Found this interview with Warren Bennis at Harvard Business Publishing. It is an essential read for all-regardless of your title or number of direct reports.
The principal that sticks out to is Humility (notice the capital H).
The Lens Of Style Points
You may be involved in leadership team development or a new staff member just trying to navigate the "matrix" that sometimes is career. Regardless of what your role is, you need to be very careful with "style points." In this post I'll confine that to the following definition:
"Evaluating an individual's approach and/or presentation in order to judge that person's worth."
My friend Marc told me once that leaders need to develop a strategy to bring clarity to their intention. In other words, don't let your intention be run over by your "style." I see this as important. I'm a visionary thinker, so consequently, if I were in a meeting on budgets I could appear bored. It's not that I see no importance in the "numbers," I just have a limited attention span for that kind of information. Over the years I've implemented specific strategies to combat my bored demeanor. Coffee would be a great example here.
So what do you do with the idea of judging people based on their style?
Even if I master my delivery and presentation, I can't always walk away clean. I can continue to work on getting better, but as many thought leaders know, your weaknesses can only move up a notch or two when it comes to growth.
Our best opportunity is in not weighting our decision too heavily on style. This is especially important in team (a group of peope who see the goal as more important than their own individual agendas) environments and loving relationships at home. If you're not careful, you can begin to see people through a very critical lens. I know that Malcolm Gladwell and others embrace an idea that the first impression is everything. It has a place, but to use it as the sole criteria would be naive. Besides, if first impressions were truly everything, I never would have married my wife. She laughed at me when I introduced myself to her over twenty years ago.
Just remember that the shy team member or over-confident sales rep. may have an intention worth looking for beyond the veneer.
Leadership Team Development
During my days in corporate America there was nothing more aggravating than disunity within leadership teams. Unity (or the idea of) was found in meetings and award ceremonies, but severely lacking during hard times. Needless to say we didn't spend much time on leadership team development. How good would your organization be if it took this type of development seriously?
Here on some ideas on how to grow, or start, leadership team development within your organization:
- Conduct a meeting and begin the embrace of candor. You'll encounter a lot of silence, but that's ok. Conflict comes into the air when a word like candor comes around.
- Putting leaders together for development exercises can be very revealing. It might clue you into what you really have. This very important to know when times are tough.
- Have each leadership team member partner with an entry level employee to gauge humility. Pay close attention to the response you get when the idea is broached. It will tell you much about the person's character.
- Conduct mock emergency (of the organizational variety) drills. Go as far as you can hear to create a sense of reality.
- Study jazz. It's the type of music that is fluid and improvisational at the heart. Teaching leaders how to be fluid and improvisational is essential for breakthroughs.
- Have your leaders spend some time with those who are coming to the end of life. Not meaning to be morbid here, but it can build a sense of urgency and thankfulness.
- If you're responsible for the leadership team development, ask yourself what your love level is. Do you love the people you're serving?
Back To Character
The following is a re-post from 2006 and is dedicated to the U.s. Congress and AIG. May they understand the power of character and the influence therein.
A mentor of mine reminded me this week of something I'd heard
before, but didn't really understand until now. He told me that one of
the biggest threats to a leader is when their skills development
outpaces their character development. Quite frankly, the problems
we're seeing in corporate America (H-P, Converse Technology, etc.) is
very likely a result of this chasm. Think about it, no one would
question the skill level of the executives at H-P. But obviously we
would question their character.
So how much time does the average leader spend on character development vs. skills development? If the most recent headlines (Business Week Online)
are to be believed, more time is spent on the skills side. Isn't funny
how the thing that can wreck a life or career is the thing we ignore.
Some call it arrogance…I call it stupidity. We've all been warned
about what happens when character is left in the dust (see Enron,
Citigroup or Adelphia).
You have a chance to turn the ship around by giving your character
some attention-major attention. Start by putting as much time into the
development of your character as you would on skills. For example, if
you're taking fifteen hours of classes at your local university to get
your MBA, then give your character that much. Believe me, their are
churches, universities, books and more that can offer you the right
material on character development. Do it now! You thank me for it
later…
The world needs more leaders who are well balanced in their character and their skills.
Embracing The Upside and Downside
In our pursuits (career, money, family, relationships) we find it easy to embrace the upside. Let's face it; everybody's looking for a win.
Focusing on the upside is a good trait to have. Probably means you're an optimist. The world can use more of those, so all-in-all its good.
The question remains for us all: do we spend enough time embracing the downside? Not to extremes or morbidity, just a firm, calm consideration. Maybe it'll prepare (as much as anyone can prepare) you for the tough times. Maybe it'll make you more humble, realizing that the downside is not a question of if, but when.
You'll be better for what feels like it kills.
I offer the following on embracing the upside and downside:
- The downside is a long-term fertilizer for the upside. Please note the long-term part of this advice.
- Slowdown to see the upside. