Creating your personal strategic plan is an opportunity to step back and prioritize what's important to you - professionally as well as personally. It's an opportunity to contemplate who you are, what's most important, and what your legacy is all about. It's important for thinking about what's next, and how to make the most of what is now.

Personal strategic planning takes you beyond mission and vision to strategies, milestones and goals. It helps you identify opportunities and networks that can help you along the way. Your PSP is your roadmap to living your life - fully and the way you dream it to be.

I will be offering two PSP coaching groups, in an accelerated format, this summer - the regular session for mixed groups and a new session specifically for young professionals.

Think about it - by September, you could have your personal strategic planning roadmap guiding you to your dreams!

To see what others are saying about this program click here. For more information, to register or to speak with a recent PSP "graduate" email me.

GS -founding executive director of a national nonprofit, recently stepped into his dream job - creating and leading a new advocacy department for the organization.

BD - a Sr. VP recently took on a new, exciting and courageous assignment, not something that generally happens when one is near "retirement" years.

JM -a rising hi potential in a global pharmaceutical has earned three significant promotions within a two-year period - all without relocating!

NH - recently relocated with her husband and is in the process of reinventing herself and moving at breakneck speed toward the work she has always dreamed of doing.

LR - a VP from one of the top 3 internationally recognized global healthcare clinics in the US created a lateral move for herself, and now has time for family, relationships and realizing her dream of creating a new organization - all without any loss in pay or prestige.

BA - moved from her top post in one company to 2nd in command in another - without a cut in pay - and now has the time and energy to focus on her passion, writing and being published.

EW - who dreamed of supporting herself through her songs has recently cut a new CD and is now being sought after as the keynote at national conferences.

Congratulations Everyone! To read more about what a personal strategic plan can do for you, click here.

In our busy lives, many of us wear the badge of multitasking proudly. Our calendars are full; our schedules daunting. As leaders, we are continually confronted with issues, decisions, and challenges that warrant critical thinking and action. Those issues, challenges and decisions impact our companies, colleagues, communities and families. We analyze, synthesize, problem-solve, and motivate. But, are we acting, or re-acting? And, does it make a difference?

If we want to be effective and authentic as leaders, in our workplaces, homes or communities, it is critical that we become masterful observers of our own thinking. Authentic leadership is leadership that is true to our personal vision. It is the leadership that emanates from the wellspring of our inner self. It is what gives us drive and meaning and propels us to do good in the world. It is also what keeps us sane and balanced in our busy lives.

As we are all aware, being true to ourselves is easy to aspire to, but not always easy to do. Even though we have read the books and intellectually know what we are supposed to do, busy can still become harried; attentive, unfocused; disciplined, compulsive; and open and caring, angry and impatient. Since the mind is the root of all of our actions, a critical first step to being the leader we truly aspire to be, requires self-awareness, a deep understanding of our emotions, our strengths, weaknesses, needs and drives.

Mindfulness - the practice of becoming fully present - is self-awareness in the moment. Mindfulness is being present, witnessing oneself in the midst of the clutter and white noise of our busy worlds. Mindfulness is the skill that enables us to observe and scan our thoughts and feelings before acting. Mindfulness is self-awareness coupled with environmental awareness. It is the critical step in our being able to walk our talk. Mindfulness enables us to re-act with consciousness.

How do we learn mindfulness? There are a number of ways to engage in mindful practice - and mindfulness requires practice. Some individuals learn through meditation, and there are more and more classes and retreats being held as the value of mindfulness for leaders becomes evermore established. Others learn mindfulness through coaching, which provides new frameworks and possibilities for thinking about issues and our habituated reactions to those issues. Still others learn mindfulness through yoga or martial arts and translate that practice into conscious daily living.

Mindfulness is an essential leadership skill to master. By doing so, you will not only reduce stress; you will also cultivate the self reflection needed to be the leader your truly want to be.

If you want to explore how you can develop as a mindful leader, contact me. click here.

If you want to check your awareness skills, click here and have fun! Click here. click here.

I highly recommend Denise as a value-added business consultant, facilitator of work groups/teams and career/life coach. We first worked together at Warner-Lambert... Some years later, I contracted with her to perform an intervention with an R and D group that had significant leadership and operating deficiencies. More recently, I enrolled in one of her strategic planning groups. Denise is among the very best at what she does. She takes a personal interest in her clients and is highly committed to ensuring that the needs of her individual clients are met and exceeded. Denise is on a very short list of people I call when I need advice or coaching. She is "a coaches coach," and I recommend her without reservation. B.M., Biogen Idec

Creating Your Personal Strategic Plan
Creating Your Personal Strategic Plan - for Young Professionals
Emerging Leaders

For more info, check my website click here.