Six Key Leadership Lessons from Captain Ron Johnson

The other day I heard Police Captain Ron Johnson at a press conference trying to calm the fears of the people of Ferguson, MO. As I listened to him, six key leadership traits emerged:

1 - Honesty- A question was asked about whether the initial comments by the Ferguson Police Chief were handled correctly, and he answered that it was not and he would be speaking with the Police Chief.

2- Listening- When people said they could not hear him, he moved closer to the crowd to make sure they could hear what he was saying.

3- Communication-He acknowledged that they authorities had not communicated well. Then he gave his personal commitment to helping improve communication between police and the people in the community.

4- Respect-He wanted the community to respect each other and their community and called on the protesters not to destroy their neighborhood.

5- Accountability- He challenged the community to follow him that evening and to walk with him.

6- Strength- He stood in front of the community and nation, and with a high level of articulation, outlined his thoughts and his commitment to the community to push for calm and ultimately justice.

Unfortunately, the next day some of the people of Ferguson and quite possibly outside agitators felt more comfortable with ginning up the crowd and feeding the fears and anger of the people of Ferguson.

It’s disheartening to see people destroying their own community and displaying such venom  and anger without getting all of the facts and letting the justice system work.

This morning I saw another news conference with Captain Ron Johnson, and he had a look on his face of disappointment. Despite the fact that some chose to disregard his plea for calm, his leadership still was a beacon to me that leadership is not lost, and I am hopeful that his leadership will prevail.

Picked Up In The Rain

I love this story:

One night about 11:30 p.m., an older black woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm.  Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.  Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s.  The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi.  She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Several days went by and there was a knock at the man’s door.  To his surprise, a giant console color television was delivered to his home.  A special note was attached.  It read:  Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits.  Then you came along.  Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away.  God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole

We all have times when life rains down on us, drenching our spirits.  We all have had times when we feel overwhelmed and all alone to deal with the cares of this life.  The man who came to Mrs. Cole’s aid was filled with compassion and overlooked her color.  He saw a person in need.  He did not know who she was and therefore was not looking for a reward.  He was willing to be inconvenienced.  He stopped. He did what was right.  He served.

What a lesson for us as leaders, how to lead with compassion and a willingness to serve others in need.  As a leader, be aware of opportunities to serve, and be willing to be inconvenienced.

Leadership Is Not Just About Position, But Being In Position

Recently, I spoke at a high school in Oakland. I have to admit, before I arrived at the school I had images of a dirty and unkempt campus. As I parked my car in front of the school I prepared myself for the odor of musty hallways and the trash being strewn around the school grounds and hallways.

I was so wrong. The school was immaculate! As I walked through the corridors I started to think about the person(s) responsible for maintaining the school’s interiors. As I walked to the classroom where I was to speak there she was, this striking middle-aged woman at the bottom of the stairs, working away. I just had to tell her what a wonderful job she was doing. As I approached her she greeted me with a smile. This was the smile of a person who enjoys her work and takes pride in it.

I expressed to her that she was doing an incredible job! She smiled and thanked me for the compliment. I have to tell you that I believe she would do a great job no matter if she received acknowledgement for her work or not.

I shared my thoughts with the Assistant Principal. She stated that her work ethic was not only appreciated by the teachers, but all of the students.

In my mind, she is not just a custodian, but a leader. She demonstrated hard work, conscientiousness, commitment, and a dedication to being the best she could be. She is modeling a type of leadership that all of us could learn from.

Leadership is not just about position, but being in position to impact others.

Working In Silos

I cannot believe how many organizations are misaligned in their direction and focus.  Over the past several weeks I have been meeting with employees and owners of companies where they are suffering from continued underperformance.

As I ask certain questions, I quickly find out that there is no alignment between the top, middle and bottom of the organization.  The vision and mission of the company have been lost even though they are displayed prominently on the office wall and proudly on the company’s website.

This lack of alignment and collaboration has lead to many of their employees working in proverbial silos.   As you can see in the photo, silos are individual compartments--although in close proximity to one another, they are separate.  Now, in farming, silos perform a specific function, but in business, silos can be detrimental to maintaining a team environment.

Departments, along with their employees, who work in silos, are not connected to the whole.  They do their work and only their work.  They’re not concerned so much with what the other departments are doing, only about their department and how it performs. Individuals can also work in silos; they too can find themselves only concerned about their own job and couldn’t care less how anyone else is doing.  The danger here is that even if one department meets the goals of its department and the others fail, then the entire company fails.  Departments, as to function, must be kept separate, but the focus and reason for the company’s existence must ever be in full view.

