HI Positive Leaders!

Fun story about an entrepreneur's strengths-based success, from Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A, M.B.A, Ph.D. , Strengths Based Leadership Trailblazer! March 2018

Got Strengths? Why Did the Entrepreneur Jump Up and Down?

As it is Spring, the time of new starts and expansion, here is a fun story from my new Strengths-Owning Manual in my What You Say Is What You Get®: Positive Leadership Series

Invited to teach an Open University class for managers and entrepreneurs, I had them list their strengths. After much moaning and groaning, which did not deter me, they had their lists completed. At the end of Week 1, I assigned homework to focus on their strengths daily! 

At the start of Week 2 “Jerry”, an entrepreneur, was jumping up and down in his chair, waving his hand in the air. He was very excited, wanting me to call on him first. 

He said, “This has been the best week at work I have ever had! Things went so well...!!” He said he had the most productive and exciting week of his life, and had gotten twice much done as usual. He had opened doors to several new customer bases and was thrilled at the possibilities at expanding his business. Plus he was having more fun than ever as his business accelerated! He was very appreciative
for this breakthrough!

“Clients are grateful to discover they are ‘greatful’.” Dr. Linne’s Power Quote

He said he never knew what focusing on his strengths would really do for him. His strengths were a secret from him! Others in the class told similar stories, especially those who actually did the homework! I could see on some faces they had not done the homework and were really regretting it, missing out on the benefits. Clearly strengths are results-friendly!

“You can only use what you know you have, and you can only get results with resources you use.”  Dr. Linne’s Power Quote

What Are Your Positive Power Takeaways?

1. It Pays to Focus on Strengths - “Jerry” saw that by being open to the positive innovative focus on strengths, and doing the work in good faith, he got great results in his business and was more excited and productive than ever. He raised his Positive Quotient®, or PQ, making friends with his strengths!

2. He saw that he had never focused on strengths because the business culture was focused on problems and weaknesses instead of strengths-based solutions. It was not that he was resisting the positive...he just never thought to focus on it!

3. He saw that by doing the homework faithfully, new business worlds opened up to him with much greater opportunity, from his expanded concept of himself! In just one week his life and business were transformed!

Got Strengths?  How Do You Rate?
 
How fully do you know your strengths?
How systematically do you and your team apply them for great results?
If I interviewed your teams, how high would they rate you as a Strengths Leader?

“I think the most important thing is to look for the best in people and get the best from them…”
 Sir Richard Branson, CEO, the Virgin companies.

Of course, this includes yourself!  Enjoy working with your strengths!  Notice the results!

I appreciate all your positive leadership!
Peace and prosperity,
Dr. Linne

Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.
"Build on Your Best" Systems for Leaders, Consultants and Coaches
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph.D.
"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, & protect
www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/oldpowernewpower
Blog: http://drlinnebourget.blogspot.com/
Economist, Change/Leadership Expert
Fortune 10, 50, 100 Consultant to Executives
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership,
Founder/CEO Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants
Consultant, Speaker, Author: From Old Power to New Power - Which Leaders Will Survive?
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up Live the Life You Love-Finding Personal Freedom
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Positive Leadership Series:
The Secret Language of Great Business Results
Positive Quotient® PQ & Appreciative Quotient® AQ Questionnaires, more
 "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne
Copyright 2005-2018. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Welcome to the What You Say Is What You Get(R) Blog

From Dr. Linne Bourget for Positive Leaders--December 2016/January 2017
Before You Even Think of Setting Goals, Read This!!
Santa's 2016 Leadership Checklist--What Would He Say About You?

I was thinking about doing the usual inspirational poem for the holidays, then Santa popped in with a great idea!

Welcome to Santa's quick year in review mini-workshop for leaders, and yes, it's more than being nice!  This is Nice 2.0, or even better, Nice exponentialized!

Take time to answer these key questions...what would Santa put in your stocking? My senior executive clients review everything at year's end to make sure they are poised for greater success.

1.  How appreciative are you of those who work with you? How high is your Appreciative Quotient(R) AQ?
2.  How well do you manage and leverage your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual power in your business?
3.  How much are you stretching to learn new things and grow as a leader?
4.  How precisely do you focus on your leadership technique?
5.  How powerfully do you persist in your business?
6.  How attuned are you to the inner world or spiritual level of your business, yourself and those working with you?
7. How strongly do you use positive leadership to protect your business from the negative factors in the world? How high is your Positive Quotient(R) PQ?
8. How effectively do you delegate?  Are you burning out?  Seeing health problems?
9. How deeply do you know your own strengths?  How many can you list? Hint: You need at least 50 to succeed! (If this is hard, we can help you! I am the national pioneer in appreciative strengths-based leadership systems.)

