Your Behavior Speak Volumes...@vnona

The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  

--Matthew 12:34b, NIV, The Bible

The Things We Need...Philip Pullman

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”

--Philip Pullman

Harnessing The Power Of Conflict...Margaret Heffernan

"But it strikes me that the biggest problems we face, many of the biggest disasters that we've experienced, mostly haven't come from individuals, they've come from organizations, some of them bigger than countries, many of them capable of affecting hundreds, thousands, even millions of lives. So how do organizations think? Well, for the most part, they don't. And that isn't because they don't want to, it's really because they can't. And they can't because the people inside of them are too afraid of conflict."

--Margaret Heffernan, Serial Entrepreneur and Author

Every other Tuesday, womenatliberty.com provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week's #LeadershipTuesdays feature is on the importance of having your own voice and having "your voice" heard and valued by the organization when it differs from the majority. Why is it important for an organization to value constructive conflict and those who may not always agree with an idea, policy, or a decision held by the majority? See the following quote from the Margaret Heffernan's TED Talk video:

"The fact is that most of the biggest catastrophes that we've witnessed rarely come from information that is secret or hidden. It comes from information that is freely available and out there, but that we are willfully blind to, because we can't handle, don't want to handle, the conflict that it provokes. But when we dare to break that silence, or when we dare to see, and we create conflict, we enable ourselves and the people around us to do our very best thinking."

There is a skill in learning how to disagree and harness the power in disagreements and constructive conflict to enhance relationships, discover new opportunities, and improve product/services and processes. A certain level of trust and respect must exist for both the organization and individuals within the organization in order for people to feel safe speaking up without fear of retribution. When these elements are not valued within the organization at every level, senior management as well as employees, we suffer events like the GM Ignition Switch Defect or the 1986 NASA Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster where precious lives are lost.

So what does it take to be able to appreciate constructive conflict? Check out Margaret Heffernan's Ted Talk by clicking here. You will enjoy the brief talk and be enlightened. For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays or womenatliberty.com, click here. 

Leadership Tuesdays: Saying What You Need To Say...William Butler Yeats

Think like a wise man [woman] but communicate in the language of the people.

--William Butler Yeats

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. In part 2 of a 4 four part series, we talk again to Michelle D. Freeman, CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies and chair of their two family foundations: Joshua M. Freeman Foundation and Carl M. Freeman Foundation, about lessons she has learned since assuming the top leadership position at her company. 

In this Leadership Tuesdays' video, Ms. Freeman says that a John Mayer song, "Say What You Need To Say", has inspired her in her communication approach with both her employees and business partners. She also shares how the Carl M. Freeman Companies' history has impacted the way the company does business and its involvement in the communities where they do business.

In addition to leading the family business, Ms. Freeman is also an entrepreneur in her own right, a philanthropist and a minority partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment which owns the WNBA Mystics, NBA Wizards and NHL Capitals as well as the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Lastly, Michelle is the proud mother of three children.

To view today's video click here. If you missed part one of this series where Michelle talked about finding renewed life and purpose after experiencing a tragic loss, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, please visit our website, womenatliberty.com.

Art Is Communication...Madeleine L'Engle

“Art is communication.” -- Madeleine L'Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week we are featuring part 2 of a 4 four part series: A Conversation With Michelle D. Freeman. She is CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies and chair of their two family foundations: Joshua M. Freeman Foundation and Carl M. Freeman Foundation. 

In part 2 she talks about leadership lessons she has learned since assuming the top leadership position at her company and she thoughtfully ponders what she would like her legacy to be as a woman and leader. She also talks about the philanthropic work she and her organization are involved in.

In addition to leading the family business, Ms. Freeman is also an entrepreneur in her own right, a philanthropist and a minority partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment which owns the WNBA Mystics, NBA Wizards and NHL Capitals as well as the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Lastly, Michelle is the proud mother of three children.

To view today's video click here. If you missed part one of this series where Michelle talked about finding renewed life and purpose after experiencing a tragic loss, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, please visit our website, womenatliberty.com.

Leadership Tuesdays: Really Listening Shows That I Respect You

One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.

--Bryant H. McGill 

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. 

Today's article, Millennials at Work: Gen Ys and Ambition by Lindsey Pollak, focuses on how to communicate with and manage Millennials. Understanding the need of both parties to be heard is the first step in laying the ground for productive and successful relationships. Individuals from Generation X must also bear in mind that Millennials are very comfortable with texting and communicating via email and social media where Generation Xers and Baby Boomers may prefer more face-to-face meetings. Likewise, Millennials must be aware of the cultural norms in their environment and adapt in order to increase their effectiveness and thus, their ability to be successful.

