that dominated previously and will require new ways of preparing, discussing and listening in order to make progress.

It is also common for there to be relationship issues which need to be addressed (see ‘Have you ever wondered why… leadership team members don’t seem to get on the website or in this newsletter.)

Can we do it alone or do we need help? In my experience few teams are able to make this shift alone.

A combination of busy agendas, tricky relationships and force of habit mean that it is very helpful to have someone else help to identify and consolidate the issues, manage the changing agenda and support the team through the change. The right person will be able to engage with the big organizational issues and will also be skilled with people.

If you need support or ideas for your leadership team, then the best way to begin is with a conversation. We don’t believe in a ‘hard sell’ and often find that people get value out of the exploratory discussion - whether or not we go on to work together.

There is more about this on the Team Coaching page.

Good luck with your (collective) leadership challenges.— About the Author Chris Henderson is the principal and founder of Leadership Connections. He has experience in a wide range of leadership and management areas, including leadership coaching, team development and leadership development. Chris can be contacted at LeadershipConnections.co.uk.

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2016 25

Developing the Leader Within Yourself

By Burt Workman

Traditional theorists would settle on the fact that leaders are born and cannot be made. But with modern theorists, there is a change in this theory. Leaders are not born, leaders are made. So no matter where you are in life or who you are, there is a leader within you whose skills you can trigger to your own benefit to influence and guide people who might need help.

But it’s not easy to learn to lead people. You have to tap into those skills and that takes time. Moreover, you have to keep learning about leadership development if you want to be an excellent leader that people actually turn to. There are many circumstances and situations which might push people to take up leadership roles and then demonstrate their praise worthy skills. At other times, there will be a need to take part in leadership development training in order to enhance the skills you already have and then use it to your benefit.

We will be giving you a few tips about how you can train for leadership development on your own.

Of course these tips will not be sufficient within themselves and you will need extra help, but they will be a good start for anyone.

When we talk about a leader, we need to understand that a leader will guide and influence his / her followers. And how exactly will a leader guide?

Through communication is the answer. So the leadership development in communication has to be

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your top priority. Learn about the effects of verbal and non-verbal communication, so that you understand the importance. Try to keep people well-informed and urge them to contribute because you can only be a leader if you have followers. Now people are motivated by the thought of contribution and not being merely told what to do. So you have to keep everyone at the same wave-length.

Leadership development should also focus on making yourself more self-confident. If you aren’t confident in your own capabilities and you don’t feel sure about yourself, don’t think anyone else will want to trust you either. So building up on that confidence inside you is really very important. You have to try walking and talking confidently. Interact with people, so that you develop more social links and interpersonal skills. If you aren’t sure, there’s no harm in asking, because that not only refines your decision but makes others feel like they can trust you as well.

When we talk about leadership, we must understand that a good leader is one who gives recognition to his / her followers for the efforts they have put in to achieve success. If the results are not desirable, a leader disciplines and guides. So that objectives can be reached in a better manner without any problems.

This is important not only for the leader to develop a following for him, but has a huge role to play in the followers’ motivation as well.

A good leader must also learn about change management. Change is the only thing that is constant.

Hence leadership development focuses on training people about how to accept change and how to promote it amongst the followers. A leader who is hostile towards change is unlikely to be successful in the long run. Adaptability and flexibility are something that every leader should develop themselves, if they want to be successful.

In order to brush up on the leadership development skills, one should try to challenge himself in

everyday situations. You won’t be able to develop these skills overnight, but you will be able to learn something every single day. Your effort along with some formal training in leadership development can take you a long way. — About the Author Burt Workman is a leadership development specialist and executive coach. For more information, visit http://www.smartmovesinc.com/

Sow. Reap.

Plant.

Harvest.

Invest.

Collect.

Now. Later.

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2016 27

How One Man Changed Rural America

By Bill Burch

Morgan E. Cline Courtesy Photo

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R

ural communities are drowning. Children are leaving never to return. Their historical town squares are falling in and burning only to be replaced with gravel parking lots. A majority of those with great ability and opportunity chase opportunity. Opportunity they don’t see in their rural hometown community.

