As Alexis Tsipras Quits, His Story May Shed Light To That Of Jeremy Corbyn's

Greek Prime Minister's call for early elections seems to be the perfect strategy to win absolute majority, but his retaining Greece within the EU afterall, should shed light to what labour members can expect from Jeremy Corbyn, if he eventually wins the keys to No.10.

As Greek PM announced his resignation last night, and called for an early election next month some think it is much too 'smart' a move at this time.

But Alexis Tsipras has already sought the opinion of his people twice, as he tries to negotiate a financial bailout for his country.

The greek bailout referendum of 2015 took place on 5 July 2015. That his country followed his guidance to reject the bailout condition, even though he believed the country should still reach an accord with the EU was one sure way of accessing their belief in his administration. They listened to him and resoundingly rejected the bailout.

As the country prepared to continue negotiation with the EU, former Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis,  known for his hardline position to the harsh bailout conditions, was forced to resign. But even at that, he was proud of his position. That Tsipras accepted his resignation, was purely designed to make headway at the negotiation table.  Greece was close a default and would have had to leave the EU.

Former Greece PM, Alexis Tsipras, wants to be sure
he has the support of his people all the way.
(Photo Credit: via Wiki.)

Despite their tough stance and harsh conditions, the EU wanted Greece to remain within the block. And accepting the terms was the only way to ensure the country remains in the eurozone, which opinion polls have shown the vast majority of his population wants.

In the past one week, a bailout deal worth Euros 60 billion - enough to secure Greece for the next three years have been sealed. But it has come at a cost. And not many within his coalition government feel happy about it, even though a more stable Greece reported an economic growth during the same period.

One condition that has been seriously highlighted is the planned increase in the rate of VAT - one move that is sure to push up prices, and make life tougher living in a country where shelves were emptied as a result of panic buying in the face of a series of deadlocks and break-down in talks.

In 2013, Greece was forced to increase taxes for economic aid.  Within the past months since Tsipras assumed power, capital controls have had to be imposed limiting the with-drawable amount by each individual to £40 a day. It is a relief that this has been relaxed once again. Greek stocks have also taken a beating, as the news of the tougher outlines filtered out.

His decision to quit - only 8 months after taking over the reigns - is certainly a bold move, but with his achievement in first securing an interim bailout deal and before a longer deal - tougher as the conditions may seem, he is almost certain to win the absolute support of his people to govern without the need of a coalition.

To have the tenacity to sustain the negotiations, despite several breakdowns, tumultuous protests and riots at home and having to shuttle around the world in search of possible alternatives in case agreement proved impossible from negotiations, Tsipras has displayed some good qualities of an inspiring leader.

It will not be a surprise if he wins an absolute majority in September's general elections.  But if he fails, he sure won't lose the respect and love of his people.

The lesson in all this is that those who express fears that Jeremy Corbyn may be anti-business and anti-city, if he wins the keys to Downing Street, will see easily that the man may actually turn out to be a business booster for the city. 

Politicians are, more often than not, forced to make payment and humiliating adjustments despite their initial take on issues. When the real issues have to be addressed, a `deal' mindset is usually brought into the scene.

In this regard, it will seem too presumptuous to assume that his seeming hard line take on some issues now will be unchangeable. Unforeseen circumstances often make this necessary.

Isn't it said that the taste of the pudding, actually, is in the eating?

It's All About LEADING As Sir Alex Ferguson Readies To Talk About Leadership

by Benson Agoha | Public Lecture

Finally, the public are about to get the chance to hear Sir Alex Ferguson talk about leadership outside the football pitch - the way they have expected.

It is still a mystery to many, how he managed to achieve the extraordinary feet that saw him keep Manchester United in a dominant position in the Premier League - for such a long time.
 

He managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. And by the time he retired, after 26 years at the club, he had won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League and two UEFA Champions League titles. His announcement of his plan on 8 May 2013 left some Manchester United fans devastated.

His successor, former Everton Manager, David Moyes, lasted only one season before being sacked for a lackluster performance after Manchester United finished 7th on table (below) with only 64pts.

Thought no Premier League Club is taken forgranted, the 2013-2014 season was one which Manchester United would hope is removed from its history, because in that year they missed the Champions League and even Everton finished above Manchester United - as you will see from the table below.

