Monthly Archives: May 2013

The foundation of all successful leadership is always the relationship

Teddy Roosevelt care quoteI started golfing with my older brother when I was about ten years old. Since my brother and I were a twosome, the starters on the course always found two other players to join us to make a foursome. Most of the time, the two other players were older gentlemen.

These older gentlemen would instruct us after most every shot. I found it puzzling that these gentlemen, who couldn’t hit the ball any farther or straighter than either my brother or I, and had just spent the afternoon giving us advice, would always leave the course with a smile and a handshake, saying they enjoyed golfing with us and reminding us of that one hole, or sometimes a single shot, that one of us had played well.

These older players weren’t just playing golf with a couple of young kids. They were building relationships.  I still remember them today. They had a life-long influence on how I play the game of golf, and how I lead.

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Is there a best theory of leadership? Will only one bring success?

iSocial Tech Sparks - Peter Drucker Created by Silvino Santos - 2012Over the last hundred years or so, there have been many advances in our understanding of the theory of leadership. In many ways I believe when we moved into the industrial age around the 1900’s there was much that seemed to be forgotten from the thousands of years of leadership lessons in the family, on the farm, and in past civilizations that had to be re-learned. I don’t doubt that every one of these theorists had the best of intentions and was looking towards the success of the company, the individuals, and society as whole. However, these benefits were not always the outcome as the focus on the individual took many years to gain the popularity that it commands today.

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Leaders: Be a River, Not a Reservoir

ABGW2010The wisdom a leader receives fills them up like a bucket fills up with water.  When the bucket is full (of water or wisdom), leaders have two choices; be a reservoir and stop filling to save what has been collected for themselves, or be a river and let it flow over the lip onto the ground to make room for more to flow in. When wisdom is allowed to flow, it acts like water by nourishing everyone it touches.

Nourishing leaders create flourishing teams.

Many leaders can be successful without passing on all they know – up to a point.  Their teams will see the positive impact of a wise leader on their lives, and their work may be the best in the industry.  But as odd as this will sound, that is not enough.  Using wisdom to lead creates success while the wise leader is leading.  What becomes of the team when the wisdom of the leader leaves with the leader – the team will fail.

The truly great leader wants to leave a legacy behind.  What better legacy than passing on your wisdom to the next generation of leaders?

So leaders; be a river, not a reservoir.  How are you investing your time to ensure your legacy of wisdom?

All leaders have one thing in common; their humanity.

LeadersSuccessful leaders invest their time and energy learning all they can about their world so that they, and their teams, achieve their goals.  This is what we all look for in our leaders; isn’t it?  While we do look for knowledgeable and focused people to follow, there is one more trait that sets apart those who are passionately followed – EMOTION!

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato said, “Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.”  You see, knowing what you want (desire) and learning how to get it (knowledge) isn’t enough for us humans. How we feel about our walk in life (emotions) really matters.

Emotions aren’t something else you do; they are integral to everything you do.

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Do all the good you can; for all the people you can; as long as you can.

Last week I had the honor of gathering stories of a life dedicated to serving others.  A great friend that I was blessed to work with for over eight years passed away.  He had had a lasting impact on my life, and over the last week I have seen that his positive influence reached farther than I had ever imagined. do all the good you can

John Wesley said the purpose of life is to “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”

I reflected on this statement from Wesley while reading the stories about my friend.  Each story was unique and came from a variety of people from high school friends, college friends, work friends, and family.  But the message was always the same and I think the best epitaph anyone could receive: “Thank you for making a difference in my life.”

The takeaway for me was to rededicate myself to using every opportunity to add value to another person.  That’s why we are here.  Mohammad Ali said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

I also realized that the service you do will mostly be small and passing events each day, and that is ok.  Aesop said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

My friend was one of the happiest people I ever knew, and a life of service was his secret. Helen Keller said, “The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.”

 

With opportunities come obstacles – here’s the four you will always face

obstaclesAs a leader you will experience obstacles that may cause you to veer off your vision unless you have plans to move around them or through them.

The obstacles you will face as a leader are not physical impediments, but the responses of some of the people around you whose lives are being changed.  If you pay attention you will see the obstacles coming and be able to take action to avoid running into them or being stopped by them.

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