Leadership

Jul

2022

Keep Climbing

I recently returned from a trip out to Arizona. We started our journey with a private tour of part of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Words cannot describe the magnificence of that natural wonder.

The next part of our journey involved a visit to Sedona to hike among the beautiful red rocks. After our first day we had gone on a hike and my youngest son mentioned he wanted to hike to Devil’s Bridge. This is a natural bridge hundreds of feet above ground.

This required an early start so I said if he would get up at 5:30 we could hike the trail to the bridge. He agreed. As I look back on this two-and-a-half-hour experience with my eleven-year-old I thought of three leadership principles we can apply.

Know the Path

The day before we were on a trolley tour and I asked the guide to point out where we had to go to start the hike up to Devil’s Bridge. I had never been to Sedona so I needed to know where to start. Upon arriving at the site I had to find the signs pointing me to the trail. Once I knew the path, we started our hike.

Let’s be honest sometimes as a leader you have no clue what the path is. You know where you want to go but aren’t 100% sure on the path. That is leadership. Leaders go first and hopefully with good advisors around them decide on a course of action and adjust along the way. We look for the signs and keep moving and adjusting as we go.

Hold the Vision

We had been hiking for at least forty-five minutes by this point. I could not see the bridge anywhere. The trail signs we passed confirmed we were going the right direction. The sun was now fully in the sky and we felt the Arizona summer heat. As we continued down the path we were tempted to want to quit but knew the view would be amazing.

The last part before reaching the bridge required a slightly challenging vertical climb. We traversed the climb and arrived at our goal. What would have happened if we quit? We never would have seen the beautiful landscape.

As leaders we may feel like we are grinding away and getting nowhere. This is where we must hold onto the vision for what we are pursuing. Have the vision written down. Have a symbol that reminds you of what you are pursuing and why. When we hold the vision, it gives us the energy to keep going on the days we want to give up. Your vision matters. Hold it in front of you and keep sharing it with your team.

Take the Next Step

When we reached the final ascent the steps were not as easy on the previous parts of the hike. I wasn’t worried we would die, but I had to slow down and be more careful with my steps. Earlier in the hike I could move fast and look way ahead not worrying about my son keeping up. At this point I had to focus on the next step and take it and be sure he was able to take it too.

Leaders see more before and can often see multiple steps ahead. Because of that vision we can be tempted to rush ahead or get frustrated because we aren’t moving as fast as we want. Sometimes in our leadership journey we must slow down to take the next step and wait long enough for our team to keep climbing with us. We may want to go faster, but in doing that are we entering an unnecessary risk for ourselves and our team? Take the next step and keep climbing.

Which of these areas do you need to grow in? Are you in a stage where the path is unclear for you? Contact me for a no cost thinking partner session and allow me to come alongside you to help you think into your vision and the next step. In the meantime, keep climbing and lead well!

Jul

2022

The Fourth Means Freedom

When I was a kid, I would go to Atlanta Braves baseball games with my dad. At the beginning of the game, like all sporting events, they would sing The Star-Spangled Banner. For the longest time I thought when they said “the home of the brave” they were saying the home of the “Braves.” How easily we can misunderstand something.

There is much to be said about the bravery of those who fought for the freedom of this nation. A nation where we have the freedoms such as speech, religion, to petition the government, assemble, and press. A nation where someone can move from another country, start a business, and become extremely successful. A nation where multiple ways of thinking can coexist and in healthy environments create great solutions to complicated problems.

Much can be said about freedom. Allow me to add a few thoughts and how it applies to our leadership.

Allows Creativity

My wife is not too fond of heights. A couple weeks ago we visited the Grand Canyon and she was adamant about the boys staying a few feet back from the edge. If we were somewhere with rails up she was much less anxious and the boys had more freedom to move about.

As leaders when we set clear expectations on the outcome and limits of the project the people we lead experience more creative freedom. This clarity allows the leader freedom to think creatively into ways to grow and expand. It also allows those being led room to creatively execute on what has been asked.

Autonomy

Daniel Pink in the book Drive suggests a key motivators for all people is autonomy. This is the ability to create a space for people to do their best work. Think about when you were a teenager. If your parents always hovered over you, once you got on your own you went wild and possibly in unhealthy ways.

When the people we lead have freedom to use their strengths and skills they will thrive. This does not mean we abandon those we lead. We still need to be accessible and clear expectations, but not micro-manage every step. Pink found research highlighting those businesses that offered autonomy grew four times as much as control-oriented firms.¹ Autonomy provides freedom from excessive control.

Tension

July 4^th 1776 the founders of the United States of America declared independence and freedom from Great Britain. In the more than two hundred years since that day it has not been smooth sailing. There have been many ideological tensions and wars.

As a leader there will be a temptation to control especially under stress. This is where the tension of maintaining a culture of freedom exists. Leaders must balance appropriate controls and accountability with the freedom for people to excel in their unique ways.

I wish leadership was set it and forget it, but leadership involves people. Part of our nature is to have tension. Tension is not always bad. When this is embraced in a healthy environment the team can create great solutions that make a profound impact. There will be battles, but they do not have to destroy the culture. Embrace the tension as an opportunity to grow and lean into listening and asking questions as a leader.

