Tag: #leader

We are all Leaders, yes you to

Leadership


We are all leaders, yes you to. It doesn’t matter what your position or title is.
According to John Maxwell the definition of leadership is influence. I believe it is the ability to influence others but how do we do that?
We influence others by how we live our lives, how we carry ourselves, how we treat people, and the example of excellence we present to those around us.
Notice, none of these things require a title or position.
All of us can set an example of excellence in how we approach our jobs, our friendships, our parenting, and our relationships with our significant others.
I was talking with a young man who was asking what he should do about a career, he didn’t go to college and had been working service jobs, fast food, waiter, pizza shop while he was performing in a band. He was having a great time, they recorded a couple of albums, they even went on a few short tours, but he realized they probably weren’t going to make it to the big time and the years were passing him by. He was afraid he was falling behind.

He was thinking of getting into a trade to try and learn a skill. As an old Electrician I told him I was a little biased but if he wanted to get into a trade he should pursue the electrical field. I reached out to a Contractor I knew, and they hired him. He asked me before he started If I had any advice.

I explained to him my position on creating value, I believe creating value is what we all need to do to keep a job, to be compensated well, and to rise in the ranks. Anyone can do the bare minimum and most people do. Value is created after you do what’s expected of you, when you go beyond what’s expected. You need to do what is expected and then do a little more.

Leaders dont fear hard work, they set the example.

I shared with him these tips;

• Arrive early every day, if you aren’t early, you are late. Be there early and ready to work.

• Do everything you are expected and or asked to do with a great attitude. I told this young man, if they tell you to carry 4” rigid pipe (very heavy) from one side of the site to the other, you be the best 4” rigid pipe carrier they ever saw.

• Pay attention to the smallest of details. Excellence is in the details. If you have done a task and you think, that’s good enough, then its not good enough. In my mind if its “good enough” it leaves room for improvement. The task is not done until it is done and done right to the best of your ability. It typically doesn’t take much longer or not much harder to close the gap between good enough and done right.

• Be willing to accept extra work, responsibility, and staying late.

• Don’t get caught up in gossip, complaining, and negative talk with other employees.

• Be the example of excellence, over the long term it will pay great rewards.

If you live these principles it will be recognized, and you will be rewarded. These principles translate to work, relationships, and life in general. Be the example of leadership.

LEADERS GIVE THE CREDIT AND TAKE THE BLAME

leaders gives the team the credit

I was in a meeting with roughly 100 project managers recently. These are the leaders of a fairly large and well run business.  They were taking turns briefing the President of the company on the status of their projects.

On two instances the President stopped the meeting to give praise for projects well done. These  projects had aggressive schedules and were high profile. The projects were completed on time and the President had received great feedback from stake holders.  It didn’t surprise me that the President stopped and acknowledged the accomplishments of his people because he is a true leader.  The growth, revenue, and moral of the company reflect his strong leadership.

What did surprise me was that in both cases the Project managers never mentioned their teams, they simply took all the credit, said thank you and left it at that.  No one from one of the PM’s team was present but wouldn’t it have been a great opportunity to put in a good word for the team.  I know this team worked seven days a week 12 and 14 hours a day for weeks to make the project a success.

The second project manager had two team members in the room. What an awesome opportunity to call these two members out in front of the crowd and acknowledge their contribution.  Instead these two received no recognition.  Despite what some may say, everyone wants to be recognized, acknowledged , and appreciated.

These PM’s had the perfect opportunity to build respect, trust, and loyalty but they missed it.

Powerful leadership

Leaders give credit and take the blame; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ykCykMUcCA

If you are going to lead and want to build dynamic teams grounded in trust and loyalty give your team all the credit.  Keep empowering others, lifting others up, lead by example , and give your team all the credit.  That’s the leader who gets recognized as a winner

 

 

 

Are you a Leader or a Boss?

business-woman-thinking-61
A Leader inspires

A true leader who is confident in his or her self doesn’t rule over his subjects.  The good leader respects others and is especially careful to treat those working under her direction with respect.  The person with the title whom treats his people disrespectfully is a boss and not a leader. There is a difference and the results the two get are typically a lot different.

  • A leader treats his employees just as respectful and courteous as he does his clients.
  •   A leader recognizes the work load and time constraints his people are working under and respects the effort of a loyal and hardworking employee.
  • A Boss has two personalities, a respectful cheerful tone with clients brimming with politeness and concern.  And then the less respectful easily frustrated tone.  The Boss types are famous for the do as I say not as I do or do it because I said so management style.
  • A Boss comes in and barks out orders and direction with out ever determining what the employee is currently working on. He often doesn’t know what it is, when it needs to to be done, or who the work is for. All that is on his mind is what is important to him at that moment with no respect for the others.  There are situations when a fire needs to be put out and priorities need to quickly change. I’m not talking about these cases. It is the boss I’m talking about who manages through the lenses of his own ego.

Be the leader who shows respect, courtesy, and understanding. Obviously as the leader and being in a managerial role there are times where you have to be firm with people and you have to make tough decisions and have frank conversations.  But this can be done with respect. By building trust through the day to day operations treating your people firmly but respectfully the tough conversations are easier, people want to perform for you, company moral is high, and the work environment is better for all.