Leadership From The Streets

Baby Steps

2012-02-04T16:23:09Z

I recently accomplished a goal I’ve been trying to achieve for quite some time. I made it to the top of Mount Shasta. Until that day, I had and used many excuses. One of the first was that I lived so far away. But as the years went by I moved closer and closer until I found myself living at its foot. The next best excuse was that I didn’t have a partner to climb with. Truth be told, I had many friends that were willing to climb with me, I just needed to set a date and invite them. Eventually, I ran out of excuses. If I was ever going to achieve the goal, the time was before me.

Overcoming all excuses, a date was set, a buddy was found and the challenge was on.

The climb was much more difficult than I imagined. Well into the climb on the second day, I began to feel that every step would be my last. I kept looking up to the goal, the top of the mountain, and it never seemed to get any closer. To manage, I forced myself to pick closer targets. My thinking was that if I can make it just a few more feet, I would re-evaluate when I got there.

As you know, I did reach the top of Mount Shasta. The view was breath taking and the sense of accomplishment was huge. At a later date while pondering this event, I couldn't’t help think there was a leadership lesson in it.

Leaders are often faced with enormous challenges. As I learned while climbing Mount Shasta, when the goal seems overwhelming, focus on smaller milestones.

Great heights are reached one small step at a time. Climb on!

Leading Through Adventures

2011-11-05T15:31:15Z

A favorite saying from one of my outdoors partners is, “The trip is not worth it unless it is an adventure.” Facing death and living to tell is much more exciting than avoiding risks at all costs. I’ve had my share of adventures and I have to agree, they are much more fun to talk about.

Some would say that everyone should experience an adventure of two. They would continue to say that adventures build character by forcing one out of their comfort zone, a place all aspiring leaders need to go to excel as leaders. When experiencing adventures with others, camaraderie and commitment to those sharing the experience are bonded forever. From my own experience, adventures breed passion and remind us that we’re alive.

This sense of adventure has a lesson for leading teams. In the business world, an agency without character, one that has no camaraderie and commitment to one another, and one that appears to be void of passion and a sense of being alive, is not much of an agency at all.

The lesson is clear in my mind. As a leader it is your job to build character, to enhance trust and commitment to the vision and mission of the team, and instill passion and fervor to the cause. Therefore, make their experience and adventure.

Patiently Leading

2011-10-22T19:32:20Z

It’s easy to get frustrated when little action is happening, especially at a time when action seems imperative. But pushing for action just for action’s sake is not always the best strategy either. Unless there’s a plan, insisting on action may result in heading in the wrong direction. Take a break. Mull it over. Count to ten. Sleep on it. If action is imperative, it will not go away. However, being patience and not overreacting in the moment, will allow the better decisions to rise to the top.

The Detailed Leader

2011-10-16T18:18:47Z

On a rock climbing trip where I was being taught how to lead, I learned a valuable lesson in leadership. The lesson was to not forget the details.

To climb safely one uses a system that includes placing protection, i.e., chocks or pitons, in which you attach a carabiner and then the rope that keeps you from falling back to the ground in case of a slip. The leader puts the safety system in place while the second dismantles the system on the way up. Typically the leader and second will trade back and forth. As it was my turn to lead my partner refused to let me take off. He said you are missing a very important part of climbing safely. Your rope is tangled up. If you start your lead now you’re going to find yourself in a very precarious position where you’ll need the rope to flow freely. He insisted I take the time to assure “all systems were go” before making the first move.

As a leader we tend to forget the importance of taking care of the details. What goes on behind the scenes is often more important than the final act of leading. Just because you’ve volunteered to be a leader doesn’t mean you don’t need to take the time to prepare and practice. If you want to be a leader that others will follow, take care of the details and make sure your rope is untangled.

Extraordinary Teams Are Made By Ordinary People Doing Great Things Together

2011-10-10T01:43:56Z

I had the pleasure of coaching soccer with my two sons growing up. It provided opportunities for quality father/son activities in an environment that focused on teamwork and common goals. Although winning was always one of the goals, the main reason for volunteering to coach was to teach my sons the importance of working with others to achieve success that was greater than individual efforts.

There was one team back in those days that was difficult to beat. It seemed that all the superstars were on that team. Every contest took the utmost concentration and maximum effort just to be competitive. We often came close to winning but typically fell short. Even though, year end and year out, the team did not give up.