It is the job of the leader to make sure silos are not constructed, either departmentally or individually, and where they exist it’s the leader’s job to tear them down.  How?  By making sure everyone in the organization understands that if the company is going to meet its goals and deliver for its customers, they are all interdependent upon each other.

Tear down those silos and build a team focused on collaborative efforts and you will see a dramatic turnaround in your organization.  Simply put, it’s called working together.

Lighting The Way

With all of the negativity and violence experienced in the lives of many young inner city men, I have found an illustration of hope.  About 3 years ago I met two young men, Madison and Alexander who were involved in the real estate market and the network marketing industry.  Later I was introduced to Omar. They were very successful, which allowed them to work for themselves full-time.  I was impressed and encouraged by their commitment to take care of their families and their determination to make a positive impact on society.  They are three of the most fearless and creative young men I know.

Madison, Alexander, and Omar are leaders that are making a difference in the lives of their families, friends and in their respective businesses.  It encourages me to see these men who are actively engaged in building a better life for themselves and helping others along the way.  None of them asks for a hand out, but through focus, diligence, creativity, and integrity they are positively impacting lives.

They have collaborated and worked hard to open a music production studio, graphic design and entrepreneurial development businesses.  They support each other in their respective enterprises and want the best for each other.  This is not a competition where they want the other to fail.  They genuinely want the best for each other through the exchange of ideas on how to make each other’s business successful.

I see a bright future for these men of inspiration and courage.  I cannot wait to see where they land in their ultimate destination.  I know that they will achieve their goals and dreams and will be great examples for other young men and women to follow.  I am so proud of them!

Life is about choices and the choices they have made clearly will change their lives forever.

Three Sisters

Some say nothing good comes out of Oakland, CA.  With all of the news of murder and crime, the city has taken a black eye from the media.  I am here to tell you that Oakland has produced many good people who have made significant contributions.   I can name three, Denise, Dana and Leslie, my Three Sisters. 

These three strong women, raised by an equally strong mother, have worked hard to overcome many challenges in their lives.  Whether working their way through college or overcoming barriers caused by simply being women, they possess fortitude that has led to many significant accomplishments.   Denise is an budget analyst, Dana an educator and Leslie a Registered Nurse.   All of them are leaders in their professions and highly respected.

 

What makes them special is that they serve their community, church and family in a way that elevates the lives of the people they touch.  As their brother, I am so proud of what they have been able to accomplish personally and professionally.

It is very easy to look outside your own family for examples of leadership, I am fortunate not to have to look any further than my Three Sisters.

Rock Solid Leaders vs. Wannabe Leaders

The communication style of leaders helps us distinguish rock solid leaders from the wannabe leaders.  Over the past two weeks, we have seen wannabe leaders on both sides of the political aisle.  We have been hearing a lot from leaders who care more about speaking in sound bites and spinning an argument rather than resolving issues and achieving consensus on an issue. 

Who and where are the rock solid leaders we need to extricate our country out of the morass of out-of-control spending and debt? 

When facing a problem, the great leader says, “Let's find out,” while the wannabe says “I have the answer, you just need to acknowledge it.”  We need rock solid leaders, not wannabes.  But what is the difference between a rock solid leader and a wannabe? 

• Rock solid leaders listen more than they talk, while wannabe leaders can’t wait until you stop talking so they can say what they want to say.
• Rock solid leaders know their strengths and weaknesses, while wannabe leaders are afraid to acknowledge their weaknesses.
• Rock solid leaders place the needs of the organization and the people they lead first, while wannabe leaders are concerned more about what’s in it for them.
• Rock solid leaders are accountable for their decisions, wannabe leaders look to place the blame on others.

Obviously, the above list is not comprehensive; you may have your own definition and list of distinctions between the two.  The main point here is that we need rock solid leaders who are willing to listen more than they speak and who are willing to be held accountable for their actions and the decisions they make.

How do you define a rock solid leader? 

Change Leadership

Change is in the air, all over the world change is happening both good and bad.  The whole Middle East is in the process of change.  Our country is changing both culturally and economically.  Change will happen; how we deal with the change is the question.

