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Friday, March 26, 2010
Characteristics of Success - 'Leadership Traits' - Part 3Welcome Back! I hope you're having a great Friday and getting ready
for your weekend. Today we will be continuing our exploration of 'Leadership Traits'. We
established as a premise for this series that 'Success' leaves clues and if we carefully hone-in on these clues
and study them, we can learn together. We will continue the process as we have been doing of choosing a different
Leadership Trait, exploring it's attributes and then will try to bring a personal application for each of us to apply
to our own lives.
The first two aspects/traits we examined were:
1. Authenticity
2. Service, or a Desire to Serve
The third trait I
want to explore is:
3. Empowering People
As I like to do; let's get a
common language/definition to work from and for that we'll turn turn to 'Webster' and see what Empowerment means.
Empowerment is: to invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. To
equip or supply with an ability; enable: An act of helpful activity; to train, to supply with aid,
information or other incidental services.
If we talk about today's business environment one of the overused 'buzz'
words is 'Empowerment or Empowering Others or Empowered Teams'. Think about it......How many of you are just sick and
tired of hearing some boss or other executive throw out those words. We throw them out and think that there is some type of
'magic' in the words themselves. If we just mention the word 'Empowerment' in a meeting or post it on the bulletin board that
we've done our job and miraculously things will improve at work and our teams will be 'empowered' and work together flawlessly.
Now I am sorry if I just offended any of you with my 'sarcasm' and the trite way I approached this topic but I guess
I will say I have a strong basis for my feelings. As I have shared in previous posts: I have been in and with Corporate America
teams and groups for well over 20 years. I have heard all the buzz words and catch phrases some management/leadership guru
coined-up and then the next thing I know every person around is repeating the buzz word like some sort of 'sacred mantra'.
They then approach their job like it will improve just by the mere mention of the word.
(What I LOVE about
what I do is this....I KNOW many of you who have been in the professional working world for a while, just read that and are
smiling/laughing to yourself because you know that what I said is the absolute TRUTH! Just go ahead and do it.....Smile...you
know it is the truth!  )
Here is the point I am trying to make. Over the last several decades we have come up with a lot of managerial
or leadership concepts/words that are excellent points and advice for us to improve our skills and abilities to lead.
The challenge and separation point for many people is this......these words require 'action'. They require us to do something.....to
do something different as a leader than what we did before..... just repeating the word over and over again doesn't
make it work......we have to implement something different.....we have to 'ACT' and 'Behave' differently....that is what will
bring the results. When the 'concept' gets cheapened by becoming a 'trite buzz-word' the effectiveness of the concept/technique
is all but lost.
So then the challenge for us as leaders/managers is not the actual 'word' : Empowerment.....but the
HOW of Empowerment. How do you and I actually and faithfully put this 'word/concept' into practice.
I would
like to start with some brief thoughts as to why empowerment is so difficult for most people. To really embrace the concept
and intent of empowerment most of us have to have a fundamental shift in our leadership paradigm. Most of us, as leaders,
have become or are 'hoarders' of information and knowledge. I understand inherently why: Many of us are 'scared' to share
information/knowledge with others because we are afraid that if the others have this knowledge, they may surpass us! Let's
be honest and truthful here......We're scared that the more knowledge and power others have......the less secure we are in
our positions. We operate from a 'hoarding' type paradigm......I must hoard information for my own 'self-preservation'.....I
want to keep my job......I want them to need me!
If we honestly and truthfully understand the power of what I just
shared above, we will start to see and understand the challenge that most people in leadership face. The paradigm shift
I'm referring to, for most managers/leaders is no less than a 180 degree shift from how they currently think and behave.
The shift from 'hoarding' information to sharing information, teaching and equipping others with needed skills for advancement
is a huge leap for many of us. Which is also why we get so frustrated with all the 'buzz-words' out there....When we hear a
boss throw out these buzz-words but their actions/behaviors don't reflect the meaning of the word.....the boss doesn't act
any differently we look at them and go.....yea right dude! This my friends is the real rub of leadership.....bringing our
actions, the things we say and do in line with the key leadership concepts.