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League Table for the 2013/2014 Season

Sir Ferguson, who has co-authored a book with Sir Michael Moritz (the Chairman of Sequoia Capital and who has sat on the Board of Directors at Google, Yahoo!, PayPal and LinkedIn.) titled `LEADING' will, according to the organisers, be discussing the key tools he used to deliver success both on and off the field, including the pivotal leadership decisions of his extraordinary career and how these leadership lessons can be applied far beyond the football pitch.

The lectures which will kick off from September 21, 2015 at the Southbank Centre and will be held in three other centres across the UK including Manchester, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

 

For more information visit: www.alexfergusonleading.co.uk/.

Awakened Mind - Empowered Heart - Empowered Mind - Awakened Heart

by Lucira Jane Nebelung

* Lucira Jane Nebelung

"I am a Partner in a Dance. I am one part of a greater whole. My facet is complete unto itself. Yet it really takes a shared moment for this to come alive as intended. I live for the sensation of being tapped, of being asked to give of my essence and let the Truth resound all through my Being. How can I not seek the charged moment of encounter? I am the breath of new Life, awaiting winds that blow." ~ Ellias Lonsdale

Each and every one of us is a Centerpoint for Being, a point of balance, of stillness where our body, mind, heart, and soul are in integrated wholeness, in integrity and authenticity as our unique Truth and Freedom and in unity with the flow of Life as Love.

Each and every one of us also has a predominant ego structure that we have taken on as "true" and "real" that separates us from our Centerpoint. Mine is a need to be "valued" so that I lived others' expectations for how I should show up, for what I should say or do, or what I should not say or do.

The price I paid was a loss of Self-Value, Self-Worth, Self-Love. As I showed up more and more as the Truth and Freedom of my heart and soul, the price I paid was the loss of "friends" who couldn't look in a Mirror of Self-Love. What is caring to the growth of the soul often seems "punishing" to the ego.

Truth Heals, bringing Freedom as we accept that no matter how disruptive or uncomfortable to our ego structure, Love is inviting us back into Being ourselves. It takes great strength and courage to look at one's self and one's life through the eyes of Love as Truth and Freedom.

Your Centerpoint for Being

• Is your personal Truth and compass for Compassion, the ultimate flowering of Love.
• Attunes you with your Heart-Mind, the impulse and flow of Life as Wisdom, Love and Service.
• Is your Unique Purpose, Power and Passion, Your Contribution to the Whole that brings Peace, Joy and Fulfillment.
• Is the catalyst, source of and channel for your greatest Potential and Growth.
• Gives you boundless Freedom of Spirit and expression.
• Provides your Path of integrated wholeness, giving you a nonjudgmental context and vantage point for yourself and your Life. When you are clear about who You Are, what no longer Serves you falls away.
• Is your foundation for Self-Love.

You Lead Your Life

Perhaps our greatest fear is of Love as Truth and Freedom. There is no past with regret, guilt or shame. There is no future with expectations, apprehension or anxiety. There is no comparison, competition or conflict. There is no hate, the rejection of Love, or evil, the absence of Love.

There is only the excitement of Now, with all its messiness as Life unfolds. We Are Present, wide open, courageous, without labels, ideologies or rules that tell us how to look, what to think, say or do, what goals to go after, or what we must have in order to "fit in."

Freed of the belief that conformity means you are connected and belong, there is no need for approval that we take as "love." You Are an integral part of and moved by Life Itself, inspired by your unique Centerpoint within. You Are the Power of Love.

Leading as Love is our mastery of Being a human being, our Heart-Mind of unity and infinite intelligence as Spirit in physical form consciously creating Life. It is only as you Lead your Life that you Lead others.

As We Love We Lead - As We Lead We Love

Leading as Love is the conscious, active application of your Centerpoint for Being, your unique guiding principles, for every aspect of Life to unfold as Love. I guide you to your own inner voice of wisdom to consciously experience deeper meaning, purpose, contribution, growth, and choice.

- In your 20's and 30's - Establish your inner foundation for Life.
- In your 40's and 50's - Discover your universal contribution to Life.
- In your 60's and beyond - Actualize your legacy in Life.

