Leader, Who’s Sitting at Your Table?
Filed under: Career, Leadership, Management Education, Middle Management, Organizational Transformation, Performance, Professional Growth, Talent Management
Once again, Mom is proven right. You become the company that you keep.
Surround yourself with intelligent, aggressive individuals comfortable in professionally articulating their perspectives and taking accountability for both their words and their actions, and you will flourish.
Have the self-confidence to bring together groups of extremely capable individuals with varying skills and divergent views and you will be challenged to raise your game every day and on every key issue. This type of an environment sharpens your skills, keeps you honest and ensures that you focus on your job…creating the environment for others to do theirs.
Show me a troubled organization and I’ll guarantee you that I’ll find leaders that failed to remember and heed Mom’s advice.
Instead of the super-charged professionals in high performance organizations, I’ll find Yes-Men (and women) or individuals of questionable character and even more questionable motivation.
It’s certainly not new news that many less than effective or overly paranoid leaders view it as important to secure their power by surrounding themselves with individuals less capable and if you’ll pardon the term, weaker than themselves. It’s an ancient story, and a tactic that is both visible to all and horribly flawed.
I’ve built winning teams in global giants and in small, troubled and ultimately successful firms, and I’ve yet to experience a case where an organization was worse off because I found the smartest people that I could and put them in positions to do what they do best…drive positive change and create value. There was remarkable joy and success in watching and supporting these people tackle challenges that I could not master on my best day.
The Bottom-Line:
If you don’t have the self-confidence to hire people smarter and stronger than you are, it’s time to get out of the leadership profession.
If you are preoccupying on fixing people’s weaknesses instead of leveraging their strengths, it’s time to get out of the leadership profession.
If you can do better, then take time to assess what potential mix of strengths plus values will help you and your firm, and don’t rest until you’ve put those people in place. Then start leading by doing everything in your power to help them succeed.
Oh, and once you’ve set this new table with talent, be prepared to find out how great and what a privilege it is to serve others. And last and not least, remember to thank Mom.
Leadership Caffeine-Don’t Wait for the Title to Start Leading
Filed under: Career, Leadership, Leadership Caffeine, Leadership Skills, Professional Growth, Your Professional Development "To Do" List
Note from Art: this is a reminder to senior leaders to encourage and provide informal leadership opportunities to team members, and a wake-up call for those hoping to one day be the afore-mentioned senior leaders.
The time to start leading is now, long before anyone has bestowed the title of leader on you.
Much like the famous trio of Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Woodman of Oz-fame, they didn’t really need the Wizard to bestow a brain, courage or a heart, and you don’t need someone to anoint you as a leader before you can start learning and practicing.
The great news is that today’s organizations are filled with opportunities for you to easily and informally develop both your leadership and your followership skills.
Increasingly, the nature of work is project-driven, and it’s a safe bet that much of your time will be spent juggling the demands of multiple project teams simultaneously. It’s also a safe bet that somewhere in those various projects are wonderful opportunities to step-up and help lead problem-solving, trouble-shooting or improvement initiatives. Choose tasks that seem challenging and will push you to stretch your skills.
Closer to home, your own manager is likely juggling multiple balls while spinning a fair number of plates. I can assure you that he or she would love to share some of the fun with a team member. Sit down and talk with your manager. Share your interest in trying leadership on for size and indicate that you relish the opportunity to gain experience in this area while helping to solve problems.
If the workplace doesn’t seem conducive to stretching your leadership wings, there are ample opportunities in your community in the schools, in churches and in volunteer roles at one of the many non-profits in your area. Volunteer to lead a fund-raiser or event, and you’ll get a great taste of the challenges and rewards of leading.
Six Ideas for Developing as a Leader Without the Title:
- Opportunities are all around you…be creative and find challenges that push you outside of your comfort zone.
- Work on becoming a great follower. Great followership is an outstanding training ground for developing as an effective leader.
- Don’t get caught up in the so-called trappings of leadership. Believe me, there is nothing glamorous about the role. It’s hard work with little instantaneous gratification. On the other hand, the long-term psychic rewards are priceless.
- Study the habits and approaches of leaders that you admire and strive to apply those lessons in your activities.
- Ask for feedback on your performance and listen to it.
