Leaders ViewPointe

How To Lead Others Through A Tough Decision

Every leader I know would rather invest time inspiring people to a great cause, then to spend time trying to convince them of the greater purpose.  And all too often, when going through tough times and having to make tough decisions, we slip into the "error of emotional economy."  Let me explain by asking you to re-read the first sentence of this article.  What words reflect terms of economy?  

You're right.  The words invest and spend.  Isn't it amazing how quickly we shift in our minds to a negative posture when we know that the choices we make may not be popular and somehow we have to help others embrace those choices?  We rapidly shift from investing in the emotional economy of good people, to the spending or expense of time that we feel is too precious to waste.  And here is the danger point:  those we lead can tell if we are investing in the process with them or if we're just giving lip service.  Creating the time to invest in your people by leading them through a process will generate strong returns of trust.  Spending that "trust fund" by leaving them out of the process will prove to be a costly mistake.  

There are 5 Key Steps to Leading Others Through a Tough Decision.

State The Obvious.  When dealing with difficult issues (i.e., budget, missed goals, any crisis, etc.) cut to the chase and tactfully define the problem.  A one sentence statement is all you need; not a whole report with footnotes.  Way too often leaders are busy trying to find the "soft" version of the problem and they run circles around the real issue creating more confusion, shifting blame, and insulting their team members intelligence.  Get to the point, then you can get to the possibilities!

Sort Out The Options.  Once you've put the obvious into a one sentence statement, you've moved yourself and your team beyond the greatest time wasters of denial, blame, and excuses!  With all that behind you, now you can begin to gather ideas of what to do next.  Look for options that are forward thinking.  No "if only" scenarios are allowed.  "What if" possibilities are the options you want on the table.  Ask your team members to contribute their insights.  Sort out the best by looking for things that invest in emotional economy as well as the economy of execution (how quickly can we begin to take action and see results).

Select The Optimum Good.  Choosing the best option is where genuine leaders step up and make the call.  We may be able to build a team concensus or we may have to make the choice alone.  One thing is consistent: we must always consider which option is the most beneficial.  Even if that means added risk, multiplied responsibility, and the subtraction of people who have divided desires or intentions.  We must look for what brings the optimum good for all involved.

Share The Objectionables.  Don't pretend that everything is perfect or that your decision is the golden bridge to success.  Admit that there are rough edges and sacrifices to be made. Open discussion of the things that are uncomfortable shows your team that you live in the real world and not in some leadership la-la land.  Remember that the best outcomes, come out of forthcoming conversation.

Show The Way To Desired Outcomes.  Simply put - roll up your sleeves, pick up your shovel, and start demonstrating what can be done!  When we Show The Way, people begin to find their way.

Don't Settle For Something Less Than The Possible - Part 2

The possible is always within your reach.  It is missed only when you think and act as if it can not be attained.

None of us are content in life when we compromise.  But we do find contentment when we face the issues of life with resolve and commitment.  Success cannot be defined by the balance of a bank account, the make of car in the multi-vehicle garage, or even the stamps in a passport!  Success is measured best by the peace of mind and heart that comes from knowing that we have given our best to the commitments of friendship, love and integrity!

A commitment is a promise to be faithful to what is possible.

John Maxwell wrote, "No one ever made a big commitment without first making little commitments."

If you want to build contentment into your life -- a true sense of well being and joy, start to keep your commitments.  Make a few small promises.  Be faithful to your word.  Then build on your new found success!

Once you have begun to exercise your ability to be faithful, you will be able to say the following statement with sincere conviction:

"When I am committed, I can find the possible and even improve upon that -- becoming an achiever with an ideal."

Leaders ViewPointe:

1. Leaders are not content to settle for anything less then the best.
2. Those we lead should not have to settle for a "second best" effort from us.
3. We rise above "second best" when we make and keep our commitments.

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor:   "The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his soul."  - Hebrew Proverb

Click on the title above and share your thoughts about how commitment has made all the difference in your leadership development.

A quick note from a road warrior.  It is very late in the evening and I'm waiting in Dallas at the airport for a very delayed flight home.  If all goes well, I should be home tommorrow.  I've just spent a week in Texas and New Mexico with some outstanding leaders.  They represented non-profit organizations, government, law enforcement, banking and finance, shipping, and many other industries.  I can tell you this -- commitment is not a lost art.  These individuals exemplified tremendous desire to go to a new level in their commitment to be the kind of leaders that people want to follow.  Even though I'm physically weary, my heart is energized by the passion of committed leaders.  Good luck in your journey!

