Center for High Performance

WONDERMENT! Last week Rick and I attended a performance that was part of Andrea Bocelli’s 30th anniversary tour (https://lnkd.in/eNUtDK66). Discovered and mentored by Luciano Pavarotti, Bocelli quickly became not only a world-famous classical and opera performer, but also a Grammy-award-winning popular artist, with more than 100 million recordings sold. We were mesmerized by his voice as well as the stunning performers with whom he shared the spotlight — including his 12-year-old daughter Virginia, who sings like an angel. Their duet on “Dare to Be” (music and lyrics by Bocelli), from the movie “Cabrini,” was straordinario❣️ Bocelli’s son Matteo is also a prominent straordinario singing sensation. LEADERS: Pavarotti was so grateful for his vocal gifts that he helped other talented performers become great! Learn from the best. Pay it forward. Who in your circle is a rising star? How are you helping them reach their potential? You never know — the effort you make may inspire generations. #propelleaderstogreatness #payitforward #elitehighperformancecoaching #leadership #HighPerformanceLeadership #CfHP

𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗦! 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟮 Today is “move-in” day to our dream condo. Excitement is running high; so is exhaustion from moving out of our temporary housing (7 weeks), coordinating the move, handling all the contractors and vendors, enduring the delays and mistakes, having to call and call again, dealing with people who forgot what I told them three times, learning that directions that I thought were clear led to something else being done instead of what I thought we agreed to, etc. You know the drill. As the days before the move unfolded, I realized there are many similarities between “𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲-𝗜𝗻” days and “𝗚𝗼-𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲” days in companies. By the time you get there you likely would experience the same gamut of emotions I am feeling right now. The person in charge always has the most “excitement.” 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: ·     Change is emotional and messy. ·     Nothing goes exactly as planned. No matter how many times you tell people something, some won’t hear because emotional reactions can block understanding. ·     No matter how well you plan, mistakes will occur. Some will be worse than others. Note the difference. ·     Things will happen that are totally out of your control. When we got ready to move into our temp apartment and planned clothing we needed to bring, we didn’t anticipate the unseasonably cold weather (-7 wind chill) we experienced in December. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 “𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺” (AKA learning from mistakes): ·     Empathy is as important as facts are. ·     People handle change differently. Some will be excited, some will be scared, most will have mixed feelings, and some will never get on board. Your colleagues aren’t moving to their “dream condo.” ·     Keep repeating key messages, no matter how many times you’ve said them before. ·     Sometimes you must deliver tough messages, and some people won’t like you. You are their leader, not their friend. ·     Be tolerant of mistakes and oversights. (This is hard for me.) When they happen, take a deep breath and try to put things in perspective. The angrier you become, the more scared or angry people will get, and more errors will be made. Mistakes need to be fixed, but people don’t have to be berated or punished or banished. ·     Everything doesn’t need to be perfect. Is 70% success sufficient to accomplish the goal? 80%? It’s rare that 100% is required. ·     You will get where you want to go, the bumps along the way will be fixed and the right people will “stay on the boat.” Some people will leave, and they should. ·     It ALWAYS costs more than projected. 𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: ·     No one’s dying. Problems can be fixed. ·     Business success is not worth risking your health. ·     Empathy is NOT optional. #ChangeIsMessy #EmpathyIsNotOptional #propelleaderstogreatness #elitehighperformancecoaching #leadership #HighPerformanceLeadership #CfHP

