| Jerry Rice, former NFL receiver with the most | | | | movements. Eg., in salsa, for every 3 quick steps, |
| touchdowns, said it was the hardest thing he has | | | | you pause on the fourth. For a dance to be |
| ever done. What is it? Competing on TV's show | | | | graceful, fluid and dynamic, mastering its varying |
| "Dancing with the Stars" last year. "I worked | | | | tempo is essential.In business, timing and rhythm |
| more on dancing than when I played | | | | are equally important. The most successful |
| football."Dancing - one of my greatest life passions | | | | businesses know that there is a time to grow and |
| - has also been my greatest teacher. I have | | | | seize opportunities quickly. There is also a time to |
| learned more about life and success from dancing, | | | | pause, regroup and put the necessary resources |
| than any book, seminar or even business mentor. | | | | in place to go to the next level. Do you honor |
| When I step out on a dance floor, my whole | | | | your own business rhythm? Do you know when |
| world changes. I transcend my everyday world of | | | | to move quickly and when to pause? How can |
| busy activities, demands and challenges to a place | | | | pausing help you to get to your goal |
| of timelessness ... that defies words. It touches | | | | faster?PRINCIPLE 5: Developing powerful business |
| every fiber of my being.This "wise teacher" has | | | | (or personal) partnerships requires sensory acuity. |
| taught me how to:- Achieve my goals and visions | | | | Pay attention to the unspoken |
| more effortless. | | | | communications.One of the most critical skills in |
| - Fill my days with a deeper sense of passion | | | | partner dancing is developing sensory acuity. Both |
| and joy. | | | | the leader and the follower must learn to |
| - Increase my productivity and focus | | | | communicate and "listen" to each other, without |
| dramatically. | | | | words.A follower must "listen" to a leader's cues -- |
| - Develop synergistic relationships resulting in | | | | communicated from his frame to her frame -- |
| more powerful win/win outcomes. | | | | for next steps. The leader uses this skill to discern |
| - Live what I call an "inspired life."Regardless | | | | whether his partner "heard" his dance cues |
| whether you are a dancer or not, you too can | | | | correctly and, if necessary, to adjust his lead |
| experience the same powerful shifts. Below are 7 | | | | accordingly.Powerful "partnerships" are at the |
| critical principles that can teach you how to | | | | heart of every business. Whether between a |
| transform your business journey and destination | | | | boss and employee, between a company and |
| ...beyond what you thought possible.PRINCIPLE 1: | | | | their customers, or amongst peers, such |
| MAGIC happens in the experience, not the | | | | partnerships listening to the unspoken |
| outcome.Last week, I went to a seminar by | | | | communications.Only 7% of our communications |
| Robert Dilts, top NLP (NeuroLinguistic | | | | comes from words; 60-70% through physiology. |
| Programming) trainer, called "Demystifying the | | | | Pay attention to a person's physiology - such as |
| Wealth Factor." Using the NLP tool of modeling | | | | their gestures, posture, etc. What are these |
| with hundreds of entrepreneurs, he identified the | | | | unspoken "signals" telling you? How can mastering |
| top 7 critical factors of business success.Passion | | | | this skill improve your bottomline?PRINCIPLE 6: |
| was one of those factors. Although passion being | | | | Great leaders lead from behind. They know how |
| a critical success factor is not new, what was | | | | to put the spotlight on others and help them |
| new was Dilt's view on passion. He said "true | | | | succeed.In dancing, the leader's role is to lead the |
| passion happens when the destination and the | | | | steps, bring out the best in the follower and let |
| journey become one and the same."A big "AHA"! | | | | their partner shine. The follower's "job" is to |
| I now had words to describe my own experience | | | | implement the dance choreography ... ie., its vision |
| with dancing. Being goal-oriented by nature, | | | | and essence.So it is with business. Your business |
| dancing has taught me to suspend my need to be | | | | success is directly proportional to your ability to |
| at a specific place at a specific time. To | | | | lead from behind, bring out the best in others and |
| experience the magic of dancing, you cannot be | | | | help them succeed. Such is the paradox of great |
| anywhere other than where you are at in the | | | | leadership.To what extent do you bring out the |
| moment.Dancing teaches me to stay focused on | | | | best in others and help them succeed? How can |
| the experience of the moment. That each | | | | leading from behind make your "job" easier and |
| moment is a destination in itself. That only in the | | | | produce better business outcomes?PRINCIPLE 7: |
| moment can passion and magic happen. What's | | | | The greatest dance of all is the dance with |
