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Blog Posts by Courtney McBath

Let Go

rest Jul 27, 2022

We have spoken extensively about anticipating the future and balancing vision and reality this month of July. However, I wanted to conclude with a reminder for you to learn to let go. As leaders, we must balance different responsibilities on different days while consistently planning and executing for the desired future. It can get overwhelming. In fact, on some days, you will doubt if you can continue.

 

The answer is yes, you can. You are capable of so much more than you know. Still, we must remember that it is okay to rest, take a break and breathe. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself and your team is to let go for a period of time. Several studies have shown that some of our greatest ideas can come when we are resting.

 

I understand that this can seem almost impossible with how many things require our input or suggestions. It can always feel like things might fall apart if you disappear for a little bit. As a leader of several decades, I can tell you...

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Balancing vision and reality

vision Jul 20, 2022

As leaders, we cannot help but dream. We must lead our team toward the desired vision in this fast-paced world. It requires consistently mapping out dreams and desires that align with the desired future.

 

In crafting our dreams, we often lose sight of maintaining a balance between our wildest dreams and reality. Because we desire a far better future than our current situation, we forget that things might not always go as planned. Yet, keeping reality at the forefront as we plan is essential. So how do we structure our vision around reality and life’s uncertainties?

 

  1. Be honest with yourself: Honesty is essential to balance vision and reality effectively. Take stock of where you are and where you want to be. How do you intend to achieve this vision? Put a plan in place. You don’t have to have the whole thing together, but you do have to start. A structure helps you understand what can be achievable and how.

  2. Discuss with the right people: While your vision...
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How to Anticipate the Future and See What Others Donā€™t

Uncategorized Jul 12, 2022

I hope that last week’s letter has inspired you to dream again. Leadership is a life-long call, and it can be easy to get stuck in a cycle of doing the same things. We must move beyond that and imagine a new future.

 

How do we do that?

 

In dreaming of the future of your team, we must keep one question at the forefront. Am I considering their present and future needs?

 

While this might seem like an impossible feat, the answer usually lies in research. While academic-based research like reading books and watching videos about leadership principles are essential, it is also taking time to talk to your team. There is a clarity only conversation with the concerned parties can bring. Showing curiosity about their needs, who they are, and what they hope to get out of being part of your team will help you anticipate a future for them and your organization.

 

Likewise, consistently seek mentorship and experience from seasoned leaders as they have navigated teams...

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Dream Again

Uncategorized Jul 06, 2022

As America celebrates her independence from Great Britain, I’m reminded of the cost of reaching the goals we set. The courage, the sacrifice, and the patience of our founding fathers were unquestionable. Like us, they also had many flaws that would take centuries to correct, but courage gives time and hard work an opportunity to bring success. Don’t let your weaknesses convince you to back down!

 

This week I want to encourage you to be brave enough to pursue your goals and honest enough to admit your flaws. When you set sail in January, you could not have known the challenges we would face, but now you can forecast and revise your goals and timelines for the rest of the year.

 

The beauty of forecasting and mapping the vision is that you have a plan that is a living document. You can adjust as you go! This week take a fresh look at what you want to get done this month and let’s focus our courage on just 2-3 important tasks. Some weeks we need to gather...

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It is Never Too Late

Uncategorized Jun 29, 2022

While restrategizing concerning your Big Rocks, you might have heard a voice or two in your head asking why it matters or if you would ever achieve your goals. The answer is YES because it is never too late for you to achieve your goals, even if you cannot complete them in the year 2022.

 

Every new year is an opportunity to plan to achieve specific goals - Big Rocks. But we must understand that our Big Rocks are not limited to the year we planned to achieve them. In fact, sometimes, 12 months are too small for the size of your dream. You are made to make an impact, and impact is not limited to any time period; instead, it is defined by your commitment to seeing those Big Rocks see fruition.

 

Even when your goals can’t be completed in one calendar year, please don’t give up because you are a little behind on them. Instead, press harder, and who knows, you might be able to complete them in record time.

 

The beauty of setting goals is achieving them. It...