Centerville, Iowa was no different. What happened? Due to the marketing efforts made on behalf of our multiple businesses I’ve received more attention in regard to our community’s turn around than I deserve. Let me share the real reason Centerville, Iowa and Appanoose County are turning around.

First there was a lot of groundwork by multiple small groups of people at different times. The foundation was set by a truly entrepreneurial group a half century ago. They did what it took to capture a federal project now known as Rathbun Lake. When the lake went in the torch was handed off and for 30 years a small group worked on the establishment of a resort on Rathbun Lake. Honey Creek Resort on Rathbun opened in 2009.

There was also a group who pioneered the town square restoration project on what is Iowa’s and possibly the country’s largest county seat town square.

There are many other groups who played their part.

It is interesting to me to notice how most things of true value were organized by small gorilla like ad hoc groups who, with an entrepreneurial spirit, saw a need and went after it.

All these things happened in Centerville and Appanoose County to create a foundation for something unprecedented and unheard of. This is where the attention needs to be directed.

In 1996 a local boy who was born in Appanoose County 64 years earlier took an interest in his home community. Those great leaders who truly impact the world for decades, if not centuries, all do things the same way. But the way they do things is often exactly opposite of how the rest of the world, including rural communities like ours, do things. What is it that they do? They inspire. They first know the heart of why, then they work on the how of their dream and then the what of the details.

Most the rest of us start with what then how and finally why. That is another story altogether. In Appanoose County our world changed in 1996. We just didn’t know it was changing yet. It was that year when that local boy took an interest and slowly started to unleash his attention on an unsuspecting and tired rural town. Now it is 15 years later. Our world has certainly changed. This is a short story about

how entrepreneurship, voluntarism and philanthropy combined to start a fire of success in the deepest of rural areas in our United States. It was the last graduating class in a dying coal mining town in Exline, Iowa. The 16 year old valedictorian of the class came from a famously poor family. Picture a child in nothing but shorts, bareback on a pony, carrying a cane pole headed to the pond to fish and you have an accurate picture of this young man. This same boy, in the bitter cold of a pre-dawn winter morning, while milking the family cow thought to himself, “I’ve got to do something to get out of this. I don’t want this life.” Did he ever.

Now it is 1996 and this barefoot, pole fishing, cow milking kid had become one of America’s elite. Most don’t know his name but people around the world know his work. Zig Ziglar is famous for saying you will get what you want if you help enough other people get what they want. So it was in this story.

Think about the people that know about and want such things as Ben Gay, Unisom, Lipitor and most famously, Viagra and you know his work. This rough shod country boy went on to found what is now arguably the world’s largest pharmaceutical advertising agency. Now he was sharing not only his wealth but his knowledge with his rural community. That is where I came in.

The character we’re discussing is Morgan Cline and now it is 1997 and he is ready to open his first business venture in Centerville. Originally built in 1866 and rebuilt after a fire in 1892 The Continental had been restored to its original grandeur. The opening was approaching and the business was in need of a manager. I was that manager and by accepting that position I unwittingly climbed into the most thrilling roller coaster of a ride. And much like a roller coaster a great deal of attention gets paid to the person riding it but people lose track of those that invented, invested, and operated the ride in the first place.

Ultimately the mission was to save two towns – Centerville and Exline - and in turn, help the entire county wide community. We’ll talk more about this in other places but for now it is important that everyone recognize the true horsepower behind Centerville’s, Exline’s, and Appanoose County’s turn around…Morgan Cline.

As you would expect there are those who don’t understand and could even be described as resenting the effort. They are a common statistic. There is also the large group who fit somewhere in an area that we might call “bewildered but appreciative”. Finally there is another small group likely the same size as the resentful backward group. This last group would

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be made up of those with the vision and wisdom to recognize and partner in Mr. Cline’s dream and with the willingness to help it happen. Almost every one of the nearly 30 projects Mr. Cline is responsible for had a local leader or leadership group attached to it.

