Latest news with #LisaBaker
Forbes
05-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Purpose Over Performance: Transformational Edge Of Aligned Leadership
Lisa L. Baker, award-winning coach and Founder of Ascentim, empowers leaders to own their voice, amplify their impact, and lead on purpose. The results-driven environment in which today's leaders operate tends to condition them to measure success solely by metrics and milestones. But the uncertainty and complexity they navigate require something more: agility, creativity and the ability to inspire continuous improvement. The solution? Aligned, purpose-driven, transformational leadership. The challenge? The transformation that results from purposeful leadership doesn't always show up in KPIs or on dashboards, because transformational leadership is much more about being than doing. And all too often, the constant pressure to perform pushes leaders out of alignment with: • Who they are • What they value • Why their leadership matters I work with many impactful leaders across levels and industries. They share a strong internal compass. Their purpose grounds them, guides their values and governs their decisions. Cultivating that kind of leadership requires intention and consistent practice. Too often, leaders dive straight into execution without pausing for reflection. But growth doesn't begin with performance strategy. It starts with self-awareness—the foundation of adult learning and the starting point for meaningful transformation. When what you believe, what you value and how you lead are aligned, leadership becomes less about proving through performance and more about purpose and partnering for success. You lead with conviction. You create space for others to contribute. And while results still matter, they emerge through alignment rather than at the expense of it. In this article, I explore what aligned leadership looks and feels like, introducing a simple three-step framework to help you reconnect and realign, along with prompts to guide the process. Ultimately, I hope you lead purposefully and achieve results without losing yourself in the process. How Aligned Leadership Looks And Feels While alignment occurs internally, its effects are displayed externally. Those closest to the leader (family, friends, direct reports) are the first to notice. Alignment looks like: • Pausing to consider the intentions and impacts before taking action • Exploring what's possible rather than driving for perfection • Seeking diverse perspectives to prepare for opportunities and solve problems Misalignment, however, is often subtle and may take time to surface. But leaders usually notice it first as: • Reluctance to make a decision when it really counts • Unease before, during or after crucial conversations • Disconnection from work or activities that used to be energizing In coaching sessions, I hear some leaders describe it as lingering exhaustion, even after having a good night's sleep. Others say, despite accolades and accomplishments, that they feel "something is missing." Why Does Aligned Leadership Matter? People, processes and organizations are positively impacted by aligned, transformational leadership. When done well, it creates the clarity and connection people need to thrive. But when leaders are unclear internally, the ambiguity spreads outward. Teams begin to mirror the instability, responding to signals that feel reactive rather than purposeful. According to Gallup's 2025 "State of the Global Workplace" report, employee engagement plummeted to 21%, due in part to disconnection from purpose and leadership. That's why it matters. Leadership alignment is more than a soft skill; it's a strategic advantage that drives employee engagement and performance. So, what can you do when you start to notice the tell-tale signs that you're out of sync with your purpose? How To Reflect And Realign: A Simple Three-Step Framework It's clear: Transformational leadership flourishes when your beliefs, values and behaviors align. We've discussed how purpose-aligned leadership shows up and why it matters. Now, let's review a simple but profound three-step framework you can use to reflect and realign. Your beliefs shape how you live and lead. And they serve as the filter through which you perceive everything: yourself, others, challenges, opportunities, even your leadership. If you believe leadership is about control, you'll clutch the reins tightly. If you view it as a service, you'll show up with generosity and humility. Often, beliefs are rooted in old, false narratives. The key is to examine what you believe to determine what still serves you. And what limits your growth in ways that you may not have realized. Reflect: • What assumptions guide how I lead, succeed and value myself? • Do my beliefs empower me, or are they relics from a past I've outgrown? Values are the internal drivers for decision-making. Therefore, it's essential to clarify your "why." Clarity helps you easily determine what matters, who matters and where you draw the line. Upholding your values grounds your leadership in integrity. Reflect: • What truly matters to me in work, in life, in how I lead? • Where do I live my values clearly, and where do I compromise them? Habits are where alignment becomes visible. They're the daily actions that