Things I Carry: Connection
Things I Carry: Connection is the first but not necessarily the most important
Connection to people, organization and knowledge
My iPhone and iPad Mini offer me a way to connect on many levels. First, I can communicate traditionally with a phone call, quickly with a text or virtually with social media forums. Then, I can keep track of appointments and to do’s. Next, I can document with photos. Last, I can read, research and revel.
Nourishment for my mind and body
I carry a refillable water bottle, tea, sweetener and some snacks. My favorite tea is Egyptian Licorice Mint by Yogi (introduced to me by a dear friend) with a drop of SweetLeaf Stevia. The snack is either a Clif Bar or something a bit sweeter like Australian black licorice or Endangered Species organic chocolate.
Relaxation for peace of mind
Music is a must. Either Pandora or predesigned iTunes song lists. Also, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones that can drown out all the hustle and bustle. Sometimes, it’s valuable to recharge and music seems to set the mood.
Read More »Leadership as an Experience in Humanness
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Cheryl DePonte
The Ken Blanchard Companies
Why Lead Now
Cheryl DePonte is a Human Resources Learning and Performance Specialist at The Ken Blanchard Companies and has over 15 years experience in the fields of organizational effectiveness and human resources development.
Leadership as an Experience in Humanness
At the beginning of my career, desperate for experience, I took whatever job I could in my field. Fortunately, my first manager treated employees and customers like gold. Luck struck twice when I was hired by yet another wonderful manager.
Regrettably, subsequent managers provided the “opportunity” to witness appalling treatment of both employees and customers. Still relatively naïve, I unconsciously swept their behavior under the rug in an attempt to gain valuable experience.
As my skill-set grew, I became disillusioned with my own attempts to lead. Emulating a combination of previous managers, who overall, seemed successful, led to followers who appeared blatantly angry, humiliated, and hostile. Advised not to take it personally, I couldn’t help but wonder what I was doing wrong and how I could change. With a warrior mentality, I read every work regarding leadership I could find and studied leaders as if by doing so I could internalize their success merely by being in their presence.