How would you answer these questions?
What are you doing well?  Where do you need to focus for stronger leverage?

As the year winds down, your answers to these can help you plan for 2017, so please keep these in mind before planning!

I appreciate all your work and businesses and your positive leadership commitments!
"The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne's
Power Quotes

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Peace and prosperity,
Dr. Linne 

"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, & protect
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants
Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive?
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results, Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series, Positive Quotient ®PQ Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient ® AQ Questionnaire, Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage 
Copyright 2005-2017. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

What You Say Is What You Get® From Dr. Linne for Positive Leaders In Negative Times

From Dr. Linne for Positive Leaders In Negative Times--What Can Leaders Do?

As an Economist, I watch interest rates which have gone negative in some countries, the labor participation rate, the REAL unemployment rate which is over 9% at least, business investment declining, a dismal GDP revised downward even more, corporations holding $2.5T overseas, and declining corporate profits.

And how sad an indicator is it that the markets are depending on the Fed instead of on the real economy growing?

Experts are claiming a small business recession and indeed this is the first recession since the 1970s when they starting keeping records that the number of small business has DECLINED during the so-called recovery instead of growing in number and leading the recovery as in all other recessions since then. Not a good sign, since small businesses provide two of every three jobs.

As an Applied Behavioral Scientist, I hear the anger and despair here in the U.S. due to poor leadership which has weakened the national spirit as well as the economy.  Fortunately in the American tradition many are speaking out about this.

Nonetheless, as a Positive Leadership pioneer, I encourage clients to keep focusing on the positive,
on their vision, strengths, accomplishments, new positive plans.  

Why would I do this in such a negative environment. This is a Herculean request!

Because only the positive can heal the negative and turn around negative situations.
More negatives cannot heal the negative, whether economic or psycho-spiritual.
Only the positive can protect us, can set the foundation for getting stronger, for
growing our economy, our companies and small businesses.  

Only systematic positive leadership can keep this ship upright in stormy weather.
Consistently driving toward your goals on a positive platform despite a negative environment
is no longer a luxury.  It is now a fundamental requirement for success.

The research I needed to support my pioneering Ph.D. dissertation on appreciation and change came out over 25 years later!! Finally!  It showed that the % of positive versus negative statements in companies correlated exactly with profits.  The more positive statements, the higher the 
profits.  The more negative statements, the lower the profits. 

Yet many leaders talk a positive game but lack the FAST, Frameworks, Attitudes, Systems,
and Tools, needed for success, rapid change and nimble response to the business.  Many 
don't know what they don't know.

How high is your Positive Quotient®?
How high is your Appreciative Quotient®?
If I interviewed your teams, how high a rating would they give you on both of these dimension?
How systematically positive is leadership in your company?
Do leaders have the FAST they need to succeed, or are they struggling with old negative
"what's wrong with you" antiquated leadership models which always fail in this fast,
demanding, shifting environment?
Let us know if you need assistance with Positive Leadership Systems...this can give you a 
huge strategic advantage in the speed of change!

I appreciate all you Positive Leaders who understand and implement systematic positive 
approaches throughout your company!

Peace and Prosperity,
Dr. Linne
"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, & protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com 
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System 
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants 
Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, 
Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? 
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results, Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series, Positive Quotient® Questionnaire, Appreciative Quotient® Questionnaire, Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage 
Coming soon!! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! 
"The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2016. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

From Dr. Linne for Positive Leaders--What Crucial Resource Can You Not See? August 2015

From Dr. Linne for Positive Leaders--What Crucial Business Resource Can You Not See? August 2015

Dear Clients, Colleagues, Friends and Family,

Welcome to Dr. Linne Bourget's What You Say Is What You Get® Positive Leadership Monthly Newsletter! 

Recently I gave some very clear positive feedback to a fellow entrepreneur (not a client) and he deflected it!  He did not see or own his own greatness!
As a result he is not taking advantage of expansion opportunities for his firm.

This sparked reflections on my client executives, most of whom have been brilliant, highly educated at top schools, leaders in their fields and very successful.
What have they taught me about strengths as a leadership focus? When I began my appreciative leadership work, no one else was doing this and there was no research to guide my Ph.D. dissertation, so clients became guideposts.

1.  They usually do not see or under-see their strengths and greatness in depth, compared to what I see in them.
2.  They are uncomfortable discussing strengths and do not know how to until they have learned my business-friendly language system for this.
3.  They have no idea how much money they leave lying on the road from not seeing/applying strengths to their bottom line systematically in all leadership behavior.

