Dear friends:

According to Roger Martin, dean of the University of Toronto Business School, focusing on what a successful leader does is a mistake. Martin contends that it’s more beneficial to study how great leaders think. In his studies of successful leaders, he has concluded that they process information differently than the rest of us do.

In How Successful Leaders Think, Martin writes, successful leaders “have the predisposition and the capacity to hold in their head two opposing ideas at once. And then, without panicking or simply settling for one alternative or the other, they’re able to creatively resolve the tension between those two ideas by generating a new one that contains elements of the others but is superior to both.”

Martin calls this process of consideration and synthesis “integrative thinking,” and he contends that it is this ability and not a “superior strategy or faultless execution that is the defining characteristic of most exceptional businesses and the people who run them.” Martin interviewed fifty exemplary leaders in doing his research, and intriguingly, he says many successful executives aren’t even aware that this is the way they go about processing information.

We are continually faced with having to make choices — from what business strategies to pursue and difficult decisions about career and relationships to the enormous array of more mundane choices, large and small. Many times, we face simple either/or situations, in which we must choose one thing or another — whether to purchase a half or a full pint of blueberries, whether we want paper or plastic bags, whether to drive to our next appointment or take a bus. Most choices, though, are not as clear-cut.)

What are some choices you are now faced with where you might employ some of the elements of integrative thinking?

(The above few paragraphs are excerpted from Less: Accomplishing More By Doing Less).

Warmest regards,

Marc

Antidotes to busyness, and tools and practices for living a more calm, meaningful, and productive life.


"With gentle wisdom and real-world common sense, Marc Lesser effortlessly integrates profound spiritual wisdom into a clear and doable program for sane self-improvement."
- Norman Fischer, Zen abbot and teacher, poet, author of Sailing Home

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Seminars/Workshops


Please come join me for a workshop or seminar:

April 18 (This Saturday) 1-day workshop: Accomplishing More By Doing Less – Green Gulch Farm 415 383-3134

April 26 Chicago, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate Zen Center, Book Reading/seminar, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. http://www.ancientdragon.org/

May 3 1-day workshop: Accomplishing More by Doing Less – Spirit Rock Meditation Center. To register visit www.spiritrock.org

June 4 Saybrook Dialogues; Leadership Wisdom and Making A Difference, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 747 Front Street, San Francisco; to register call 415 394-5220

June 13 Company Time, Green Gulch 10 – 5 (With Norman Fischer)
To register call 415 383-3134

July 17 - 19 Leadership, Imagination, Zen – Tassajara, Weekend
Workshop (With Jackie McGrath) www.sfzc.org

July 19 - 23 Accomplishing More By Doing Less – Tassajara,
4-day workshop www.sfzc.org

September 4 - 6 Esalen, weekend workshop, Accomplishing More By Doing Less www.esalen.org

Fridays - Sacred Shimmy 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. -- Meditation and Dance, 1501 Mariposa Street, in San Francisco, with Carol and Marc Lesser

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Please take a look at, and post your comments, on my new blog, www.doingless.net: Tools and practices for living a more calm, meaningful, and productive life.

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What If Your To-Do List Was Complete?

In my writing and speaking about busyness I’ve become more and more aware of the problem, and its tolls. With the economy continuing downward, a natural reaction can be to tighten or to push harder. Busyness is not only a “badge of honor”; it’s also part of our identity. Our tasks and activities as well as our plans and aspirations can become a major part of how we define what is important, and can define who we are. In some way this is natural, and not necessarily a problem. That is, as long as we don’t lose sight of taking the time to appreciate being alive; remembering to give our attention to what is most important in our lives. Stepping out of the busyness cycle can also open the possibility for more creativity, more satisfaction, and more productivity.

If you have just a few minutes, try this -- Imagine that your to-do list is complete. (Take a breath, relax, I know this can be difficult, startling.) Actually, take a few breaths; relax, settle... Imagine, you pull out your list of things to do and everything is done, crossed off, complete.

Then you look at your list of projects – also done, complete.

Then you search through and think of your list of aspirations, things missing in your life, all the things that are lacking, incomplete, or need improvement. Imagine -- all done, nothing missing, nothing lacking, complete, just right. Just imagine this, let this sink in for a few seconds.

Bring your attention to your breath and your body. Let yourself just appreciate being alive.

What if….what if there was nothing left to do.? In what way would you be different? How would you feel? What would you do next; how would you move into the space now available to you.

Now, breathe, relax, and return…

In what ways does this exploration influence what you decide to keep on your list, or how you approach what you want to accomplish?

Good reads
A Whole New Mind , by Daniel Pink - Compelling analysis of the role and importance of design intelligence, emotional intelligence, and using our senses.

Six Word Memoirs of Love and Heartbreak - She owns my heart, always will.” Need I say more?

Executive Coaching and Outsourced Talent Management-- Call on ZBA Associates LLC for your Executive Coaching and Teambuilding needs. We help business leaders redefine and achieve success by integrating leadership and communication skills with mindfulness practices. 415 389-6228; mlesser@zbaassociates.com

www.zbaassociates.com