If we look at the definition above
we will see both the leadership challenge....the 'rub' if you will....and the answer: Empowerment
is: to invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. To equip or supply with an ability; enable: An
act of helpful activity; to train, to supply with aid, information or other incidental services
So how do you make the paradigm shift from 'hoarder and keeper of all the managerial life secrets' to a person who;
invests others with power, shares ideas, leads, teaches, equips and helps others grow. I guess the answer like anything else,
comes in several stages:
#1. - You have to be honest and really assess if you are a
'hoarder' of information.
#2. - If you are.....you have to determine.....make a decision to change. I'm not saying
you can make a 180 degree change all at once.... but at least realize where you are and commit to taking small baby steps
forward. (If you think you're NOT a hoarder of information....great. However, you still need to look for ways you can equip
those around you ....... you have to be vigilant.)
#3. - You have to consistently monitor yourself and contiue
to keep as your objective 'Empowering People'. This habit is easy to fall away from and needs to be consistently self-monitored
to keep it alive, active and moving forward.
#4. - Realize you'll never 'arrive'......again it is not about 'perfection'
but it is about direction....movement.
#5. - If you catch yourself falling back into a 'hoarding' mentality....stop.....apologize
if needed and then once again commit yourself to helping those around you grow and improve.
Over
the weekend here is your 'homework' assignment or 'questions' to think about and ponder. When you think
about the quality/trait of 'Empowering People' and what we've discussed,
please think about and respond to these questions:
Would you say you 'Empower People'? (At work....at Home?) Why or why not? Be honest and do some self-inspection!
Would the people around you at work and home say you 'Empower Others'? Or would they say you are the 'keeper
or hoarder' of the key work and life information'? Again this is you looking at your motives and desires....be honest!
What area(s) could you share more information/knowledge with others? Remember it is about 'baby steps' forward....progress
not perfection!
What is stopping or 'holding' you back from ''Empowering Others'? What are you scared of? Are you
afraid you don't have the 'knowledge' to teach them? Are you afraid that they'll do it better than you? Are you afraid that
if they 'learn' this....you won't be needed and they may 'replace' you? (I know these are deep and tough questions.......I
know they are.....that's also why there aren't many great leaders out there.....there is a 'price' that leaders pay....there
is a 'cost' to being authentic.....it isn't free!)
What will YOU do to remove the above fears/barriers?
What small step could you take at home or work that would 'equip' someone else?
When will you start?
What will you do to ensure that you maintain a paradigm of 'Empowering People' and the 'mind-set that is needed?
Again be honest in your self-assessment, write your thoughts down and then take action!
We established in our first post that If we want live a life that is truly authentic;
we have to make sure we consistently live from our core. What we do, has to resonate from who we are deep within ourselves,
what you say and more importantly, your ACTIONS speak volumes about you. In our second post we discussed a 'desire to
serve' and we established that people who are authentic, transfer that into action by 'Service to Others'
or a 'Desire to Serve'.
Today we discussed 'Empowering People'; we talked about the challenges,
paradigm shifts that must take place for many of us and also the value empowering others brings to our lives. Again, empowerment
can take on many different aspects and once again it is not about being perfect.....it is not about doing it 'right'
all the time.......that is not it at all.......it is about being committed to helping others grow and develop one step
at-a-time. That can take place at the place you work, your home, or in the community where you live. The point once again
is not 'perfection'.....Leader's aren't perfect at all.....leadership is about movement forward....it is about progress. You
can't make a 180 degree shift all at once.....you have to take small steps and once you do; the momentum you create will continue
to propel you forward in the right direction!
As we have said through out all of our posts on Leadership: ACTIONS
truly do speak LOUDER than words......ACTIONS SHOUT.....words whisper!.....so my question to you is: What are
your actions shouting? If you are 'Empowering People' you will never regret it....to see others grow and
become more effective in their professional and personal lives is a tremendously rewarding feeling......There is nothing like
looking back at your day or week and knowing the people you interacted with, are somehow 'more equipped' to face life
and life's challenges........I guess I'll ask you: How do you feel when YOU know YOU made a difference in someone
else's life? I'll bet I can answer that.......GREAT!
