Leadership Tip: Slowing Down to Speed Up

Leadership cannot really be taught. It has to be learned.
~ Harold S. Geneen

It is hard to believe that it is only a matter of days before our clocks and calendars turn to 2010. While the time is going quickly, for a few committees, the month of December may be a little “slow.” You may have social events rather than heavy meetings, but please keep in mind that you are leading a group of amazing ladies and they need to hear from you. You may also be working with amazing organizations that need to hear from you too.

· People do what they have to do for their manager; they do their best for an inspirational leader. (Note to self… you want to be an inspiring leader, not a manager.)
· You must embody what you ask of others and be able to articulate a shared vision in a way that inspires others to act.

· You must offer a sense of common purpose beyond the day-to-day tasks, making work exciting (with fun thrown in too). Establish an environment of continuous improvement.
· Help people connect their personal goals to League or committee goals. (It is a great idea to remind ourselves and committee members to freshen up our resumes to include Junior League involvement and achievements. It can be a deciding factor when searching for a new job or going for a promotion.)
· Involve everyone, empower and trust your committee members.
· Coach and train people to greatness. (Everyone has talents… you need to work to identify the talents, then nourish them.)
· Build teams and promote teamwork. Leverage the diversity in the group.
· Motivate, inspire and energize people. Recognize achievements!
· Make the committee work fun. Get creative or reach out if you are struggling to see the “fun” in the work that needs to be done.
· Choose to lead. Be the person others choose to follow.


Some of this month’s sources include: www.humanresources.about.com and www.slideshare.net.

December 2009 - Inspiration for Leaders

Slowing down to speed back up

Leadership cannot really be taught. It has to be learned. ~ Harold S. Geneen

It is hard to believe that it is only a matter of days before our clocks and calendars turn to 2010. While the time is going quickly, for a few committees, the month of December may be a little “slow.” You may have social events rather than heavy meetings, but please keep in mind that you are leading a group of amazing ladies and they need to hear from you. You may also be working with amazing organizations that need to hear from you too.

If your committee or Council does not have much happening this month, make an effort to reach out and let your members know that they’re making a difference. Below you’ll find some quick leadership inspiration to lead you through December and into January.

• People do what they have to do for their manager; they do their best for an inspirational leader. (Note to self… you want to be an inspiring leader, not a manager.)
• You must embody what you ask of others and be able to articulate a shared vision in a way that inspires others to act.
• You must offer a sense of common purpose beyond the day-to-day tasks, making work exciting (with fun thrown in too). Establish an environment of continuous improvement.
• Help people connect their personal goals to League or committee goals. (It is a great idea to remind ourselves and committee members to freshen up our resumes to include Junior League involvement and achievements. It can be a deciding factor when searching for a new job or going for a promotion.)
• Involve everyone, empower and trust your committee members.
• Coach and train people to greatness. (Everyone has talents… you need to work to identify the talents, then nourish them.)
• Build teams and promote teamwork. Leverage the diversity in the group.
• Motivate, inspire and energize people. Recognize achievements!
• Make the committee work fun. Get creative or reach out if you are struggling to see the “fun” in the work that needs to be done.
• Choose to lead. Be the person others choose to follow.

So, there’s a little inspiration for you. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season ahead. We’d like to offer you a sincere Thank You for all you do for the League!

Some of this month’s sources include: www.humanresources.about.com and http://www.slideshare.net./

Do you feel inspired? Do you have suggestions for future topics? If you have questions or comments, or just want to comment on what you’ve read, please send a note to the Nominating Committee.

November 2009 - Inspiration for Leaders

Power of a Checklist

Hi. My name is Ansley, and I’m a list-maker. Whether it’s the running list of groceries on the fridge, a list of things to remember to do before I leave the house with the kids in the morning, or a list of things that I need to start thinking about…I make lists. And I really enjoy checking things off as I go along.

So, I did a little research into the checklist-making habit I have. Here is what I’d like to share with you.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“A checklist is used as an aid to memory. It helps to ensure consistency and completeness in carrying out a task. A basic example is the "to do list." A more advanced checklist would be a schedule, which lays out tasks to be done according to time of day or other factors.” 

Checklists can improve results. Checklists are powerful tools for jogging your memory, reducing stress, and sharing know how.

People use checklists effectively to:

• Reduce task saturation. Task saturation is simply too much to do and not enough time. Checklists help you reduce that overwhelming feeling – probably not all of it, but some of it. 
• Lower stress. Checklists minimize forgetting something. This relieves the stress of worrying about forgetting (especially when consequences are very bad). 
• Free the mind. You don’t have to waste your prefrontal cortex on mundane things. Basically, checklists free you up to worry about higher level issues. 
• Be a refresher course. You can use checklists as a tool to remember a sequence of actions for the next time you do something, like submitting a check request or packing for a trip. 

Do you use checklists? If you currently don’t use them, create a list for the coming week and see if you feel more productive. If you are already a checklist person, please share your effective checklists. I just might write your secrets down, try them out, then make a “to-do” to remind myself to thank you for suggesting the secret!

This month’s sources include: Wikipedia and www.sourcesofinsight.com. Do you feel inspired? Do you have suggestions for future topics? If you have questions or comments, or just want to comment on what you’ve read, please send a note to the Nominating Committee.

Putting the Finishing touches on Home Tour 2009

Continuing a new tradition, the Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula will again host the successful fundraiser Finishing Touches: A Holiday Tour of Fine Homes on Dec. 5-6, 2009. The inaugural event, held in 2008, raised more than $78,000 for the local community.

