Who are your heroes? May 12, 2009
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It’s that wonderful time of year when interviewing becomes a significant portion of life and with each interview season my quest for the ultimate question begins anew. In recent years, my favorites have been “Who are your heroes?” and “If you could spend a day with anyone, who would that be?” These are not tough questions. Although some people have not liked answering them. I think the very reason they don’t like the question is actually why the question gets asked in the first place.
These kind of questions are designed to do one thing…to get a glimpse of the person’s inner character. To see if they see beyond themselves. Some people do, others don’t.
As a leader you must see beyond yourself. Leading should never be about the leader. So today, lead beyond yourself. Hey, you never know…you just may be an answer to one of those questions!
Lasting Legacy? April 29, 2009
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Why be a leader? Why risk making a difference? Is it to make a legacy? No, not really. But it does happen. Each day you as a leader are leaving a legacy of your leadership. Oh boy, what a thought!
I would suggest that in leadership, your legacy is not only the leadership that you have demonstrated, but the capacity for leadership you have fostered in others.
Some people find themselves in leadershp positions because of an immediate crisis they may have stepped into. I guess some say they got the short end of the stick. Or, maybe they were in the wrong place at the right time. So what happens when the crisis is over? In some cases, they struggle with purpose. Some are so used to leading through tough times that they are unsettled when things are going well and may even look to create “opportunities” to lead. Those are the dangerous ones. Somewhere along the way, that so-called leader has found their identity in the struggles of other people.
So what kind of leader are you and why are you leading people? Even more than that, what kind of people will you leave? The answer to that question may indeed be a legacy…
A “bit” of a blog… April 25, 2009
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Why are we so fascinated in the English language with phrases about horses? You know the ones…”You can lead a horse to water… but you can’t make it drink.” “Stop horsing around.” “Don’t beat a dead horse.” or how about, “That’s a horse of a different color”
Could it possibly be our Western/Cowboy heritage? Or, maybe it’s our desire for the good old days when life seemed to be well…simpler.
The other day I heard a great one…”If your horse dies when you are riding it…get off.”
I ask you…is your horse still alive?
Sorry to saddle you with that thought.
Leave your U-haul here! April 7, 2009
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Have you ever heard the phrase “in the end, whoever has the most toys…wins.?” What on earth does that mean? I suppose it is in reference to gaining as much as you can in your life so that in the end, you can what?…have a lot of stuff. Correct me if I am wrong, but I have never seen a hearse with a U-haul behind it.
There must be more important things in this world than…things. Sure, we can accumulate objects and items, cars and cash, but at the end of the day, I am not sure what it gets us.
In leadership, we are driven to succeed. Words like profit, loss, margin and error still mean as much today as they did 30 years ago. Now please don’t get me wrong, when you are in business if you don’t turn a profit, you probably won’t be in business very long. (Unless of course you can pick up a bailout or two.) Certainly during these very difficult economic times the value of sound judgement is incredibly important. But come on, it just can’t be all about the money. Can it?
In the short term, people may follow a leader who is producing good financial returns. But, at then end of the day, it looks like people may need more than a solid portfolio.
The Daily Grind March 27, 2009
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I have heard people refer to the commonality of life as the “daily grind” and have often wondered what they meant. They tell they are referencing the idea that the ”same old, same old” things always happen. Ugh! That may be true but for some but, hardly ever for those in leadership.
In fact, in leadership, I would suggest the “daily grind” would more aptly refer to the cup of coffee you pick up on the way to your next meeting. Leadership changes everyday. Or, maybe it better to say, leaders must adapt their leadership everyday. Whether it is responding to new situations or dealing with old problems, leaders must possess and demonstrate the ability to effectively lead through the experiences that the new day brings.
I am not sure I could ever refer to anything in my life as worthy of fitting into the category of “grind-able.” Maybe that is not a good thing, but for me, it’s just the way it is and I’m actually very thankful for that!
Bottoms Up!
Falling for anything… March 24, 2009
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I was reminded this morning of a great quote I came across a few years ago. I can’t remember who said it, but I remember the essence of the quote. “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”
I actually think these days, people are looking for strong leaders. Not mean or nasty leaders, but ones that have an understanding of where they are going and a conviction to bring other with them. Today, as you asses your leadership, it may be good to ask yourself… just what do I stand for?