We work together in a grounded, practical way in all aspects of your day-to-day life.

I Serve as a Friend who is a Maverick, Mystic, Messenger, Midwife, Mentor, Minister, and Partner in Life. As a coach, I work with you in the discovery and exploration of your Truth and Freedom. You strengthen and expand your expression of your unique Centerpoint for Being. You Lead as Love.

The commitment to Lead as Love is the one change that changes everything.

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* Lucira Jane Nebelung, Founder & Principal of "Leading as Love" and faculty member at The Graduate Institute, writes from Connecticut, USA.

Why Leadership Predictability Does Not Translate To Effectiveness

by Benson Agoha | Management

It makes for a good brainstorming session `whether the predictable leader is an effective leader'. And I imagine that discussion on such a topic will be fluid for a good reason.

Matter-of-factly, such discussion will, almost certainly, be better understood when considered with inferences from familiar environment. And it is the reason why I am focusing on one whose magic wand is increasingly holding everyone spellbound.  He is Mark Carney - the Governor of Bank of England.

Since the new Bank of England Governor took over reigns at the Apex bank, different interest groups have always tried to predict him and his next move - especially with regards to raising or lowering of the interest rate.

The interest rate is a very important economic index and has cumulative effect on the whole economy because price stability depends on it. It is the rate at which the banking system functions - it guides their lending and borrowings. At the current rate of 0.5%, British Banking sector is experiencing the lowest rate ever.

But against popular expectation, the result has been good for the economy. Which is why we have had a deflation - a period of generally falling prices, instead of inflation - that of rising prices. And when prices have risen at all, it has been marginal. As in March when he explained: "The fall in inflation we’ve experienced is in large part down to falling energy prices."

Results are proofs of competencies pulled together.

Over the past two years, Carney has meandered around public expectation with respect to when the interest rate will rise. While stake-holders are staring at the benchmarks, the governor has often reminded them that the posts are not static - that they can be moved - depending on what happens in between time. When they have pointed `west', he had skillfully pointed `east', reminding them that it was possible too and giving reasons why.

Sometimes, leadership decisions are not very easy for the public or colleagues to under-stand, but a leader's capacity for rationalization makes the difference. If you need the support of your peers, you better have a convincing explanation at your finger tips.

In the aftermath of September's Scottish Referendum, the Bank of England Governor was asked whether the `NO' result was good for Scotland and why. "The NO result was good for Scotland," he says, because the government "policy of more money going to Scotland and less coming out of Scotland." Such arrangement will no doubt result in development of the region and even Scots who perhaps voted `YES', will begin to see why a `NO' was better for them.

When Unpredictability is Dynamic Competence
An effective leader must be concerned with the important attributes of the job that makes success possible, irrespective of whether he comes across as unpredictable.  Predictability does not translate to dynamism, if it obviates the overall goal.

Leadership unpredictability can be evidence of a dynamic competence because it tests his ability to guide his organisation through turbulent times, which affect its operations. The problem though, is that this also tests the competences of other `action watchers' who have to deliver based on one leader's actions.

This capacity to deliver at uncertain times is one of the factors that makes the difference between a good leader and a great leader. Another factor is the ability to communicate your unpredictability.

How a leader communicates the underlying reason for his actions that negate popular expectation also goes a long way to influencing the reaction of his bosses, colleagues and other stakeholders, and may win him their patience, time and co-operation for his actions to translate into visible results.

Target Setting is a powerful guide, provided the

route to attainment is flexible.

Set Target And Don't Prevaricate

Attempting to be predictable against all odds makes for bad management. The reason is simple, a driver who keeps a straight course and ignores potholes and artificial humps strategically designed for safety purpose, will almost certainly not make the journey, and potentially may even miss his target.

Setting a target helps a leader navigate public expectations as long as he allows for enough room to maneuver along the route. This is the test of his skill.

A leader must be prepared to resist unnecessary interjections and interruptions, knowing that when you are on the wheel is not when to prevaricate. Competence breeds confidence while success reinforces it.

Avoid Predictability If It Proves Destructive

The predictable leader is not necessarily the effective leader, and where as predictability does sound good for the ears, it can be destructive too.