I believe authentic leaders are more interested in empowering
the people they lead to make a difference than they are in power, money, or prestige for themselves. Let's commit to 'Empowering People' as a daily and lifelong pattern in our lives! Why not try it
this weekend and next week at work....it couldn't hurt!
Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday, as
always, thanks for listening/reading and remember to:
'Dream Big and Dare to Fail!'
12:34 pm edt
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Characteristics of Success - 'Leadership Traits' - Part 2Welcome Back! I hope you're having a great week and are ready to continue
our exploration of 'Leadership Traits'. We established in our
last post, 'Success' leaves clues and if we carefully hone-in on these clues and study them, I believe there will
be much to learn together. As we did in the first post, I will be choosing a different Leadership Trait, exploring
it's attributes and then will try to bring a personal application for each of us to apply to our own lives.
The first aspect/trait we examined was:
1. Authenticity.
I belief and I hope we established in our last post that 'Effective Leadership' does
in fact begin and end with 'Authenticity'. The second
trait I would like us to look at and examine is:
2. Service, or a Desire to Serve
Again, let's start
with how 'Webster' defines Service. Service is: An
act of helpful activity; help, aid, to supply with aid, information or other incidental services.
In our busy lives of today, I think the desire to 'serve' or
'help' others has become extremely diminished. I think we have developed and seem to hold onto a 'take care of myself' mindset.
We look at giving things away or volunteering as things that we don't have time for. For the most part I think we
have become very self-absorbed and in turn, a selfish generation. Yes I know when there is some catastrophic event we
'rise' to the occasion but I don't think service to others is an everyday part of our lives anymore. That saddens me because
that old adage: 'It is better to give than recieve' is so very true. There is something that happens
to us internally when we give to others that is not only rewarding and satisfying but I think is self-repeating. When
we are kind and give or help others I think they in turn 'pass the kindness' forward.
My daughters Sierra and Mariah
have been involved with the local 'Habitat for Humanity' since they were little girls. From an early age they were cleaning
or helping where they could on the job sites. When hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast with such devastation many people
were left 'homeless'. The girls, their mom Diane and a group of local volunteers went down for 'Habitat' to help in the re-building
process. They took their spring break and went to help which is where Sierra and Mariah met Mr. Bailey who they came
to affectionately refer to as 'Paw, Paw Bailey'.
Their group was in charge of re-building Mr. Bailey's
home. When they met 'Paw, Paw' he was in his early-eighties and losing his sight. He instantly took to Sierra and Mariah who
were nine and seven at the time and began calling them his 'Little Angels'. Sierra and Mariah helped in the kitchen feeding
all the workers, slept on makeshift cots at night and were able to view first-hand the devastation of Katrina and the lives
that were changed forever. Well, they were able to re-build 'Paw, Paw Bailey's' home and after two weeks said goodbye.
Since that time and those moments, the girls were afforded something they never, ever expected when they went, gaining
another 'Grand Pa'. (Both of their paternal grandfathers had passed away years before.) Once they got back home, they
began writing 'Paw, Paw', would send him presents at Christmas, call him on his birthday and at each major holiday. Each
time they talked with him he would ask: 'How are my little Angels doing?' This past Christmas they called and talked with
him and thanked him for the Christmas gifts he always sent. 'Paw, Paw' was now fully blind and his years were catching up
with him quickly.
A month or so ago the girls came to my house and I knew they were sad. No sooner had we gotten
our things settled when they said: 'Paw, Paw Bailey died this week; he was 86.' They both began to cry and I held them both
so tight. As we stood there in my living room all crying together they told me how they found out. Paw, Paw Bailey must
have known his time to die was approaching and this is what he did. He wrote a letter and gave it to his neighbor: In
the letter was Sierra and Mariah's names and their phone number requesting that the friend call the number and tell them:
'Paw Paw said, Please call my 'Little Angels' and tell them I'm in heaven!'