What was extraordinary was that the kids on our team were not superstars. They were ordinary kids from ordinary families, picked to join the team because of the friendships that existed between them and their families. They were an extraordinary team because of their commitment to each other, their hard work and dedication to improvement, and their love of soccer. It was a recipe for success.

As you can imagine this has a story book ending. During the last game, the last tournament and the last time this team would ever be together, we were matched up with the very team that had given us so much trouble all those years. And yes, the winner of the game would be the champions of the tournament.

After all those years of being ordinary, but doing it day in and day out with commitment and dedication, they became extraordinary that day. On that day they became great.

I use this story to remind me that building effective teams is not about bringing in superstars. It’s about ordinary people doing great things together.

Lead Others As If They Were Your Best Friends

2011-10-01T14:41:41Z

On a sight-seeing trip my wife and I stumbled into a back-country lodge. The host greeted us at the front door and offered a warm welcome. After a brief conversation we inquired about getting a bite to eat. She indicated this was not typically that kind of business but she would see what she could round up.

She escorted us into the dining area and motioned for us to sit. Then she pulled up a chair and proceeded to share stories. After several minutes, she remembered why we were there. She apologized and proceeded to the kitchen to fix up a couple of the tastiest smoked turkey sandwiches I’ve ever tasted.

Reflecting back on the experience I couldn’t help but feel that I had just visited with my best friend. Was it the warm welcome, the stories she told or the extra care to make a delicious sandwich? I’m not sure which of those things did the trick, but I certainly wanted to share emails and make a promise to stay in touch.

It dawned on me later that this person didn’t know me from Adam. I had never seen her before and probably won’t ever see her again. Even though, she treated the two of us with the warmth and care of long lost friends. What a testament to whom she is.

What if in our leadership endeavors we gave to others the attention that lodge host gave to us? I venture to say that we would have a tremendous number of followers. I went away that day inspired to lead the way to lasting friendships.

Leading With

2011-09-24T21:25:56Z

Delegation is often said to be one of the good qualities of a leader. However, it may not be the best way to been seen as the leader. Once delegated, you are at the mercy of the one delegated too. If the delegated to person is leading within your vision, you are successfully building a leadership structure. If he or she leads far from the intended vision, their acts are more as a saboteur.

Good leaders are enjoyable to observe in action. So what better way to mentor leadership than to lead with others? Instead of always delegating, participate in work groups and brain storming sessions. Invite employees of all levels to work with you in creating solutions to problems and developing policy.

Aspiring leaders will appreciate your time and interest. As you set an example of your hard work and dedication to the cause, your employees will see firsthand what is expected from them. By leading with others you are living your vision and not merely declaring your vision, an effort well worth the investment.

Lead on!

Don’t Underestimate Your Own Ability

2011-09-17T14:43:59Z

One of the classes I was required to take in college was the dreaded statistics class. It was a class you wanted to do without but knew that some basic understanding would be beneficial in a career.

I studied hard and had some success in making sense of it all. However, one day the professor introduced a novel idea of divvying up each of the statistical formulas so that each person could share their special secrets and short cuts to super understanding. I bought it, to my demise.

When it came to test day, I found myself unable to think as each of my colleagues thought. Their logic was not my logic. I was then completely confused and not my normal slightly confused self.

I would have achieved greater success by working from my own logic space. I should not have underestimated my abilities.

I learned a valuable lesson day, it is better to live in your own confusion. At least it is a familiar place.

Losing the Race but not the Game

2011-08-21T16:28:01Z

Some memories come at you from seemingly nowhere. That’s where this one came from. I remember getting my first pair of tennis shoes. I was so excited. To me, getting my first pair of tennis shoes meant that I could run faster. Actually I thought no one could beat me in a race. So I challenged my dad to a race back to our house. We marked up to the line and suddenly we started running. To my disappointment he beat me.

Although disappointed I never lost the urge to run. I enjoyed many years of track, football and baseball, all sports requiring running talent. What I learned from that day forward, however, was that hard work and sweat produced greater results than a new pair of flashy tennis shoes.

Be a Team Player

2011-06-25T15:52:54Z

Past actions and decisions often get in the way of “right doing” behavior. By that I mean we avoid doing what is the right thing to do because our past actions were rejected, dismissed or ridiculed. We blame the other for not being receptive and stop trying to assist. Or worse yet, we knowingly let them walk down a path of failure to prove the point they should have been asking for help in the first place.