I saw this when starting my positive strengths-based leadership work and was, and still am, amazed. 

How can this be? How can these best and brightest not see their best? Excutives have often been surprised that I can see their strengths quickly when they cannot, even though they have worked together for years!

"Without full knowledge of your best, you have only half the truth - the worst half."
Dr. Linne’s Power Quote

I learned that the culture rarely supports discussing strengths and greatness in depth.
As a result, we have massive under-use of strengths because so few are really seen and applied via all leadership behavior systematically.
This means lower profits, more stress and struggle and a lot less fun!
After all, what resource is more crucial for business success than your leadership team's strengths?

Even companies assessing strengths do not have an integrated set of strengths-based leadership systems to apply strengths  to the bottom line, starting with a road-tested Engine and Four Wheels strengths communication system.

There’s a saying: "An opportunity sustains an enterprise for a year; good management sustains an enterprise for a decade;  good corporate culture sustains an enterprise for a century."

How clear is your company's culture about basing success on strengths?
How deeply do you and your team see strengths?
How thoroughly do you have comprehensive systems in place for strengths-based leadership?

Only have you have done both well can you maximize success, profits, and keep the best talent!
One of my first client teams increased revenue by 35-40% in just a few months using this approach!
How about you?  How skilled are you in this?  How high are your Positive Quotient®PQ and your Appreciative Quotient®AQ? If I interviewed your teams, how would they rate you on this?

Peace and Prosperity to You!
Dr. Linne

"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com 
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System 
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage  
"The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2015. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

What You Say Is What You Get(R)--For Positive Leaders: How Do You "Tax" Your Business?

 From Dr. Linne for Positive Leaders-How Do You "Tax" Your Business Without Knowing? 3 Hidden Sources of Profit--April 2015

Welcome to Dr. Linne Bourget's What You Say Is What You Get(R) Positive Leadership Monthly Newsletter!

This time of year, we complain about taxes, and in this environment with good reason!!
We may not be able to control taxes but we can control our own "taxing" behavior.

As I have observed over 1000 leaders and their businesses for over 30 years, I have had many chances to
observe leaders adding to or subtracting from their bottom lines.

What are the three things leaders do that stand out to strengthen or tax/weaken their profits?
The answers may surprise you!

Tax #1. Lack of systematic positive leadership culture.  First and most costly, leaders who do not have a consisten, systematic, positive leadership culture are leaving lots of lovely money lying on the road. Upsets, misunderstandings, mistakes, disengagement and delays plague them until we get it turned around.  Caught in the usual problem focus, they do not even realize the costs they have been paying until they see the results of positive changes, e. g. increased revenue 35-40% in a few months due to fuller awareness and use of strengths combined with quality management.

To avoid paying this tax and create more profits:  Install a consistent positive leadership culture in all aspects of leadership in your company,
to save time and money and increase profits.

Tax #2. Ignoring issues, not dealing with them, not paying attention.  Result:  A $1000 problem becomes a $1,000,000 problem, they get bad press, lose their best talent, have higher costs, and lose revenue as employees do not raise issues early when they see leaders ignoring them.  One CEO even lost his business by doing this...talk about risky "taxing" behavior!!

To avoid paying this tax and create more profits:  Face up to issues, encourage your employees to raise them by creating a culture where this is rewarded not punished, and most of all, model the behavior!! The tougher the issue, the sooner you face it!

Tax #3. Not keeping up, staying stuck in old leadership power models.  Many executives do not realize that the employee landscape has changed dramatically...the old authoritarian models of leadership just don't fly with Gen X and Y.  Employees expect aware positive collaborative leaders who understand and are skilled at the use of positive collaborative shared power and the exponential and profitable benefits it brings when used well.

Yet I still hear many complaints about negative bosses.  Yes, the new models of power do require learning, but they are all learnable skills...I always tailor my consulting to the clients' individual styles so that learning is faster and easier for them and applied immediately to their tasks and projects, for learning positive systems for planning, delegation, startups, endings, teams/meetings, change, M&A and more....

To avoid paying these taxes and create more profits:  Stay updated on new positive collaborative leadership power systems.  See this as a systems issue, not leaving it to the personality of each leader in your firm, a common taxing error, but creating a systems-based positive leadership culture and behaviors for every leader so you have consistency and thus credibility with employees, customers, alliance partners, etc.

Many studies are now showing the power of the positive approach for your bottom line.  One example:  The % of positive statements in planning meetings at 60 companies correlated 100% with their profitability...the more positive statements, the higher the profitability!!  (Univ. of Michigan, 2006)

"When you forget the positive, you have lost control."  Dr. Linne's Power Quote

Enjoy your tax freedom and success!
I appreciate all the good work you are doing!!