- Seek out an informal mentor to bounce issues and ideas off of during your leadership experiments. This might be your manager, a peer or someone else that you admire in your organization. Share your lessons learned…and offer your ideas to solving problems. Mentors are not there to solve your problems or even give specific directions…but a good one will nudge you in the right direction if he/she sees that you are truly striving to solve the problem on your own.
The Bottom-Line for Now
By pursuing informal leadership experiences, you will learn whether you truly enjoy the role or are much happier as a valued individual contributor. This is great insight to develop and one that will pay dividends in the form of proper future career decisions.
You don’t need a title to start leading. You do need to screw up some courage and seek out and grab one of the many informal challenges that surround you. You’ll be glad that you did.
Two Voices on: The Words of a Leader
Filed under: Career, Fresh Voices, Leadership, Leadership Skills, Leading Change, Management Education, Middle Management, Professional Growth, Talent Management, Values, Your Professional Development "To Do" List
A note from Art: This dual post was the outcome of a casual exchange of thoughts via Twitter that quickly evolved into a must-write piece and fun collaboration. My partner in crime here is Mary Jo Asmus, the author of the outstanding Intentional Leadership blog...one that I turn to regularly for inspiration and insight. What great fortune it is to have met someone as passionate and thoughtful and pragmatic about the topic of leadership and relationships as Mary Jo. Another wonderful example of the power of social networking!
A note from Mary Jo: Art Petty and I met through the social networking realm recently and found that we were kindred souls, of sorts. Through a Twitter conversation, and subsequent telephone discussion about the importance of the words a leader speaks, we came to this place of deciding to collaborate on a post about the topic. Through the lens of differing, but complimentary aspects of a leader’s words, we found that the collaboration worked to produce the following post that we not only had some fun putting together, but helped us to learn a thing or two from each other – and hope you will too.
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We decided to run both of our essays at both sites…in part because these posts live on long after their initial publication. Feel free to read and comment at either site, and we’ll watch and offer our respective comments in both locations. Enjoy!
The Words of a Leader-Mary Jo Asmus
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” – Buddha
“Thoughts become words. Words become actions. Actions become character. Character is everything.” – Unknown
“Think before you speak.” Mom
The Buddha, Unknown, and Mom were all very smart. They knew that all words arise from thoughts, and the words we speak are words that are capable of the power to build, inspire, create or destroy.
Before a leader’s words actually get formed within the mouth, there is the place of thought. The thought that creates the words might be but a nanosecond. This little bit of time can’t prevent a leader from saying something that was unintended or taken out of context. And because followers tend to be “hyper vigilant” about their leaders – anything you say has a greater impact than you may be willing to believe.
So this is the connection that a leader needs to be aware of. Thoughts become words that become action. In order for us to say the right things in order to take the right actions, we may need to begin with our thoughts.
Change your thoughts, change your words.
In our speed-of-light world, we must slow down in order to become aware of our thoughts, in order to speak and take action in a way that is congruent with our values. You can bet that Tiger Woods and other successful athletes imagine and rehearse successful outcomes before following through on them. Why wouldn’t this apply to you and the words you use as a leader? What successful outcomes do you want your words to speak of?
Imagine using words that will build, inspire and create. What are they? Imagine your words being accepted and used in the way you intend them to be. Consider the values you hold most dear. What are your values, and how will your words describe them? How will they be incorporated into the language you use every day?
Take a mental break from the anxiety, worry and judging that go on in your thoughts. Consider a reflective practice or a meditative practice that will allow you to do so. Just as an athlete must rest his muscles, it also makes sense for us to rest our minds and thoughts. Such a practice has the effect of slowing you down, allowing you to renew yourself at the level of thought. Notice your thoughts as they arise in your practice, and you have begun a process of observing that will start you on a path to improving the words you speak as you go about your everyday life. A reflective or meditative practice has arms that reach far beyond the minimal time you spend doing them.
Where your thoughts don’t serve you, change them. Negative self-talk around guilt, anger, or hatred will not serve to help you say the words that your followers need to hear. When those thoughts arise, ask yourself if they are serving to help you in your leadership. If they aren’t, what would you prefer to change them to?
Your thoughts come through in your words, even if you don’t realize it. Others do. Become aware of your thoughts and your words can be intentional, purposeful and life-giving. You will then find it easier to accept the wise suggestions of my colleague, Art, below.