Getting Through The Giving Season

I once read of a woman who bought a hundred identical Christmas greeting cards during her frantic, last minute shopping.  Because of her haste, she did not take the time to read the contents of the cards, but instead signed and mailed all but one.  Many days later, she found the one remaining card on her desk and finally looked at the words she had sent.  She gasped while the card dropped to the floor.  She had sent this message:  “This card is just to say…a little gift is on the way.”

Getting through the giving season can be an extremely stressful task.  Yes, it is a wonderful time of year and the general attitude of good will and caring is a nice change of pace.  However, if we could tell the truth about giving, sometimes you can get tired of it.  I’ve heard people say, “I’m so tired of giving.  All I ever do is give.  Give, give, give.  It seems that is what everyone expects of me.  I’ve given so much, there just isn’t anymore to give!”

What are the causes of “Giving Exhaustion”?  Two, I know of specifically:

1. Unrealistic expectations that others place upon you.
2. Unrealistic expectations you have of your self.

When you live under the pressure of unrealistic expectations, you create an environment for distress!  Stress is a part of everyday life: but when magnified by those things we feel incapable of accomplishing we create distress.  The truth is we do the same thing to our employees.  The expectations that come with the Holiday season are not necessarily unrealistic, but when added to the current load of responsibilities your “Scrooge” begins to show.

How to Manage the Stress of the Holidays:

• Plan for Peaceful Time.

The schedule can get way out of hand.  Things to do, stuff to buy, projects to finish before the year is over, and too many people to see.  Make some time in your calendar for yourself.  Block an hour or two each week for a chance to catch your breath.  Plan to listen to your favorite music, take a walk – whatever replenishes your peace of mind.

• Prioritize the Expectations.

Take an inventory.  Focus on the holiday items that build character, family and community.  Give priority to the expectations that bring excellence to your relationships and lifestyle.  Make sure the workload truly reflects the most essential.  Then give yourself and your employee’s permission to celebrate the accomplishments of the year, as well as the giving season!

• Remember What Has Been Given.

Express to your team members how much you appreciate all the effort that they have given through out the year.  Acknowledge that their unique gifts and talents are what help you succeed.

Leaders ViewPointe:

Great leaders are givers!  They are generous people who give others support, opportunities to grow, room to learn from their mistakes and encouragement to advance.  Don't look at what you can get from others, look for what you can give.  Their response to your example will be priceless!

Self Leadership

Leadership is not simply the task and responsibility of leading other people or setting the course for a groups success.  It must also include the determination and responsibility of self leadership.  A leader that expends all their time in the pursuit of leading others, building a company or creating a vision for a better future; and yet, spends no time in examining their own personal well being, will discover too late how off course they truly have become.  Great leadership must start with personal decisions and disciplines that keep the leader authentic, approachable and adventurous.

Step for a few moments into the musty cabin of your thoughts.  There on the desk is a brown leather book, the corners crumpled and smudged with the frequent thumbing of the pages.  Open it respectfully and read the hand scribbled notes on the first page.  The thoughts of self leadership...

"I am the captain of my own ship.  No one else can command her.  I am the only one responsible for this vessel.  I am the one who determines her ports of call, when she sails, and where.

Destinations vary.  Some are familiar.  Some are uncharted waters.  And a few are beyond the horizon. I choose the direction.  And once a destination or direction is chosen, I am the one who chooses to stay the course or divert.

No one is allowed on board without my permission.  No cargo may be stored without my clearance.

The condition of my ship -- it's cleanliness, repair, appearance and readiness is a direct result of my attention.

Morale on board my ship is directly related to my disposition and choices.  My "inner" crew, (the officers: mind, attitude and heart) take their lead from me.  If I am of a foul mood and run aground in poor attitude, they begin to reflect that spirit.  However, if I am of good spirit (full sail and flags flying), they rally together for the greatest adventure - in spite of the odds or conditions.

I am the captain of my own ship.  I am in command or I am not.  And if I am not, than my ship is subject to all kinds of influences: impostors, scoundrels, negative men, winds of pessimism, torrents of undisciplined thoughts, breakers of unproven and impatient people, and unfit cargo pirated aboard.  All that which weighs a ship down.  A ship like that eventually sinks or is left tattered and weathered beyond recognition.