My kids hate math.  Although they have gotten pretty good grades it has not been without considerable effort. My wife deserves big kudos for helping them through their most challenging math, Algebra and Geometry.   The other day my wife and I were having a conversation about my son when he was in Jr. High and how he had such a terrible time with math.  He would get through with all of his other homework and then approach the big angry giant called Algebra.  He was afraid to approach the giant alone, he looked at me, but I said, “Don’t look at me, he scares me too!”  But like all mothers do when their children are faced with scary things, she went into action and helped our son slay the giant.  She convinced him that he had all of the tools necessary to get the job done.  It was about facing his giant.

The key was changing his attitude.  His willingness to change how he approached math made all of the difference.

Why is it so hard for people to change?  Some do not see change as necessary. Why do I need to change?  My son would say, "Why do I need Algebra? I am never going to use it!”  Some do not want to change because all they see is hard work.  Some might say, “If it is not broken why fix it?  Why do you want to upset the apple cart?”  To be clear, change is hard and it takes commitment to see it through.

As a leader it is essential that when change is necessary, a sense of urgency is created to explain why change is needed.  Caution:  when delivering the message you will need to believe it as well.  You cannot expect for people to change just because you said so.  You will need to be all in.

Once change is in process, in order for it to last you will need to anchor the change through ongoing evaluation and re-enforcement of the change you have implemented.

Change is complicated and in some cases it takes years to be fully integrated.  As a result, strong and consistent leadership will be required if it is to be successful and sustainable.

Have you ever had to lead a change effort and if so was it lasting or did it quickly fade back into business as usual?  If it did not last, why do you think it failed to stick?

Who Will Step Up?

Our nation is in deep trouble when it comes to leadership.  On both sides of the aisle there’s a void of real leadership.  Ongoing issues like unemployment, social security, the budget deficit, Medicare, and the various wars in which we are engaged, represent critical challenges that require strong and decisive leadership.  Unfortunately, all we get from Washington is finger pointing and placing the blame on the other party.  As a result, all over the country there is this boiling caldron of frustration, anger, hate and mistrust that has led to numerous protests.

The decisions our leaders have made over time are now changing the very foundation of our country.  It appears that all they are concerned about is maintaining their power, and many are willing to deceive and spin the truth to keep what they believe is theirs.  How long will we sit back and watch this happen?

Who will step up to be the leader to bring stability to our country?  This nation is ripe and ready for authentic leadership to emerge.  However, I believe it will not come from any one person.  It will come from each and every one of us taking a stand and demanding that our voices be heard.

It’s amazing how Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have impacted so much change, not only in our country, but in the world.  One person challenges the status quo and others pick up on it and it then goes viral.  All of us must be willing to challenge our leaders and hold them accountable for their decisions and to keep their promises.

We must demand that our leaders look out not for individual interests, but the interests of all Americans.  We are all in this together.  Regardless of what party you are affiliated with, Democrat or Republican we are all breathing the same air.  The sun shines and the rain falls on each of us.  The last time I checked, both Democrats and Republicans are facing the same challenges of unemployment, high taxes, and fighting for our freedom.

Who of us will be willing to take a stand and be counted?  Complaining and sitting idly by while our economy and the future of the next generation continues deteriorate, will not get it done.  Write your congressman, blog, volunteer, lead.  You may say that I am one person, what can I do?  You have the power to make a difference.

If we continue to wait for our so called leaders to make the changes necessary to lift up this nation to its former greatness, we are going to be waiting for a long time.

It is up to all of us to do our part. The time is now!

My Leadership Philosophy

On December 31, 2010 I wrote a post about developing a leadership philosophy.  http://leadershipperspectives.blogspot.com/2010/12/leadership-philosophy.html

In that post I said that I was working on developing my leadership philosophy.  My leadership philosophy is very simple and I am willing to be held accountable to the people I lead in the words I wrote and I believe. Well true to my word here it is:

Tony Friday’s Leadership Philosophy

I have developed this philosophy to help guide me as a leader. I will work to consistently live out these principles.  I expect you to hold me accountable when I fall short. I am committed to helping you to grow, develop and realize your potential both personally and professionally.

Operating Principles

1.       Set the example—What I expect of you, I will expect from myself.  I will not ask you to do anything I would not do.  I expect you to set a positive example for others.

 2.      Coaching for Success—When you need me I will be there for you.  I will not give you the answers, but I will help you through the thinking process.  You have the solutions.

3.       Treat each other like you want to be treated—I will treat you with fairness and respect.  I expect that you do the same to those you work with and lead.

