Leadership In The Zone!
Living Where It Makes A Difference

Lessons-in-Leadership

What is the leadership zone? Think of the zone as an emotion you feel when you are at your very best.

For example, think back to a time when everything seemed to be going just right, just the way you had intended – or perhaps even better than you had intended.

The Zone personifies "the thrill of victory". The zone is a place where great leaders live every day – on purpose. They ensure that they stay "in the zone", and at any point that they are not in the zone, it doesn’t take them long to recognize and remedy the situation.

They do what’s necessary to get back into the zone because they know THAT is where all the action is.

Once you live in the zone for any length of time, you become quickly "addicted" to living there, and in this case "addiction" can be considered a good thing.

Okay, let’s get more specific now about how each of us can live in the leadership zone.

First, we must identify what high-leverage activities we need to be putting our time and energy towards, in order to achieve the results we seek. These high-leverage activities must take up the bulk of our time so that we can experience the ultimate rewards.

We must shun unnecessary email, paperwork and any other "low-result activities" that can easily be addressed by others – leaving us free to maximize our time on the activities that truly matter the most.

The following activities are examples of "zone activities", where the rubber meets the proverbial road: I.e., making prospect calls, developing new referral sources, marketing your product effectively, ensuring quality delivery of customer service, planning for expansion of your business, etc, etc.

The preceding examples of high-leverage activities are what makes the difference – they take a salesperson and/or an organization from simply being good, to truly being GREAT.

This is what we mean when we say you must "LIVE where the rubber meets the road". Ensure your total fulfillment in your work and in your life, by maximizing those high-leverage activities that makes the difference in your results.

In doing so, your passion for your work will grow and you will experience and enjoy more fully the fruits of your labor.

Your feelings of success, of pride, of accomplishment and of joy – will be the signals you will quickly come to recognize as "Living In The Zone".

Last year we lost one of our most famous and beloved actors – Jack Lemmon. Jack was special for many reasons, but one thing about Jack Lemmon that most people aren’t aware of is that he had a unique way in which he put himself into "the zone".

Like many actors, what you see on the screen is many times surprisingly different than what you might experience if you met him/her on the street. Their talent lies in their ability to persuade an audience to believe they are – well, whatever or whomever they want you to believe they are.

Jack Lemmon, immediately before he was to walk on stage or walk out of his trailer onto a movie set, would purposefully stop – close his eyes, take a deep breath, and say out loud (but softly under his breath) – "It’s Magic Time! "

Throughout his entire career he did this as a way of putting himself in his own "magic zone".

During your next staff meeting, take the time to share the concept of "the leadership zone". Consider leading your team through the following exercise to help them identify the high-leverage activities that will lead to maximum results – all so they too will experience the ultimate rewards of "living in the zone".

1. Identify on a flip chart 5-10 high-leverage activities, that if done continually will lead to maximum results.
2. List out on a separate piece of flip chart paper all the potential benefits of living in the zone. I.e., more money, security and a feeling of being in control, greater fulfillment, increased joy, increased market share, improved customer and employee retention, lower training costs, earlier retirement!, etc. Make the list as long as possible.
3. When the lists are complete, place the two lists side by side. Point to the "benefits" list and say to your team, "Folks, this is our motivation. We deserve all these things and more! And in order for us to experience these rewards we must.."

   Then point to the high-leverage activity list "..LIVE HERE. This is where the rubber meets the road. These are the activities that will make the difference."

Help your team find their own MAGIC - In The Zone.

Imagine your life as a game in which you are constantly juggling six separate balls in the air. You name them - Career, Family, Health/Fitness, Friends, Emotional and Spiritual. You must keep all of these important balls safely in the air.

Only after years of experience, OR upon reading this ezine, you realize that the Career ball is actually a rubber ball. If you drop it, it can quickly bounce back. However, you learn also that the other five balls - Family, Health/Fitness, Friends, Emotional and Spiritual - are made of glass.

It’s certain, if you drop one of these balls they will likely be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.

Understanding the proper importance of each of life’s categories is key to maintaining a healthy and balanced life.

"Richard, Thanks very much. I look forward to reading the monthly tools. I had a quick look at the past issues and I must say I am impressed. The articles are concise and sharp and most of all a quick read that can be used to reflect and consider taking action on. Here's wishing you and all you love a wonderful 2004 ahead."
Warm regards,
NC Prakash, Singapore

Thank NC! Always great to hear that our humble little ezine is being read, and people are listening! Thanks again.

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