Nov

26

A Pop-Quiz for Those Leading in 2007

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Friends,

I quizzed my son Jack about his organization – a Montessori school.  Then about a week later I quizzed an audience of about 200 people.  I asked each about their core values.  I said to Jack, who is in fifth grade in a combined fourth-fifth-sixth grade at a Montessori school, “Is there something, some idea that Sharon talks about all the time?”  Without hesitating for a second, he said, about his teacher:  “Yes, totally:  freedom and responsibility is what she’s always talking about.” 

A week later, I asked an audience of managers at a large not-for-profit, “Has your organization articulated its shared values?”  Numerous folks said yes, and many others nodded.  “And, what are your core values?” I asked.   At that moment, no one could say.  Not one person.  Not one value.  Resisting an urge to be preachy, I simply said, “That’s something you might want to take a look at.” 

These stories provide a powerful lesson.  Take the Jack quiz first.  Can you imagine the joy and phenomenal relief I felt – as an educated-in-morality-laden-60s-Catholic-schools dad – when I heard my son quickly tell me:  “freedom and responsibility”?  Is there a parent in America who wouldn’t exult if they found their school had so effectively brought home a core message, a message by the way that Jack supported with numerous examples.  As the kids say, “Man, that was tight!” 

On the other hand, the not-for-profit stands to do some great work now.   By (re?) starting a conversation about what values they want to guide their work with board, staff, each other, and especially their clients, they can align and inspire their workforce.  

Here’s why this matters.  You are not the only one influencing what your kids, employees, church members, etc., value?   Oprah, Dr. Phil, Rush, Springsteen, Al Gore, Colin Powell, Kid Rock, Eminem, Bono, JK Rowling, Barry Bonds, Rain (he’s a South Korean pop singer who tops TIME’s online poll of influential people) are walking and talking values.   With these people competing for the minds and hearts of your people, do you see how vital it is to be clear about the values you hope your people share? 

May I quiz you?  If I came into your house or your shop today and asked, “What does your manager/dad/CEO stand for?  What are the values s/he wants you to hold dear?” Would your people be able to answer?  Would you like what they’d have to say?

Stay on message if you hope to

Lead with your best self!

Dan

Nov

19

Brief Thoughts for a Short Week

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Friends,

Brief thoughts for a gratefully short week:

First, give thanks at work.  Write ‘em up on the flipcharts, on the whiteboards, on the bulletin boards, on agendas and emails.  Giving thanks is right and it also generates positive energy we all need down the stretch.  We would neither have fun nor results if it weren’t for those with whom we work.  What better week is there to tell them how grateful we are?

Second, from here til the new year, focus on the essentials.  The days are getting short – literally and figuratively.  There’s the year-end madness for many (e.g., the lawyers and accountants and CFO’s trying to bring in all those receivables), and there’s those parties that sometimes feel more like obligations than opportunities.  Too much to do.  So, try to work a little smarter instead of just harder.  Politely say no to people.  Let go of non-essential work.

Maybe most important during this season:  fight the temptation to put too much on your plate!

Have a sweet, short and successful week as you

Lead with your best self,

Dan

p.s.  Our country’s leadership is a priority for all of us.  Read the guest blog from Robert Fritz, author of The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to become the creative force in your own life, at my new blogsite www.presidential-leadership.com

Nov

12

Hitting the Wall to overcome fear, failure, and fatigue

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Friends,

Think of your toughest challenge today.  The one perhaps that you have been trying not to think of.  A conversation you’re avoiding.  A strategy that’s not right.  A program you have to change.  Maybe today’s not the day.  But maybe fear’s in the way.  Or just simple disbelief: you don’t think you’re capable.  And consider this story.

On Friday night, my son Jack was doing one of his favorite things, climbing the 50-foot wall at Dick’s Sporting Goods.  In fact, he’d been up the wall twice, including the second hardest climb – one which requires you to get over a 3-foot overhang, which comes straight back off the wall.  For his last effort, he was trying the 3rd hardest, but he challenged himself only to use the yellow-colored “holds,” the hard rubber pieces that jut out from the wall, on which you stand or which you grab with your fingers or hands.

Jennifer and I watched this impossible effort.  The yellow holds were spread so far that his less-than-five-foot body could barely reach from one to the next. He got up about 8 feet, but kept stalling out.  He’d reach . . . fall off the wall.  Up again, reach and just get his fingers on the next hold . . . fall off the wall.  Over and over.  My arms were heavy watching.  “Maybe you’re just too tired after those other climbs, Jack,” Jennifer said.  He didn’t even look back.  He tried again and got past that spot – somehow.  Only to get another 8 or 10 feet and start the same thing over.  “Jack, why don’t you use the red holds, too?”  I yelled 25 feet up the wall, as he dangled one more time, then pulled himself back to the wall.  He wasted little breath, “I’m fine.”

The last three feet took about five minutes.  When he came down I told him, “Jack, one day you’re going to be doing some Calculus and you’re going to think ‘I’ll never get this stuff.’ And that day you just remember the incredible determination you just showed.  You were not going to be defeated. You were awesome.”

Jack inspired me to try the wall at my ripening age.  If you haven’t ever done one, it’s worth a try.  It offers such a chance to just face how easy it is to quit – for fear of falling, fear of climbing, or fear of not being able to ring the bell at the top.  Where’s your wall today?  What voice will call to you, “Come on down, you’re tired. Do it tomorrow.”  What well meaning person – in your office or in your own head – will invite you to take a shortcut that will paper over a problem that you know you need to fix.  This is the season to bear down and really make great things happen, to start to finish the year strong, to find another gear, a deeper level of concentration and determination.

There’s no substitute for fixing your eyes on the goal if you want to

Lead with your best self.

Dan

Nov

4

What We Need in a Leader and a President

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Friends,

I’m very excited to launch www.presidential-leadership.com, a new non-partisan blogsite that will complement “Reading for Leading.” With the election of a president one year away and the primaries and caucuses nearly on us, we face a huge election. The news will keep bringing you the candidates, but this blogsite will feature leadership experts who will offer their thoughts on what great leadership looks like and what we need in a president. It’s not about who – though it will surely help you think about that – but about what kind of leader we need.

In today’s maiden column, Jim Kouzes, one of the most thoughtful and research-based authors, tells of the central characteristics people should and do expect of a president. Jim begins: For the last twenty-five years my coauthor, Barry Posner, and I have been asking working people around the world to answer the following question: “What do you look for and admire in a leader, someone whose direction you would willingly follow?” The results have been striking… read more here.

I predict you will find Kouzes’ piece intriguing as you consider the campaign, but I also know that you’ll find these useful thoughts for you, as you lead

With your best self,

Dan

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