Thoughts – 2008

21st Century Skills - Listen to the Thought Pod

“The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what the man or woman is able to do that counts.”  Booker T. Washington

Leadership skills must be more intently applied today.

I spend a great deal of time and energy studying for my confidence and the confidence of my Leader Clients. In this study I'm constantly exposed to the consciousness of the individual in today's society. While this consciousness has been enhanced by an age of information, the attention of the individual has been attacked by the same.

We are a time starved society - a result of an overflow of information and a lack of focus. As a retired pastor friend of mine says, "We are 100 watt bulbs with 1,000 watt demands."

In the battle for attention, the individual is becoming more and more shrewd:
- Consumers are more educated and informed (advertising and marketing strategies are no longer effective ... they're on to it)
- Employees are more educated and informed (they are depending less and less on the organization and more and more on their network)
- Everyone is on an equal footing with available information (globally aware and with an opinion)

I'm sure you can think of many other things to add to this list. But what does all this mean to you as a 21st Century Leader?

I suggest an intent focus on the following key skills (for definitions):
~ Personal/Professional Growth Management
~ Communication and Connection
~ Messaging
~ Networking
~ Giving
~ Collective Facilitation
~ Storytelling

I chose the word intent because of the need for Leaders to have mind, heart, and attention firmly fixed on practicing the key skills ... and because the world needs you to be firmly fixed on your true Desire & Intent.