What Yoga Teachers Can Teach Leaders About Untangling

What Yoga Teachers Can Teach Leaders About Untangling

I just returned from what is now an annual week-long sojourn to the Ixtapan de la Sal Spa in Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico. Located two hours south of Mexico City, in an idyllic village, it is easy to unwind, reflect, and relax. The spa itself is reasonably priced and clean, with friendly staff. Visitors enjoy pampering and a veritable feast of classes. Every day, I attended a yoga class with Maria. Maria has a soothing voice with a German accent and guides students through a series of stretches and exercises that calm the mind and body.

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More Leadership Wisdom From Captain Chesley Sullenberger
leadership, self-awareness, values Guest User leadership, self-awareness, values Guest User

More Leadership Wisdom From Captain Chesley Sullenberger

Captain Chesley Sullenberger III continues to teach us all the lessons of true leadership. Today's San Francisco Chronicle features a letter from Captain Sullenberger. He writes that he learned early on that anyone who takes a leadership role is responsible for the welfare of those he commands. He goes on to say, "During every minute of our flight, I was confident I could solve the next problem. My first officer, Jeff Skiles, and I did what airline pilots do: We followed our training and our philosophy of life. We valued every life on that airplane and knew it was our responsibility to try to save each one, in spite of the sudden and complete failure of our aircraft. "There is so much richness in this statement, and much applicability to our business leaders. As a leader, Sullenberger was confident because he had a roadmap and values that guided his decision-making process. He could have blamed his plane and given up. He did not.

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US Airways Captain Sullenberger, Leaders, and Strangling Tangles

US Airways Captain Sullenberger, Leaders, and Strangling Tangles

On January 15, 2009, US Airways flight 1549 took off from New York's La Guardia Airport. By all accounts, this was a routine takeoff, like many that occur day in and day out. However, on this particular flight, something unexpected occurred that required leadership, quick thinking, and skill. The plane hit a flock of birds, disabling both engines. Captain Chesley Sullenberger III deftly guided the plane for a safe landing in the Hudson. All the passengers survived. This miraculous story offers great insight for leaders who want to avoid catastrophes, or what I call Strangling Tangles. A Strangling Tangle is a complex business challenge, further complicated by messy human dynamics that leads to a precipitous drop in revenue or even business failure.

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