LEAD: Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina shares an interview with Bill Hybels and here are a couple of notes and insights.

• “I was not a gifted student, but my parents were a gift to me.” Quote from book
• In leadership asking the right question is more important having the correct information.
• “I must do what I feel passionate about.” In the context of making the decision not to continue in law school and changing the direction of her life.
• “Teamwork is what makes thing fun!” - “Nothing worthwhile is done alone.”
• “Everybody is afraid of something, and every time you overcome that fear you become stronger.”
• Many fears are stupid, but they are real.
• Prejudice is real and it comes from a basis of fear of the unknown and different, but do not let other people’s fears and prejudices control and define you. Look for common ground and where you can go from where you are.
• “I will save my tears for things that matter in my life.”
• You must give people a vision that is bigger than their fears.
• The vision has to be real and cover the truth of the sacrifices that might/will be necessary.
• Leadership is about seeing potential in others.
• You have to invest in other people and their potential to learn beyond their comfort zone.
• You need to tell people that you expect them to develop leadership skills and that they need to take ownership of their own growth.
• Leadership takes passion as well as dispassion. [Dispassion so that there is enough objectivity to see things and people as they really are.] It is the ability to see the truth as it is and not sugarcoat reality.
• One of the most important parts of a leader is authenticity. When people can’t connect with you or see you for you really are they stop connecting with you or following you.
• People’s titles and positions don’t change who they are!
• A team of people working on tough choices must deliberate with all honesty but with complete confidentiality.
• At the end of the day can you say, “What I’ve done today, has it been to the best of my ability and filled with integrity?”
• “There is a gift in everything.”

These are a few notes and quotes that jumped out at me over the past hour and a half.