Peace and prosperity,
Dr Linne

"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, & protect
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D
www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership,
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants
Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive?
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results,
Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation"
Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage
Coming Soon: Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders!
"The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne's Power Quote
Copyright 2005-2015. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

for Positive Leaders--The Profit Power of Patience: What You Say Is What You Get(R)

Hello, Positive Leaders!

 

From Dr. Linne for Positive Leaders:  The Positive Profit Power of Patience

 

Benjamin Franklin said  "S/He that can have patience can have what s/he will." (updated pronouns)

How patient are you?  Is your patience/impatience adding to or subtracting from your bottom line? Are you rushing from meeting to meeting, just skimming the surface?  This is Old Power.  New Power stops and listens for deeper layers and better solutions.

In our fast world it is easy to forget the benefits of patience, and indeed this has been a challenge for me as a future visionary..I can see it done and wonder why it takes so long for others to see it and implement!  

 

Yet I have also learned to slow downand think more deeply, ask deeper questions, take time to understand more deeply...and from that, larger business projects and deals

show up for me...and clients and colleagues who are willing to do the same.

As I say, "Only depth gives you freedom."  Dr Linne's Power Quote

Many believe they don't have the time for depth...but they have time to incur the costs of "hurry up and do it over"!

Sadly I have seen many examples of CEOs trying to rush through a deal without the foundation built, only to see them lose hugely.

One did not feel he could afford the few thousand dollars to hire me to evaluate and help choose his executive team.  Cost: three years of lost revenue, many millions of dollars, a very poor business plan written by an unqualified financial person, legal costs and losses, and huge amounts of stress and upsets....as the British say, penny wise, pound foolish.

Another did not stay in touch during crucial periods in his business and lost most of his business...I could have told him one of his deals was much too risky, but he did not return phone calls or emails....was in a crunch, did not feel like he had time to talk.  Very expensive mistake.

What is hurried impatience costing you?

Taking time to communicate...with patience...can prevent and resolve many issues which would otherwise be deal-breakers.

Working on a large and wonderful project, we have had much back and forth about the documents needed, and delays.

Had I not worked on my impatience for many years and achieved more patience within, I would be frustrated and nervous...but I held to our positive vision and the CEO called and assured me again that he wants very much to work together and documents will meet everyone's needs. 

Having more patience gives me with my patience,  and gives you with your patience, these powerful benefits:

1.  The joy of the project and all the good it can do for so many.

2.  The joy of future projects together...he has more than this one.

3.  The joy of building the relationship, both on the same positive leadership page!

4.  More confidence that this will work out for project and financial good for all of us.

5.  More inner space to experience that this is a great benefit for me as well as for the client.

6.  Much less worry about whether this will come to fruition, and much less stress on my body.

7.  More relaxed mental space to add more layers of value to the client and others involved in every communication.

8.  More relazed mental space to track the details of the documents required and ensure accuracy/protection, so we all have a great foundation.

9.  More creative mental space to reach out to more possible clients with positive energy and programs, and enjoy the process!

Can you list more???

How well do you give your business the benefits of patience?  Do you take time to go deeper or are you rushing from meeting to conference call?

How do you rate on patience?  1=low, 10=High...what is your score?

Can you claim patience as a strength?  If not, work on it every day...this takes focus and practice but is worth it.

Need help?  Contact us..I have powerful patience strategies for clients.

Wishing you peace, patience and prosperity!

Dr. Linne

PS Check out the services and products page of my site below, www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com

"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System Founder
CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders, Consultants 
Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage!! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2014. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

The Passing of a Great Leader & the Dance of Leading and Following--5 Keys

 Hello Everyone!

Welcome to this What You Say Is What You Get® Positive Leadership Blog! 

First, a tribute: I want to honor and remember the one mentor who appreciated my pioneering work on appreciative leadership when I began and no one else appreciated my work--he was brilliant, loving and wise and saw the scope of what I started beyond my own vision at the time...he recently passed and I am so grateful to him and so sad.., Dr. Warren Bennis, famous, wise, caring, and brilliant leadership professor, author of 30 books and hundreds of articles, consultant to U.S. Presidents and CEOs, on all the major business media.
He stood for the highest values in leadership, was the President of the University of Cincinnati and Professor of Leadership at USC in their business school for many years. A tribute to him was published by Forbes.

