A global survey of 22,000 corporate leaders just voted me the 4th ranked Leadership Coach in the world, and also the 21st ranked Leadership Authority and Speaker. It is a privilege to be counted among 30 brilliant peers and souls from across the globe.
While I accept the award with much gratitude, in fact I am accepting it on behalf of many courageous leaders in many great companies, and also on behalf of our Higher Ground Leadership® Coaches, and our Certified Teachers and Faculty, who pioneer our work around the world.
These are leaders who are looking for something beyond the bottom line alone. For them, while it is important to achieve the metrics, it is not the only purpose of the game. They’re looking for something bigger—an opportunity to make the thing we call “work”, and Corporate life in general, an inspiring experience, and to, as Steve Jobs put it, “…put a ding in the Universe”.
What is truly heartwarming is to see the leaders of great companies using our models and philosophy to help them transform their corporate cultures into environments that inspire. When that happens, inspired employees (our number one priority) will inspire customers (our number two priority) to deepen their relationship and therefore propel the company to greater heights. It’s no accident that the most successful airline in the world, Southwest Airlines, ranks its priorities in this order: employees, customers and shareholders.
We could all be doing much better – my research reveals 80% of employees would give up their day jobs if they had a free choice and according to Korn Ferry, 82% of employees will be looking for a new job in 2020. We can do better than that!
It takes courage to introduce and embrace concepts like “soul”, “love”, ‘intimacy” and “passion” into the workplace, and to understand the connection between these (often derisively referred to as “soft skills”, or “fluff”) and high performance. It takes courage to move positively to reverse the dreadful statistics above. The great leaders and their companies who have done so, and achieved remarkable breakthroughs as a result, deserve the credit. And so do our faculty and coaches who have the courage to bring this work to organizations – that’s why we call them “Pathfinders”.
So I accept the award on behalf of all of these courageous and innovative people, without whom there would be no award. I salute our clients and everyone on our team who made this happen.
How courageous are you? Take this one-minute survey to see how inspiring your organization is.
Way to go Lance!
Thank you kindly Claude, and for your contribution in helping me shape my thoughts about leadership!
Congratulations Lance for the work that you are doing and the love and joy you are bringing to so many lives.
Thank you Tom. Are we going to build a new course this year?
Lance—
Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
I will always remain indebted to you for making me a better CEO, husband, father—and person in general.
You and your fine work continue to be a Blessing to so many.
Thank you,
Rog
One of the great joys of my work is that I meet amazing people who embrace our philosophy (mainly because they are already in that mindset and only need a framework to help implement it) then they go on to build inspiring cultures and high performance organizations. And then the best part – they become good friends. Thank you Roger (and Mary Lou) for being wonderful friends!
Incredible words. Congratulations
Thank you Kathy!
Congrats Lance! Well earned!
Thank you Rick. Thinking of you often – how are you doing?
Congratulations Lance and thank you for the wonderful work you do. All the best my friend, Jason
Coming from you Jason, that is a real salute! I appreciate your support and comment. Keep changing the world and putting a “ding in the universe”!
Congratulations Lance on all your efforts and trail blazing with an inspiring heart to support a much needed new paradigm in workplaces.
Thank you Linda – I love being your partner as you build a different culture in organizations across Alberta!
Our great good fortune was to meet you 15 years ago through your ‘Inspiration vs Motivation’ article. When we called you answered and we began the journey to a company of excellence based on soul–love of humanity and the one true thing. You worked personally with our staff over the years and the CASTLE culture is thoroughly a part of the threads of the fabric of our company. We still work at it consciously every day because we are inspired. Thank you.
And Susan, you and your team are the reason, and a shining example of, the joy I experience from my work. That is a gift and I hope you know how much I appreciate that – and you.
Congratulations Lance! It sure does take courage to love your work in the workplace and to love your company and customers. Great leadership!
Thanks Grace. Well – you know all about courage! So, coming from you, that means a lot!