By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to help you think more before you act. Reading time: 4:38.

Ah, a veranda. How inviting! How relaxing!

You can almost feel yourself settling into a comfortable and comforting rocking chair on that veranda.

It’s a warm summer afternoon in a small mid-Western town at the turn of the 20th century. And you’re sipping a tall, cold glass of lemonade.

If you squint hard enough from your vantage point on the veranda you can almost see barefoot kids in the distance toting fishing poles and waving like a scene out of Huckleberry Finn.

Time seems to slow down on the veranda. And your thinking seems to speed up. Your conversation, problem-solving and interaction on the veranda seems to be much more insightful, much more stimulating and much more meaningful. Call it The Veranda Vitality syndrome.

Too bad too many of today’s 21st century leaders no longer exercise their Veranda Rights.

Too bad too many leaders don’t take the time to STOP and think of more creative options before reacting to the problem de jour in Whack-a-mole fashion.

Too bad too many leaders are more focused on how quickly they can address -and dismiss -this one issue in front of them before the next issue pops up and grabs their attention.

Stop & Think

Maybe today’s leaders need a reminder to stop and think every time they confront a significant new problem. Maybe they need a reminder to consult with others, to bounce ideas off others who have diverse points of view.

Maybe they need to exercise their Veranda Rights -a signature process statement - that does for leadership what the Miranda Rights do for justice: let cooler heads prevail especially in volatile situations. Continue reading “Exercising Your Veranda Rights” →