Not sure? Careful of the fall.
Stimulus Package? March 23, 2009
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It is impossible to turn on the television these days and not hear bad news about the economy. Between bailouts and bonuses, corporate jets and corporate greed, it appears our world is in quite a bit of chaos. So what’s a leader to do? The economic problems are huge and the men and women dealing with them literally have the economic “weight of the world on their shoulders.”
I am certainly not an economic guru or fantastic financial planner. For that matter, I don’t even play one on TV. But, I am pretty sure of this…there is no magic potion or single congressional action that can fix our current economic problems. That in itself is a problem.
As a society, we have become accustomed to quick fixes. Between faster fast food production and quicker cable service delivery, we are always looking for a quicker way to do things… better? Now, that desire is not always a bad thing. I am just not sure the necessity to fix the global economic problems can be accomplished with the proverbial shot in the arm. Our national leaders literally have the economic world on their shoulders.
Whether it is a savory stimulus package or global gutting of industry we are in need of wise, strong leadership of global proportions. Oh boy, after making that statement, a discussion of that topic would be quite a stimulating conversation.
Welcome to my office? March 20, 2009
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Have you ever thought about how people feel when they walk into your office? If you believe conventional wisdom, first impressions are incredibly important. When I think about the offices I’ve been in over the years, they really run the atmospheric/decor spectrum. For some, I would have considered their office a comfortable place for people to engage in conversation. While others, as soon as I walked in, the stark office decor made me feel well….unwelcome. Why such a contrast and why does it make me feel that way?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not talking about the style or quality of the furniture. There are some offices that have worn-out, chipped furniture (like you could find at the local donation center) and other offices that have furniture that could be straight out of the finest furniture maker corporation in America. I may feel comfortable in one and uncomfortable in the other. So what is the deal? Why do I feel different?
For me, I notice a few things immediately; pictures, diplomas and desk placement. Each one of those items allows me to formulate my opinion about the leader who uses that office. Right or wrong, my initial impression is formed by that encounter. For what it is worth, pictures… love them, diplomas…who cares, desk placement…says a lot.
I actually think I may not be the only one who forms initial impressions. If that is the case, it may be pretty important to ask yourself…what does my office say about me?
Can I Be Honest With You… March 16, 2009
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I have often wondered why people make the statements they do. For example when someone says “Can I be honest with you…” in the middle of a conversation, what exactly does that mean? Should we assume up to that point the person has been lying? I don’t think so. Maybe they say it because they think for some reason you have tuned them out. Or, maybe it is just for emphasis.
Recently, I heard a few more statements. They went something like ”Oh, this tastes a… different” or “Wow, that’s certainly an interesting idea”. In reality, the person may have been thinking “This tastes horrible!” or “Are you kidding me, that’s your idea!”.
Why don’t we always speak the truth? Isn’t honesty the best policy? I wonder if compassion and truth can really coexist?
Do we make those kind of statements when, what we really want to say may be just too harsh for the other person to hear? Maybe we say something that makes us think we addressed the situation but, doesn’t hurt the other person. Sometimes that’s the right thing to do. Unfortunately, our desire to show compassion causes the real message to be lost. As a result, we may feel like we have addressed an issue, but the other person did not hear the real message.
In leadership, our words mean a great deal. In fact , they can be the difference between effectively changing a behavior or making the situation even worse. Don’t get me wrong, being honest is sometimes very difficult. No one likes to hear tough truths. But, wise counsel brings correction and as leaders, it is up to us to demonstrate wise counsel.
Trust Me?! March 12, 2009
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So what kind of a leader are you? Do you trust someone until they prove you wrong? Or, do you make people earn your trust? Since we see both styles utilized in leadership, it would appear that each can be used effectively. I suppose the first option may have a higher risk factor associated with it and yet, could seem to demonstrate a more optimistic approach to leadership. Yet, one could see the value of the second, potentially less risky approach. I wonder if that second option stems more from experience through unsuccessful attempts with the first option? It could be a “I’ve been down that road before and got burned.” response. Whichever option you choose does matter. Let’s not kid ourselves into thinking those we seek to lead aren’t smart enough to feel the difference.
Trust me on this one.
