Presencing
The Hallmark of Presencing is the capacity to see, hear, feel and act without being encumbered by habits, patterns, and blind spots which prevent us from connecting with our potential and the sources of our possible future. Success in the 21st century will require that leaders and organizations intimately connect with their stakeholders and fully understand their wants and needs. Every day it is becoming increasingly evident that it is not about I; it’s about we and they. Presencing is the ability to suspend judgment, cynicism and fear which separates us from experiencing and understanding our customers, employees and peers. The 21st century is not a go it alone world. It is the Age of Relationships. The need to connect at the most intimate levels with our world is essential for thriving.

Resiliency
“Superlatives abound when a person tries to describe old-growth redwoods: immense, ancient, stately, mysterious, and powerful. Their existence speaks for themselves, not in words, but rather in a soft-toned voice of patience and endurance.” This quote reflects the reason the Redwood tree was chosen as the symbol for the Hallmark of Resiliency. Resiliency is a way of being in a highly interdependent world. Leaders and organizations will be tested by a continuous barrage of ideas, new and old as well as head spinning change. This century will test our ability to weather the forces of change. The difference between reacting and responding will be the test of effective leadership. Being resilient is being flexible and adaptable; it is stamina, it is energy and it is endurance. It is grace in the face of turbulence, adversity and chaos.

Purpose
“A sense of purpose is the essence of inspired performance. Those who take the idea of purpose most seriously are the leaders and managers in this country’s most successful companies.” Richard Leider’s statement emphasizes the significance that the Purpose Hallmark has in determining personal, professional and organizational success. A sense of purpose inspires and fuels Relationship – Centered Leaders.

Leaders must connect with their personal sense of purpose and use that focus and energy to drive their professional and organizational purpose. Alignment of purpose in these three domains (personal, professional, and organizational) is critical to becoming a high performing leader. Purpose is like the North Star; once you have it clearly in your sight you can navigate and lead others with confidence through the challenges, turbulence and conflicting agendas that can otherwise throw leaders and organizations off course.

Moral Courage
Robert Green Ingersoll, a 19th century orator said, “We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, and to stand by their convictions, even to the very death. We have a long history of honoring valor and physical courage; it is a trait we admire and reward. Moral courage is courage manifested in the service of our values and core principles; personally, professionally and organizationally.

The 21st century will challenge and test leaders and organizations more than at any other time in history. The world has become intimately interdependent, making every decision, large and small, a significant factor in determining the quality of human experience.

Followers desire leaders who are willing to stand for the values and principles they espouse. They will perform optimally and give their loyalty to leaders who they trust will stand for what is right.

Trustworthiness
“Among the most essential qualities of human spirit are to trust oneself and to build trust with others.” Gandhi’s words clearly capture the essence of trust and its significance to leaders and organizations; it captures the human spirit. In today’s interdependent and highly competitive world, the need to capture hearts and minds is not enough; we must touch the human spirit. It is human spirit that provides the depth to relationships and fuels optimal engagement and performance. Leaders and organizations that desire to retain and attract talent, stimulate innovation, and create enduring customers must continuously work at building the highest levels of trust personally and organizationally.

Authenticity
Kevin Cashman in his book, Leadership from the Inside Out, says, “Leadership is authentic self-expression that creates value.” Relationship – Centered Leaders are keenly aware of the power of Authenticity.

Authenticity is an inside out process. It is the ability to articulate who you are and what you stand for through your words and most importantly your deeds. Authenticity is congruency between our intentions and actions that are in concert with one’s purpose. It requires leaders to be comfortable and live with the question, “Who am I?” and the courage to change what is pretense. Authentic leaders create and sustain relationships that thrive. And thriving relationships drive optimal performance and engagement.