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The Words of a Leader-Art Petty
I’ve often marveled at the speed that an off-handed comment from the boss can fly through an organization, quickly evolving into policy or direction. “Mary said…,” or, “I just heard that… .”
Have you had the unfortunate experience of seeing or hearing a manager publicly chastise a subordinate? This abuser seems to take strength from the assertion of power while the receiver visibly shrinks in stature. Observers feel pity for one and anger at the other.
Have you had the good fortune to work for someone that seemed to draw the best out of you through constructive coaching and encouragement? This type of an impact can last a lifetime.
Have you wondered what it is about that manager that everyone wants to work for? The comments usually go something like this: “She’s demanding and holds us accountable, but we’re accomplishing things and having fun in the process.”
A License To Talk:
While the communication process comprises much more than just the words that we string together, the words truly serve to build-up people, teams and organizations. Words inspire, motivate, challenge, teach and encourage.
Or, they serve as the blunt force weapons of personal and professional trauma and destruction.
Good leaders are builders and they form and shape their words into phrases and questions that encourage learning and improvement and risk-taking and more learning. Good leaders are master craftsmen in many ways, and words are some of their most important tools.
Less effective leaders use words like tools as well, but in this case they crassly apply the words of brute force in settings where precision is called for. They use the end of a wrench to pound in a nail, and seem to disregard the damage to the surrounding area. Of course, they should have used a finishing hammer and a nail set.
Other leaders use words to shape agendas. Good politicians broker understanding and alliances through their words. Less well-intentioned leaders use words to sew the seeds of doubt and mistrust and to shape alliances that benefit one person or one team.
Words are powerful tools. Perhaps leaders should be trained and certified on their use. Hmmm., perhaps leaders should be trained in general, much as a master craftsperson would train an apprentice.
Sticks and Stones:
I doubt that many of us have spent a lot of time considering our approach to word-choice much since our playground days, where the use of words as weapons by some is first mastered. The defense of, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me,” was never really a good defense, was it?
While many of us intuitively understand how powerful our words are, in my own experience, we do a less than effective job teaching this to our apprentice leaders. Consider how many “coaching opportunities” are created as we deal with teams and individuals that push back based on the “approach” used by these early leaders. Peel away the issues and at the bottom, you’ll almost always find an issue with words.
There’s no manual for this topic, but perhaps a few well-intended “words” will help. Consider sharing this with your apprentice leaders and perhaps you’ll avoid the “he said/she said” coaching calls in favor of something more constructive.
Words of Advice for The Words of a Leader
- Listen more than you talk. Use your words sparingly. Leading doesn’t mean that you are required to talk more than anyone else. Quite the opposite.
- Think before you talk. Choose your words deliberately.
- A well-turned question is often more effective to get people thinking than a dozen statements. Manage your questions to comments ratio.
- All of your words must include respect as a foundation. As soon as respect is left out of your words, you’ve lost.
- Make certain that your words and your body language match. Given a choice between the two, studies indicate that people believe the body language over the words.
- Tough conversations on performance are part of your job. Embrace this reality and don’t sugarcoat your words. Do keep them focused on behaviors and keep the behaviors linked to business.
- Genuine words of encouragement and well-deserved words of praise are rocket fuel for individuals and teams.
- “The do must match the tell.” The words of leaders not backed by actions and support are just so much hot air.
- Be aware that your words as a leader will be amplified and distorted. Manage your words carefully.
The Bottom-Line on The Words of a Leader:
The choice is yours to lead like a master craftsman or a common hack. Choose and use your words carefully and you’ll be amazed at what those around you create.
Leadership Caffeine: Taking Chances on the Talent Around You
Filed under: Career, Leadership, Leadership Caffeine, Talent Management, Your Professional Development "To Do" List
It’s time to take some chances on the people around you. Too many leaders constrain and contain, but the very best leaders provide opportunities for their team members to achieve things that these individuals might never have believed they were capable of achieving.
You won’t find me gambling in a casino, but I have no qualms about going all-in on the right talent. I’ve been burned a few times and fault was my own for not properly judging talent.
However, the sting of disappointment is quickly replaced by the thrill of watching as someone rises to the occasion in a significant new challenge. The victory grows sweeter over time as you watch people flourish in careers that they might never have imagined without your little push.