This holiday event features a tour of four elegantly embellished homes in the west Atherton area, a holiday marketplace, raffles, prizes and more. Parking and check-in is available at the event’s home base, Sacred Heart School (50 Emilie Avenue, Atherton). After check in, guests are then whisked away on shuttle busses to each of the west Atherton homes, which have been embellished by local designers for the holidays. After the tour, guests will have the opportunity to shop in a holiday-themed marketplace featuring boutique shopping from local vendors, grab lunch or snacks in the Mistletoe café and participate in raffles. Tour hours are Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

In addition, the event kicks off with a special Opening Night Celebration on Friday, Dec. 4. Featuring a fifth – and one night only – home, cocktails, raffles and more, this event offers tickets for $140 per person, which also includes admission to the tour and can be redeemed at any time during tour hours.

Finishing Touches directly supports The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula. Funds raised are put back into the community through various grants to local nonprofits, as well as through League projects such as the East Palo Alto Charter School Character Development, First Teachers and Fostering Families.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at www.finishingtoucheshometour.com for $40 in advance and $50 at the door.

9TH ANNUAL MENLO PARK PANCAKE BREAKFAST BENEFITING LOCAL BURN FOUNDATION

The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, Menlo Park Fire District and Stanford Park Hotel piled up the pancakes to host the 9th Annual Menlo Park Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. This family-friendly event was held at the Menlo Park Fire District Headquarters at 300 Middlefield Road on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 7:30 – 11 a.m.
“The Menlo Park Pancake Breakfast has become an annual tradition that is embraced by the entire community,” says Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula (JLPA•MP) President Jan Woolsey. “The League is extremely privileged to have the opportunity once again to partner with the Menlo Park Fire District and the Stanford Park Hotel to support the development, confidence and growth of burn survivors in our local neighborhoods.”
In addition to pancakes cooked to perfection by Menlo Park firefighters, the event featured a variety of children’s activities including face painting, arts and crafts and tours of antique fire engines. All proceeds will go to The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and its programs for burn survivors.


About the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation works to promote burn prevention education and enrich the lives of burn survivors in California with the widespread support of the fire service, medical professionals, and community volunteers. One program provided by the foundation is Champ Camp, a week-long, residential summer camp that allows burn-injured children to meet others who have gone through similar experiences and realize that they are not alone with their injuries. Champ Camp spotlights inner beauty, not the burn scars, in a supportive atmosphere where kids feel at ease and enjoy summer. For more information on the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and Champ Camp, please visit www.aarbf.org.

About the Stanford Park Hotel
An oasis of refined elegance and sophistication awaits you at the Stanford Park Hotel. Located at 100 El Camino Real in Menlo Park, the Stanford Park Hotel is one of the Peninsula's Five Star Diamond hotels, featuring 163 luxurious guestrooms, award-winning dining in the Duck Club Restaurant and a chic vibe permeating in the Lounge at the Park. For special events or meetings, the hotel offers six architecturally unique conference rooms for up to 190 people and a beautiful outdoor courtyard in a park like setting able to accommodate up to 300 people. These features combined with a host of amenities, will meet the needs of the most discerning traveler.

About the Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula
The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, Inc. focuses on developing the potential of families through its projects, community grants and public policy advocacy. It focuses on training a diverse group of women volunteers, with a goal of serving those interested in developing their leadership potential, broadening their skills and effecting positive change in our community. The JLPA•MP serves the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula communities of Atherton, Belmont, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, Stanford, Sunnyvale and Woodside.
The JLPA•MP is a part of the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), which consists of 294 Leagues and more than 170,000 members from the USA, Mexico, Canada and Great Britain. For more information, please go to AJLI’s website at www.ajli.org.

October 2009 - Inspiration for Leaders

"The past does not define you, the present does." -- Jillian Michaels

What kind of leader are you?

This month’s inspiration is more of a reflection for each of us as League leaders. While these are not the end-all-be-all of leader descriptions, they are general categories that can help you identify where you are, and help you grow in new directions.

Basic Leadership Styles

(Adapted from Leadership and the One-Minute Manager, Kenneth Blanchard et al)

1. Directing

The directing leader provides specific instructions and closely supervises task accomplishment. Feedback from members is minimal, and it is assumed that they will comply automatically with the instructions they receive.

2. Coaching

The coaching leader continues to direct and closely supervise task accomplishment, but also explains decisions, solicits suggestions, and supports progress. Members’ input is sought in setting goals, in determining what tasks should be scheduled, and how the tasks should be done. This method is a combination of the directing with supporting styles.

3. Supporting

The supporting leader seeks the members’ input in planning and decision making, and facilitates their efforts toward task accomplishment.

4. Delegating

The delegating leader turns over responsibility for decision making and problem solving to subordinates who have shown that they can handle the responsibility.

In all cases the leader maintains ultimate responsibility for members’ actions. The progression inherent in the move from directing to delegating indicates maturity and increased capability of both leader and member. A good leader does not operate as the sole decision maker. As she moves from directing to delegating (or to any appropriate combination of the four styles), the leader must share some of the authority and glory inherent in getting the job done. True sharing requires comprehensive knowledge of the goal and task, a high degree of self-knowledge and self-assurance, and a great capacity for persuasion.

Do you feel inspired? Do you have suggestions for future topics? If you have questions or comments, or just want to comment on what you’ve read, please send a note to the Nominating Committee.