Being a team player is staying focused on the team rather than our individual selves. Leaders must overcome damaged egos and continue to do the right thing for the sake of the team. This isn’t as easy to do as it is to say. The ego has only one mission and that is its survival.

As a leader you will eventually reach a level that doing the right thing must be the path chosen. One way to keep yourself on the right path is to surround yourself with team members that hold you accountable to the team first. I read a quote once that said, “Those that fail to seek the consul of others will surely fail.” If you’ve chosen the right team members, they will hold you accountable for doing the right thing. And the responsibility goes both ways, you must hold your team mates accountable.

Are you being a good team player?

Leading Without Excuses

2011-06-20T02:18:49Z

I’ve been running every morning for quite some time. I consider it part of my morning constitutional. I relish the solitude and enjoy the fact that I begin each day with a healthy success. It sets the tone for everything I plan to accomplish the rest of the day.

Once started, it didn’t take long for this morning ritual to turn in to an addiction. Rain or shine I was on the road at the crack of dawn. As the weather turned bad I just added more clothes. The worse the weather got, the bigger the psychological high for having accomplished the goal.

At some point, however, those cold, chilly, raining mornings became less attractive. Instead of being eager to hit the pavement, I had to push myself out the door. This wasn’t good for my psychological self. So I offered an excuse. I told myself, “If it is raining, you don’t have to run.” Guess what I’m doing now? I wake up every morning listening for rain.

Excuses are not good. A leader must ignore them and push continuously toward the goal. Your example is what leads people to extraordinary results. Avoid them and lead without excuses.

Okay… Okay! I’m putting on my cold weather gear and heading out the door. See you on the roads.

Don’t Let Excuses Get in the Way

2011-05-30T14:37:24Z

While addressing individuals about barriers to achieving goals, I hear a lot of, “We can’t do this because…” and the blame is directed at someone or something else. It is a classic example of how excuses get in the way of success.

Imagine what would get accomplished if we just stopped accepting excuses. There’s nothing that says we can’t ignore them and move on. Treat them merely as obstacles needing a solution to work around. No one said achieving success was easy. We can make a difference and the first step is to not let excuses get in the way.

If You Wish the Circumstances were Different Change the Circumstances

2011-05-14T14:39:00Z

On any given day, we are faced with numerous challenges. Some turn out okay and others don’t. Have you ever said to yourself, “If only the circumstances were different?" This poor me attitude will put you in a downward spiral if you let it. Winners learn from their challenges, change the circumstances and try again. There is nothing wrong with trying again, and again, and again until we get it right. The circumstances won’t change by themselves. Take action and change the circumstances.

Leadership is not a Position

2011-05-08T14:52:00Z

One of the most serious mistakes a leader can make is to lead by position only. If the only motivation for people to follow is because you said so, eventually you will have unwilling followers, or worse yet, no followers at all.

I was appointed the leader of an agency several years ago with decades of experience. If that’s not sufficient enough credentials to be the leader, I don’t know what is… or so I thought. I quickly found the awe factor to be a very short window. Decisions were met with resistance and policies were sabotaged before the print was dry. To say the least, my ability to lead was being seriously questioned.

Eventually to be effective, a leader has to achieve acceptance. John C. Maxwell refers to this stage as getting permission to lead. I like to remind myself that leadership is not a thing, it’s an action. To win approval, your actions must be worthy of following.

It took me nearly two years to win the permission to lead. It would have taken longer had I not learned that my position had little to do with being a leader.

Stay Focused in the Moment

2011-04-23T14:38:00Z

In a conversation do you ever find that you didn’t hear the speaker’s point and had to ask them to repeat what they’ve just said? It happens all the time. Worse yet, you cared little about the speaker’s point and jumped quickly to formulating your own points and anxiously waited for the first opportunity to share them. The results, I suspect, frustrated the person you’re conversing with and eventually left you with no one to talk to. If you want to be a good conversationalist, you need to learn to stay focused in the moment.

Conversations are much more rewarding when the person you’re speaking to takes an interest in what you have to say and tries to understand where you are coming from. From the other side, when you show interest in fully understanding the speaker’s point of view by focusing your comments and questions on them, the speaker remains engaged and the conversation becomes richer. More importantly, people will want to talk with you. You do this by staying focused in the moment.

