Age of Radical Thinking With Heart And Soul

"I think a major act of leadership right now, call it a radical act, is to create the places and processes so people can actually learn together, using our experiences." ~Margaret J. Wheatley

We stand in the midst of radical social change because radical thinking servant leaders with the expertise and wisdom empowered with heart and soul are standing up, speaking out and leading others to learn and work together to create solutions only dreamed by prior generations.

A smart leader today is both a radical thinker and a servant. Because these are times when leaders are thinking like and learning from the likes of George Washington when he recognized that The People were declaring it was time for change.

Washington recognized the influence the pamphlet Common Sense by Thomas Paine was having on colonials, when he said, "I find Common Sense is working a powerful change in the minds of many men." And, John Adams wrote, “Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain.”

Smart leaders are tuned to the needs and will of the People and find the ways to harness that energy into a direction for doing good and making big things happen. These leaders create the opportunities for people who want to participate in creating a better life for themselves and their progeny. It is clear that today, through social media People are writing, blogging and commenting on how they want to be a part of making changes in their local schools, communities and government. Smart leaders are hearing and answering these calls. 

These radical thinking leaders are accomplished with a deep passion to make a difference. Most will tell you they have been 'called' into that of a serving leader. Their eyes have been opened to see a need, which has become glued to their hearts so deeply that each beat resounds deeply into their soul with a compelling desire to experience individuals, families, businesses, agencies and communities being transformed. Any leader who chooses to be less than radical about serving those who work with them will soon find they have few, if any, followers. 

Who are these radically thinking servant leaders? 

Character: Their character is the cornerstone of who they are. Only those leaders who have had their character tested by fire, no longer smell like smoke and have developed the capacity to deal with uncertainty and manage change will thrive in today's rapidly changing environment.

Valued Relationships: You will know these leaders by how they speak about, respect and revere each relationship. They value their relationships not for what others can do for them, but for how blessed they feel for being associated and knowing people who inspire these radically thinking leaders to become better servant leaders.

Wisdom: Radically thinking leaders demonstrate their wisdom in the midst of chaos and change. Their agenda becomes to authentically serve the People. They actively listen with the intent to not seek compromise in the squall of diversity, but look for how that diversity empowers the process to reveal and release an entirely new possibility that is both inspiring and compelling for all involved.

Influence: Influence is not something one can just do. It is bestowed upon the leader in that a leader's quality of influence is recognized by the people who associate with the leader. Influence is the capstone of leadership, which clearly signals the vibrancy, stability and sustainability of the leader's cornerstone of character. Their character is revealed in the answers to these questions.

• Who are they in the quiet of their homes?
• What will their family and best friends truthfully say about them to others?
• What truths will be revealed when the leader is gone? 

Radically Big Thinking is relative to a leader's location, level of accomplishment, desire to make a difference and willingness to serve. A radically big thinking leader may be the one who leads others to stop the bullies in the schoolyard and workplace or those who lead profit or nonprofit organizations. No matter the place, time or numbers, the true test of a radically thinking leader will be recognized by the impact on the people involved. 

• Are people growing and developing? 
• Do they have a better life from being served? 
• Are they doing as has been done for them - are they now serving others?

This infographic is like a roadmap to encourage you to find where you are in the context of being a radically thinking servant leader and empower you to focus on the attitudes, behaviors and skills that form the character of an authentic servant leader.

Choose to be a radically thinking leader and only follow radically thinking leaders with good hearts and souls,

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing

ZFactor blog explores and discusses a variety of techniques, tools and discoveries by successful people that will assist others to achieve greater personal and professional success. ZFactor is a proprietary coaching methodology based upon the premise that successful people think and act differently. The ZFactor methodology is proven to accelerate a person's ability to think and act differently.