When they told me that, now I'm crying worse then thay are.......wow! I guess I would ask you: What was THAT memory worth
my friends? .....Who could put a 'price or value' on that service!......Yes, the girls gave up two weeks of springbreak
when they could've done plenty of other things. But instead, they headed to a Katrina ravaged area... saw the devastation
first hand.....helped as best they could......and in the mean time.....provided a 'home for an 'old man'.....but more
importantly made a difference in 'Paw, Paw Bailey's' life. They made him happy, and thankful that God
had brought, two 'Little Angels' into his life. After I finally stopped crying and composed myself, we were able to share
the beauty of what they did.....their service and how they wouldn't trade that time or the memories for anything......you
see it is better to 'give than receive'.....because in giving.....you always get more in return......I KNOW Sierra and Mariah
did!
Now folks when we talk about service to others or a desire to serve you don't have to do
what Sierra, Mariah and their mom did. Service can start right in your own home, your own neighborhood or at work. Opening
the door for someone, holding the elevator, leaving a large tip to the waiter or waitress at lunch, kindness to a stranger,
giving of your time and money to others who are in need. Any of the above will pay you back over and over again and create
a wonderful sense of joy in you and in those you have helped.
I want to continue a 'practice' we have been
doing for quite some time now with all our posts; giving 'homework' or 'questions' for you to think about and ponder.
When you think about the quality of 'Service, or a Desire to Serve'
and what we've discussed I would like you to answer or at least think about these questions:
Would you say you're 'Service Oriented'? Why or why not?
Be honest and do some self-inspection!
Would people say you have a 'Desire to Serve'? Or would they say you
have a desire to 'Be Served'? Again this is you looking at your motives and desires....be honest!
What area would
you like to be more 'Service' oriented?
What is stopping or 'holding' you back from providing this service?
What will YOU do to remove the barriers?
When will you start?
What will you do to ensure that
you maintain a 'service to others' mind-set?
Again be honest in your self-assessment, write your thoughts down and
then take action!
We established in our first post that If we want live a life that is truly
authentic; we have to make sure we consistently live from our core. What we do, has to resonate from who we are deep
within ourselves and that what you say and do is important. I think it is reasonable to say that people who are authentic
also have a desire to transfer that authenticity into action, into 'Service to Others' or a 'Desire to Serve'. If you
are trying your best to be 'Authentic' then step number two has to follow closely behind.
Service can take
on many different aspects and once again it is not about being perfect.....it is not that at all.......it is about being committed
to making a difference no matter how big or small, in the place you work, the community you live or around the world.
Again, ACTIONS truly do speak LOUDER than words......ACTIONS SHOUT.....words whisper!.....the
question for us remains.....What are your actions shouting? I hope it is a 'Desire to Serve'. If you are truly serving
others you will never regret it....you really won't....there is nothing like looking back at a moment in your day and
realizing how wonderful it is and was to 'serve' others and to make a difference in someone else's life!
I believe
authentic leaders genuinely desire to serve others through their leadership. Let's commit to making 'Service to Others' a
daily and lifelong pattern in our lives!
See you on Friday and as always, thanks for listening/reading and
remember to:
'Dream
Big and Dare to Fail!'
11:50 am edt
Monday, March 22, 2010
Characteristics of Success - 'Leadership Traits' - Part 1Welcome back on this third Monday in March. I hope you had a great weekend
and are having a good start to your week. We have been exploring over the last six months or so 'Characteristics of Success'.
We just concluded an eleven post concentration on 'Working through Change' which was received and embraced well. Now I would
like to shift our focus to what I'm calling: 'Leadership Traits'. We
have all at some point or another heard the statement that 'Success' leaves clues. I agree with that statement and that is
why I have chosen the above topic for our next posts.