4.       Accountability—I expect you to do what you say.  You can count on me to do the same.  If you are in danger of not delivering on a promise you have made, please let me know as soon as you know.  We can then work together on finding a mutually beneficial solution.

5.       Listen— I do not have all of the answers; I will actively listen to your ideas and your point of view.  We will work together to make our company better.

6.       Communication—I will provide regular feedback that is direct and constructive relative to your needs and the needs of the company.  I want you to do the same for me.

7.       Operating with Candor—I will be candid, not critical in my communication with you.  If you feel my comments are critical, please let me know.

 8.      Shared Risk—We are in this together.  I will not engage in the blame game and I expect the same from you.

 9.       Excellence—I will create a team where we pursue excellence, (not perfection).  I expect you to do your very best every day.  I will not tolerate sloppy work.

10.     Positive Attitude—I will bring a positive attitude every day and I expect you to do the same. Challenges will come, but with the right attitude we can overcome them all. 

11.     Celebrate Wins—We will celebrate our wins, no matter how small.  Little victories are the stepping stones to great accomplishments.  Every day we will play like winners!

Here are a few things that I will not stand for (my hot buttons):

•        Stealing

•        Lying

•        Disrespecting your teammates

•        Sloppy work

My commitment to you:

I will give you my very best every day.  I will continue to learn and grow as a leader. We will have fun!

HOW DID I DO?

Now it’s your turn.  I challenge you to write your leadership philosophy.  It does not have to relate solely to business, it can be your philosophy on how you lead in your home or in your community.  Whatever your philosophy is, be willing to be held accountable for who you say you are as a leader.

I hope you accept the challenge, it will differentiate you from the millions of leaders who are winging it and are not willing to be transparent to the people they lead.

52 Blog Posts!

On March 14 of last year while sitting with my family in Peet’s Coffee in Pleasant Hill, I started my first blog.

http://leadershipperspectives.blogspot.com/2010/03/introducing-leadership-perspectives.html.

I was apprehensive in starting it because, 1) I do not like to write; 2) So many of the blogs I had read either had few posts, or posts were spaced months apart, and 3) the author stopped posting altogether. With that in mind I made the commitment that I would post weekly and write 52 straight blog posts as a challenge to myself.  It is with great joy and a sense of accomplishment that I post BLOG POST #52.

Over this past year I have learned a lot about myself as a leader. I have also learned about my ability to do something that I had never done before, and that is to write.  I am obviously not the best writer, but I continue to grow and develop and I am satisfied with that.  I am also happy with the fact that as a leader, I was able to commit to my readers that I would be here each week, writing about my perspectives on leadership, and to follow through on that commitment.  Believe me it has not been easy, but it has been rewarding knowing that there are people all over the world reading my blog.  I have been encouraged that in some small way I am having a positive impact in the lives of those who choose to read my words.

Right here and now I am making another commitment that I will be here for another 52 posts.  God willing I will continue to share with you my perspective on leadership.  Your comments and encouragement are always appreciated.

Have a Powerful Day!

Unsung Hero

A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.  ~Author Unknown

While many in our culture call our athletes, actors and singers heroes, there are real heroes making a difference in the lives of the next generation of leaders.  One such hero is a teacher who lovingly labors in the Oakland school system.  Her name is Ms. Dixon.  Although she stands at about 5’5” inches tall, she is a giant in the lives of many of her  students.  She is energetic, soulful and speaks with confidence and authority.

Recently, before speaking to a group of her students, I told her she was my hero.  (This caught her off guard, probably because many teachers are not treated or thought of as heroes.)  She possesses a commitment to her students that drives her to help each and every one of them realize their potential.

Hundreds of students have come through her classroom and many have gone on to higher education.  Sure, there are those who have not taken advantage of her instruction and her compassion and have gotten lost in life.  However, this does not deter her or quench her spirit!

She continues to lead and positively impact the lives of her students.  She shows them that there is hope for a better life if you are disciplined and determined.

This year she received one of the greatest gifts a teacher can receive; one of her students is now attending a prestigious California university.  Some might say that is no big deal, but if you knew the hurdles and barriers that the students have to overcome, you would realize that it is a big deal and a significant accomplishment.  This is especially true since the person is a young inner city male who is now taking advantage of what this great country has to offer, an education.

I want to acknowledge Ms. Dixon’s commitment to service as a teacher, mentor and leader in her school and in the community.  She is an inspiration to me and to many others that have come to know and respect all that she does for our young people.

