David Chinsky & Associates

December 2009

The Leadership Fit® Newsletter is written and emailed monthly to leaders seeking the

clarity, confidence, effectiveness and vitality

necessary for achieving their highest level of leadership fitness™.

Happy Holidays from

David Chinsky & Associates

IN THIS ISSUE

What I'm Grateful For

Your Best Year Yet!

Associates' Corner (NEW)

One More Thing

What I'm Grateful For

As we approach the year 2010, there is much that I am grateful for.

I am grateful for the opportunities we've had this year to make a difference in the world.

I am grateful for the continued trust and confidence placed in us by our clients as we partner to ensure their success.

I am grateful for all of the relationships we've nurtured this year and for all of the new associations and friendships we've built with people from around the world.

I am grateful for my Associate Network, without whom we would not have grown as much as we have during the last couple of years.

I am grateful for the success of our Institute for Leadership Fitness™ which has enrolled almost 100 leaders in the past 18 months.

I am grateful for my family and my friends who support me greatly in my life's passion.

I am grateful for you, the reader of this monthly newsletter, and for the opportunity to be here for you when you need us.

What are you grateful for?

Your Best Year Yet!

Each month, we review a book selected to both engage and challenge leaders as they seek to make a difference in their organizations.

Our pick this month is Your Best Year Yet! by Jinny Ditzler. In this interactive "workshop-in-a-book", the author challenges us to answer 10 questions that can make the next 12 months our most successful ever.

Forget New Year's resolutions later this month. Read Jinny's book instead and spend a few hours answering the following questions:

What Did I Accomplish?
What Were My Biggest Disappointments?
What Did I Learn?
How Do I Limit Myself, and How Can I Stop?
What Are My Personal Values?
What Roles Do I Play in My Life?
Which Role is My Focus for Next Year?
What Are My Goals for Each Role?
What Are My Top Ten Goals for the Next Year?
How Can I Make Sure I Achieve My Top Ten Goals?

Let us know if we can be of assistance in helping you navigate through these questions.

For our current reading list, please click here.

One More Thing

Begin your journey to leadership fitness in 2010. Nearly 100 leaders have already benefited from this 12-month learning program for high-potential leaders.

The Institute's unique blend of quarterly workshops, one-on-one coaching and leadership assessment is producing a new brand of fit leaders.

We have a number of programs starting up in the new year. Call us on 866-960-LEAD or email us at info@theleadershipfit.com for more details.

For additional information on the Institute, feel free to visit www.theleadershipfit.com/institute.

Associates' Corner

Welcome to the Associates' Corner. Starting this month, I am pleased to showcase articles written by members of The Leadership Fit® Associate Network. Joining us this month is our Associate Mary Jo Asmus who offers us a unique perspective on the importance of choosing when leading. Please enjoy.

I was struck by a voicemail message on a client's phone: "Please leave a message, and I hope you choose to have a great day." This interesting insertion of the word "choose" in this common phrase was a great reminder of how EVERYTHING we do daily is a choice - we just don't always see it that way.

Even the small choices count

Every action we take, every word out of our mouths, and every attitude we adopt involves a choice. Leaders will make daily choices to use the smallest of actions, words and attitudes as weapons to demean, belittle, blame, lie, or wage war. Or they may choose the "higher road" to affirm, build, take responsibility, stay in integrity or encourage peace.

You may make choices that serve your own interests, or those that serve in the best interest of your community, your organization, and your followers.

Your choices are being watched

As a leader, you are being watched for the choices you make and for the meaning behind your choices. Your followers want to know if you are making choices that express your values, those of your organization, and those that are in their interest.

Even the smallest choices you make in your every day are being watched, and can lead down a path that is affirming or destructive:

The three minutes that you stop, turn, and really listen to an employee rather than choosing to check your BlackBerry.
The expression of gratitude to someone for a job well done instead of choosing to find small faults in how they did it.
Credit deflected to the individuals who actually did the work instead of choosing to take personal credit for it.
Firm belief that your employees are capable of stretching themselves rather than choosing to assume that they aren't capable.
Rolling up your shirtsleeves and pitching in when the going gets tough instead of choosing to get frustrated.
Living in the questions instead of choosing to have all the answers.
And yes..... even choosing to have a great day when you would rather wallow in self pity.

Think about it. All the choices you make in a day without conscious thought impact your leadership. Stop, think and become intentional in your choices. What small choices will you make today that will make a positive difference in the way you lead?

Learn more about Mary Jo and the rest of our Associate Network by clicking on www.theleadershipfit.com/team/.