Leaders ViewPointe

The Necessity of Leadership

"It is no use saying 'we are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary."  - Winston Churchill

 These are certainly uncertain times. 

Leaders around the world, in every business (large and small) know that the success of their organization depends on how they respond to the circumstances and keep focus on the things that are absolutely vital for sustainability as well as future growth.

I talk with business owners and executives every day.  Each one, without exception, has a crowded schedule full of seemingly important demands.  And yet, a small percentage of these leaders have a skill that sets them apart from the throng.  These are the women and men who have learned to discern the necessary issues from the tasks of "just good enough."  Spend only a few minutes with this select group and you will discover that they are extremely committed to doing what they do best.  But there is something more that makes these people true leaders -- their devotion to accomplishing what must be done!

Churchill suggests that doing our best is not good enough.  You can do your best at all the wrong things and fail miserably.  Do what is necessary and finish it well - that is success.

Learning to be devoted to the necessary is not an easy task.  It runs contrary to popular culture.  But those who dare to challenge the status quo, giving more than their best, those are the ones most admired.  The moment you choose to go beyond your comfort zone into the victory zone is that moment you make a leadership decision and give whole hearted effort to what must be done.

Look at your responsibilities today and ask yourself, "Is this absolutely necessary?"  You will discover a new freedom and a renewed efficiency when you focus on the most important.  Often the difference between doing our best and doing what is necessary is simply following through and doing what is right, at the right time, for the right reasons!

Leaders ViewPointe:

1)  By all means, I will do my best.

2)  I will qualify each task, appointment, or meeting by asking first, "Is this necessary?"  Then I will ask, "Is it my priority or responsibility?"

3)  I will do what is necessary first.  Even if it is difficult or unpopular.

4)  Leadership is the art of being intentional.

Be confident today.  Inspire confidence in others. 

Reading the thoughts and influence of Winston Churchill during times such as these could be very helpful for leaders who desire to keep a proper focus.  Check out these great Churchill links:

• The Churchill Centre
• Churchill - Wikipedia
• Churchill College Archives

I am looking forward to hearing of your leadership victories. -  Steven Iwersen

Starbucks Leadership Says Its Time To Close The Doors!

We just returned from a weekend in Seattle. The weather was incredible - sunny!  The experience was spectacular!  And Starbucks was everywhere!  That is not an exaggeration.  Everywhere you turn a Starbucks is there to welcome you.

The original Starbucks store in Pike Place Market (opened in 1971) has not changed much over the years.  The decor, coffee, staff and experience are much the same. However, the Starbucks Company has been going through some significant changes in the past few months.  Driven mostly be a drop in stock values, the Board of Directors chose to put Founder and past-CEO, Howard Schultz back in the top leadership position.  Howard is a leader with a passion; a passion for coffee, empowerment and community.  Watch during the next few months and you'll see the changes unfold right there in your favorite Starbucks!

The most obvious shift you will see is a renewed focus on the basics – the basics that made Starbucks a household name and changed the way we “experience” coffee.  It is no longer a tin can commodity it is a vital part of community.  What basics will Starbucks CEO expect the company to embrace?  Coffee expertise, consistency, employee empowerment and training, and the customer experience known as the “third place”.   Schultz sees these things as non-negotiable.  They are the essence of a relationship that he believes must be established with the employees, in order to enhance the relationship with the customer.  As  Becky Carrol stated in her blog, "Starbucks is putting its employees front and center in their effort to transform the customers experience."

We don't have to look far to understand what is driving this leader.  Howard Schultz wrote in his book Pour Your Heart Into It (1997) the following:

"There is no more precious commodity than the relationship of trust and confidence a company has with its employees."

"The head of a company can't, and shouldn't always be the cheerleader.  He has to be willing to let his people see the weaknesses and the pain, as long as they understand them in the context of the company's greater accomplishments.

When the chips are down, it's wrong to give a rah-rah Knute Rockne speech. People want guidance, not rhetoric.  They need to know what the plan of action is, and how it will be implemented.  They want to be given responsibility to help solve the problem and the authority to act on it."