| your experience of the moment ... right now ... in | | | | uncertainty. To succeed in today's times, you |
| your business?PRINCIPLE 2: Ensure that you have | | | | must learn to let go of control, be "light on your |
| the right structure. It allows maximum movement | | | | feet" and ready to respond in a moment's |
| and helps you achieve goals easier and | | | | time.The greatest gift that dancing has taught me |
| faster.From day 1, a dancer learns the importance | | | | is the ability to live in the moment, let go of the |
| of the right frame, whether as a leader or | | | | need to control/anticipate the dance steps and to |
| follower. You will often hear a dance instructor | | | | trust myself and my inner guidance. Every |
| say in class "No noodle arms or hand | | | | follower must learn to live with 100% uncertainty |
| squeezing."For a leader to lead and a follower to | | | | and be ready for any step - even those never |
| follow, there must be enough (not too little or too | | | | learned - that the leader chooses in the |
| much) tension in the arms. Too little tension, and | | | | moment.The 21st century is one of rapid change |
| the leader must effort for the follower to do her | | | | and unpredictability. Social upheaval, technological |
| steps. Too much tension constricts movement, | | | | breakthroughs, environmental catastrophes, etc. |
| can injure the body and make the dance anything | | | | can instantly change the course of a business. To |
| but an enjoyable experience.The same is true in | | | | survive and thrive, you must learn to dance with |
| business. Too little structure and you have to | | | | uncertainty, Every change presents threats and |
| work harder to achieve your goal. Too much | | | | opportunities. Your ability to flow with, not against, |
| structure constrains the ability of an individual or | | | | the tide of change will determine your ultimate |
| organization from moving with ease, speed and | | | | outcome.How comfortable are you with |
| momentum. Make sure you have the right | | | | uncertainty? How does your management style |
| amount of structure. To what extent do you | | | | prevent you from responding to change? Do you |
| have "noodle arms or squeezing" in your | | | | move with or against the tide?As Jerry Rice |
| business?PRINCIPLE 3: True mastery happens | | | | learned that being great in dancing is not different |
| when you shift your focus from "doing" to | | | | from that in football, so too have I learned the |
| "becoming." Only then can you experience optimal | | | | same holds between dancing and business. As |
| performance.One of my favorite classic books is | | | | diverse as these disciplines seem on the surface, |
| George Leonard's "Mastery: The Keys to Success | | | | they intersect at the core elements driving every |
| and Long-Term Fulfillment". George Leonard was a | | | | great success story. Timing, intuition, passion, |
| master black belt martial arts instructor who | | | | creative expression, spontaneity and rhythm are |
| applied the principles of aikido to leadership and | | | | just a few of the commonalities. The "Dance of |
| success in business.As a runner, he used the | | | | Success" is not about winning the medal. It is the |
| example in his book that true mastery comes | | | | path to mastery itself that catapults us beyond |
| when you transcend from "doing" the run," to | | | | the edge of who we are and what we are |
| "becoming the run." Great musicians and artists | | | | capable of. I hope you enjoy the dance |
| know this state. I have experienced this state in | | | | ☺).Denise Corcoran - CEO, The |
| dancing. When you move from "doing" to | | | | Empowered Business (tm) - assists CEOs, |
| "becoming," you experience an amazing sense of | | | | executives and business owners in taking a |
| effortlessness and "flow," as Mihaly | | | | quantum leap from the ordinary to extraordinary |
| Csikszentmihalyi described in his classic book, | | | | ... from unrealized dreams to mastering their |
| "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience."In | | | | destiny ... from slow growth to exponential results. |
| the business world, there is a big difference | | | | A business & leadership coach, strategic |
| between "doing the right thing" and "becoming the | | | | consultant and Master NLP Practioner, Denise's |
| right person." Great achievers know that when | | | | unique "inside out" approach provides deep |
| you focus on "becoming" more, you will do more. | | | | transformation and lasting change in you, your |
| On what side of the equation is you focus | | | | organization and your results. Her latest e-book: |
| on?PRINCIPLE 4: Timing and rhythm are | | | | "The Mindset of Greatness: 21 Principles to |
| everything in business. Know when to move | | | | Becoming an Unstoppable Woman ... Oprah |
| quickly; know when to slow down and | | | | Winfrey Style!" to her monthly ezine - The |
| pause.Every dance has a certain rhythm, utilizing a | | | | Empowered Business (tm) - and learn the |
| combination of quick and slow (or hold) | | | | legendary secrets of top business achievers. |