Are you starting out this year more certain, more surefooted than ever before? Then count yourself very lucky, because most corporate leaders and managers are facing another year of change and challenge - whether it's a fast growth company like Facebook or a company in crisis, it's high time for focusing on how we can get rid of our fears and make change an opportunity rather than a problem.

I am so excited to make this announcement for the new year - FINALLY my new book, UNFEAR, is ready for sale, and I am thrilled. I am thrilled to bring you stories of real people who have faced incredible changes, both personal and professional, and have not only gotten through but have really made a powerful, positive impact through their leadership. The book is inspired by my clients (organizational leaders who care about being their best) who need practical ideas that can be implemented immediately.

I was asked in an interview this morning what the greatest challenge is for corporate leadership in the U.S. today. I'd say it is being courageous and making good decisions in the face of change and the fear it evokes. 

We are a deeply interconnected global economy, and that creates enormous complexity. Our decisions have a ripple effect, and we need to understand that ripple effect.  The pace of change. When we face change that is so rapid, it’s hard to act from a stable, grounded position. It’s impossible to have all of the data and to understand all of the moving parts.

Leaders need to engage their intuition and their courage in order to thrive during times of great ambiguity. This is prevalent at every level of organizations right now. People are operating in a state of fear. Fear shuts down our “executive functioning” in the brain, and causes us to react out of defensiveness. We go into fight, flight, and flee behaviors that are not useful unless we are in physical danger. That fear is creating havoc in collaborative relationships, in strategic thinking, in decision-making. If there’s one thing we need right now it is simply to operate from a more effective state of being.

Thank you, dear reader for following this blog - and just for that I want to give you a discount on any purchases of UNFEAR prior to January 30, 2011.  Click HERE, place your order, and apply this keycode for your 50% discounted price: M5TL6B2A

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Karlin Sloan is the founder and CEO of Karlin Sloan & Company, Ms. Sloan provides organization development consulting, training and executive coaching to clients the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia.  She is the author of Smarter, Faster, Better; Strategies for Effective, Enduring, and Fulfilled Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 2006) and Unfear (January 2011).

The movement to leak confidential information headed by unlikely media superstar Julian Assange should be on everyone's mind as the internet goes wild with information leaked by American soldiers about the Iraq war. War is ugly, but so is the behavior of many of our corporate leaders.

As we are faced with a world that has no privacy, what does that mean for us as leaders? We need to start asking some difficult - and provocative - questions of ourselves and our colleagues.

1.) What am I complicit in, what have I tolerated or do I know is happening that is illegal or unethical in our organization?

2.) Is there an action I should be taking to make sure we are not at risk as a company? What can I personally do to ensure that our actions are above board?

3.) Is there any action I have taken as a leader that I wouldn't want broadcast to the world?

4.) Do I know our ethics policy? Do I let those who work with me know that it is important to act in accordance with that policy? Am I the role model I need to be?

5.) Am I making decisions out of fear, rather than doing what's right?

No matter what side you are on regarding Wikileaks; freedom of the press or preservation of confidentiality, this is something we need to be talking about in our companies.  Step one in "UNFEAR" is to acknowledge what's real, and focus on the future. The hard fact we face is that there is not the same degree of privacy that we once had in our connected society. Now, what will we do with that information?  One great option - use this new normal to drive better, more ethical, more socially and environmentally responsible behavior in our organizations. If you don't want it broadcast to the world - don't do it!

Go forth and discuss --- and let me know how this dialog is playing out in your organizations, I'd love to hear about it.

If you believe someone would enjoy and benefit from this post, please share it. Just click on the + Share button and you will see lots of options for sharing it with friends including email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Thanks!

Karlin Sloan is the founder and CEO of Karlin Sloan & Company, Ms. Sloan provides organization development consulting, training and executive coaching to clients the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia.  She is the author of Smarter, Faster, Better; Strategies for Effective, Enduring, and Fulfilled Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 2006) and Unfear (January 2011).

It's nearly the turn of the year, and this is the time we start thinking about a good re-start. Instead of writing a blog full of advice, this time it's all about giving you the questions to ponder in order to get off to a great start for 2011. Enjoy!

1.) What can you stop doing this year? Who can help take things off of your plate? How can you develop those around you to take on what you shouldn't be doing anymore?

2.) Who do you want to spend more time with? Leaders often spend a lot of time with people who drain their energy. Who adds to your life force? How can you make time with that person?

3.) How are you contributing your greatest strengths to your organization? What talents and skills are going unused? What strengths are you using too much?

4.) What practices help you to stay grounded and clearheaded? How can you make space for what re-energizes and envigorates you?

5.) Do your team members feel engaged and appreciated? One great new year's practice is to send a hand-written note to each of your direct reports thanking them for their contributions in 2010, and asking for their help to make 2011 great.

If you believe someone would enjoy and benefit from this post, please share it. Just click on the + Share button and you will see lots of options for sharing it with friends including email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Thanks!

Karlin Sloan is the founder and CEO of Karlin Sloan & Company, Ms. Sloan provides organization development consulting, training and executive coaching to clients the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia.  She is the author of Smarter, Faster, Better; Strategies for Effective, Enduring, and Fulfilled Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 2006) and Unfear (January 2011).