These are great insights.  It is easy to say, harder to implement.  Vision is important for employees to understand, but it is equally vital that they be given an action plan and permission to pursue it.  Great leadership recognizes when to talk, and when to deliver!  Solutions are not always found in one more motivational talk, but in the opportunities of empowerment.  (In the Seattle Post-Intelligencer you can read Howard's memo to the employees for more insight into his commitment to them and his openness to their input.)

Are you ready for this?  Starbucks is getting ready to close the doors.  On February 26, 2008  over 7,100 stores around the nation will intentionally lock the doors at 5:30 p.m. and cease operations.  Don't panic, this is only for a few hours.  The purpose: to train and revisit the basics as well as ideas for improvement.  Will it result in a better cup of coffee?  Probably, but more importantly it will create a better sense of responsibility and ownership among the employees for the experience you and I have on a daily basis.

Melissa Allison, reporter for the Seattle Times wrote in the February 12, 2008 edition:

In an interview last month, Schultz said he was committed to "reinvent and reinvest in training the likes of which we have not done."

"I think our people are the reason we've been successful," he said.

"The equity of the brand is based on the experience they create, and we want to unleash that creativity and that passion.  They have it.  We just have to give them the tools and the resources for it to come out."

Leaders ViewPointe:

1. Change is inevitable.  Successful leaders create stability during times of change by helping everyone get focused on the essentials that make the company great.
2. The leader has a passion that is well-stated and well-worn through personal application.
3. Growth leaders in every industry know and build on the truth that trust and confidence in the relationships are the key to a healthy organization.
4. The greatest solutions and sustained growth comes from building opportunities through the right training.  (According to Joseph Michelli Starbucks consistently invests more in training, than it does in advertising.)
5. Great leaders communicate with clarity - not just vision but also plans.  They are also open to the insights of those they lead.

Howard, I raise my Pike Place Starbucks mug to your success!

Send me a note or comment about your thoughts on the above ViewPointe's by clicking on the Headline above.

Don't Settle For Something Less Than The Possible - Part 1

"I have discovered that the successes of my life depend greatly upon my commitments and the failures are directly influenced by my compromises!" - Steven Iwersen

Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher, thought that most men and women would consider life to be "a long second best" because of an ongoing compromise between the ideal and the possible.  I would agree that the majority of our disappointment is the result of compromise.  But I do not believe that it is somewhere caught between the ideal and the possible.  The real compromise is settling for something less than the possible!

We all have our ideals.  Sometimes they are a great measure different than what is possible.  We may set our standards for something that is ideal; and in the striving to reach that level discover that what is possible is in reality two or three notches below the ideal.  We can become discouraged and defeated in our minds - believing that we'll never be able to reach the ideal.  This is the most dangerous point.  If we give up on what is possible and settle for something that is less - that is the compromise that ushers us into the second best.

Compromise is the opposite of commitment!  It disintegrates the possibilities.  What can be a reality in life falls victim to a false belief that it can't be achieved - so why try.  When we surrender our commitments to the conditions of compromise we settle for less than what is possible.  And I can guarantee you that the results will include: dissension, disappointment and discontent.

Leaders ViewPointe:

• Don't settle for second best.
• Keep your focus on what is possible.
• Your success today depends on the strength of your commitments.

Part Two of this conversation about commitments will reveal a simple way to build your personal resolve.  In the mean time, click on the title above and share your thoughts about how compromise impacts your leadership environment.

A Disney View On What It Takes To Succeed

"The secret to making dreams come true?  Curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy."  - Walt Disney

Dreams, goals, ambitions, objectives and challenges.  It doesn't matter what you call them.  The things that stir our thoughts, keep us awake during the day and inspired while we sleep, demand some kind of action.  Dreams, the kind that prompt us to be more than we currently are, stretch us to a place of discontent.  We cannot go back to existing like we always have.  Once sparked by an idea or desire, we are drawn into a grand scheme and feel a compulsion to do something about the dream.

