Magic In The Leadership Zone!

"Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable, procures success to the weak - and esteem to all." - George Washington

In 2003 we lost one of our most famous and beloved actors - Jack Lemmon.

Jack was special for many reasons, but one thing about Jack Lemmon that most people aren't aware of is that he had a unique way in which he put himself into what he called his "magic zone".

Like many actors, what you see on the screen is many times surprisingly different than what you might experience if you met him/her on the street.

An actor's talent lies in their ability to persuade an audience to believe they are - well, whatever or whomever they want you to believe they are.

Jack Lemmon, immediately before he was to walk on stage or walk out of his trailer onto a movie set, would purposefully stop - close his eyes, take a deep breath, and say out loud (but softly under his breath) - "It's Magic Time!"

Throughout his entire career he did this as a way of putting himself in his own "magic zone".

During your next staff meeting, take the time to share the concept of "the leadership zone". Consider leading your team through the following exercise to help them identify the high-leverage activities that will lead to maximum results - all so they too will experience the ultimate rewards of "living in the zone".

Identify on a flip chart 5-10 high-leverage activities, that if done continually will lead to maximum results.

List out on a separate piece of flip chart paper all the potential benefits of living in the zone. I.e., more money, security and a feeling of being in control, greater fulfillment, increased joy, increased market share, improved customer and employee retention, lower training costs, earlier retirement!, etc. Make the list as long as possible.

When the lists are complete, place the two lists side by side. Point to the "benefits" list and say to your team, "Folks, this is our motivation. We deserve all these things and more! And in order for us to experience these rewards we must..."

Then point to the high-leverage activity list? "LIVE HERE! This is where the rubber meets the road. These are the activities that will make the difference."

Help your team find their own MAGIC - In The Zone.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas A. Edison

Richard Gorham is the founder and President of Leadership-Tools, Inc. His web site, http://www.leadership-tools.com is dedicated to providing free tools and resources for today's aspiring leaders. Offering high-quality tools in the areas of Business Planning, Leadership Development, Customer Service, Sales Management and Team Building.

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