Cline provided vision and the money. The locals provided the additional ingredients that made it happen.

Cline was the Chef with the base ingredients, the rest of us happily play the role of seasoning. He has been the flour and chocolate chips we’ve been the baking soda and vanilla.

While there are many stories to be had from this, the mission here is to revisit the real reason for a community’s rebirth. Yes committees, organizations and individuals over decades of time have had immeasurable impact on the community but no single person has had the impact of Morgan Cline.

I may get a great deal of attention but it is his work, his interest and his giving that is at the heart of it all.

I’m lucky. Morgan Cline is generous, interested and committed.

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How does this relate to you? It could be you. To most, what has happened to my home community seems like luck, magic or a combination of the two.

The secrets that make what you see seem like magic are only camouflaged. They are there. I can guarantee that every community has what it takes. What I can’t guarantee is if your community has the heart or the level of “want to”.

Appanoose County is seeing the tide turn. More college graduates are returning home. More alumni are returning home to spend retirement with friends.

More people who have never been here before are retiring here from other parts of the country. This is just the beginning for us.— About the Author Bill Burch is the President of Morgan E. Cline Companies and the founder of Commercial Resources, Inc. More information can be found at http:// www.morgancline.com; http://www.gocenterville. com; and http://www.commercialresources.com/?

Leadership Development and Times of Transition

By Dr. Sylvia LaFair

L

ast week as I went through airport security, waiting for my husband who was getting the grand pat down for the zillionth time since his hip replacement operation eighteen months ago, I was musing about how we normalize the

abnormal.

Going through security, checking for vials or sharp objects, or whatever, is now a common way of life.

Does anyone remember when we could actually greet someone right at the airplane gate? Yup, just walk right in and be there to give a hug as soon as they left the plane.

Ah, those were the good old days. No more. The big question for leaders today is how do we help ourselves and our employees survive and prosper in the constant chaotic environment that is called the modern day world? This time calls for leaders who know how to surf. Okay, not ready for the big waves in Maui? For land-lovers the metaphor is really

enough. So, everyone ready for surfing?

Here is what you need to remember: If you fall behind the wave of change, or if you misjudge it, you sink. No exhilarating ride on the crest of the wave, just lots of salt water in nose and mouth.

Okay, start again. Think smart. Now you sense the direction of the wave of change and move to get ahead of it. Ooops, that may hurt as you struggle to come up for air, followed by the onslaught of water that was right at your back.

The present combination of economic factors that keep much of the population unemployed, as well as the excessive degree of polarization around ethical and religious issues makes us a house divided, morning, noon, and night.

Leaders, listen. We did not come through so many great achievements in society by only focusing on negative conditions, but rather from an entrepreneurial response to a vision of what is yet possible.

Leaders, we need you to speak up and speak

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loudly. The old view emphasized separateness, “stuff ”, and competition as the ways of the world. What if work once again became a place where there would be fulfillment and growth? What if leaders required that their companies promote integrity, creativity, trust and cooperation and develop ways to encourage and compensate those who want to be part of a larger experiment that one for self-aggrandizement?

Leaders, we need you to ask open-ended questions and listen to employees’ responses. You will find that past the fear of “it’s all about me, it’s all about survival” people want the feeling of belonging, of being useful.

Leaders we need you to rethink priorities. Helping your employees become self-aware is one of the best bonuses you can give, more vital than extra money.

In “Don’t Bring it to Work” there is an outline of what you can do to find the way OUT of disturbing and disappointing relationships at work and at home.

It is the old, ingrained behavior patterns that keep us stuck in the past, with outmoded beliefs of what makes the world go round. This century is the time to say NO to the small, childish world of polarities, of good/bad; right/wrong; yes/no.

Leaders, we need you to teach leadership to your

entire company. It is not just a function of the person “on top”. Thinking about the whole system, leadership can be contributed from anywhere in the organization.