I was honored to know and care for him and receive his caring brilliance for many years.  He did
the foreword for my book, From Old Power to New Power--Which Leaders Will Survive?  and a testimonial for my earlier book What You Say Is What You Get®: The Secret Language of Great Business Results.
I am sad to lose him but honored to have known him...it was crucial to have someone of his wisdom believe in me when I started my work which was the opposite of the "what's wrong with you" approach of all my other mentors!!

In this blog post: A Rare sneak peek at leaders from a follower-What makes a great leader, a poor leader?

How do you rate on these 5 criteria for great leaders, as seen through the eyes of a follower?

Recently at a large dance convention, as a follower (lifelong dancer, highly trained), I analyzed many leaders and how they led.  As an expert on how leaders use power, I see the parallel to how you lead in your business or job, so read very closely! This will give you some powerful keys to lead better !

These are the keys to great leaders, those leaders who gave me the most enjoyable fun and powerful dances.
Notice that in all cases great leaders have a high Positive Quotient®--they bring positive energy and positive skills!

1.  Have invested in great training, have skills in both leadership and dance (=their business), know what they are doing, not just street dancers, they know how to dance with followers without hurting their shoulders, arms, back, wrists, etc., do not throw followers off-balance.
2.  Have a clear lead and frame (=business framework and leadership methods) during the dance (their meeting, business).
3.  Show great connection with follower, pay close attention to the music and the followers. (Focus on associates, listen well, know what they are doing, respond to the external environment quickly and collaboratively.)
4.  Bring good positive energy and also build on the positive energy of the follower, create synergy in the dance (business), 1+1=15.  Smiles! Thank followers for the dance (business efforts).
5.  Bring and lead their own interesting and challenging moves, follow through on what they start, and also make space for followers to add their own moves and styling (foster creativity in collaboration, add challenge, not boring).

These leaders were therefore the most fun to dance with and we had the most powerful fun liberating collaborative dances!

How do you rate on these 5?  1-low, 10-high...how did you do?   What are you doing well?  Where do you want to shift up to a higher gear?
We can help you strengthen your leadership by focusing systematically on and applying your best and the best of your associates/teams/employees!

“Freedom is actually a bigger game than power.  Power is about what you can control. 
Freedom is about what you can unleash.” Harriet Rubin

Wishing you peace and prosperity!
Dr Linne
"Build on Your Best" Bottom Line Leadership Systems
Giving you the power to predict, profit, & protect
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D.
 www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System Founder/CEO 480-767-1717
Institute for Transformation Leaders & Consultants
Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides What You Say Is What You Get® Series, Positive Quotient® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient® Questionnaire, What You Say Is What You Get®, Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation", What You Say Is What You Get® Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2014. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

What You Say Is What You Get(R)--July 4 Independent or Interdependent Leader? How Do You Rate?

 Hello Everyone,

From Dr Linne- for Positive Leaders--Happy 4th of July! 

In giving thanks for our nation's freedoms, still great even under current challenges, I am
reflecting on why I celebrate Independence Day and Interdependence Day --both are crucial for leaders.
Why? What do these terms mean?
We all know that independence means we can stand on our own, in our own strength, and this is good, because
a chain is only as strong as the weakest link...isn't it?
How do you rate in thinking for yourself, holding to your own values, bringing your best strength to your most important leadership relationships?
What score would you give yourself, 1= low, 10= high?

Yet we all know that spiritually, psychologically and practically, we all need more than just ourselves in order to thrive and succeed?
We need spiritual guidance, peace and balance.
We need to grow beyond independence to work in healthy collaboration and synergy with others--what I call in my work the 1+1=15!
We need to be mature enough psychologically to build and sustain these high-synergy relationships of strong individuals
coming together to create more than they could ever dream of achieving alone.

Yet many teams do not require enough individual strength to foster great teams...they settle for less.
And many team members do not give their best, waiting for others to go first, not sure what is needed...and not asking to find out!
In training and development situations, teams can do well helping the weaker members along.
But ultimately, each individual must choose to be in their strengths and greatness and bring that to their teams,
week in and week out, sustainably.
And each positive leader must insist on and create the space for this...
This takes active work...and the rewards can be huge....I have seen teams do things beyond their wildest imagination once
they implement this way of working from strengths...e. g. one client team increased revenue 35-40% in a few months.
This positive path takes courage...it is not for the faint of heart...and is thus quintessentially American!!

How do you rate as an interdependent leader?
How well do you create space for other strong independent people to work closely with you?
Do you nourish and "feed" your strongest most positive colleagues,  and friends?
How well do you support them?  As well as they support you?
How well do you sustain your best interdependent working relationships?  Are you in contact at least weekly?
If I asked your team members how well you do this, what would they tell me?

