Featured Monthly Article

Leading with Personal Integrity By Craig Ross and Steven W. Vannoy Low Road vs. High Road Have you watched the movie, The Contender? In it, a politician is being pressured to compromise her principles - to take the Low Road. If she were to do so, she could take the easy way out and defend herself. What's wrong with that? Without giving away what happens, I offer something she said that resonates with me - and I paraphrase - "Values and principles are not meant to be lived only when they are convenient." This makes sense to me. So many of us are under incredible pressures. When I'm not operating at peak energy, when I'm off a roll, it's easy to give in to these pressures and operate in a way that doesn't truly reflect who I am. Of course, a Low Road action only hurts others and can create negative results, thus perpetuating and intensifying the pressures I gave into in the first place. High Road Leadership is not for the wimpy. High Road Leadership is about stepping up and living our values and principles, even when it's not convenient. How do you model and live High Road Leadership even when: you didn't create the results you wanted on the first try? someone disagrees with you? someone is conducting business in a way you wouldn't? things are piling up and are increasingly hectic?		Craig Ross, Director of Pathways     Steven Vannoy, President and Founder
You already know it's a faux leader who leads and lives in hope of the day when the challenges finally pass. The leader others are drawn to, the one who consistently generates results, this leader understands it's not about eliminating the challenges - it's about successfully leading through to the next one. It's been said that life is a journey. Here are some thoughts to consider along the pathway: How will people speak of you as a leader? How will you be defined when times are challenging? Where will you raise the bar in your effectiveness as a leader right now? How will you honor and build your colleagues' confidence and strengthen the work environment today? How will you invite wide-open and honest dialogue? What will you do to establish clear achievable stretch objectives for both you and your team? How will you build a strong healthy team identity?

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