She is an Unsung Hero!

Wisdom in Leadership

I was sitting in a coffee shop talking with a friend of mine who will be 90 years young in the next few months.  I asked him this question:  “What is the wisest decision you have made in your life?”  I was surprised that the question stumped him. This is a man who served in WWII, was married for over 50 years, and had a successful business career.  Over the next thirty minutes he continued to wrestle with the concept of wisdom.

During his life he made a series of choices that impacted his family, business and other relationships.  He made those choices based on his knowledge of the circumstances.  Sometimes they were good decisions and sometimes they did not work out so well.

Was he just lucky that some of the decisions he made worked out?  Was wisdom at play whether he realized it or not?  The question for me is what might he have accomplished had he given more intentional thought to wisdom along the way?

During my study of wisdom leadership I have quickly found that it transcends self.  It is compassionate, insightful, gracious, and charitable.  It is confident without being arrogant or self serving.

Many wish to be wise. Yet there are wrong concepts of what wisdom is. Having large amounts of knowledge is not wisdom. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts.  Yet knowledge is worthless if it is not correctly applied.

Understanding is a critical aspect relating directly to knowledge and wisdom. Understanding is said to be a step beyond knowledge. It requires seeing the big picture, to see how the knowledge fits.

How can you apply wisdom to your leadership?

1. Listen- this is how you acquire knowledge
2. Learn- this is understanding
3. Apply- this is Wisdom

Wisdom does not come overnight; you have to seek it out like treasure.  When you find it, you will achieve a level of leadership that will have a powerful impact on the people you lead.   

Leading from behind

“Leaders set the course and let others steer the ship.” Unknown

For now and into the coming decade or so, there are those who believe that the most effective leaders will lead from behind, not from the front.   In his autobiography, Nelson Mandela equated a great leader with a shepherd: "He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind."

Everyone is familiar with the idea of leading from in front, but there is not enough attention given to leading from behind.  I believe successful organizations will focus on the development of each employee as a leader.

The organization’s leadership will of course set the vision and strategy of the company, but it will be the employees who make it happen. The challenge for leaders will be insuring that they have the right people in the right jobs, training them and giving them the latitude to make informed decisions based on a set of established parameters.  The bottom line is that leaders will have to find people who can execute on the vision and ideas of the organization.  This does not mean they will not be able to go off script when unique circumstances exist, but they will have been coached and prepared to accept the responsibility to make sound decisions.  Leading from behind results in a culture where innovation and creativity are nourished and rewarded which will set the successful organizations apart from all others.

As a leader, you have to be willing to bring up the rear if you want your team to be the best they can be and produce the results you are looking for. 

In the military, the general is rarely on the front lines in the heat of battle, he is often-times in a position where he has the best view of the battlefield.  He knows that each soldier has been carefully selected and trained for the task he has been assigned.  As a result, the general is confident in the soldier’s ability to carry out the mission.

Developing your team and coaching them for success will also result in a stronger bench where your next leaders will emerge.  So, get out of the way and watch them succeed, sometimes the view is better when leading from behind.  

Celebrating Martin Luther King

“I Have a Dream.”   These famous words are from one of Martin Luther King’s most piercing and convicting speeches, and it is undoubtedly the most memorable.   The content of the speech still resonates within the hearts of men and women, black and white.  I believe the speech transcends race.

Martin Luther King remains the giant of the civil rights movement, and his life, values and commitment to equality continue to inspire millions.  He laid the foundation for so many to dare to dream and hope for a better future for their families.

As a little boy I have a vague recollection of his death.  All I really remember is my mother saying that they killed Martin!  I did't know what it meant.  I could recall the riots and the tears of people as they responded to the news of his tragic murder.  It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized and understood the magnitude of the event.   

For some at the time the dream died with Martin.  However, because of his vision and his leadership, others picked up where he left off and continued the struggle for equality.  I believe we still have a long way to go with regard to equality, but because of his leadership and sacrifice we are better off than when he died. 

On Monday, January 17^th many in our nation will celebrate the life of Martin Luther King.  As I think about his life and his contribution to the civil rights movement, I will celebrate a man of vision, strength, love, patience, compassion and a love for God.  I want to celebrate his commitment to standing up for the rights of every man to be treated fairly, ethically, and with all of the dignity God created in every human being.  He believed that all people should be judged by who they are and what they do.