I love spending time with my family and engaging in events we can do together — the holidays create opportunities to carry on the old traditions and bring in the new. In my family of origin, big gatherings were commonplace, loud, boisterous and fun. They bonded us as a tribe and made us strong advocates for one another and the family community. Last Sunday, Rick and I brought 14 (of 17) of our family tribe to The Chicago Club’s (https://lnkd.in/ghD-M-S4) annual Holiday Brunch. They all LOVED the experience. They now feel not only a part of our tribe, but also part of the Chicago Club tribe, forming new connections along the way. And we all look forward to the new traditions we are building together. Having gone for several years, I can truly say this year was the BEST yet. The food stations for the kiddos (especially the chicken nuggets, fries, mac and cheese, sliders and make-your-own sundaes and cones), the adult stations (breakfast specialties, prime rib, truffle gnocchi, raw bar, sushi, phenomenal cheeses, incredible desserts), the stunning décor, magnificent carolers and outstanding service make the event worth repeating time and again. Activities for the children included cupcake decorating, ornament painting (a fan favorite) and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Special thanks to General Manager Daniel Moriyama, Director of F&B Adam Stark, Catering & Events Manager Lauren S., the incredible servers, bartenders and all the staff who make these experiences seamless, unforgettable and spectacular. LEADERS: what holiday traditions are you bringing to the workplace? Are you finding ways to help the team members bond, to experience joy and laughter? You may be surprised how such experiences not only build trust but also increase innovation. In the world of technology-driven communication and remote working, social connection is STILL needed to reach our highest potential. #propelleaderstogreatness #elitehighperformancecoaching #leadership #HighPerformanceLeadership #CfHP #values #joy #highperformanceteams #holidays

My dad (shown below when I visited him with my 9-month-old son) was a courageous leader! He hated discrimination of any type and was a stalwart advocate for equality. Big issues or small, his values were always his guide. My favorite dad story happened when I went shopping with him as a little girl. He loved the vegetable escarole, but he only loved it when it was selling for 99 cents a pound or less. It cost a dollar, and he complained to the store manager. I cringed with embarrassment. I said, “Daddy, I’ll give you a penny! You love escarole. Don’t leave it!” He turned to me and said, “There are people who can’t afford the food in the grocery store. Someone has to fight for them.” I have never forgotten that day. I’m thankful he showed me in such a small and poignant way what living your values means. Courageous leaders like my dad are in short supply in today’s world. How many leaders live their values under pressure from shareholders, the board or customers? Too many times, living the company values translates to, “Will it break the law? And if so, how do we get around the law?” Here are 10 tips to being a value-driven leader: https://lnkd.in/g8mvFZGm. Leading with these will help your company and teams outperform others in the long run. Download your guide and see which ones resonate with you. #leadershiptips #executivewisdom #highperformance #values #CfHP

Do you love your work? I love being a coach. I get paid to work with interesting, smart, kind people. How blessed am I? I love the challenge, the collaboration, and the courage. The result - the pure joy of seeing someone grow. My mission: To propel leaders to greatness. If you are a good leader striving to be great, consider Elite High Performance Coaching, a year-long, proprietary, data-driven system. Our clients - - CEOs - Senior executives - Rising stars I have experience with companies large and small - - Fortune 10 - Mid-sized - Entrepreneurial and smaller enterprises I have worked across varying industries and five continents. I help leaders - - Transition in and out of organizations - Build high-performance teams, - Strengthen their personal brands - Make tough decisions under pressure - Communicate more - Become their authentic selves - Utilize personal values as north stars Interested in our new Elite High Performance Coaching? Request your free one hour coaching call (available to qualified executives). Just send me a message or email [email protected] to book your appointment. #propelleaderstogreatness #elitehighperformancecoaching #highperformanceleadership #CfHP

Today we give thanks. In 1992, I was determined to find a great job. I networked with several people along the way. I remember going to this communications firm that looked like a news station. I was intrigued. And then I met Sue Silk, the firm’s founder and Emmy-award-winning TV producer. She explained that in a newsroom, you hear each other’s calls, collaborate and get leads and tips. It forms a community. Why not do the same in a communications firm? How brilliant! Not only was Sue creative, sharp and sassy — she was the funniest human I’d ever met. Although her company wasn’t a fit for me, I told her I knew we would work together. Two years later I had the opportunity to hire her firm and we collaborated on projects for many years after. Today I am grateful to call her one of my dearest friends. Sue listens, tells the unvarnished truth and cares deeply. And she is so much fun to be with. I just returned from a visit to her home in Martha’s Vineyard. I never stopped laughing, having great conversations, loving and feeling loved. THANK YOU, Sue Silk, for being YOU. Friends forever❣️