It’s your job to create opportunities for success.
Your belief in an individual’s abilities is a powerful source of motivation. It takes a great deal of self-confidence in oneself to be comfortable passing along that belief to another person. And that self-confidence is sorely tested and greatly appreciated as the subject of your attention stumbles along the way to success.
Many leaders are motivated more by the fear of failure than the pursuit of success. You don’t develop great teams and great organizations by letting fear rule your actions.
The talent you need to change the face of your business and even your industry might be right in front you. However, you won’t know until you’ve provided the opportunity.
It’s time to take some chances.
It’s your move and it’s time to go all-in.
Do something this week to provide a new chance, a new challenge and a new opportunity for one or more of your colleagues. You’ll be doing your job as a leader.
Leadership Caffeine: Dealing with Cracks in the Leader’s Smile
Filed under: Crisis Leadership, Current Affairs, Customer Service, Leadership, Leadership Caffeine, Leadership Skills, Management Excellence Tips for Tough Times, Your Professional Development "To Do" List, voice of the customer
Notes from Art:
My week has already started with a double jolt of leadership caffeine. I speak Monday afternoon on one of my favorite topics: “High Performance Trade Show Marketing Practices” at TS2 in Chicago at McCormick Place, based on the content in the e-guide here on this site.
Also, I am thrilled to be featured this week as the guest interview on the popular Project Shrink videocast. The video interview is entitled “Leadership and the Project Manager,” and came about via my free e-book of the same name. The proprietor of the Project Shrink blog and videocast, Bas De Baar is one of the leading voices on the human side of project management success, and an all around great professional and gentleman to deal with.
Ok enough about me and on to the real point behind these posts…sharing insights and ideas to drive your leadership performance.
Dealing with Cracks in the Leader’s Smile:
I chatted with a valued colleague the other day that indicated that she is finding it increasingly difficult and even awkward in the face of financial pressures and employee strain to keep a cheerleader’s positive demeanor in the workplace.
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard from a leader struggling either to smile or simply maintain a positive outlook in the face of occasionally overwhelming obstacles. One manager indicated to me, “I know that my team reads my mood, but sometimes I feel like I’m out of place smiling and acting upbeat. It’s like trying to sound positive at a funeral, where the best thing anyone can come up with to say pales in comparison to the reality of the situation.”
While I hope that you don’t feel like your workplace is a funeral in motion, I will offer a few suggestions that should allow you to give the smile muscles a break and keep the team focused on the mission.
- You can relax the smile, but you need to double the can-do spirit. If you’ve given up on chances of survival and success, it’s time to check out of your job. If you’ve still got some gas in the tank, steel yourself and your remaining team members for the task at hand.
- Focus on the basics. My manager colleague above is watching as membership slips weekly. Some of it is inevitable as the members deal with their own financial struggles. Some of it may be controllable. Involving the entire team in identifying opportunities to strengthen member relations and improve customer experience may help. Better yet, get some customers involved in the process as well.
- Now is a great time to tackle the “Elephant in the Room” issues that we often ignore during better times. A Trade Show Manager indicated to me that given the state of her firm’s situation, she found it easy to walk into her manager’s office and suggest that now was a great time to rethink the firm’s approach to selecting and executing these expensive events. She has since been able to cut costs, improve program planning and execution and actually improve results on a smaller budget. Instead of lamenting her situation, she seized the opportunity and got others involved in making needed improvements.
- If you’re smiling less, make sure that you do a better job of delivering positive feedback. I spend most of my time teaching people how to deal with the other kind (constructive), but the fact is that well constructed positive feedback will reinforce the positive behaviors you are observing and this type of input is much appreciated. Keep it genuine and of course, don’t ignore the chances for constructive feedback either.
- Keep the team up to the minute informed on good and not so good news. Even if it’s bad, they will appreciate your transparency and your respect for their concerns. To most, the fear of the unknown is worse than the reality.
The Bottom-Line for Now:
It’s impossible for you to be upbeat all of the time. In fact, no one expects it. However, it is possible and necessary for you to be confident in the face of adversity and to avoid jumping on to the same emotional roller coaster that many of our colleagues ride. Stay focused on what matters and help your team keep focused on the same. The smallest of victories breed more and soon your team will forget about worrying and focus on doing. And then you can smile…just a little bit.
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