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We pray that these powerful wings of the Eagle will continue to enable you to soar to new heights.
Cornerstone International Group’s MISSION is to be the best executive recruiting group worldwide, but our VISION is to be a true mentor and coach, one-on-one, with our clients, candidates and partners locally.
We shall be your Faithful Companion / Coach / Mentor on your life and career journey, supporting you to discover yourself and offering good advice regarding the SIX important aspects of your professional Life: Identity, Money, Career Options, Health, Relationships and Your Future (spiritual and your legacy reminders).
Best Wishes,
Simon Wan
Chief Executive
Cornerstone International Group
( Phone No.: +86 21 6474 7064 |*: simon-wan@cornerstone-group.com
Do you know … ?
Eagles are large, powerful birds of prey. There are approximately 60 different species. They have strong muscular legs, powerful talons and large hooked beaks that enable them to capture prey as big as young deers, foxes and goats. They have amazing eyesight and can detect prey up to two miles away.
The Eagle is a common form in the Anglican tradition as it is symbolic of sovereignty and power, and spreading the gospel all over the world. The Eagle also features prominently on the coat of arms of a large number of countries, such as Germany, Mexico, Egypt, Poland and Austria.
We have adopted The Eagle as our faithful monthly messenger to reach out to all our friends around the world. We are happy to be associated with The Eagle in every dimension, from its strength and power, to its commitment and integrity, and also its Leadership qualities. Leadership quality is an area we would like to explore in more depth in this April edition of The Eagle.
GOOD LESSONS FOR LEADERSHIP – 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EAGLE
- Eagles have Vision
If you ever happen to see an eagle sitting high up in a tree or cliff of a steep mountain, watch closely and see how attentive the bird is. The body sits still and the head will be tilted side to side to observe what is happening below, around and above it. Even if it’s flying close by, you can observe how keen its eyes are looking for its prey. Eagles have a keen vision. Their eyes are specially designed for long distance focus and clarity.
Does this characteristic ring a bell in your mind? Think of the great leaders of this world. There are many great leaders who have come and gone but one characteristic that is common to all is “Vision”. Vision is a characteristic of successful leadership.
Take Abraham Lincoln for example. The 16th president of the United States guided his country through the most devastating experience in its national history, the Civil War. He had a vision, to save the union and free the slaves. He is considered by many historians to have been the greatest American president.
You must have a vision that guides and leads your team towards the organization’s or societal goals. The vision must be big and focused. A big, focused vision will produce big results.
- Eagles are Fearless
The eagle will never surrender to the size or strength of its prey. It will always fight to win its prey or regain its territory. The eagle has displayed remarkable hunting strategy, preying on goats much larger than itself by throwing them off the cliff face.
If you were threatened, no matter the size of that person or what weapon they maybe holding, you would attack them without thought or regard for yourself. It wouldn’t even dawn on you to be afraid because your instinct is to protect that which you love and cherish.
Successful leaders are fearless. They face problems head on.
- Eagles are Tenacious
Watch an eagle when a storm comes. When other birds fly away from the storm, an eagle spreads its mighty wings and uses the current to soar to greater heights. The eagle takes advantage of the very storm that lesser birds fear and head for cover.
Challenges in the life of a leader are many. These are the storms we must face as leaders to rise to greater heights. Like an eagle, a leader can only rise to greater heights if he/she takes up the challenges head on without running away from them. This is yet another leadership characteristic.
- Eagles are High Flyers
Eagles can fly up to an altitude of 10,000 feet.. At this altitude, you will not find another bird. If you find another bird, it has to be an eagle.
An eagle doesn’t mix with pigeons. It was Dr. Myles Munroe who said that. Pigeons scavenge on the ground and grumble and complain all day long. Eagles do not. They fly and make less noise waiting for opportunities to strike their next prey or glide with the current of the storm.
Great leaders are problem solvers. They don’t complain like the pigeons do. They love to take challenges as the eagle does when the storm comes.
- Eagles never eat Dead Meat
An eagle never eats dead meat. In other words, an eagle does not scavenge. It only eats the meat from the prey it kills itself. Eagles eat raw and fresh meat.
A true leader spends time with people who are vibrant and liberal in thinking. You have to be with people who can think, make informed decisions and take actions. These are the people who bring changes to the society. They are lively and active people. Go out and look for them.
According to Tony Buzan, a proponent of the techniques of Mind Mapping and mental literacy, these types of people are called Change Thinkers and Change Makers.
There is a saying that goes like this: “People you hang around with and the books you read eventually determines the person you become.”
- Eagles possess Vitality
Eagles are full of life and are visionary but they find time to look back at their life and re-energize themselves. This happens at about the age of 30 when their physical body condition deteriorates rapidly, making it difficult for them to survive.
What is really interesting is that the eagle never gives up living, instead it retreats to a mountaintop and over a five month period goes through a metamorphosis. It knocks off its own beak by banging it against a rock, plucks out its talons and then feathers. Each stage produces a re-growth of the removed body parts, allowing the eagle to live for another 30 – 40 years.
There are times in your life as a leader that you must look back and take stock of your life. The good and the bad experiences you have been through as a leader. Are you keeping in trend with the current knowledge trend? Do you need to improve certain areas in your life as a leader?
Great leaders are the ones that always do a “check and balance” of their personal and professional lives and make an effort to learn things every day.
- Eagles Nurture their Young ones
Eagles are known for their aggression. They are absolutely ferocious, aren’t they? Anyone who doesn’t have a total knowledge of this great bird will say yes. What is more astonishing with these birds, however, is their ability to nurture their young ones. Research has shown that no member of the bird family is more gentle and attentive to its young ones than the eagle.
This is how it happens. When the mother eagle sees that time has come for it to teach the eaglets to fly, she gathers an eaglet onto her back, and spreading her wings, flies high. Suddenly she swoops out from under the eaglet and allows it to fall. As it falls, it gradually learns what its wings are for until the mother catches it once again. The process is repeated. If the young bird is slow to learn or cowardly, she returns it to the nest and begins to tear the nest apart, until there is nothing left for the eaglet to cling to. Then she nudges it off the cliff.
True leaders are not bosses. They grow with their people. They strive to make individuals in the organization or society grow to their full ability. They teach and guide just like the mother eagle does. They never stop giving challenges but never give up empowering and directing.
From the Nairaland Forum
The Bible
Eagles represent sovereignty and supremacy as God is the real ruler of kings and presidents. Also, when the storms hit, eagles can fly far above the storms, indicating that God is never affected by conditions for He is also sovereign over nature.
Eagles are also the most attentive parents of all the bird species, perhaps the greatest teachers of their young and, like doves, they will remain monogamous until death. God is like an eagle.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalm 103:5
Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Our Editor, Nancy Chu at nancy-chu@cornerstone-group.com would love to hear from you if you have special thoughts to share.]]>
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