Leading with GRIT: Inspiring Action and Accountability with Generosity, Respect, Integrity, and Truth

"Truly inspirational this book takes you on a courageous journey of looking inside, so you can be the kind of leader you were meant to be."
Don Miguel Ruiz, Author of The Four Agreements

"This book will cause a positive shift to happen in your work and life! Read it!"
Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level

"Laurie Sudbrink has written a gem of a book. For anyone seeking to improve their professional life, their personal life, or both, this book offers a unique and accessible pathway to success."
Louis M. Melchiore, CIC, Senior Vice President, Willis Group

"In a time where individuals and companies are expected to do more with less, personal development often takes a back seat. Leading with GRIT® offers a roadmap to leaders of all levels to build a sustainable foundation to excel personally and professionally."
Meghan Montana, Vice President, Deutsche Bank

"Real–life examples and well laid–out thoughts make Leading With GRIT® easy to relate to, reflect on, and apply immediately!"
Ken Bonn, Managing Partner, Bonn, Diogardi and Ray

"I loved this book! Sudbrink skillfully combines a guide for personal growth with foundations for improving professional leadership skills."
Susan Smawley, Managing Director, National Accounts, Travelers

"Leading with GRIT® offers a framework for leaders to hold themselves accountable and to improve their own leadership self–awareness."
Jim Newman, President, Noco Energy Corp

"It′s not too late for you toiling masses out there still working in various industries and suffering unnecessarily in silence. Leading with GRIT® will help you learn how to improve your working conditions and change your lives. This book belongs in every workplace, not collecting dust on a shelf, but preferably wide open on the CEO′s desk."
Bill Bowman, retired journalist and editor, Newfoundland, Canada

"Laurie′s Leading with GRIT® process is practical, straightforward, client tested, and proven. Do not just read this book, live it!"
Bob Spinelli, College Professor Entrepreneurship & Leadership

"This book will change more than your workplace; it will change your life."
Vickie Curry, Webster NY Central School District

"Exactly what the modern workplace needs! For anyone leading a corporate team, or leading their own life, I give this book my highest recommendation."
Frank Davis, P.Eng., VP Engineering retired, St.John′s, NL

PREFACE xiii

WITH GRATITUDE xvii

INTRODUCTION xxi

CHAPTER ONE Freedom to Choose 1

The Choice is Yours 2

GRIT® Self–Awareness Assessment 11

PART I GRIT® The Foundation

CHAPTER TWO Truth The Core 17

Out of Touch 18

Where Does Our Truth Come From? 21

Becoming Aware 23

Prevent Ego from Interfering 25

There Are Many Paths to Find Your Truth 26

Look Objectively 29

It s Your Choice 30

Change Your Story 32

What Do You Want in Life? 34

Change Your Thoughts 35

The Impact of Truth 37

What SHIFT Will You Make? 39

CHAPTER THREE Integrity Aligning to Your Truth 41

Awareness, Intent, Attention 43

Your Actions Influence Others 47

Time Can Be On Your Side 51

Choices That Keep Us Whole 52

Competing Priorities 53

Accountability Is an Act of Integrity 55

It s Not about Being Perfect 58

Truth + Integrity = Trust 60

Why Do People Lie? 61

What SHIFT Will You Make? 65

CHAPTER FOUR Respect It s a Two–Way Street 67

Be Selfish 68

Consider Others 70

Ego in Disguise 72

What Information Are You Filling In? 75

Remain Open 78

Respect Other People s Choices 80

Accept It, and Let It Go! 81

Believe in Your People 84

You Can t Demand Respect 87

Bumps in the Road 88

Respect Your Journey 89

What SHIFT Will You Make? 90

CHAPTER FIVE Generosity The More You Give, the More You Get 93

Pay It Forward 95

Let It Flow 98

Overly Generous 100

Finding Purpose 104

Generosity at Work 106

And Now, the Rest of the Story 108

What SHIFT Will You Make? 110

CHAPTER SIX The Key to Efficient Change 113

Overcoming Obstacles 115

The Five Steps of Change 116

What SHIFT Will You Make? 129

PART II Communicating with GRIT®

CHAPTER SEVEN Can You Hear Me Now? 133

Barriers 135

It Takes More Than Your Ears 138

Understand the Why 139

Empathy 141

Choose When to Listen 143

What SHIFT Will You Make? 145

CHAPTER EIGHT What Message Are You Sending? 147

Speak Their DiSC® Language 149

Actions Speak Louder Than Words 151

Choose Your Words Wisely 153

What s Missing with E–messages 155

Communicate with Confidence 157

Inspire with Your Message 158

Is Sarcasm Your Scapegoat 159

The Illusion of Fear 161

Respect People s Time 162

Safe Communication Use a Filter 162

Structure Your Message 164

Public Speaking: It s Not about You 166

Share Your Message with the World 167

What SHIFT Will You Make? 169

CHAPTER NINE Just Say It! 171

Say It to Help Others 172

Make Waves 177

Empower Team Communication 178

Just Say NO! 181

Just Ask 184

What SHIFT Will You Make? 186

PART III Your Impact

CHAPTER TEN The Ripple Effect 191

Your Ripple 193

It Starts with You 195

The Value of Connecting 196

Learn from the Chameleon 200

Know the Skills You Need 202

Building the Team 203

Nobody Wins Unless You Delegate 204

Attitude Is Everything 206

Invest in People 208

Preventing a Tidal Wave 210

What SHIFT Will You Make? 212

CHAPTER ELEVEN Keeping on Track 215

Leaders Set the Direction 218

Know the Where and the Why 220

Use Meetings to Keep on Track 223

Creating a Culture of Feedback and Recognition 225

You Need Feedback Too 230

Complaints Aren t Always Bad 231

Get Them Off the Tracks! 234

What SHIFT Will You Make? 235

CHAPTER TWELVE Enjoy the Journey 237

No Need to Worry 238

Reap Your Crop 240

Unsung Heroes 241

What SHIFT Will You Make? 243

INDEX 245

LAURIE SUDBRINK is the founder and president of Unlimited Coaching Solutions, Inc. Her proprietary system of GRIT® (Generosity, Respect, Integrity, and Truth) has inspired tens of thousands of participants to take control of their own happiness and productivity at work. She is widely known as a dynamic speaker whose work ranges from small organizations to fortune 500 companies and has delivered workshops and keynotes at business and higher education conferences around the world.