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Review. Rest. Relaunch

Uncategorized Jun 22, 2022

It is never too late to start again or take a step back and restrategize concerning our Big Rocks, and there’s no better time than the present! Taking stock of your Big Rock journey is an opportunity to celebrate your wins, identify areas of improvement and reestablish your priorities.

 

Our attitude towards our big rocks can determine our chances of success no matter what happens in the course of the year. What carries your big rocks to fruition is committing to deliberately mapping out action steps for them by your given deadline.

 

Let’s make a few deliberate steps by changing the dates on your Big Rocks to reflect your new realistic deadlines. Perhaps you had planned to put certain structures in place to start a business, such as completing market research and securing the social media handles by the month of May. Maybe you could only secure the social media handles; the next step is to set a new realistic deadline for when you want to complete the market...

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The Key to Consistency During Setback

If you are reading this, you have probably taken the time to weigh your Big Rocks and see how you are doing as we are halfway through the year. If you haven’t yet, no problem, you can always go back to read the last letter and weigh your Big Rocks against some of the questions I shared.

 

After checking your 2022 Big Rocks progress, many of us might feel discouraged because we have not achieved what we planned by this time of year. Of course, this could be because of circumstances outside of our control. Still, we must remember that it is not over. Instead, it is an opportunity to nurture success from despair.

 

This is the essence of assessing our goals, taking a step back, and making corrections where necessary. Maybe you could not achieve your goals because of the people needed for your big rocks to take shape. Speak with them or find more people. Perhaps it was because you spent more time feeding distractions. Work towards managing your time better.

 

No...

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Measuring Your Big Rocks

assessment evaluation Jun 08, 2022

Welcome to the month of June, the halfway mark of the year 2022. We have come a long way despite the many challenges of the year in our society and lives. You should be very proud of how far you have come.

 

June is one of my favorite months because it is the perfect time to sit back and take stock of how far you have come, especially concerning your Big Rocks (goals) for the year.

 

We started the year with our written-down goals and took things a step further by breaking them in detail about how we intend to nurture them to fruition. So, it is time to ask yourself:

 

  • How am I doing so far?
  • Am I closer to my goals than I was when I wrote out my big rocks?
  • Am I where I said I would be by this time of the year?

 

The beauty of setting goals is reaching them. However, we will not know how we are doing and what can be improved upon if we don’t conduct assessments on our goals. Take a moment, check your progress so far and begin to chart the course for...

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Leadership is a Muscle, Work It!

Uncategorized Jun 01, 2022

There is an age-long disagreement on whether leaders are born or made, with valid arguments on both sides on why they believe in either of the two. Personally, I have a different school of thought on leadership.

 

Whether leaders are born or made, leadership is a muscle that needs to be consistently improved upon. There is always more that can be better and always opportunities to be better leaders because new challenges will arise with the times, and how you handle them can define your growth trajectory.

 

So, how do we work our leadership muscles?

  1. Be introspective: Can you be honest with yourself? Are you able to assess your work performance, whether or not you're doing the things you ask of your team, and make improvements where necessary?
  2. Be willing to learn: Much of our lives, especially as leaders, are hinged on our commitment to learning and improving ourselves, reading the right rind of books, attending conferences, and receiving mentorship, among other things.
  3. ...
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Mentor and Be Mentored

mentorship May 25, 2022

It is often said that we learn more as we teach others. In my leadership experience, I have found that to be the truth; teaching is learning. A healthy mentor-mentee relationship can be a consistent wake-up call and source of motivation for you as a mentor.

 

It helps you see how far you have come and how much more you can do. It also cultivates a culture of self-reflection on both sides, ultimately leading to improved self-awareness. This renewed understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses can significantly impact how both parties handle their day-to-day responsibilities.

 

Seeing your role and tasks through the eyes of someone genuinely interested in your work can be illuminating. There is a feeling of personal fulfillment that only nurturing others can give while elevating their credibility within your organization. It demonstrates confidence in your abilities and willingness to nurture others.

 

Still, make no mistake, mentorship requires that you do a...

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