Leadership

Royal Leadership

/ Jana / Leave a comment

My last post talked about the communication skills we can learn from Queen Esther in the Bible. Today I want to focus on her leadership skills. Wouldn’t we all want this said of us, that perhaps you “achieved royal status for such a time as this.” You, uniquely gifted, were put here for this purpose to achieve significance. For Esther to achieve those things, she had to be equipped.

Give credit where it’s due. Mordecai discovered a plot against the king and let Esther know. The Bible says that Esther told the king on Mordecai’s behalf. She could have just walked in there, told the king there was a plot against his life, and never let him know how she came across this information. As a manager, has your team ever come up with a solution to an issue, and you walked into your boss’ office and told him the solution? Next time, make sure and let your boss know where the solution came from. If your team looks good, you look good.
Continue reading →

What I Learned from a Queen

/ Jana / 1 Comment

I frequently find myself drawn to the book of Esther in the Bible. Here was an amazing woman. The book intrigues me on so many levels. Did you know Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn’t mention God by name? But I wanted to focus on Esther’s character. I think there are some communication lessons we can take from her.

Continue reading →

Lessons from the Devil, Part II: What Not to Do

/ Jana / Leave a comment

Lessons from the Devil, Part 2I would like to continue with Part II of “Lessons from the Devil.” Miranda Priestly, so aptly played by Meryl Streep, is the epitome of what not to do as a leader. Runway’s success is built on fear tactics and power-hoarding. The writing is on the wall with companies like these. When the domineering leader leaves the company, it enters a sharp decline. An example of this is when Lee Iacocca left Ford. The company went from consistent growth to dismal performance. No one was prepared to fill his shoes.

Lead by gaining buy-in. Miranda Priestly leads through fear. The first scene at Runway shows Emily, Miranda’s assistant, receiving a call that Miranda is arriving at the office earlier than expected. Panic ensues and rightfully so. When Miranda interacts with her employees, it consists of berating them for their ineptitude, doling out orders, and bullying in general. Continue reading →

Lessons from the Devil, Part I

/ Jana / Leave a comment

I wanted to share with you some lessons from the devil…the one that wears Prada, that is. For this segment I want to highlight a few things that, as an employee or a part of team, might help you succeed:

Being an expert is not a requirement to be successful. When Andrea joins the Runway team, she knew nothing of fashion, as evidenced by her unflattering blue sweater and frizzed hair. What mattered was character. Andrea had a strong work ethic, critical thinking skills, and the ability to problem solve. This eventually won the favor of the “devil” more than the more experienced, fashion-focused assistant. Continue reading →

The Power of Humor

/ Jana / Leave a comment

There is this secret power in the world. Some people seem to naturally possess it, others have to fake it, and some don’t even know what it means: the power of humor. It is amazing how quickly humor breaks down barriers and makes you seem more approachable. I joined a new team today, and the first thing I did was send them a comic telling them I hoped they could start off the day with a smile. Instant rapport. I’m not saying they trust me with their lives or anything, but I do think it opened the channels of communication.

Continue reading →

Are Your Most Important Priorities Rocks, Sand, or Water?

/ Jana / 1 Comment

I’m sure by now it’s an urban myth, but the story goes that there was a teacher who had a container. He filled it with rocks and asked the class if the container was full. They responded “yes.” He then took sand and poured it into the container. The sand filled the space between the rocks. Again he asked his class if the container was full. Again the class affirmed that statement. Finally he poured in water. The water filled the space between the sand.

Continue reading →

Power of Thought

/ Jana / 3 Comments

One of my biggest frustrations is hearing people say things like, “Why should I bother? It’s never going to happen,” or, “I’m never going to be able to succeed at that, so why start?” I strongly believe in self-fulfilling prophecies. If a person believes they are not going to succeed or that they are never going to achieve something, conquer something, or obtain something, then they never really will succeed.

Continue reading →

What’s Your Destiny?

/ Jana / Leave a comment

I came across this quote:

“There comes a special moment in everyone’s life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission — a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour.” ~ Winston Churchill

Continue reading →

It’s Not about You

/ Jana / Leave a comment

Two people (that I actually have met) really inspire me: Ed Tate and Rory Vaden. These gentlemen are as close as I have come to “celebrities” (except the time I met Steve Forbes, but he doesn’t talk much). Two things about these people inspire me. One, they both worked extremely hard and were rewarded with success. They are models of self-discipline and perseverance. Two, they have never stopped helping other people. Many times I have called Ed to ask a quick question, and we talk for thirty minutes, during which he gives me great advice…advice he normally charges for! Rory, who has a hectic schedule due to a book tour, still takes time to respond to my e-mails personally. 

Continue reading →

Motivation High

/ Jana / Leave a comment

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. How do you achieve success? One step, one decision at a time. I have heard it said that monumental change and influence doesn’t happen at once. It may seem that way to onlookers, but it is created by a series of incremental steps and decisions. Each day, choosing discipline over watching TV or eating the extra piece of pizza is what helps us reach our goals. What did I say “no” to today: responding to the sixty e-mails in my in-box before sitting down with my husband to discuss date night; and turning on Glee while my daughter played. Instead we hung out, TV-free, as a family.


What will you say “no” to in order to achieve your dreams? 

Jana Axline is president and leadership coach at Axline Solutions and author of Becoming You. Through her leadership musings she inspires audiences to grow as leaders and ultimately achieve who they were created to be. For more information visit Axline Solutions.