If you study people that you would consider good or great
leaders I think these types of people leave consistent clues. If we carefully hone-in on these clues and study them, I believe
there will be much to learn together. What I will be doing with each post is choosing a different Leadership Trait, exploring
it's attributes and then try to bring a personal application for each of us to take away and apply in our own lives.
The first aspect/trait I would like to examine is what I'm calling Authenticity.
As we have done in many previous posts; let's start with how 'Webster' defines Authenticity. Authenticity
is: The quality or condition of being authentic, trustworthy,
or genuine. Webster further defines Authentic as: not false or
copied; real, authenticated; verified; reliable.
For over the last twenty years
I have had the wonderful opportunity to travel all over the country and had the pleasure and honor of partnering with a lot
of wonderful large, Fortune 100 companies and small community businesses. During this time I have met many great
leaders from CEO's, to Division Directors to Supervisors, supervising 10 people on a production line. I have listened and
been able to learn from them all and after studying these leaders and their traits; I honestly have come to the belief
that 'Effective Leadership' begins and ends with 'Authenticity'.
Think about what I just said: Effective Leadership begins and ends with 'Authenticity'!
Lets examine this thought/premise based on Webster's definitions above. The
quality or condition of being authentic, trustworthy, or genuine. Webster further defines Authentic as: not false or
copied; real, authenticated; verified; reliable.
I would like to ask you
to think about people you know or work for that you would say: They are Authentic. They're the 'Real Deal'! From
your perspective; what makes them that way; I think the answer lies in the definition above. I would like to start
by examining some of the words in the defintion above, illustrating what the word has to do with Authenticity and then also
dicussing what we have to do or not do to exhibit that quality in our lives.
Lets begin our disucussion:
Trustworthy. The bottom line is that people we feel are authentic, the real
deal, have as the basis of how they operate this one premise: TRUST. They act and conduct themselves in a way that builds
trust with those around them. There is a type of 'honor' we attribute to this type of person; we feel we can truly 'RELY'
on them. When we meet someone or have a relationship with someone professionally or personally, we want to establish
and know if we can 'TRUST' them, can I rely on them. Are they going to DO what they said or promised they were
going to do! Period. We all know people we can trust........we all know people we can't. The challenge is; you will never
be the real deal, you'll never be truly authentic unless the people around you 'trust' you!
Genuine!
I love this quality and I love to meet and be around people who demonstrate this attribute....they are genuine. I find people
who are 'Genuine' have a refreshing quality about them. They live in a way that is uniquely true to who they are as an individual.....there
is no pretense....they are who they are! I might not appreciate some of the things that say or do but I do respect that they
are living true to their core. They are living true to who they are as a person. There is something appealing and mesmerizing
to me about people who are who they are.....they go about their lives with a grace and dignity that only comes from living
from within, living from the core of who you are as a person!
Not False or Copied!
Think about those few words and now think about people you know and interact with at work and in your social circles:
How many of those people would you honestly say are 'Not false or Copied'. How many of those people are not trying to 'impress'
you in some way. We live in a keep up with the 'Joneses' type of world. We live to impress other people with the stuff
we accumulate or the positions or degrees we hold. We spend our lives trying to 'impress' people that in the big scope
in our lives, don't matter. Again from my experience I don't meet many people who are comfortable with their own 'God-Given'
uniqueness with all it's pros and cons.
Real! Don't all
of us clamour for people who are real to their core. Being real to me means excepting all our strengths....and all our weaknesses!
I love to be around people who are as comfortable with their bad or weaker qualities as they are with their good
qualities. Lets be honest and candid....we all have strengths......and we all have HUGE weaknesses. Trying to hide my weaknesses
and in turn just trying to exploit my strengths doesn't make me real. Now I know none of us likes to parade our weaknesses
for all to see....but can we be honest.....how refreshing is it when you're around someone else who is comfortable just saying:
I can't do that, will you teach me or that's not a strength of mine....isn't that refreshing to hear. As oppossed
to those people we all have in our lives who would never admit a weakness and in their OWN mind....have no flaws. I had a
guy friend who was like that.....I used to be able to spend time with him, but his 'ego' and 'arrogance'
turned out to be too much for me to take!.......He is not truly real! (Sorry but if the shoe fits.....wear it!)
