The 1 Leadership Skill You're Likely Skipping

I recently received the inspiration to write a brief note to you, a couple of times a month, about a Lead, Live & Love Richly™ principle that I’ve developed and am focusing on with my clients as well as integrating into my day-to-day life.

My intention is for these notes to come from my heart, with the commitment of leaving you feeling touched, moved and inspired. And as a result, help support you in creating breakthroughs in your conversations, relationships, and results with the people you lead at work AND in life.

To me, the exciting aspect about leading with impact AND creating rich experiences is the opportunity to undergo deep personal transformation at a core level as a leader and become a powerful catalyst for transforming the people we lead - and ultimately our communities at work and at home.

Leading, Living and Loving Richly™ is about creating rich experiences and time for ourselves, the people we lead and our loved ones.  In essence, it’s about the lives we touch, the people we impact and the memories we leave behind.

I have a special memory as a 15-year-old making invitations to my two girlfriends to attend a tea party. We spent a good deal of the summer scouring thrift stores to find the perfect period dresses, shoes and parasols (yes, summer umbrellas!). I still remember the distinct smell of “The Second Hand Rose” thrift store in Joplin Missouri. We marveled and delighted at each treasure we found to add to our apparel and picnic supplies.

When the much-anticipated day arrived, my sister dropped us off on the outskirts of the nearby woods. The early morning dew was still captured on the grasses and flowers. There was mist circling lightly in the woods and above the gurgling stream. We laughed, danced and giggled as girls do. We delighted in our picnic banquet. Afterwards we ran across a beautiful meadow dappled with daisies. We talked, laughed and shared our secret wishes and dreams. We called our special place, “Apple of Amber Willow Waves.”

I will never, ever forget that magical moment. It is forever sealed in my mind. As leaders, we too have the ability to create meaningful moments and rich experiences with the people we lead and serve.

How many people will I truly see today and connect with, and give them my heart and my authentic self? Or will I simply treat each person as a transaction and an obstacle to my next item on my never-ending to-do list. Am I going to show up and allow my true self to engage and interact with them?

I encourage you – no, I take that back, I CHALLENGE you to Lead, Live and Love Richly today. And create a simple, rich meaningful experience with another – at work and in life.

If this opportunity/challenge resonates with you, respond to my post below, or send me a quick, private personal email and let me know about it.

Every moment is an opportunity to create a rich experience that makes a difference and impact. I believe deeply to my core that, when all is said and done, and we’ve come to the end of our lives, what truly matters most and what we’re left with – is the lives we’ve touched and the memories we’ve created.

Here’s to you, Leading, Living and Loving Richly!

Your partner in leading with impact, Leslie