PURPOSE

May

2021

Learning From A Home Remodeling Leader

Business owners and leaders make a profit, but is that all that drives them? I was talking to Marcus Hall the President and Partner of California Closets in Indianapolis about leadership. During our conversation on his top guiding leadership principles, which I’ll cover momentarily, we discussed the balance between profit and purpose.

A business leader won’t be leading long if he or she is not making a profit, but if that drives everything a toxic culture can develop. The purpose of profit in Marcus’ mind is to increase the impact they can have in the community they live and serve in and beyond. I’ll go into this more deeply in a moment, but let me highlight Marcus’ top leadership principles.

Manage Results and Lead/Develop People

As I mentioned at the beginning, leaders must get results to stay in business. Without a profit there is no business, but results are not Marcus’ primary focus, people are. As a leader he seeks to get the right people in the right spots within the organization. When he does this, people perform higher and achieve better results.

Looking at this principle I am reminded of the legendary basketball coach John Wooden who never worried about his opponents but focused on developing and getting the best out of his team. Leaders can develop and help navigate for those they lead but cannot ethically control results. One of the principles that helps Marcus develop people is to surround himself with value aligned people. These people help the entire team focus on what really matters.

Fair, Firm, and Consistent

In his leadership Marcus strives to be fair, firm, and consistent with all those he leads. During our conversation, he shared an image which illustrates these three principles. Courage like a lion, skin like a rhino, and a heart like a teddy bear.

In order to lead fair, we must have courage to do the right thing at all times. Being firm requires direct and possibly uncomfortable conversations. That is where the rhino’s skin is important to let the inevitable unjust criticism roll off you. Finally, consistent leaders must have a heart like a teddy bear. This soft heart helps the leader put people first and determine if everyone is aligned and heading in the same direction.

Focus on the Bigger Purpose

As a business leader Marcus has financial goals, but that is not what drives him. As the leader he believes he is the CRO . . . Chief Reminding Officer. A big part of his role as a leader is to carry the torch of purpose and remind his team why they do what they do.

His greater purpose with his team is to help them develop as people. In turn he hopes this enables his team to design better lives for customers and serve the community. With this purpose in mind he focuses on moving things in the right direction versus just doing things right. Marcus desires his team to continually develop and see progress heading toward, but knowing they will never reach, perfection. Ultimately he and his team’s clear purpose keep all this in focus.

As you look at these three principles, what is one area you need to grow in as a leader at work and home? Need help in your leadership growth? Contact me so we can discover ways I may be able to serve you and/or your team. Lead Well.

Apr

2017

Are You A Minion or Do You Lead Them?

Have you ever felt like you needed guidance in work or life? Have you ever felt aimless or even purposeless even though your life was going quite well? You have enough money and are living fairly comfortably, but something is missing.

Recently I was watching the movie Minions again with my children. In that movie these little yellow creatures who wear denim overalls live their lives following the most evil “master” they can find. They reach a point where they have no “master,” but are living a very comfortable life together. It hits them that they need something bigger than them to live for other than their personal pleasure.

Enter Kevin, Stewart, and Bob who venture into the unknown to find the most evil master they can find for their clan to serve.

As I watched this movie with my boys it occurred to me we are all little minions looking for a greater purpose and even a guide to help us along that journey. Of course we are not looking for the most evil person, but we do have a part of us that wants someone further along the journey to guide us or something bigger to live for.

As leaders we need to provide that bigger purpose for those we lead. As a parent we need to step back and look at why we do what we do and provide our children with greater purpose. I know I have to often step out of the busyness to reflect on why we parent the way we do. I have to do the same at work to make sure I am not bossing people around, but giving them a greater purpose for some of the seemingly monotonous work they are expected to perform.

As people we are just as simple as minions who live in community, but want to follow someone or something living for something greater. We may need a mentor who is someone who is more experienced at what we want to become great at and can guide us along the path. Maybe we need a coach who will help us by coming alongside us and helping ask the crucial questions that will help us grow to fulfill our purpose.

Former NFL Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungy in his book The Mentor Leader said: “Mentor leadership focuses on building people up and building leaders for the next generation.” We are in one part of that equation. We either are at a place to be building others up or we are that upcoming generation that needs someone to come alongside us and show us how to not just be successful, but significant.

Are you like Kevin, Stewart, and Bob looking for a leader to follow? Are you simply looking for that wise mentor to help you on the journey or even a coach to come alongside you? Maybe you need to be a mentor leader to others?

There are two ways to live: by giving and growing or by taking and staying the same. When we seek and find others to help us on the journey and do the same with others we will continue to grow to fulfill our purpose. What do you need today?