As a leader, you will get more opportunities to lead when you invest in those you want to lead. Spending more time listening and understanding will convince the speaker that you are sincerely interested in their well-being and they will be more likely to trust your leadership. Therefore, if you want to enhance your leadership effectiveness, learn to stay focused in the moment: Their moment.

A Leadership Lesson from Little League Baseball

2011-04-17T14:49:00Z

Being a leader is about action. You must lead to be a leader. But at some point you must learn to lead better.

I played a lot of baseball when I was growing up. I was an infielder and loved catching ground balls. I also hated to make errs so I practiced all the time. One of the most embarrassing errs was to let the ball go under my glove and between my legs. My coaches were always yelling for me to stay down on the ball.

In order to reduce that kind of err, I developed the technique of getting down on one knee to help block the ball. It worked well in little league where the field was smaller and runners were slower. I led the team with the fewest errs. However, as I move to a bigger diamond and runners gained speed, that method was way too slow. By the time I went to my knee and then back up again, my throw was too late to throw the runner out. Even though, I thought I was a team leader because I was making the fewest errs.

Eventually the coach pulled me aside and said I was going to have to learn to stay on my feet, flow through the ball and use the momentum to beat the runner. I argued that making fewer errs was most important. He said I was missing the point. Making the fewest errs was nothing unless it kept the opponent off the base and not scoring runs.

In little league, I was a team leader by eliminating errors. As my leadership responsibilities increased, I had to learn new skills. At some point, it’s not enough just to lead; you have to learn to lead better.

Leadership Judo

2011-03-20T16:29:00Z

I don’t claim to be an expert in Judo nor do I practice Judo. What I do know is that it is a martial art discipline that relies heavily on flowing with your opponent’s resistance.

I was leading a group discussion the other day attempting to resolve a very difficult agency problem. A poor resolution could easily result in divided loyalties, back stabbing and loss of agency purpose. It was an emotional meeting to say the least.

At the end of one excruciating exercise, a member of the team challenged me by saying, “Why isn’t your division being reviewed?”

There were a lot of things going through my mind at that moment. The first thought was that I out- ranked the person and I could just respond by saying, “Because I’m in charge and I make the decisions.” Fortunately it was my actions that ruled the moment. I once heard a quote from a speaker talking on the subject of resistance. He said, “When spear thrown at head, move head.” So instead of following my first impulse, I moved out of the way, figuratively.

Flowing with the resistance was the right choice. We proceeded to review my division and the problem solving energy continued to flow. The decisions didn’t get any easier, but the team remained steadfast in finding the best solutions.

As a leader it is often easier to use your position to make decisions. However, as the discipline of Judo tells us to flow with your opponent’s resistance, leadership Judo was the game winning move.

What Are You Attending To Today?

2011-03-12T15:53:00Z

That which you attend to is likely to happen. So what do you want to happen that you’re not attending to?

As a leader, I’m sure you have many good ideas. You think about them. You talk about them. But nothing seems to get done. Thinking and talking is a start, but there’s nothing like taking action that moves an idea along.

It doesn’t stop there, however. If you want your idea to be long lasting, you’ll need to attend to it regularly.

Enjoy Leading: Attend to the Things that Matter

2011-03-06T15:18:46Z

In Think like a Billionaire, Donald Trump says billionaires work all the time because they enjoy their work. Why do they enjoy their work? They enjoy their work because they only attend to the things that matter to them.

The things that matter are the things you’re passionate about. So why spend time on the things that don’t matter? How much of a day is spent in trivial matters? How many fires have to be put out before you get to do what you want or intended to do? What fun is that?

Instead, start your day with the things that your passionate about; the things that matter. You’ll be amazed at how much more you accomplish and how much more fun work will be.

The Value of a Degree is Perseverance

2011-02-26T16:17:00Z

No one asks for your GPA when applying for a job or how long it took to complete it. They merely want to know if you have one. Getting a degree is not a piece of cake for most of us and the reasons for those not getting one are valid. Some of the more valid excuses include not having enough money, not knowing what you want to study and not being emotionally prepared immediately after high school. Unfortunately too many fail to move past those excuses. They get caught up in everyday life and the thought of getting a degree fades away. What impresses me is the person that overcomes their excuses and still manages to get a degree. That’s why I say GPA and how long it took to complete the degree are not important. Knowing that you persevered is all that matters.