Check out today's article here. To read past Leadership Tuesdays' features on how to manage your personal brand, the positive use of power, or resilence, click here.

Are You Listening?...Bryant H. McGill

One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.

--Bryant H. McGill, http://bryantmcgill.com/

Don't Hide...Paul Bryant

In a crisis, don't hide behind anything or anybody. They're going to find you anyway.

Paul Bryant

Image source: http://www.wtcc.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1393

Develop Your Communication Skills...Laura Sen

"And the better you develop your communication skills, the more successful I feel you'll be and I think that leads into a much bigger idea of emotional intelligence, and relationships and how that is where, you know, you will be at the next level, or not be at the next level."


--Laura J. Sen, Chief Executive Officer, BJ's Wholesale Club

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Leadership Tuesdays is featuring Laura J. Sen, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BJ's Wholesale Club, a low-cost, low-margin, high-volume, membership-only warehouse club that sells food, electronics, office equipment and other general merchandise.

Sen was promoted to CEO of BJ's in 2009, but her rise to the top job took a circuitous route.  After spending 14 years at BJ's, she was an Executive Vice President and considered one of a few internal candidates for the CEO job in 2002. Six months after one of her peers was named CEO, she was asked by him to leave the company.  She went home to spend more time with her teenage children and her husband of over 20 years.  During her time away from BJ's, she also started a consulting business providing her expertise to consumer retail companies, some of them suppliers to BJ's.

In 2006, she was asked by the then acting CEO and Chairman of the Board, Herb Zarkin, to rejoin BJ's and promised that she would become the company's next CEO. Shortly after becoming CEO, she suffered a personal loss when Michael Egan, her husband of 27 years, died of cancer.  She came back and plunged herself into her work after taking a short time away.  Based on reports, Sen has been well-received.  Before the company was sold in late 2011 and became a private company, The Boston Globe reported...

For the rest of the story and interview, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.

Leadership Tuesdays: The Most Important Tool...Laura Sen

I think that the tool that we all have at our disposal, and the tool that is most important to use in forging relationships and finding solutions and to move along in the career ladder, is communication. 

--Laura J. Sen, Chief Executive Officer, BJ's Wholesale Club

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week on the last Tuesday in May, in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Leadership Tuesdays is featuring Laura Sen, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BJ's Wholesale Club, a low-cost, low-margin, high-volume, membership-only warehouse club that sells food, electronics, office equipment and other general merchandise.

Sen was promoted to CEO of BJ's in 2009, but her rise to the top job took a circuitous route.  After spending 14 years at BJ's, she was an Executive Vice President and considered one of a few internal candidates for the CEO job. Six month after one of her peers was named CEO, she was asked by him to leave the company.  She went home to spend more time with her teenage children and her husband of over 20 years.  During her time away from BJ's, she also started a consulting business providing her expertise to consumer retail companies, some of them suppliers to BJ's.

In 2006, she was asked by the then acting CEO and Chairman of the Board, Herb Zarkin, to rejoin BJ's and promised that she would become the company's next CEO. Shortly after becoming CEO, she suffered a personal loss when Michael Egan, her husband of 27 years, died of cancer.  She came back and plunged herself into her work after taking a short time away.  Based on reports, Sen has been well-received.  Before the company was sold in late 2011 and became a private company, The Boston Globe reported...


For the rest of the story and interview, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.

Communication Between Body and Spirit...A.R. Bernard

The communication between the body and the spirit is through the soul.  --A.R. Bernard (@ARBernard), Spiritual Leader, CEO, Entrepreneur, Life Coach

Leadership Tuesdays: Effective Communication...Linda Gooden

"...Communication is really in the receiver's eyes and to be effective, the receiver has to benefit from the communication."  

--Linda R. Gooden, Executive Vice President, Lockheed Martin

Every Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. For more information on WOMEN AT LIBERTY's Leadership Tuesdays, see http://www.womenatliberty.com. 

Communication Tools Help People Learn From Each Other...Bill Gates

I'm a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they're interested in.  -- Bill Gates

Source:  Gates Foundation

The Real Art of Conversation...Dorothy Nevill

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.  -- Dorothy Nevill

The Key To Conversation At Work...Deborah Tannen

The key to conversation at work is flexibility and understanding how what you say might be perceived by others.  -- Deborah Tannen

The Way We Communicate...Anthony Robbins

The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.  -- Anthony Robbins

http://flickriver.com/photos/mikebaird/327712948/

Real Communication...Nona

Real communication is one of the most important things you will ever do, but it is also one of the hardest things to do right.  --Nona

Person 1:  "You said.."

  

Person 2:  "But I meant..."