I did a basic team building presentation for a volunteer organization last week and was absolutely shocked by the answers to one of my questions. Now I will admit, I learn something from every presentation I do and pretty much every person I talk to. But this incident stood out in my mind and really made me think. As part of the presentation, I have a slide with two columns and twelve rows titled "Which Do You Prefer?". It is a basic checklist that I recommend using during the start up of a team to find out more about the people with whom you will be working and how their styles may differ from your own. In addition to asking if you prefer "Agenda" or "No Agenda" I ask "why." For instance, one person reflected that if the meeting is about something they know well, they do not require an agenda ahead of time. If it is a new topic they may want the agenda up to a week ahead of time. There is even a silly question as to whether you prefer
Life and leadership are not about which path you take, they are about the choices you make when the roads diverge. The are not achieved in a one-day or one-month. They are compiled through a lifetime of education, experience, and reflection.