The  NEW  Leader's Edge  - Bringing it all Together 
The Leader's Edge - February 2016
        Happy Groundhog's Day!

        I don't know about you, but I'm counting on Punxsutawney Phil  this year!  After all the snow we have had in Virginia, I am sure hoping that little guy doesn't see his shadow!  

        However, Phil also reminds me that even when we just want to stay in, keep warm and wait for better conditions, it's important as people, as leaders, and as organization to stick our head out of our holes and engage with our communities.  Part of being a great leader or a great organization is working to build our communities, both internally and externally, and leading them in the direction of our common values.  

        While the sharing of your time for a greater purpose is most certainly personally rewarding, is also an important part of your leadership development.   It is through each leader's efforts that an organization's culture (collective shared values) is shaped.  What are you doing in your community (internal or external) to inspire others to live into your shared values?   

        Volunteering in your community also gives you a broader range of opportunities to flex your leadership muscles and take that learning back to the office.  When was the lat time you took the opportunities to grace others in your community with your experience, expertise, or simply time and a paint brush?  

        Certainly, "no man is an island unto himself..." and in the words of an inspiring leader, John Quincy Adams:     "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." 

        Thus our Leadership Maturity Competency theme for the month of February is Community Focus.  We hope you'll enjoy exploring the impact that building your internal communities to strengthen your organization's culture, or volunteering your time or expertise can have on you and your teams in our weekly Self Coaching series.   Keep reading to get started!
        February Leadership Maturity Theme: Community Focus
        Not familiar with our Leadership Maturity Model? Well, it's at the core of everything we do. Depending on whether you or your team member is entry level, new to your organization, or a senior level executive, there are core competencies that are necessary for successful progression on the Leadership Climb.  These leadership competencies, defined by our team of seasoned leaders and coaches in the MSBCOACH Leadership Maturity Model, help to create the backbone of the way we coach and train the leaders we work with everyday.   Learn more here...
        Community Focus
        The second competency that we are going to explore is in the Summit Approach level. This means it is a fairly advanced competency on the Leadership Climb.  However, we believe that while the more experienced leaders in an organization will have mastered these skills and characteristics, leaders of all levels will be working on developing them on their own leadership journey.   

        Leaders with Community Focus share their time, energy and expertise to support their Internal Community (culture), build their personal and organization's External Community Awareness  and build External Integrity.
        Community Focus Whitepaper Highlight:

        As we develop and strengthen the leadership in our organizations, as well as our personal leadership development, we should be sure to include time and planning for “community focus.”  ...  Caretaking for your community can also contribute to your overall wellness and help you to develop as a confident professional.



        Community Focus Blog Highlight:
        I hear many people (including myself) talk about how they want to make a difference, and I believe most of us are genuine when we make this statement; however, wanting to make a difference and making a difference are completely "different" things.
        ANSWERING THE WHY?
        Community Focus Webinar Highlight

        As leaders we are pretty good at the “what and how” of our business.

        When was the last time talked about “why”? Lots of really good organizations know what they do and how they do it. But great organizations know why they do it.  It could be key to building your corporate culture.

        View the Webinar Here
        To explore more of our resources on Community Focus, click here.
          Upcoming Webinar Event:   Executive Presence: Cracking the Code
        exec pres
        DATE: March 9, 2016
        TIME: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EDT
        COST: Free 

        Executive Presence, or EP, has become a common term in leadership development; however it is not easily defined and can be a challenge to identify what a leader needs to do in order to establish it.  

        Is EP the way you dress, talk (voice tone... inflection), or enter a room? Or perhaps it’s the way you choose a seat at the table, handle conflict, or build trust?  Maybe, it's how you communicate or use your body language?  Indeed, EP can be a confusing and nuanced skill set.  In this webinar we will explore:

        • A workable definition of EP
        • How to identify your current EP 
        • Creating a plan to grow and develop your EP 
        • How to use this knowledge in order to be more successful as a leader 

        Leaders of all levels benefit from a strong Executive Presence; join us to evaluate your own EP and learn ways to sharpen your skills.  Register Now