Because of his sacrifice I have been given so many opportunities to take advantage of all this great country has to offer.  I want to thank him for the fact that I do not have to drink from a “black only” fountain or go to a “black only” restroom.  The further removed we get from his life and times it is easy to forget what it was like to live in the sixties in America.  I do not ever want to forget.

There will never be another Martin Luther King and his life and legacy is worth celebrating!

Home Grown Leadership

While sitting in the living room with my family, I got the bright idea to get up at 8:30 pm and go for coffee.  I wanted to catch them off guard by doing something totally random.  The good news was they were all for it.  So off to Starbucks we went.  For most of you that know me, Starbucks is not my favorite coffee shop—I  am a Peet’s Coffee snob.  Be that as it may, both my son and daughter love Starbucks, and because I love them I was willing to sacrifice my taste buds. 

I wanted to take this opportunity to have what I call a leadership forum.  This is a time where I ask my kids questions about leadership decisions that they face every day at school and when hanging out with their friends.

My daughter shared with us that she saw a friend at school who came up to give her a hug.  She said he smelled of what she thought must be marijuana.  When she asked him about it, he reassured her that he didn’t smoke it.  Then he calmly told her, “I just sell it.”  She was aghast and asked him why.  He said “because I need the money.”  She challenged him on his decision and he just turned and walked away.

This may not seem like a big deal to some, but her choice not to engage further with him or to give in to the pressure to smoke the drug sets her up to be the leader I know she can be. 

The youth of today are under tremendous pressure to follow the crowd.  We often discuss the importance of taking a stand for what you believe in.  We also prepare them for the possibility that their good decisions not to engage in drugs, alcohol and sex may lead to ridicule and rejection by their peers.  Doing the right thing may be costly, but not as costly as going along with the crowd.    

In my opinion, the role of leader in the home has been taken for granted.   Leading in the home is not about barking out orders.  It’s about providing love, support and behavior modeling to our children and to prepare them to make good decisions in life. 

How are you leading your family?  Is it time for you to hold a leadership forum?

Leadership Philosophy

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Stephen Covey

Have you ever had a boss who asked you to oversee a project or perform a task without giving you much, if any, information on what they wanted?  How about a boss you thought would respond a certain way to a given situation, but they caught you off guard and responded totally differently to what you expected?   Did you enjoy working for them?  Do you know what their leadership philosophy is?   I would guess not.  However, you could probably make an educated guess as to what it is based on how you were treated.

How about you?  Do you have a leadership philosophy? Have you even thought about a leadership philosophy? Until recently, I had never really thought about it.  I knew what I believed about leadership and the values that I subscribed to, but it was never written down.  A business coach that worked with me while at Owens Corning sent me a book titled the The Leader's Compass published by Academy Leadership. It's probably one of the best books I have read on leadership.  It focused on the development of a leader’s personal leadership philosophy and is told in the form of a story.

After reading the book, I was motivated to sit down and write my leadership philosophy.  Why is a leadership philosophy important?  A well written philosophy gives you clarity on what you stand for as a leader.  It will also bring consistency to your leadership that your team can trust. Your leadership philosophy affects your behavior and ultimately your leadership effectiveness. 

In developing your leadership philosophy it should describe these key beliefs:

• What do I believe about people and about life?
• What are the principles by which I will operate as a leader?
• What are do you believe about groups that make organizations effective?

Drafting your philosophy will require time and considerable thought, but once it has been developed it will serve as your road map to your success as a leader. Everything you do will be filtered through you philosophy, so be honest with yourself.  Don't write it if you don't believe it.

Your philosophy should consist of the following:

• Your purpose: Why are you here?  What are you most passionate about?
• Your vision: Where are you going and how are you going to get there?
• Your values/principles:  What do you believe in.  A set of guiding principles which influence the way you live and lead.

One last important thing, your philosophy should be published and shared with your team.  It is amazing that so many leaders will not develop or publish their philosophy because they do not want to be held accountable for living by it.

I challenge you to be a different kind of leader, one that is willing to be held strictly accountable and will not compromise on the things you say you believe in.

There is Iron in your Words

A promise kept is invaluable to the person to which it was made.

