From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
I grew up Zambia from age 2-21.
I lived in a rural area in a house without electricity, running water, or of course, refrigeration. We had a cool box with water dripping over coal. We drew our water from a well. We took many of our school vacations in game parks before they were developed. One time, I rode in a Jeep through a herd of 300 Cape buffalo. Normally I saw hippos, rhinos, elephants, crocodiles, lions, leopards, and cheetahs as I camped in these game reserves. I also grew up with snakes, particularly mambas. If you are bitten by a mamba, you die within minutes. Consequently, to this day, I have a snake phobia!
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by anyone who makes a contribution to the Greater Good through humble and focused service. I could mention many well-known names but prefer to focus on ordinary day-to-day heroes like those that I meet in the course of my work in a nonprofit organization in northern New Mexico. These folks leverage their skills and talents not for personal glory but for the Greater Good. They work hard and tirelessly because they are inspired to help secure a promising future for their community’s youth and improve the quality of life for everyone who lives there.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
A young woman, who was a bright and promising university student, went through a sudden mental and behavior change at age 19. I was both perplexed and curious as to what had happened. Moreover, I felt quite helpless in providing the support and solutions that her parents, who were my friends, needed. She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital where she was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, a major mental disease. This event led me to study psychology at the University of South Africa. The (sad) irony is years later, when I was a practicing psychologist, my own son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Interestingly, I, too, struggled to find help and understanding for my son’s disease.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
My wish is that I never have to retire but remain engaged in some sort of service for the rest of my life. Right now, in addition to my consulting work, I find that I get my greatest fulfillment in my Pro Bono Nonprofit work on the Board of Directors of our rural library (which incidentally won a service award from the Obama White House). Our library is more than books but meets community needs like job creation, literacy training, community revitalization and the development of entrepreneurs.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
I am deeply grateful that our paths came together more than two decades ago. Your truth telling, sharp mind, kind heart, and deep commitment to beauty and excellence have touched my life in profound ways.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
At a very early stage in my consulting career, I learned that leadership is based both on innate abilities as well as learned skills. Some managers are naturally able to develop their coaching skills as a result of higher levels of emotional intelligence and, especially, empathy. These managers are also more inclined to lead by drawing skills, abilities, and ideas out of people rather than telling people what to do. In addition, there is a skills-based component of coaching that centers on the establishment of clear leadership development goals for the managers as well as their reports. The leadership goals emerge from a careful analysis of 360 assessment reports and personality tests. These goals are then aligned with the particular set of leadership criteria required to be successful at each level in the organization. In my work, I developed a coaching training program for leaders and used this program to define clear metrics for leadership success and implement strategies for behavior change that actually worked.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
An inspirational leader knows his/her sources of inspiration and how to help others tap into theirs. The five sources of inspiration that have emerged in my work are making a contribution, tapping into character, engaging the imagination, demonstrating empathy, and expecting the best. For an explanation of each source and examples, please see my article on LinkedIn “Inspire Others. Yes You Can” and What Inspirational Leaders Do, with Kristine S. MacKain; Kindle books 2008.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
"The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown is the epic story of the University of Washington’s rowing team and how they won the gold medal at Hitler’s Olympics in Berlin in 1936. This is the story of how persistence, determination, and great coaching leads to levels of stellar performance.
"Falling into Grace. Insights on the End of Suffering" by Adyashanti is about the experience of awakening. When we reach the end of our efforts grace comes to us as a gift. An amazing and inspirational book.
“Authentic Happiness” by Martin Seligman. Renowned psychologist Martin Seligman, the founder of the Positive Psychology movement, writes that if we know and leverage our signature strengths we can experience greater levels of happiness and contribution to the Greater Good.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
Helping senior leaders make successful life and career transitions are now one of my primary areas of focus.
My expertise in this area has been honed from both my personal experience as well as professional practice.
As an adult, I have lived in three different countries and cultures (Africa, USA, Mexico).
Similarly, I’ve changed my profession over the years from a psychologist to executive consultant and then, additionally, to working as a member of the board of directors in a nonprofit organization.
During each change, I made a cultural adaptation. I learned best practices from the successes and, especially, the missteps I made, and I share those with my clients. That experience has also helped me to ask more powerful questions.