In an environment replete with the competition, your next move may be terminal for your organisation, if it is too predictable. It is the reason why legal experts don't usually give away much in case their defense is compromised and marginal edge become eroded. For high profile cases, predictability may prove too costly.

For Technology Companies, things appear different, but it is nevertheless present.  If a new product is due to be upgraded with a new feature, predictability can give the edge away to the competition who may incorporate it into their own products and arrive at the market ahead of your own. For brands with low goodwill, this makes a whole lot of difference.

When Unpredictability is Predictable

Understanding your environment is the best way to predict it. In volatile environments, it may be best to adopt the view that unpredictability is predictable.  In such situations, production system can be adjusted to move with the times. It was this type of situation that introduced the idea of `Just-In-Time' Production.

When time are changing fast, the leader must organize his firm to respond accordingly, as this is what makes the difference between the market leader and the followers. Those who lag in highly volatile environments risk it all.

Back To Base

When a leader is defensibly unpredictable, his followers learn to trust his judgement and leadership, and predictably, to follow him with trust especially when he delivers consistent positive results. Tidjane Thiam did it at Pru. Mark Carney is doing it at the apex bank.

In the case of the BoE Governor, those who have jumped at the conclusion that a rise in interest rates may likely happen in early 2016, have been reminded again that a rise is still possible in 2015.

Just Never say Never!

Sometimes, All It Takes Is Self-expression!

Self-expression makes the difference!

When you are tempted to do more, to go the extra mile when a shorter route would do. When competition is crude and unfair.

When they say the only way is the tough route. Or that all there is left, is the devils alternative. Remember, it isn't over until it is over.

Sometimes, all it takes is self-expression!

Get it right and get it done!

Share your thoughts!

Olga Kalinina

To contribute to Leadership Lane:

Email: bensonagoha@yahoo.com

Mobile: 0745 960 0852

How To Live With Relationship Laws That Will Ever Remain Worrisome

by Benson Agoha | Opinion

Let me say from the outset that I am not gay and the use of the flag is not a sign of my support for same-sex relationships. I am not attracted to fellow men and doubt if I ever will.

The recent approval by the highest legislative body in the United States has ruffled, and perhaps will continue to ruffle feathers. But at least, like civil rights, every American is now aware, if ever they were in doubt, of the inclusive nature of their constitution.

The process of promulgating a new law in a democratic society is a rigorous one which often tasks the mental and moral state of the members of the legislature, who often find they would have to make concessions, accommodate desires, make counter demands and or resort to compromises in order for a bill to sail through the final stage.

So it is a little surprising that President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe would have reacted so emotionally over such bill when passed.

The line "EVEN SATAN WASN’T GAY" justified by its compliment .. "he approached naked Eve instead of naked Adam" was credited to the Zimbabwean President and appear very convincing - but only until you pay closer attention to the issue.

We now understand how subjective humanity often become when defending values to which they have clung so tenaciously over a long time.

Masturbation: the ashes of Vesuvius
caught and preserved a man in the
act of masturbation.
(Credit: via Wiki)

Meanwhile even before President Mugabe's marriage proposal, Linda Barnette, a US Marriage Licence Officer dignifyingly resigned because of the new law - perhaps to saturate her conscience over an issue she knew she could never reconcile with.

Even for Christians, it may not be lost on many that the world has never and may never agree on certain issues that bother on values, including religion and its by-subjects of which same-sex relationship is one.

But same sex relationships are not new. In fact, if there is one legacy from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD, it is a reminder that some of the issues we would be faced with in years to come are not new, but have been embedded in society through culture and traditions that have survived the better of several thousand years - whether partially or generally embraced.

So when the Italian cities Pompeii and Herculaneum were eventually rediscovered, and later recovered from under the many tons of pumice and volcanic ashes of Vesuvius, archaeologists confirmed what existing scrolls already tell them about events from ancient times.

They discovered, for example, evidence of masturbation, bestiality and same-sex relationships. In fact, they discovered that all vices that we have in present day, date back to ancient times. And they discovered also that ancient rulers have always had to worry about the same issues, when searching for ways to exercise peaceful rule over their communities.