THIS WEEK WE GIVE THANKS My mission is “propel leaders to greatness.” I am incredibly thankful to The University of Chicago Booth School of Business for helping me achieve it. Twenty-two years ago the Dean read my book, “eLeadership,” (https://lnkd.in/gbvYqka8) and asked me to design an MBA course — the rest is a glorious part of my history! Fast-forward to my November 2024 cohort of High-Performance Leadership (https://lnkd.in/dkNhHwEK) — a course I have been designing, redesigning and teaching more than two decades. This year’s cohort of high-level executives from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia, South and North America and Europe inspired each other and inspired me. Once again these next-gen leaders give me hope that they will use the lessons of the course to create cultures where great people want to work and thrive. THANK YOU, November 2024 cohort! Lucia

𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹! Thank you to Stephen Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Amsted Industries, for honoring our high-performance leadership class (https://lnkd.in/dkNhHwEK) at our CEO fireside chat last week. I have known you for many years, and I can honestly say you are one of the most value-driven, courageous leaders with whom I have had the pleasure to collaborate. Our class was mesmerized by your stories of putting culture and values first, your employee ownership plan (ESOP), your mentorship program, and your wise answers to their challenging questions. We extend our deep appreciation for your time and insights. Leaders, this is a man to emulate. #propelleaderstogreatness #elitehighperformancecoaching #leadership #HighPerformanceLeadership #CfHP #highperformance #ChicagoBooth #amstedindustries

Last week, our High Performance Leadership Class (https://lnkd.in/dkNhHwEK) embarked on a journey down the “Yellow Brick Road” to collectively explore the importance of leveraging our team's brainpower, the necessity of leading with both the head and heart, and the bravery needed to uphold our values when faced with choosing between ambition and principles. As a celebration of our progress, we honored the class with an “OZcar” ceremony for which peers cast votes. Congratulations to the entire class for their achievements. And the winners are… Yellow Brick Road Award - For the best overall performance: Patricia Opurum Dorothy Award - For the best job at finding his or her way: Megan Wilson, MBA Good Witch Award - For doing the best job of standing up for herself or himself: Lulwa Alkraidees Lion Award - For demonstrating the most courage: Ramya Nadella Scarecrow Award - For coming up with the best idea: Mohammad J. Albeloushi Toto Award - For best being able to pull back the curtain (speak the greatest/toughest truth): Jaysen Nundoosingh Tin Man Award - For displaying the biggest heart: Chris Bateson #propelleaderstogreatness #elitehighperformancecoaching #leadership #HighPerformanceLeadership #CfHP #highperformance #ChicagoBooth

Our High Performance Leadership class (https://lnkd.in/dkNhHwEK) was once again inspired by the retired Lt. Gen. Charles W. Hooper, US Army, who is currently senior advisor at The Cohen Group. Each of his succinct and poignant lessons were presented with a story and picture from his career — starting as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he learned humility. He entertained us with his stories of the “misfits” who were sent to the military instead of to jail. He motivated them to use their collective brainpower to go from the worst battalion to the best. He demonstrated through his example that leading with your heart and demonstrating caring to your team leads to better results. And he shocked us with many examples of how people throughout his career pressured him to put ambition over values, and how he chose his values — not only showing leadership courage in action but also succeeded despite — or because of — these hard choices. Thank you, “Hoop,” for engaging us with your wisdom and showing us the common qualities of good leadership, regardless of the setting. #propelleaderstogreatness #elitehighperformancecoaching #leadership #HighPerformanceLeadership #CfHP #highperformance #ChicagoBooth