Leadership

We do not have to be right. We must get to the right place. 

Think about it. As leaders, we should be striving to get to the right place, not just to be right. There is a right place or solution in all situations, one that serves the organization’s best interests, supports long-term success, and benefits the team. How often do we find ourselves fighting to be right? We often want to be “The” author of the solution. Our being right is not what matters. Finding the right answer is the key to getting to the right.

Fans

 

It is an exciting time of year for sports fans. Baseball is heading to the playoffs, the NFL is building momentum, and college football is in full swing. Fans are sporting their favorite teams gear, yelling at TVs, and sweating their fantasy line-ups. They are passionate, invested, and all bought in.

Are your employees or team members passionate fans of your company or organization? Think about that. Imagine if they felt the same level of excitement about your business as they do for their favorite sports team. What would it be like to have a team full of dedicated, passionate fans?

This is likely easier said than done. I mean it is work, and it does not include cold beer and wings. It is also way more than just branded gear and a company happy hour. True fans are invested. They feel like they have something at stake, and they feel a tie to their team.  We should want employees and team members to feel that way. We want them to be all in on our team winning.

Are your employees rabid fans of your business?

Four years ago today…

 

In my mind, today is the four-year anniversary of the start of the pandemic in the United States. On this day in 2020, both the Houston Rodeo and the NBA shut down entirely. Not long after that the entire country was pretty much in a lock down. For some of us it was a few weeks, for others it was much longer. Every single person, business, organization, and activity in our world was impacted. Many are still feeling that impact. Our world is not the same four years later.

 

What have we learned? I will stay away from medical, political, or socio-economic lessons. What have you learned as an individual? I have shared these questions before. They are worth considering again. Actually, they are worth considering frequently, not just in the wake of a pandemic.

 

·         Are you going to have better family relationships?

·         Have you learned a new craft or skill?

·         Are you growing in your faith?

·         Have you discovered new ways to give back in your community?

·         Will you be more serious about saving 2-3 months of living expenses?

·         Has your perspective about work/life balance changed?

·         Do you have new goals and objectives for the balance of the year?

·         Will you bring a new level of commitment and energy to your job or your business?

·         Have you read a business or self-help book you have been putting off?

Leadership and Delegation

 

Great leaders understand the power and importance of delegation. For me, it is something I am still learning. But we cannot delegate everything. As leaders, we do not delegate responsibility. Projects, initiatives, organizations, and businesses are the responsibility of leaders. That responsibility remains ours and it should never be abdicated. We can delegate tasks. We often delegate decisions. Action items and implementation are delegated. Ultimate responsibility remains with the leader.

Delegate tasks, decisions, and action items. Never delegate responsibility.

Excellence Not Perfection

 

Some people say they are always striving for perfection.  While that may be an admirable goal, I am not sure that perfection is actually attainable in anything.  There is a business book that is over 25 years old entitled, In Search of Excellence.  It is a great business book, and its' principles are still followed today.  Excellence is more achievable than perfection.  People and businesses can actually be excellent at certain things.  We should strive for excellence, but not perfection.  One of my favorite organizations, Leadership Montgomery County, emphasizes this in one of its’ core values, simply stated as, “Excellence – Not Perfection”. Consider this quote...

 

"I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection.  Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business."

Michael J. Fox

Happy Labor Day

 

It is not just about football season starting…

Labor Day: What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

We Can, and We Will

This pandemic will end, and we can learn from it. Our job as leaders is to guide businesses, organizations and families, through to the end. To get there we need to be positive and encouraging, while promoting growth and positive change. A good friend recently reminded me the power of the simple words, “can” and “will”. These small words completely change how a message is received. Consider a few messages we can send as leaders…

·       Our team can be productive from home

·       We will be a closer family

·       You can adapt under pressure

·       We will maintain relationships with clients

·       You can grow as a person through this crisis

·       Our business will have better contingency plans

·       We can work more efficiently 

·       Our non-profit will survive and adapt

·       We will be better off on the back side of this

·       I can make a difference by being a leader

We can and will get through these crazy times. Our challenge as leaders is to ensure that our teams grow, learn and change for the better!

It’s Okay…

It is okay to not be okay.  These are crazy challenging times.  You would be unique if you were perfectly fine.  Our lives, families, businesses and finances are all being impacted by this virus.  We are in uncharted territory and none of us really know how we are supposed to handle this.  We need to instill hope for our families, employees and organizations.  We know it is important to continue to lead.  We will get through this! 

It is okay to not be okay.  Don’t fret if you feel worried.  Who isn’t somewhat depressed? I know I feel overwhelmed.  Business owners are facing tough decisions. Uncertainty is prevalent and none of this is comfortable.  It is okay to be frustrated, even angry, by these feelings.  You have permission to breakdown occasionally.  A good cry might be a healthy thing.  However, you can’t let it overtake you.  Yes, we need to be strong for our kids, but we don’t have to be strong 100% of the time.  Crawling in a deep dark hole is not an option.  We need to be realistic without constantly succumbing to the negativity.  Acknowledge your feelings; respect the challenge you are facing and get back at it.  Don’t let the negativity overwhelm you.

It is okay to not be okay.

How Are Your Investments Doing? (part 2)

No, I am still not referring to your stock portfolio.  This time I am talking about your investment in your community.  Where are you giving back?  What organizations are benefitting from your time and talents?  What kind of an investment are you making in the community that supports your business?  Will you leave a legacy? 

Communities and organizations do not grow without the support of good leaders.  Just like we invest in others we should invest in our community.  The greatest thing about giving back is what you learn and how you grow by doing so.  We have all heard it said, those who give back get more than they give.  It is true, that is why it is an investment.  Be involved in your community.  Support a cause you are passionate about.  Share your time and skills for a worthwhile cause.  Make your community a better place to live.

We are meant to live in community.  We are designed to support others and be supported by others.  Be intentional about investing in your community.  Trust me, you will see a return on your investment.

How are your investments doing?

When you leave…

What do people say about you when you leave?  I don’t mean when you leave the table or a meeting.  People talking behind your back is not what I am getting at either.  What do people say when they are no longer around you on a regular basis?  How do they talk about you when you move out of a community?  What is said about you when you leave a job?  How are you thought of by someone when they leave your company or neighborhood and no longer get to interact with you regularly?  What do people say when you roll off of a Board of Directors?
 

The answer to those questions is the true measurement of your influence and your impact. 

Currently I serve as Chairman of the Board of Leadership Montgomery County (LMC).  It is an organization dedicated to developing leaders in our community and it holds a special place in my heart.  One of the core values of LMC is “We Leave Our Mark.”  We challenge ourselves and others to make a lasting impression.  We should all leave our mark.  The answers to the above questions are your report card.  How will people remember you when you leave?