The need for leadership seems to be calling out to us from many directions. Over the years, I've learned so much from other leader's journeys and from the wisdom they have generously shared. Haven't you?

For example, early in my IBM leadership career women role models were few and far between. One woman who helped me truly understand my power as a leader is Frances Hesselbein, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Leader to Leader Institute (formerly the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management). Initially, I only knew her through videos and books. However, through a series a unexpected twists and turns, I ended up meeting her and learning from her. She taught me three powerful leadership lessons:

1. Leaders, at their best, are unpretentious, warm, and friendly to everybody.
The ability to connect with others; to nuture; to encourage; to be real enhances your leadership influence.
2. Every person is important.
Great leaders put a high value on each and every person that makes the team operate.
3. Being accessible and ready to help is an exceptional leadership quality.
The first time I talked personally with Frances, I called at her office in New York and got right through to her. She made me feel welcomed and talked with me as if I was surely her most important caller that day.

RELATED UPCOMING Greater IBM Online Event
On Thursday, October 23, the Greater IBM Women's International Network for Leadership is sponsoring a very special online event, creating an opportunity for a broad conversation centered around learning from each other's leadership role models from around the world around the world. The dialogue will be seeded by an keynote leadership interview with Amparo Moraleda, IBM President of Spain and Portugal (See information below).

GIBM Women's International Network for Leadership (GIBM WIN-L) proudly presents...
"Learning from Each Other's Role Models"
with keynote executive interview to seed the conversation...
Amparo Moraleda, IBM President of Spain and Portugal

Date and Time - Mark Your Calendar!
Thursday, October 23, 2008 -- 9:30 a.m. ET - 11:30 a.m. ET
at the Global Dialogue ONLINE CONFERENCE CENTER

Learn about HOW TO ATTEND at one of the links below:
Xing: https://www.xing.com/app/events?op=detail;id=253998
Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=31658476862&ref=share
GIBM Community Site: https://www.ibmconnection.com/network/events/215

Who's Coming???
Well, it is still early, but so far we have Greater IBMers, current and former that have added their names to the list from 20 countries spanning every region of the world. Imagine the leadership lessons that will be shared across cultures!

Do you have a leadership role model?
Do you have a leadership lesson to share?

Join us! ...or tell your story here and we'll share it!

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Contributing Author
Greater IBM Connection
Founder, President & CEO
Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies

author, Putting Our Differences to Work 
www.globaldialoguecenter.com
www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
IBMer 1970 - 1991 L.A.; Anchorage; Seattle; San Francisco