Executives are being asked to make changes all the time. They move to more senior positions with greater leadership scope. They have to adapt to being downsized or adjust to retirement. Personally, they may go through a significant life change brought about by divorce or death. How successful an individual is in making a career transition is based on the degree to which the person:
1) can develop resilience; 2) can draw on courage and persistence in the face of change; 3) has a strong supportive community; and 4) has a clear picture of their leadership and signature strengths, what inspires them, and the contribution they want to make in the service of something bigger than oneself.
They also need to have a clear understanding of the culture of the new situation they may enter and how to successfully navigate that culture.
Once engaged in their new position, executives need to have a clear onboarding strategy for the first 90 days of the transition; for example, clear expectations of what they want from their manager and what their manager wants from them. My job is to show them how to do that and facilitate their progress so they are successful.
https://cedricj.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/courage-it-makes-all-the-difference/
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
An inspirational leader knows his/her sources of inspiration and how to help others tap into theirs. The five sources of inspiration that have emerged in my work are making a contribution, tapping into character, engaging the imagination, demonstrating empathy, and expecting the best. For an explanation of each source and examples, please see my article on LinkedIn “Inspire Others. Yes, You Can” and What Inspirational Leaders Do, with Kristine S. MacKain; Kindle books 2008.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
Personal and life transitions (e.g., a divorce, change in health, retirement, move to a different location, job loss, children leaving home) each have their own unique challenges. However, in all cases it is important to 1) draw on the skills/lessons we have learned during other crises and/or transitions to inform us about what needs to be done during the current time of change; 2) Reach out to a strong supportive network of friends and colleagues; their care can help prevent feelings of isolation and raise morale and hope; 3) focus on self-care and learn and learn stress management strategies; and, most of all, 4) remember that we are more than our role, status, or position in life. Our deeper, wise, higher self, which transcends those ego identifications, is connected with everyone and everything—this is who we truly are and this is what can sustain us through periods of great difficulty or struggle. Always listen to your wise voice.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
An inspirational leader knows his/her sources of inspiration and how to help others tap into theirs. The five sources of inspiration that have emerged in my work are making a contribution, tapping into character, engaging the imagination, demonstrating empathy, and expecting the best. For an explanation of each source and examples, please see my article on LinkedIn “Inspire Others. Yes, You Can” and What Inspirational Leaders Do, with Kristine S. MacKain; Kindle books 2008.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
Personal and life transitions (e.g., a divorce, change in health, retirement, move to a different location, job loss, children leaving home) each have their own unique challenges. However, in all cases it is important to 1) draw on the skills/lessons we have learned during other crises and/or transitions to inform us about what needs to be done during the current time of change; 2) Reach out to a strong supportive network of friends and colleagues; their care can help prevent feelings of isolation and raise morale and hope; 3) focus on self-care and learn and learn stress management strategies; and, most of all, 4) remember that we are more than our role, status, or position in life. Our deeper, wise, higher self, which transcends those ego identifications, is connected with everyone and everything—this is who we truly are and this is what can sustain us through periods of great difficulty or struggle. Always listen to your wise voice.
From the diary of Cedric Johnson's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Who or what inspires you?
- Well, Cedric, I also have a snake phobia; you're not alone! I have fought with too many snakes in our home town at a small village when I was a kid. So,what inspired you to obtain a Ph.D in Psychology? Was it a personal choice or were you inspired by your parents, a counselor, a mentor or some other influential person?
- What do you see on the horizon for your personal and professional life?
- You are lucky for having a life partner who is also a PhD. I am talking about your wife Kristine MacKain, Ph.D., would you leave a special message for her?
Professional Career
- Being a hiring authority yourself now, can you recall your first job interview as Personnel Manager at Kellwood Company?
- Please tell us how you built your distinguished career. What drove you to advance to the Senior Executive Consultant and Coach role that you have now?
Leadership Advice
- What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
- Some of the executives that we interview want to make the transition into senior executive leaders. What advice would you give to them about making a successful transition?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- Please tell us what traits an executive needs to become an inspirational leader?
- In a recent Tweet you said that you ask yourself the question "how can I help leaders successfully navigate personal and life transitions?" What answers do you get when you ask this?
- You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
Cedric Johnson's story
You talk about developing "your authentic voice" on your blog. What advice would you give to executives that want to achieve this?
An authentic voice is when you speak from the heart—when you speak your truth to another’s truth. That voice is made up of many parts of you. It includes:
your cultural background and perspective, what you value (e.g. honesty and humility), your unique personality style (e.g. a quirky sense of humor), and the ability to adopt a message that you know well to different audiences.
