Mentoring

Do The Right Thing

When I was in the fifth grade my school decided to experiment with different styles of teaching.  My class was selected to receive cardboard boxes to store their books instead of desks.  Since we didn’t have desks, we could sit anywhere in the room we wanted.  This was all pretty fun until about halfway through the year, when everyone’s boxes began to wear out.  The tops fell off and there were tears in the sides.  This experiment was not going well at all.

One day our teacher announced that the students would have to pay to replace their boxes since they didn’t last.  Looking back, this wasn’t an extraordinary cost, but still, I didn’t attend a rich school.  Many of the kids in my class said they didn’t have extra money to support this type of cost.  The fact of the matter was we didn’t have a say in adopting this new teaching style, so we shouldn’t have to pay for new boxes.

Before I finish my story of the fifth grade boxes, let me tell you about Edmund Burke, one of the many historical leaders I studied while living in Virginia.  For more information on that topic see my blog from last week https://denisgmclaughlin.com/2012/09/13/filling-your-tool-belt/.

Burke was a member of the British Parliament before and during the American Revolution.   Known for his staunch support for the British Parliament, he nonetheless sided with the American colonies on the right of fair representation on taxation.  When the stamp act and then the tea act were passed causing the Boston Tea Party in December 1773, Burke saw that someone needed to take action to avert what were soon to be larger issues.  In April 1774, he gave a speech to Parliament in which he argued that Britain should maintain peace and end these unfair taxes.  Burke said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

As a leader, you are responsible for your team and must take action when negative situations arise within it.  Furthermore, like Burke, who sided with a potential foe because of his principles, a true leader will take action to guard the rights of anyone who is in harm’s way.

Now back to fifth grade.  I can proudly tell you I did do something.  I talked to the principal and explained that this experiment had not worked and the additional cost to the students in my class was not fair.  The principal ended the experiment and brought the desks back into the room.

I would like to finish this blog telling you that I have been heroic and successful in every situation like the fifth grade box story; but that wouldn’t be true.  I do stand up for the rights of others, but just like Burke’s speech didn’t avert the Revolutionary War, my actions haven’t always proven successful.  But that doesn’t keep me from doing something; don’t let it stop you either.

Filling your tool belt

My family and I lived in Richmond Virginia for several years.  Richmond is centrally located between many of America’s founding cities.  We were just a few hours to the east of Williamsburg, a few hours south of Washington DC, and a few hours west of Monticello.  Weekends and summer vacations were spent seeing history first hand while we learned more about the people of these great generations.

There was something for the entire family to enjoy on each trip.  My children were in grade school and we could all see the pages of their history books come alive.  My daughter became interested in the American Girls Collection of dolls, books and movies.  One doll in particular, Felicity, was set in Williamsburg during the Revolution.  The books we read and movies we watched were very realistic.  For me, I couldn’t get enough information on the leaders who formed of our country.

General George Washington; known to his soldiers as His Excellency, was an imposing figure on top of his horse.  He commanded the respect of his ragtag band of pioneers that we know as the Continental Army, and they followed him tirelessly.  Why?  He never accepted defeat as the end; just a step to on the path to victory.

Thomas Jefferson was a lifelong learner and educator.  He sold his collection of more than six thousand books to the Library of Congress in 1814 when a fire destroyed the Government’s collection.  Jefferson spoke five languages and studied many disciplines including science and architecture.  His interest in education led him to found the University of Virginia.  One of the tour guides at his home in Monticello remarked that Jefferson didn’t welcome visitors unless they came to teach him something or learn something from him.

Ben Franklin influenced many leaders through his willingness to share his knowledge.  He left his mark in print as the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette and the author of Poor Richard’s Almanac among many other writings.  He also spread his wisdom through mentoring as he gave advice to Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence and visited George Washington on the battle field of the Revolution.

Gilbert Lafayette, better known as The Marquis de Lafayette, was a selfless protector of freedom who sailed from France at his own expense to join Washington on the battlefield of the American Revolution.  He commanded three regimens and was instrumental in the final battle that resulted in Cornwallis’ surrender.

These are only a few of the many people who inspiration and action helped form the United States of America.  With my study of each leader I had one more example of success to follow.  Famed psychologist Abraham Maslow said “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you are likely to perceive every problem as a nail.”

As leaders, we need to fill our tool belt of leadership with as many tools as you can hold.  I have found that no matter how many examples of great leadership I add to my tool belt, there always seems to be room for more.  I challenge myself to find one new tool each day and test it out before the day is over.  You may be surprised to find that if you would take this challenge yourself, the leadership tools seem to appear everywhere, and the opportunities to put them in practice are endless.

 

Signs, Signs, Everywhere the Signs

On a recent tour of Europe with my family we spent time in Italy. The history, food, gelato, and the architecture can only really be appreciated through a personal experience.  We traveled in a tour group of forty four made up of families with children ranging from about 10 to 18 years old.

We met our tour guide who handed out radios so we could hear her every instruction on the busy streets. She taught us Italian phrases we would need and pointed out signs all along our trip for us to remember in case anyone became lost.  One of our stops was Venice. We learned that the city is built on stilts and contains many winding, inner-connecting water ways and streets that are intentionally confusing. Venice was built this way as a defense against invading armies.

We all took an early morning walk to a shop to make Venetian Masks.  As promised, the walk was very confusing and seemed to take us through at least twenty different streets that all looked alike.  Our tour guide pointed to several signs overhead labeled “San Marco” which pointed to St. Mark’s Square and Basilica in the center of Venice.   This is where our hotel was located and where we would meet later in the evening following an afternoon on our own.  We were cautioned to pay attention to these signs to guide our walk back, as it would be very easy to get lost.  One more word of advice we received that made following the signs even more important was that the number one way to spot a pick pocket in Venice was if anyone approached you and said “Excuse me, do you speak English?”

That evening forty two of the forty four tour group members met for dinner.  We found out later that two of the older boys had become lost on their walk home because they didn’t pay attention to the instructions of our tour guide.  They didn’t look for the “San Marco” signs.

Remember this story as you lead your team.  To you, the experienced guide, the signs of success are obvious and everywhere.  But to some, you might was well be speaking a foreign language.   Like our tour group, many of your team members will understand and follow the signs.  But some may not grasp their importance and find themselves lost.

Have you had this experience as a leader?  How do you make sure everyone follows the signs?

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