either strengthen or erode credibility. Many leaders know what they believe and value, but they often feel out of sync when it comes to their calendars, competing priorities and energy levels. Start small. Realign one choice at a time. Then build a rhythm. Reflect: • Do my routines reflect the leader I aspire to be? • Where can I more closely align my aspirations with my actions? Final Thoughts Alignment isn't a destination; it's a disciplined practice. The head, heart, hands framework is surprisingly simple. However, it can be transformative when put into practice. Finally, leading with purpose shows steadiness and clear direction and earns trust through consistency. When there's alignment between who you are, what you believe and how you lead, it creates the conditions for psychological safety, deep engagement and meaningful performance. Honor the best in yourself and make room for others to do the same. That's where transformation becomes possible. Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
British family stranded in Israel facing £6,000 bill to get home
Three generations of a British family are stranded in Israel, after their flight home was cancelled due to the escalating Iran -Israel conflict and closure of Israeli airspace. Lisa Baker, her daughter Bella, and her mother Phyllis Phillips are staying in a hotel with a safe room in Haifa. Despite registering with the Foreign Office, the family reports receiving little help and is exploring routes home involving land travel to Jordan and multiple connecting flights costing up to £6,000. Baker criticised the UK government's lack of evacuation plan, suggesting a boat service to Cyprus as a safer alternative, and questioned why the UK couldn't replicate Israel's efforts to fly nationals home. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the welfare of British nationals in Israel is the government's 'first priority', with support being offered in Jordan and Egypt and border crossing updates posted on the Foreign Office website.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Family stranded in Israel face 3,700-mile journey through three countries to get home to UK
A British family stranded in Israel due to the intensifying conflict with Iran say they face an arduous, expensive and potentially dangerous journey back home if the UK government continues to fail to act. Barrister Lisa Baker, 51, is stuck with her 15-year-old daughter, Bella, and 78-year-old mother Phyllis Phillips in the northern coastal city of Haifa after their flight home on Sunday was cancelled. The Israeli government closed its airspace until 23 June after the escalation in the conflict with Iran, which has seen both countries launch deadly air attacks against each other. On Monday morning, three people in Haifa were among eight killed by Iranian ballistic missiles in a dawn attack. The UK has no plans to evacuate Britons stranded in Israel, but support has been stepped up in Jordan and Egypt for people who make their way overland. Ms Baker and her family are staying in a hotel with access to a safe room where they seek shelter when sirens warn of a possible air attack. But they are keen to return to the UK. Yet despite registering their situation with the Foreign Office, as requested by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, they say they have had little help in finding a safe passage home. The latest government advice for British nationals is that three international land border crossings to Jordan and one to Egypt are open 'but could close without notice'. As a result, Ms Baker told The Independent that she was exploring a number of routes to get home, many involving two or three flights. One route is to travel by land for more than three hours to Amman in Jordan, and then catch a flight to London Stansted, with layovers in Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and Istanbul in Turkey. That journey is more than 3,700 miles, well over the 2,185-mile distance from Haifa to London. There are routes with fewer stops, but group ticket costs rise up to £6,000, Ms Baker said, while journeys include overnight layovers in airports such as Beirut in Lebanon. Ms Baker said: 'The nearest airport is Amman in Jordan, but there are no direct flights, instead there are flights back to UK with one, two or three stops, and costing up to £6,000 for us all. 'Then every time we go into a flight, it disappears, presumably because of the demand. 'The journeys also include border crossings that the Foreign Office says could close without notice, and there is the risk flights could stop at an airport we are heading to. 'The UK government needs to act to get British citizens home in safe way. Telling us to use border crossing to a country where there is no guarantee of a safe passage back can mean there is a risk of potential danger.' Ms Baker questioned why the UK government could not replicate Israel's action to fly nationals back home, despite the airspace closure. Poland has also announced an evacuation of around 200 of its citizens in a bus convoy to Jordan, while the Czech Republic and Slovakian governments have organised repatriation flights from the region. Ms Baker said the Foreign Office should consider putting on a boat service for British nationals in Haifa to reach Cyprus, where direct flights home are available from Larnaca. 