I am the captain of my own ship.  I set the course.  Today, I choose to set sail for new lands.  Welcome aboard!

The Secret To Economic Growth - Make A Bigger Pie

Take just a moment and read the following insights written by a wonderful man by the name of Cavett Robert.  This was a note sent years ago to a client of mine.  It has a very special meaning to me today; and its message is still very relevant. 

Cavett titled this: Learning, A Journey, Not A Destination

I keep a cartoon on my office wall showing an ole half-wit farmer standing in the middle of his field with a rope in his hand.  As he scratches his head, looking like a tree full of owls, he can’t remember whether he has lost a cow or found a rope.

Unless we are constantly studying and learning in order to keep pace with changing times we shall soon be like that farmer.  We shall be wondering whether we have lost our economical directional compass or whether we have found ourselves in a new world of circumstances we do not understand.

Success is a journey – not a destination.  When we cease to grow we begin to die.  We cannot train ourselves, put it in a bottle and put it on a shelf.  What was right and plausible yesterday is questionable today and might even be wrong tomorrow.  We cannot operate today with yesterday’s methods and even be in business tomorrow.

-         Cavett

At the end of the note, he had written a personal greeting that said: "Hope all is great with you.”

That truly was the spirit and attitude of this great man.  The article was a true expression of his personal mission and authenticity.  He found simple ways to convey necessary truth, and challenged everyone to take responsibility to improve their lives.  And the personal note at the end revealed his most cherished desire, that things would be “great” for everyone he knew.

What makes this so special for me today?  Cavett Robert was one of the founding members of the National Speakers Association, and NSA has designated November 14, 2007 as the “Spirit of NSA Day.” (Click to see NSA President Marc LeBlanc announcement.)

Spirit of NSA day serves as a reminder to NSA members, encouraging them to:

·        Focus on giving back;

·        Provide genuine support to speaking colleagues; and

·        Take time to connect, help, mentor or refer business to other members without any expectation of reciprocation.

One of Cavett’s favorite ideas was to “make the pie bigger.”  He believed that instead of competing for business, i.e. fighting over a few small pieces of a pie, we should work together to make a bigger pie that would benefit more customers and increase business opportunities for all the members.  Instead of fighting for market share, we should share the market.  It all began with a handful of speakers in 1972. Today, more than 4,000 members of the NSA are experiencing the results of that business model.

Cavett Robert would be 100 years old today.  And I’m positive that if he could offer you a personal note of encouragement, he’d write:

Hope all is great with you!

Improving Your Personal Focus

Focus - the significance of which determines not only your perspective, but your final outcomes.  A telescope out of focus gives a blurred view of the intended sights.  The information is incomplete and the interpretations could lead to dangerous results or failed efforts.  Blurred vision prevents us from having clear objectives.

Often, the remedy for a blurred telescope view is a simple adjustment at our end of the scope. That simple move brings everything into focus; and then what is far off/distant is now closer and easier to define.

Two Questions To Ask Yourself:

1. What is my focus? 
2. Are there adjustments that need to be made?

Every "sighting" that becomes clear in the scope remains in focus only when two conditions exist: the object remains stationary and you are not in motion.  Therefore, a simple principle of success is evident; if your goal is in constant focus through the "telescope" of your plans - you are not moving toward your goal.  Each time you take a step forward the goal will be closer, but will become blurred.  This is not because you have failed to understand the goal or that the goal is unattainable.  It means that you must be prepared to make changes in your immediate situations in order to keep the focus clear.

We can not depend on the old settings of yesterday.  Our position and the conditions have changed.  We must intentionally adjust to stay in focus.

We must also understand that sometimes the goal moves.  If you have chosen to focus on something that is moving forward or subject to cultural or relational changes, it will be shifting not just in focus, but often out of your "sights".  They say it is hard to hit a moving target; it is more difficult to keep it in focus.

It is then imperative that your focus anticipate the goal's direction and that you continue to move toward it.

Application Steps: I need to...

• Identify my desired destination/goal.
• Evaluate any blurred vision.  Is it blurred because I'm moving forward or because I've failed to make some adjustments?
• Remember that blurred vision can be a sign of progress. What progress has occurred recently?
• Make some adjustments to stay focused.  What adjustment "at my end of things" can I make today?

Visit www.todayspointe.com audio series for ways to improve your personal focus.