In the Clint Eastwood movie The Outlaw Josey Wales, two men in Josey Wales’ traveling party are captured by Sioux Indians.  Josey Wales meets with Ten Bears, the leader of the Sioux Nation, to negotiate their release.  During the conversation Ten Bears speaks about the white man (U.S. Government) not keeping their word.  After hearing Josey’s reply, Ten Bears utters a strong statement, “There is iron in your words.”  They make an agreement that is sealed with blood as the two men cut their palms and then shake hands.  The two prisoners are released and a peace is forged.

Do you keep your word?  Is there “iron in your words?”  In a world where many leaders make promises that they do not keep, it is nearly impossible to believe what they say.  When asked why they back-tracked on a promise, they immediately go into spin mode, deflecting blame and never really answering the question.

“You  lie” was shouted out in many of the town hall meetings across the country by Americans wanting to hold their elected officials accountable to the promises they made.  The words “politician” and “liar” have become synonymous. 

In times past a man’s word was his bond.  Before written contracts, many deals were sealed with a handshake.  No more.  It must be in writing with addendums and exhibits to the contract.  Trust is out the window.  Even when contracts are binding, they only ensure an offended party has recourse if the contract is broken—Ten Bears had it right when he said, “No signed paper can hold the iron. It must come from men.”

What happened?  Why are we as a people so untrustworthy?  I believe greed, deception, self-preservation and a lack of character has led us to a place I don’t know if we can ever come back from.

So many people say character does not matter, “can he or she do the job?” is all that matters.  To many, even marriage vows don’t mean anything.  Divorce rates are in excess of 50% and are not getting any lower.  Keeping your word is important only if it is convenient.  

In a small church in Oakland, CA, twenty-two years ago I made a promise to my wife to be her husband for life.  It was one not taken lightly, and after all of these years I am still committed for life.  A promise does not have an expiration date.

Leadership is about saying what you are going to do and doing what you say.  When people can believe what you say a trust is built that will be hard to tear down.   Keeping your commitments and being held accountable for what you have committed to is the hallmark of true leadership.

Real leaders always speak with “iron in their words.” 

Underground Leadership

"Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them".  Unknown

With underground temperatures in excess of 90°, thirty-three miners endure tremendous hardship for over 69 days.  During this time they had to fight an assortment of feelings and fears.  Would they make it out alive?  Would they see their families again?  For many of the men their true character was revealed to those underground with them.

One man’s character and leadership emerged, foreman Luis Urzua, as the group’s leader took charge from the start and was instrumental in their survival. This was especially true in the traumatic 17 days before they were discovered.

Immediately after the collapse, Urzua took charge. He began to draw up the orderly rules that would serve as guide in their underground existence, including rationing the small amount of tuna fish and milk available so that it would last longer.  It was a hierarchy to which the men were already accustomed, and they responded to his leadership.

Have you ever been faced with adversity?  How did you respond?  Did panic set in?   Were you looking out for the well being of others or for yourself?   I will be honest I am not sure how I would have responded.  I would like to think that I would have been Luis, immediately mobilizing the men, encouraging them and letting them know that we would get through the ordeal.  His dedication to his fellow miners and his impeccable leadership was the difference between life and death.  It is also important to note that Luis was also the last person taken up from the group.  He saw the well-being of all those under his leadership before he considered his job done.  That's what leaderships is all about!

What are some of the characteristics displayed by Luis?
How would you like to implement those qualities in your own leadership?

Real People

Undercover Boss is one of my favorite shows on television.  It is about various CEO’s of major companies who go undercover in their own organizations to see how they operate at the field level.  


While undercover, they take on low level tasks to experience the work they are asking their employees to perform.  They often find that the job is harder than they thought.  In one of the last episodes, the CEO of an airline was trained to remove sewage from the plane’s septic system with unfortunate results.  The CEO’s not only experience hard work, but they come to hear personal stories from their employees.  They hear stories of loss and struggle.  They also hear stories of triumph and courage.


At the end of the episode they bring the employees to the company’s headquarters and reveal their true identity.  It is heartwarming to hear the CEO’s express their appreciation to the employees they have recognized as being integral to the company’s success.  The CEO’s will then acknowledge and reward each employee for their contribution to the company.  Sometimes it is with a promotion, a paid vacation or some other reward.


After viewing several episodes I observed that all of the employees were extremely grateful for the acknowledgement of their efforts.  It’s at this time I usually begin to tear up, especially when the employees express their surprise that anyone from leadership would care about them on a personal level.  “They do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”  Unknown


As a leader it is important that you never lose sight of the people whose “shoulders you stand on.”  Leadership is always about people.  Without people who will follow?