A colleague and friend who went through major losses a few years back tried to handle things on his own....it did not work out well..he reached the limits
of independence, very constraining when multiple skills and views are needed beyond our own.
This time he has learned to be an interdependent leaders and reach out for help...very smart to be a grower and learner...his foundation will
be stronger as a result, if he sustains great 2-way interdependence, giving as well as receiving.

How do you rate yourself as an interdependent leader?  How well do you foster this high-synergy teamwork?  1- low, 10= high.
Think about your ratings....what looks great?  Where do you need strengthening?

So, when I am standing for the color guard to bring in the flag tonight at our dance convention, and singing the Star Spangled Banner (I know all the
words...do you?), I will be appreciating living in a country which makes space for independent and interdependent leader and team members---because
it is up to all of us to take that space and make it work!!
In appreciation of all of you, wishing you a joyful July 4th,
and strengths, peace and prosperity!! 


"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System 
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders; Consultants Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? 
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results, Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series, Positive Quotient® PQ Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient® AQ Questionnaire, Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage Coming soon!! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2014. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

The Crucial Test for Leaders-How High is Your Positive Quotient(R)?

Dear Clients, Colleagues and What You Say Is What You Get(R) Positive Leadership Newsletter Subscribers, 

Spending the recent holiday with positive open communicative tuned-in company reminded me to ask myself.....

how high is my Positive Quotient(R)?  I trademarked this phrase for my questionnaires, articles and seminars because it is so important

to remember to focus on the positive and not be a "Squeaky Wheel" leader driven by crises and problems!

Research clearly shows that positive people generate more business, attract more positive situations and are more likely to get funding!

Welcome! Join me and ask yourself these Positive Quotient(R) questions:

1.  What percentage of your focus is on the positive vs. negative in your business?

2.  How often do you let crises and upsets distract, overtake you and derail your positive relationships, vs. staying on a positive focus?

3.  What % of your associates are positive, supportive, collaborative, and communicate frequently/well, vs. negative, critical, aloof, unavailable?

4.  How well are you attracting and keeping positive collaborative people into your business life?

5.  Do you nurture those positive relationships or just take them for granted or ignore them?

6.  How loyal are you over time to positive colleagues who have added great value to your business and life?

7.  How well do you remember and appreciate support given to you in the past and continue to value those who gave it?

8.  How diligent are you at keeping positive people in your business/life?

9.  How well do you keep your accounts up to date with your best supporters, financially and psychologically/spiritually?

How do you rate on these 9 questions?  The higher your Positive Quotient(R), the better your business will go.

I found that mostly I am doing well and more positive people are entering my sphere.  The very few negative critical people are all in one deal, I do not let them upset me or engage them emotionally.  I am just clarifying facts  to honor my word I would do so...once this deal ends, I will not do business with them again...their choice to go negative has burned their bridge with me. Had I known their character at the start (they presented as very positive), I would not have worked with them....Live and learn!

Although "Squeaky Wheel" leadership --focusing on the negative, can be captivating, it is damaging to your health and bottom line.

If you have negative critical or cold, aloof, unavailable colleagues in your business, is it time to clean house?  Think about it!!

And be sure to nurture your most positive supporters!!

I wish you the most positive successful business life!

I appreciate your contribution to our still-wounded economy!

Dr Linne

"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, & protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System 
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders&Consultants 
Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, 
Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? 
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results 
Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire 
Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage !! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2014. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Three Powerful Positive Leadership Lessons for You from the Superbowl!!

 Hello, Everyone

A dear friend once inspired me to say for the first time ever, "only depth gives you freedom".  He replied:  "Whoa, that is profound!"  He saw that only depth frees you to be, do, and have the best in your life...yet very few business owners and leaders work in depth...most think they are too busy!  Big mistake! 

Looking more deeply than the plays and the scores, what about the Seahawks allowed them to have the freedom of creating a walkaway win over the Broncos and the first Seattle Superbowl championship ever?

Three Powerful Seahawks Leadership Lessons:

1.  A spiritual foundation:  Quarterback Russell Wilson said it first every time he spoke:  Thank God...he is clear he is on a spiritual mission, not just in a game or a business.
2.  Positive mindset--the Seahawks has a passionately powerful mindset and focused on being Champions starting over a year ago...and kept to this vision passionately!  This bonded them together more tightly as a team!
3.  Positive supportive collaborative coaching by Pete Carroll, in a very usual style, more emotional, supportive and player-centered.  This is a sea change from the old authoritarian tough as nails football tradition!!  Carroll's style created space for and encouraged the best from all players!  The old tough authoritarian near-hazing style is much less effective in unleasing strengths and greatness of course...times have changed!