I am grateful to live in a country where we have the freedoms we do. As a leader you can create a culture of healthy freedom or unhealthy control. How are you doing in each of these areas? Need help evaluating the culture you have created as a leader? Contact me to discover any way I can serve you or your team. Lead well.

Pink, Daniel. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Riverhead Books: 2009.

Jun

2022

What Spiderman Taught Me About Leadership

We were watching some of the bonus material on the Spiderman: No Way Home DVD. One of the segments highlighted the approach the director used in creating the film.

As I watched I was fascinated by how his team of actors and support people discussed the way he led. There is an example in his leadership style for each of us who lead.

A Clear Plan

Many of us have heard the idea that if we fail to plan then we plan to fail. As the actors discussed the making of the film, they all explained how the director had a plan for what they were to accomplish that day.

I realize this is not an earth-shattering idea, but as a leader when you meet with someone or your team do you have a plan? I am amazed by the number of leaders who don’t take the time to create an agenda whether formal or informal for their meetings. Also, some leaders have a fuzzy vision at best of where they are trying to go.

The clearer our plan is the more focused our team is, the more confident our team is in our leadership, and the more confident we can be to lead in this next way.

Be Open

During this mini documentary the actors mentioned how director Jon Watts would have a plan for the day, but also was open to ideas. He modeled the idea that it didn’t matter whose idea it was, but what was the best idea for the film. One practical application of this mindset would be the way he would provide time as they filmed for actors to ad-lib and try out things off-script. At times these would be what were included in the final cut.

In his classic book Good to Great Jim Collins found top level leaders have both great drive and humility. This second trait is what drove Jon to listen to those he led. Effective leaders realize they do not always have the best idea in the room, nor do they need to. These leaders will assemble great teams and listen to them after casting a vision of where they are going. There is one more idea to consider in your style.

Balance

Leadership expert John Maxwell describes five levels of leadership. I won’t go into this in detail here. Two of them suggest a tension we must balance as leaders. One is the need for strong relationships with those we lead and the other is the importance of getting results. As I watched this commentary on Jon Watts I could see a leader who knew how to maintain that balance.

Everyone naturally leans toward either tasks or relationships. Some of us may have to intentionally slow down to listen to those around us to be open to ideas. Others of us may need people around us to keep us from listening to ideas so much we fail to stay on task moving toward the vision. Every one of us navigates this tension. Effective leaders discern the best way to navigate it for them.

How are you doing in these areas as a leader? Maybe you need to understand where you lean in relation to tasks and relationships. If that is something you want to dive deeper into then go here to invest in a Maxwell DISC Personality Indicator to get thirty-pages of feedback to understand not only where you fall on task vs. relationship, but also your natural communication style and how to connect better to those you lead. As leaders we are ever growing and evolving. Keep growing and leading with great drive and humility. Lead Well.

May

2022

Memorial Day Leadership

This is the last Monday of May. In the United States this is when we remember those who gave their lives so we could have the freedom we experience. Both my dad and one of my grandfathers served in the military. My grandfather served as a medic during the second World War. Though I never discussed it with him I still have a book that recounts pictures from that time.

As I reflect on those who have given their lives for the freedom I experience I think of three words that describe these individuals. You may not celebrate this holiday where you read, but I would suggest you know of people who have demonstrated these qualities so you can do what you do today as a leader.

Courage

Maybe you have heard of the 2016 movie Hacksaw Ridge recounting Pfc. Desmond Doss who courageously saved the lives of 75 individuals during the Battle of Okinawa. This dramatic example of courage is exemplified by every individual who has raised his or her hand to serve the country.

Leaders go first. Leaders run into the battle with bullets flying regardless of the cost. Why? Not because of an absence of fear, but because courage is moving ahead in spite of fear. Leaders see the bigger picture and that gives them the courage to go forward despite fear. Just as many soldiers have moved forward because of the vision of freedom.

Duty

Every leader has learned how to follow. I heard the story of how Intel led at their senior level. They would have heated discussions and not everyone would agree on the direction to go, but they together decided to “disagree and commit.” When they left the room, they would all commit to the proposed action that seemed like the next best step.

Soldiers follow a chain of command and may not always agree with what they are asked to do, but they have a duty to follow command trusting their leaders see something they do not. Leaders may not always feel like doing what they must do, but they have a responsibility because of their position to move ahead despite concerns. One reminder, as leaders no one should be asked to do something unethical. At this point duty may be trumped by what is right. Use your authority and power wisely leader.

Sacrifice

“A leader must give up to go up.”

John Maxwell

Those who have died in the line of battle to fight for the freedom of this country have been the ultimate example of sacrifice. Whether those are individuals on the seashores of Europe or the jungles of Japan or the soil of their own land. Everyone gave up their life so another could go up and experience more and better.

As a leader you hold your position not for your purpose and power, but I would suggest to serve the purpose of another and empower others. When leaders help their people succeed, they too eventually succeed.

