There was a movie that came out this year which gained some nice momentum at the box office. The title is 'What the Bleep do we Know?' starring Marlee Matlin as the central character in the story. She is a thirtysomething photographer, divorced, and disenchanted with her life. As she goes through her day-to-day life, she starts to see the world in a different way based on some real life experiences which allow her to see the importance of her attitude and how it is affecting her. In the film, she discovers that what is, and how one perceives one's reality, can be altered based on a positive belief system.
This storyline is layered with documentary-like interviews with notable PhDs, scientists, mathematicians and other experts on quantum physics from schools such as Princeton, MIT and Harvard. The core essence of the theory states that the 'way' we choose to see our world creates our reality.
The quantum physics theory supports the notion that at the subatomic level, there are parallel universes and we choose which result we are seeking. It states that there are many outcomes to any given circumstance, but we select the outcome based on our thoughts and desires.
Does this sound crazy to you? Well maybe, but scientists are actually coming closer to proving the theorem by looking at this subatomic universe and what they know to be true. In the film, they press the envelope surrounding the laws of 'cause and effect' implying that our thinking, our intentions, in fact, have more of an impact on the outcome of an event than we might have originally thought possible.
These scientists and mathematicians have been developing their theorems and are close to determining that even at this subatomic level, free will exists. This could in fact mean we are in more control of outcomes far greater than we may have believed. In fact, our thoughts, ideas and intentions could soon be scientifically proven not only to influence but to be the reason why things do or do not happen.
What then does this have to do with how effective we are at work and at leadership in the workplace? How do we actually achieve, lead, and succeed using these concepts of free will? My answer is this: I believe that more than ever, we are in a time where tuning in to the logical and the emotional intelligence of decision-making shows true leadership, and is what we need to continue to develop. Why? Because this, I believe, is the formula for how business successfully responds in 2005.
The challenge is for leaders to rise up and improve their current leadership style since some of the examples out there are far from what's working. It's all a part of our continuous improvement mentality. Like it or not, we are on this treadmill of better, faster, smarter ideas, decisions, and solutions. What's evident though is that there is confusion and even some chaos on how to do it all effectively.
Are we in a time of information overload on the right leadership style? What if we went back to some basic formulas that are authentic, simplified and effective? Maybe this would put us on a path of creating the right circumstances of logic with emotion which would produce the results we are seeking. Have you ever given much thought to what the difference is between a good leader and a good manager? Leaders are effective at holding on to the vision but change what can be enhanced. They take risks and know how to make decisions quickly.
Sometimes, they may even fail more than the good manager, because they are trying more things on a constant basis. Most people fear what might happen if it is unknown. Embracing your fears and defining the future allows your intentions to take form. As a good leader you must be clear on your intentions. Being focused is paramount to engaging people to be on side. What else do we have to bear in mind around good leadership? Here is an additional checklist to consider.
* Understand your core values and mission of the company
* Keep the clarity and focus on the main goals
* Know what's important to measure
* Identify the strength and determine what action must be taken then collaborate, work together, and strive to do your best
* Strive to inspire people raising their confidence to become leaders
* Create a team atmosphere where people believe in that team
Other attributes of good leadership are to try not to change a person's style, but to develop that style by leading, teaching and guiding the person, then letting them go. Understand the uniqueness of your team and appreciate one another's differences.
The idea of authentic, logical and emotional intelligence allows for optimal leadership thinking. On a higher level, if we tap into our free will and pay attention to our intentions like our leading quantum physicists predict, think of the possibilities of using this knowledge at a quantum intelligence level? Imagine the greatness we might all achieve.
With good leadership, many great things can and do happen. This might be a time where knowledge really has an opportunity to transform into wisdom. And according to the quantum theory, doesn't it all begin with having a great thought?