If enough leaders begin to envision work as a place for self-development, growth, and productivity honoring the whole human being, not just the “ka-ching” part of the person, well, miracles can happen. The challenge is developing the willingness to change, to let go of the familiar and experiment with dialogue in your offices, to listen to all levels of employees and get support and guidance.

No, we can’t go back to what many of us see as a simpler time. We can, however, help create the future rather than be at the effect of changes that denigrate the dignity of the human spirit. It’s about you, it’s about me, it’s about time! — About the Author Dr. Sylvia Lafair, Author, Leadership Educator, Executive Coach for over 30 years is an authority on leadership and workplace relationships. She is President of Creative Energy Options, Inc. For more information visit CEOoptions.com and SylviaLafair. com.

How to Create a Personal Leadership Development Plan

By Helena Broderick

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M

any people think that management and leadership go hand in hand automatically. But just because you are a manager does not mean that you are a leader. Many management techniques are being thrown out the window in favor of leadership skills. But making the transition between manager and leader can be difficult for some.

The best way to become an effective leader is by creating a personal leadership development plan.

The first thing that you need to do to create a personal leadership development plan is to understand the difference between management and leadership.

While some do not see the difference, others cannot explain it. Quite simply, management is something that you do. It is a career. Leadership is having strength and courage in your convictions, and the ability to see those convictions manifest in reality.

So what are your convictions? You may think that you know what you believe in, but it is important to take a step back and actually list your beliefs and values. There are many assessments available that can help you do this. This important step in creating a personal leadership development plan will likely teach you things about yourself that you yourself did not realize were true. It may seem like a waste of time, but until you know what your convictions are, you cannot manifest them in reality through effective leadership.

Once you have a clear understanding of your convictions, you need to apply them to your organization. Do not look at numbers and people. Look at the overall purpose and mission of the company. Then, narrow your view to your team, and finally yourself.

If you do not see your values and beliefs reflected in your actions, the actions of your team, and the actions of the company, then your work is cut out for you.

When creating your personal leadership development plan, first outline your beliefs, ethics, and values. Then, outline the ways that those beliefs, ethics, and values show in your actions within the organization. Are there ways that you need to improve? What support does your team need to obtain personal and organizational success that you have failed to give them? After all, their success is your success. Write down all of your thoughts and ideas for manifesting your convictions in the reality of your team and organization. This is the bare bones of your personal leadership development plan.

Next, do your homework. Talk to your employees, team members, customers, and suppliers to learn what more you can do or be that will assist you in manifesting your convictions and your personal leadership development plan. Sit back and listen to the ideas and feelings of others. This is the only way that you can learn from other perspectives what is needed for organizational or team success. Until you are aware of the changes that need to be made, you will not be able to make any changes for the common good of the organization and your employees.

Remember that while you may be able to affect change in your own small part of the world, the organization as a whole may not reflect your convictions any time soon. Change within large corporations is either very slow or nonexistent. Watch for signs that your personal leadership development plan is making a difference in your immediate environment.— About the Author Helena Broderick is Managing Consultant at CollierBroderick Management Consultants. For more information, visit CollierBroderick.com.

Your largest fear carries your greatest GROWTH.

Saving for Retirement, cont'd from page 17 consider meeting with a financial planner, or take advantage of free planning resources at mymoney.gov or other reputable personal finance websites. You can use the retirement savings calculator on myRA.gov to estimate how much your savings may grow over the course of five, 10, or 15 years or more based on the amount you contribute each month. By setting up regular, automatic savings from your bank account or paycheck into a myRA account, this is a New Year’s resolution you can make now and watch your savings grow throughout the year.

There are many options for saving for retirement and managing your finances. As you make your savings resolutions for 2016, do some research and determine which type of account or plan works best for you. With the New Year upon us, now is a great time to start or renew your savings habit. Visit myRA.gov for more information on how to get started.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2016 33

A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.

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