When you look at these three areas, where do you need to grow? For those of you who have served our country. Thank you. For those of you who have lost loved ones that have been a model of sacrifice your life and leadership will be their legacy. Thank you and Lead Well.

May

2022

Connecting At Work and Home Part I

Do you have to deal with a “difficult person” at work or home? Or at least you think he or she is difficult. Let me illustrate.

You are in a meeting and this person has no problem sharing his or her opinion. Maybe it feels like he or she is trying to take control all the time. This person seems to ALWAYS be playing devil’s advocate. Quite honestly, he or she is too aggressive for your liking.

This person is confident and assertive and does not like routine. They try to take charge, but it feels like there is no structure from this person. Aargh!

Are you picturing someone like this? Are YOU this person?

We are all different, but we are predictably different and over the course of the next four blog posts I want to share a tips to help you connect with these different styles. As leaders one of the most important aspects of what we do is communicate. My hope is each post will give you a few tips to help you be a better connector with those you lead at work or home. If you want to dive deeper on any of this because I am only scratching the surface, please reach out.

How can you communicate in a way that connects with this individual? Let me give you a few tips:

Be direct and brief. These people do not like the details, so get to the point.
If you need this type of person to make a decision, provide options. This reassures them that they are in control and you are not telling them what to do.
Stay focused on the result you want to accomplish. They live by the idea of “just show me the baby.” They don’t care about the process.

If you are like me, you’d rather have people adjust to your style, but great leaders at work and home adjust to connect with what is important for the other person. This is just the first part of a four-part series looking at different styles of communicating.

Do you know someone with this style? Is it you? How can you adjust to connect better with this person in the next twenty-four hours? If you want to learn your style go here to invest in an assessment to understand your style and get tips on how to connect with others based on your style. See you next time. Lead Well!

Apr

2022

Three Tips for Leading Remote Teams

I am sitting at my computer looking at the screen with many other people on the screen. Not long ago this was a unique experience, but now ZOOM is part of our vocabulary and remote work is the norm. Leading in person is challenging enough, but remote leadership can be even more difficult.

I have had the opportunity to be a part of a remote team for many years now. I never really thought of it that way because we are all part of one organization and spread out all over the world. As I have been a part of that team and watched others lead remotely, I found that if we do a few things well it helps the team connect and continue to move forward.

Communication

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

George Bernard Shaw

Nothing gets accomplished without communication. When we are part of a remote team this requires greater intentionality. I was talking to the CTO of an organization about how they do hybrid work. He said they make sure when everyone is in office on a particular day they have purposeful meetings on those days.

When leading remotely communication must be proactive and purposeful. As part of a remote team I may send an e-mail just to make sure I don’t forget to share a thought with another member. I may send a text to clarify before acting. As the leader we need to initiate communication and respond to what comes our way in a timely fashion.

One caveat on communication. Do it, but also set clear boundaries for you and your team. I would encourage some form of “office hours” so people have realistic expectations on after hours return communication. This clarification protects the overall health of team members and reduces stress. As a remote leader I encourage you to communicate more than you think you need to and discern when you need to reduce the frequency.

Clear Expectations

“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”

Brene Brown

When a team is distributed we have to lead with more clarity. We can’t wander around the office like the manager in Office Space checking on people and looking over their shoulder. (Nor would I advocate that kind of leadership anyway.) Whether in person or remote an important role of the leader is to provide clarity. Expectation clarity is even more important with remote teams.

Lazlo Bock who led Google’s people functions for ten years said in an article in Harvard Business Review:

“When it comes to company direction, policies, and values, being clear is the kindest thing you can do . . . .When people know what’s happening, they can make the best choices for themselves.”¹

We want people to have autonomy and freedom especially when working remote, but we need to create clear boundaries. Just like the fence around a playground gives a child freedom to play wherever they want inside the fence, clear expectations do the same for our teams. One final idea on this. Just like we already discussed the importance of communication, give your team time to access you for questions and clarification.

Maximize Technology

On this remote team I have been a part of for several years we had to have a difficult conversation. The issue needed to be dealt with and it was going to be several months before we were with one another in person again. The leader of this conversation had us all get on ZOOM.

Why?

When we have a conversation 93% of our communication comes through our tone of voice and body language. We can remove over half of the communication cues by only having a phone conversation. Therefore we should leverage technology. When we are on a video conferencing platform we can see the other person’s facial expressions and hear their tone. This is essential especially for difficult or complicated conversations.

Another way to maximize technology is by being accessible (within boundaries). As the leader you may need to have a quick conversation that may have been a walk down the hall in person. Remotely this may be a text, instant message, FaceTime call, or phone call. Be aware of when you are reaching out to respect boundaries, but utilize technology to keep communication open and candid.

As you think into your leadership, how are you doing in these three areas? What is one action step you can take to communicate, set expectations, or leverage technology more effectively in your leadership? Need help thinking into your leadership? Contact me for a powerful coaching session to help you think into your leadership. Lead Well.

Bock, Lazslo. “5 New Rules for Leading a Hybrid Team.” Harvard Business Review. November 17, 2021.