'That is a safe passage as it is a country that is safe, and is a route that is not putting us as risk from being in other countries that could be potentially dangerous to be in right now,' she said. 'It is calm here, we are not in bomb shelters, we are in safe rooms,' she added. 'It is scary, but it is organised here, with an alert system followed by sirens. There have been attacks in Haifa, we know that, and damage to buildings where people are in safe rooms. There has sadly been a loss of life. 'We want to get home.' While Bella is missing her GCSE mock exams at her school in Leeds, Ms Baker said she was having to reassign her barrister workload while away. On Monday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy assured British nationals in Israel that their welfare was the government's 'first priority'. As well as sending a team to Egypt to assist nationals, he said border crossing were being posted on the Foreign Office website. 'British nationals in the region should closely monitor our travel advice for further updates.' he told the Commons.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Baker announces Judiciary Committee approval of public safety bills
Jun. 4—WILKES-BARRE — Three significant bills aimed at enhancing public safety and modernizing Pennsylvania's criminal statutes were approved by the Judiciary Committee, which she serves as chair, Sen. Lisa Baker said on Wednesday. "These bills reflect a thoughtful approach to balancing innovation and public safety," said Baker, R-Lehman Township. "They represent another step forward in ensuring our justice system keeps pace with the times." The approved legislation includes: —Senate Bill 635: Baker said there are rising reports of drug dealers targeting people staying at recovery houses as they work to try and break the cycle of addiction. "Allowing for sentencing enhancements for those pedaling drugs within 1,000 feet of these facilities ensures sufficient penalties are in place to counteract this deadly practice and protect vulnerable individuals," Baker said. —Senate Bill 649: Baker said deep-fakes are being used to commit a variety of costly and disruptive crimes. These include scamming the elderly, embarrassing and extorting public figures and private individuals, and interfering with political campaigns. "Given the novelty of deep-fakes and their potential for misuse, our crimes code must be adapted to allow prosecutors to pursue these bad actors," Baker said. —Senate Bill 739: Criminals are ever resourceful in exploiting new technology for illegal purposes. Organized car theft operations are turning to devices that intercept key fob signals. Baker said this measure seeks to combat those who are manipulating legitimate key fob signals to steal vehicles, and the valuables sometimes kept inside, by making it a first-degree misdemeanor and ensuring the law keeps pace with technological developments. "As technology advances, so do the methods employed by those seeking to exploit it for criminal purposes," said Baker. "By updating our laws to include offenses like digital forgery and pirating key fobs, we are taking proactive steps to protect Pennsylvanians from emerging threats." The bills now head to the full Senate for consideration. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sen. Baker's legislation to strengthen PFA orders approved by Senate
Jun. 3—WILKES-BARRE — Sen. Lisa Baker on Tuesday said law enforcement officers put themselves on the line every time they serve a PFA. "It's only right that the agencies performing this vital work receive the support and reimbursement they deserve," said Sen. Baker, R-Lehman Township. "This bill ensures that fairness is built into the process." The Pennsylvania Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Baker to improve the enforcement of Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions and orders and ensure law enforcement agencies are properly reimbursed. Sen. Baker said Senate Bill 302 corrects a longstanding imbalance in the law that directs a portion of PFA-related court fees exclusively to county sheriffs — even in cases where local police departments or state troopers carry out the service of the paperwork. Sen. Baker said the legislation stems from concerns raised by Dallas Township Police Chief Doug Higgins and an audit conducted by Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith, which highlighted that municipal departments were absorbing the cost of serving PFA orders without compensation. The bill also clarifies that only sheriffs or trained law enforcement officers — not private individuals — should be authorized to serve PFAs, addressing a critical safety concern and reinforcing professional standards in enforcement. Sen. Baker said the bill outlines the reimbursement process — while the $25 service fee will continue to be collected through the existing surcharge, sheriffs will be required to transfer the fee to the agency completing the service. "We are working to make sure no victim faces unnecessary delays or uncertainty when seeking protection," Sen. Baker said. "This reform is about accountability, safety and making sure the system functions the way it was intended." Senate Bill 302 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