1. How well does your business follow these leadership success lessons?
2. Do you have a strong spiritual foundation in your business?
3. Do you have a passionate commitment to your positive vision, and associate with those who believe in you and support you deeply?  
4. Do you allow into your business the most positive people or shut them out?  
5. Do you allow negative people into your business to drag you down, or stick to the positive professional people?
6. Do you provide great positive collaborative leadership which brings out the best in those on your team?

Remember.."Only depth gives us freedom!"...look at your business and yourself as a leader in more depth if you want better results!

In appreciation of you,
Dr Linne
--
"Build on Your Best"
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph.D., The Practical Ph.D.
Trusted advisor to senior executives
www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/oldpowernewpower
facebook.com/DrLinneBourgetMBAPhD
twitter.com/#!/DrLinne
Pioneer, Positive strengths-based leadership,
Fortune 10, 50, 100 Consultant
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717
Institute for Transformation Leaders & Consultants
Speaker, Author: From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? 
"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, & protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com 
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System 
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, 
Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? 
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage Coming soon!! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2014. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Leaders! Do not even think of setting 2014 goals until you do this!

Hi Everyone,

Why do so many goals go unfulfilled?  We mean well, but somehow they get lost in our multi-tasked to-do lists.

What does it take to persevere enough to actually acheive our goals?

You may already have your goals written, so if you have, back up and do this now to put a foundation under your goals.

If you have not done your goals yet, by all means, do this first, then write your goals.

Here is the secret I use with planning and goal-setting with clients:  Always go over your previous year's foundation of your achievements and celebrate those to give you enough positive momentum.  Without doing this you are just putting more pressure on yourself without also adding greater support and appreciation...this just does not work! Everyone needs to be appreciated and have their successes celebrated!
"The deepest craving in human nature is to be appreciated."
William James, Harvard Psychologist

This appreciation and celebration and actually facing up to your achievements the previous year gives you the fuel you need in your mental/emotional gas tank to push your goals to fruition!  This in turn gives you more success and opportunities for growth!

So, make your list of achievements, celebrate and THEN set or revisit your goals!!
Wishing you the best of success!
Dr Linne Bourget

"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 
Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, 
Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results, Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage Coming soon!! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2014. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Chaos, Order, Power and Leadership

HI Everyone,

Wow, putting on my Economist and Leadership Power expert hats, I am watching the two steps forward one step back in the Power Shift from dictatorship to democracy ( my latest book, From Old Power to New Power--Which Leaders Will $urvive?)...tough going right now...vicious circle...poor economic growth opens the door for dictatorship which then weakens economic growth!  Seeing it here and home and abroad...very sad...tough lessons to be learned in many countries.

But, hey, Egypt, how could you possibly think Mursi would be democratic?  His pronouncement of his absolute power is in exact alignment with the beliefs of his party.   This was obvious before your 2012 election.  Hope this works out well for you there...would be good to have you as an ally again.

Here in the U.S., we see fruits not growing to ripeness:
-Our GDP was lowered by a huge 33 % from 2.4 to 1.8% for 2012, now the same as Russia.
-A poll reported 44% of Americans are worse off economically than a year ago.
-The markets dropped like a rock at the hint of "tapering" by the Fed.
-Top line revenue for corporate earnings has been nothing to write home about.
-Job formation 188,000 this week is only half of what we need to get back on track.
-Small business formation and job creation, usually creating 2/3 of our jobs, is at the lowest level in 30 yrs.
-I know many entrepreneurs with great products, technology and services who cannot get startup funding even in cities which are rebounding...not a good sign..in fact, a very bad sign. 

On this 4th of July, my prayer for our great if beleaguered nation, is that our economy strengthens,
more jobs are created, our Constitution and spiritual foundation are honored again and the innovative
spirit of America flourishes in business once again!!

May you have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Peace and Prosperity,
Dr. Linne

"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System 
 Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants 
Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage Coming soon!! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2013. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Irrational Exuberance in the Markets-Leadership Myths

Hello, Everyone

I am amazed at the market rally...what is it based on?
Europe is still in major trouble...nothing has really been solved there...the power struggles birthed of the inevitable socialistic scarcity continue. Their unemployment rate of 11.6% is the highest ever.
Our GDP number was just lowered to nearly nothing here in the U.S.
The banks are still scandal ridden, LIBOR, etc., and are laying off employees and shrinking/deferring bonuses.
Loans are still very difficult to achieve.
The housing situation is slightly better but the loss of value is still huge for many homeowners.
Small business formation and small bus. job formation are the lowest in 30 years, and we 
know that small business growth is the key to jobs and turning the U.S. economy around, as the large corporations are punished for re-patriating cash and sales here would not justify expansion for them anyway as a rule. 
 The administration in DC is not friendly to small businesses and consistently makes it harder for them to grow, via taxes, regulations, health care costs, and now a higher minimum wage....and that is the only possibility for major growth. 


