Leadership Lessons from Santa for The Night Before Christmas

Just one more sleep before kids get their big performance review. Where will the big guy watching from the North Pole mark them on the naughty-nice scale? Will it be enough to get them into the next gift bracket?

When we published Growing @ the Speed of Change: Your Inspir-actional How-To Guide For Leading Yourself and Others through Constant Change a few years ago I posted this blog based on some of the approaches in the book:

We Create Our Own Reality

Life is an optical illusion. Happiness is a choice. 90 percent of what we worry about never happens. How much more incredible is flying reindeer than wearing crap glasses, looking for all that’s wrong, and worrying ourselves sick?

Being Nice Has Its Rewards

Optimism, hope, and building on strengths means we enjoy life much more than the poor Grinch who’s making himself and everyone else miserable. We tend to get back what we give.

Leadership Can Come From Unlikely Places

Leadership is action, not a position. Rudolph saved the day because Santa was flexible and open to leadership emerging from unconventional places during the foggy crisis. He built a highly engaged team with a strong sense of commitment to each other and their mission.

Setting Priorities and Managing Processes

You think you’re overwhelmed! How about the logistics of delivering toys to all the world’s kids in 24 hours? The Big Guy and his team spent their year planning and preparing for the big day.

Stay Nourished and Get Help along the Way

Santa frequently stops for milk and cookies for himself and carrots for the reindeer. Although he might be better off with fewer cookies and more carrots, he does take the pause that refreshes and makes sure his team is well fed too.

Let’s learn from Santa’s elf-help manual and take some time during the holidays to reflect on what’s really important before we rush headlong into the New Year.