by Sherry Yellin

How do you define insanity? Often, Albert Einstein gets the credit for giving us our most common definition. Supposedly, he defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” No offense to Albert Einstein, but after coaching leaders for years, I have an alternative definition. I define insanity as “expecting other people to change.”

Ever been there? I know I have. Frustrated and expending a great deal of my precious and valuable energy expecting other people to change. I’m sure we all have. After all, it feels good (at least for a little while) and in the moment, it seems easier to point fingers, sling blame, criticize, condemn, and complain about someone else than to take responsibility. But we all know, these blame actions never produce successful results. In fact, just the opposite. When we stay in blame mindset, we are needlessly but willingly increasing our own stress and decreasing our own impact on the world.

Why? Because when we focus on others, we give our power over to the things over which we have little or no control and influence. If we can turn the spotlight back onto us, and the things over which we can control and influence, we instantly get our power back.

Leadership is an inside-out job. Those who can master the behaviors of managing self and influencing others get results. They are those who truly deserve the title of leader.

The most important, and toughest, topic you’ll ever study is yourself. The second most important topic you’ll ever study is how you impact those around you. The reality is our current rules (thoughts, behaviors, actions) are driving our current results. If we want to create different results, we must re-evaluate our current rules.

Dr. Sherry Yellin has over 20 years experience designing, creating, and delivering learning and coaching solutions to leaders in education, government agencies, and private industry. She has a background in brain-based learning and wholeheartedly believes when we lead, teach, and live the way the brain learns best, we get immediate and extraordinary results. Her signature CRANIUM methodology provides the centerpiece for all of her work. She is an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and a Board Certified Coach through the Center for Credentialing Education.