The global debt situation is choking a recovery with no signs of how that will mitigate.

So why are the markets up so much?  Tired of being bears?  Short term focus by traders?  Creating a rally to be able to sell? Just weary of bad news and grasping at straws?  Who knows?  I certainly do not.
It just seems like irrational exuberance all over again....the underlying economic factors just do not support this optimism, as much as we would like to see better numbers.
 
So tell me please, what is Wall Street thinking?  Or smoking?  This rally is just not sustainable...fasten your seat belt...it will be bumpy still.

Wishing I had better news,
Dr. Linne Bourget
"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D
www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com 
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System 
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders& Consultants Strategist, Consultant, Speaker,
Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive? 
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage Coming soon!! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2013. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

The Most Powerful Leadership Choice in Decades...the U.S. Presidential Election

Hello, Everyone,

As Europe hesitates and delays progress with its internal power struggles, inevitable with socialism as the more and less fiscally responsible countries try to find a fair solution when there really are none
due to the extremes of Greece, Spain, etc., I turn my attention to the U.S. election.

As the U. S. is increasingly vulnerable to the same issues as Europe due to the current administrations
ideology and authoritarian domestic leadership style, this election is the most important in a very long time.

As an expert in leadership styles, I found both debates to date to be very telling.
In the first, Obama was disengaged, unprepared, inarticulate and a clear loser.  He did not care enough to prepare and is used to being the whole show, so his weakness in collaborative process was glaring.  This is typical of authoritarians.  Romney was the clear winner, strong, articulate, prepared, authoritative, presidential, powerful yet statesmanlike.

The V. P. debate was also revealing..Biden's rudeness, smirking, constant interrupting, was amazingly condescending and again, authoritarian, a national embarrassment.  Not the least statesmanlike. As one commentator said, it is frightening to think of having his finger on the nuclear button!  In 30 years of working with senior executives, I have never allowed this behavior in any of my client teams. 

The only good thing about Biden's behavior is that so many women, one radio show host said, were switching to Romney/Ryan based on Biden's behavior.  This is of course predictable, but clearly Biden did not care about the women's vote...a strategic error to be sure.  The deeper issue though is how his behavior reveals his character.

I have wondered all along why they couldn't get things done in DC...it is of course up to the President to make sure that parties work together, the buck stops at the White House.  Now I see why.  Obama either does not care or lacks the skill in collaborative process.  But even if he lacks the skill, he has access to experts if he really wants to lead and get things done.

The Libya situation, not taking briefings in person, just on paper and the lack of leadership--choosing to be the abdicrat-- with all energy campaigning also reveal character and priorities.  The rest of the nation hangs in the balance, with even top CEOs afraid to commit to expenditures/investments due to fear.  The recent market rally had little volume.  Large firms are sitting on $1.7 trillion in cash!  Investors are sitting on the sidelines.  Small businesses cannot get funding....I have spoken to at least 10 this week!  

Bottom Line:  I have never seen so much fear, despair and frustration as I see expressed toward this administration in the business community....everyone I speak with is in fear or despair, and I gravitate to positive can-do professionals!

Wake up, America!  We can still get back on track, although it will be challenging.  Please vote for
the only candidate who has a clue about business and economic realities---with  Romney and Ryan
we have a chance.  Otherwise, our entire nation is at risk economically, psychologically and spiritually.


"Build on Your Best" Giving you the power to predict, profit, & protect 
Dr. Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D 
www.oldpowernewpower.com www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com 
Pioneer, strengths-based leadership, Master Intuition System 
Founder/CEO 480-767-1717 Institute for Transformation Leaders & Consultants 
Economist, Behavioral Scientist, Fortune 10, 50, 100 Consultant,
Strategist, Consultant, Speaker, Author of From Old Power to New Power – Which Leaders Will Survive?
Co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, Amazon #1Bestseller, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom 
Author, What You Say Is What You Get® Series: The Secret Language of Great Business Results Dr. Linne's Leadership Guides Series Positive Quotient PQ® Questionnaire Appreciative Quotient AQ® Questionnaire Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children, 2 CD Audio by "Dr. Appreciation" Appreciation: The Secret Key to Magical Marriage Coming soon!! Power Course on Intuition for Business Leaders! "The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness." Dr. Linne Copyright 2005-2012. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.