Bestiality: a man indulging himself
 with an animal was caught in the act
and preserved for posterity.
(Credit: via Wiki)

In Imperium, Robert Harris, masterfully told a story of Cicero (albeit fictional), through the narrator of his Secretary Tiro, who under the instruction of Cicero himself wrote down for the benefit of posterity, a semblance of true account of how men of politics and power grappled with the task of promulgating, adjudicating and implementing the law within an organised society.  Placed in perspective, anyone can soon see the reverberation of the same issues.

Men can't usually tell if a woman is sleeping with one or several men a day until she becomes, and perhaps chooses to keep her pregnancy. And the only difference between the attitude of ancient and present day societies towards issues such as same sex relationship is that of openness. In one, perpetrators were more discreet, in another, they are now more open.

Though a Christian, I have chosen not to argue this issue from the point of view of religion for personal reasons, but at the same time, I recognise that even if I do, it just might not be changing anything.

As it stands today, same-sex relationships will ever remain selectively worrisome and never generally acceptable because it is an issue strongly entrenched on `values'. Even in the United States, it seems it will remain debatable whether it makes the union more perfect, even though no one will contest the underlying reason for its promulgation.

Imagine that for thousands of years humanity never managed to solve the mystery behind one of the most common issues facing the family, yet everyone is affected by it. The declaration by the US Supreme Court that "love is love" is much like Einstein solving the mystery of Relativity - it was always with us but we never managed to understand why whatever goes up, comes crashing down.

See the progress we have made since Einstein's discovery? Now watch the progress we will make from now - but we must keep an open mind. In this regard, anyone inclined to same-sex relationship must be open, direct and honest about it when meeting new people so that people are neither offended nor taken advantage of.

If Love is Love, at least, it is not by any means blind. Therefore, every transgender person must, for the same purpose, reveal themselves before having sexual relationship with strangers.

Consider! Why tell a man who would never imagine bedding a fellow man, that you were a man before you changed to a woman, if that will come only after you have had sexual intercourse with him. It smirks of disrespect an amounts to fraudulent behaviour, and many a man would kill for such dubious conduct.

Human society may have evolved, but it has always been multi-dichotomous and poly-autonomous and in the end, thrives in ambiguity of perspectives. The only perfect glue holding the world together appears to be the acknowledgement that we will always disagree to agree or vice versa.

So the future belongs to societies that understand the principles of inclusiveness in diversity.

What do you think?

Using humour to uncover consumer insights: the new way to gather intelligence?

by Benson Agoha | Business

Ever wondered what lay hidden in humour?

We may not know it, but there is an element of truth in things that make us laugh. At least if Tom Yortom's claim that "Things are funny when they are true" and that "we find this is a great way to get to those kernels of truth, of what people really reel about different topics.  It engages the brain differently." holds true.

In his latest article, Nigel Hollis disclosed how Firefy Millward Brown (Brand intelligence provider) teamed up with a comedy troupe called Second City to produce a "Consumer Theater" that monitors theatre goers reaction to what they heard and analysis it further.

This radical new way, ignores the formal creative process, to unearth consumer insights using just humour and its derivative feedback. "Sometimes, a little humour is all you need to transform your understanding", he says.

The collaboration Nigel Hollis said is designed to apply the philosophy of improvisation to generating and developing consumer-generated ideas and works by ideas being gathered from real life consumers that are recruited to take part in a consumer theater session.

So based on what they hear, members of the Second City cast then create and improvise skits in response to the consumer feedback. When the consumers are quizzed on their reactions, the feedback is used to develop the new program further.

Immediately afterwards, a final phase builds in the observations and reactions from client and agency team members who attended the Theater session.

According to the developers, the system uses empathy, humor and the power of improvisation to uncover deeper insights more quickly for idea creation and development.

And it is a highly engaging experience that includes client and agency stakeholders, creative consumers, a strategic Firefly moderator and improvisational actors from The Second City.

It can be employed very early in the creative development process– after brand positioning is established, the say.

It isn't a very simple method but it is still in development. And of course, its adoption will depend on the consistency of its results. Otherwise technology and big data may yet have to carry on.

What do you think?

See also: Millward Brown uses humor to uncover consumer insights by Nigel Hollis.