Sadly, many people only dream and then foolishly hope for it to magically come true.  That may be because of misleading inspiration, such as:

When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires will come to you

If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star as dreamers do

Like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps in and sees you thru
When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true

Wishing is fun; but dreams only come true when you take the right actions that move you closer to the reality.  Take a closer look at Walt's success philosophy and see how it fits your current dreams.

Curiosity - This is where dreams begin.  This is the proverbial "drawing board."  Every invention, modern or antiquated, is the product of curiosity.  For every new convenience you and I enjoy, some one has dared to ask, "I wonder what would happen if..."  And the dream begins.  Your path to new solutions and exciting adventures begins in that exhilarating moment when you shift your thinking from critical mentality to creative possibilities!  Go ahead, ask what could be. 

Confidence - Confidence is trust and hope.  The conductor of a train was walking through the passenger cars collecting tickets.  He happened upon the Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.  The Justice could not find his ticket and became very upset.  He looked through all his pockets and bags.  No ticket.  He emptied his wallet.  No ticket.  The conductor tried to ease the situation, "Sir, don't worry.  I know who you are and I know that when you reach your destination the ticket will be found.  You can mail it to us."  His kind words did not comfort the Justice.  In fact, he seemed to be more agitated then before.  And he replied, "My good man, my problem is not - where is my ticket? The problem is where am I going?"

Confidence is the trust that you know where to go and the hope that you will arrive!  To make dreams come true you need to have confidence in your self, your abilities, and in other people who can help you get where you hope to go. 

Courage - This is  what makes the dreamers become the doers.  Courage is the ingredient that gets dreams off the drawing board.  What good would Walt Disney's dreams and sketches of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs be today if he had not tried to put them on the big screen?  No one else had ever attempted such a risky venture.  While Hollywood called out "Lights, Camera, Action!" he had the courage to act on his belief.  Dreams + Courage = Action!

Constancy - It is not a new concept.  The winners in life are not always the people who can sprint to the front of the line.  Most often the winners are those who don't give up.  You can count on set backs and delays.  Sometimes you have to go back to the drawing board.  The adjustments you make to the little things along the way are what eventually produce the bigger picture.  Your dream may take a while to come true -- make sure it is a dream worth your life time!

Leaders ViewPointe:

• Which element of Disney's "secret" do you feel is your strength - Curiosity, Confidence, Courage or Constancy?  Why do you believe that is your strength?
• Which one of these dream builders do you need to "animate" because it gets pushed aside when things get hectic?  What will you do to keep this in motion?
• Remember: All four must be in the "picture" in order for your goals / dreams to be realized. 

Click on the Title above to respond or comment on this blog.  Leaders ViewPointe is for leaders to exchange ideas, challenges and dialog about current leadership issues.  What current issues would you like Steven to address in the next few months?  Let us know at steveniwersen@kc.rr.com .

For more info on Walt, check out this article from Time Magazine.  It provides some great insight as to the value of his quote above.

More details into his life can be found on Wikipedia

For more on curiosity, check out Jim Canterucci's thoughts on the subject.

John Maxwell on Confidence.

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!

The Secret Word That Helps You Get Things Done

"NOW"  Simple word, significant meaning.  The implication is immediate, present-tense, and active.  "Now" is not in the past, nor a part of the future.  It is current.

The use of "now" is an empowering tool.  All too often we are consumed with the word "when".  "When" is past and future.  We live with a "back when" memory bank and an "if when" mentality.  These affect our thinking and performance.  "When" keeps us locked in the past reasons for our curent conditions or longing for better conditions in the future; ones that will supposedly provide a measure of greater success.  But "when" has never made a dramatic difference in our lives.  "Now" has and does.

It is the "now" that stimulates action, moves thoughts to plans and plans to motion.  It is the moment that gives meaning to our "when".

Your personal success is always achieved in the decision to act now!

Put this into action!  Take these three action steps:

• Decide what you need to do that will build meaning and positive results. 
• Do it now; don't wait until whenever!
• Keep doing it.  Then your now will be more attractive than your when.

Let me know about your results.