Reliable! One of the great qualities that all of us admire in others
is 'Reliability'. When we have someone one we work with or a close personal friend that demonstatres this quality we
are tuly blessed. Being reliable, following through on what you've committed to do is a wonderful quality. We all love
having people like this in our lives. Think about how you feel when you hand something over to someone you deem as 'reliable'.....you
hand it over to them and then 'rest' easy because you know they are 'good to their word.....they will do it. I guess that
is what this quality really means to me.......YOU are good to your word! You'll do what you say you'll do! I am truly blessed
to have worked with people like this and to have personal friends in my life who demonstate this in their day-to-day life.
A little over five years ago I went through some personal challenges, a divorce. As with anyone who has gone
through this type of thing your emotions run the gamut. You want to run and hide, feel like you've failed and are dealing
with a plethora of complex emotions and issues. As I was going through this time I hadn't reached out to one of my friends......my
best and longest friend of over four decades.....I was too embarrassed. He found out, called and my cell phone rang on
the way to a speaking engagement. I saw it was him and kicked it into voicemail, not knowing what to say. I will never forget
the message. He simply said: "Hey it's me.....I heard about your challenges and I'm calling to just be your
friend. Don't shut me out of your life. I just want to be there for you in any way I can. Then he started to cry.
Through a broken voice he said again: Don't shut me out....I'm here for you in any way you need it.....If you want
me to come up there and just hang out for a few days let me know I'll take off work and drive to come see you. Hang in there
buddy....I Love You' (Thanks Swammy! the name is an inside joke! For ALWAYS being there for me.....no matter
what.....you my friend are the 'real deal' .....reliable and authentic to the core!)
I want to continue a 'practice' I
started doing in previous posts; giving homework' or 'questions' for you to think about and ponder. When you
think about the quality of 'Authenticity' and the definitions we provided; answer
or at least think about these questions:
Would you
say you're 'Trustworthy'? Why or why not? Be honest and do some self-inspection!
Would people say you are the 'real
deal'? Would they say your are 'genuine'? Or are you good at pretending? Putting on the face....playing the game? What would
you need to DO to demonstrate that you are the 'real deal'. What actions do you need to take. What do you need to say to someone
else or do? Again be honest in your self-assessment and then take action!
Are you busy being false to your self
and others? Are you trying to keep up and do things that really aren't true to who you are but you feel you need to put on
the pretense of something you're not.......to pretend. Again, self-honesty is so important.
Are you relaible? If
you say you're going to do something....do you do it? Do you?
Now my friends I know
some of the above-mentioned questions may be brutally hard to answer....they may be painful and open some not to pretty
'life' moments....I know and understand because I have and continue to wrestle with these same questions. Self-honesty is brutally
hard on/for all of us....it is! However, if we want to live truly 'Authentic' lives we have to wrestle with these questions.
I realize as we do, we may not like some of the answers we find or we may not like what we see in the mirror. I never said
it was easy but it is well worth it! I guess maybe that is also probably why many of us would say: We don't know many
'TRULY AUTHENTIC PEOPLE' but it is also why we admire them so much!
We have all heard and said the following statement:
'ACTIONS speak Louder than Words!' If we want live a life that is truly authentic; we have to make sure we consistently
live from our core. What we do has to resonate from who we are deep within ourselves. Truly what you say and do is important....if
frames who you are. If you want to live this type of life....it is not about being perfect.....it is not that at all.......it
is about being trustworthy, genuine. not false or copied; real and reliable.
We all need to accept that: ACTIONS truly do speak LOUDER than words......ACTIONS
SHOUT.....words whisper!.....the question for us remains.....do WE want to live this type of life?????......If
so, then take the needed actions that reflect your true authentic self! You'll never regret it....you really won't!
As always, thanks for listening/reading and remember to:
'Dream Big and Dare to Fail!'
7:24 am edt
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