
My most recent indulgence is "Leadership Transformed" by Dr. Peter Fuda. The book is focused on seven common themes that enable leaders to transform themselves into highly effective leaders. Dr. Fuda uses metaphors to drive home points, such as fire, snowball and master chef. One of his metaphors, about fire, is about the motivational forces that drive and sustain transformation efforts...what burns inside you and springs you into action.
What burns in YOU as a leader? Dr. Fuda states that in answering the question, it is important to focus not on a "burning platform" (a crisis), but yet on a burning ambition. Much better to have a planned process surrounding your desire to achieve an objective than to be operating in fire fighting mode each day. Sustainable change requires a fire that burns from inside fueled by desire and passion versus a fire that comes from the outside in the way of a constant barrage of 11th hour problems. It's hard to step back from the challenges of each day and take a minute to think "big picture". But if you want to achieve really BIG objectives, you really have to...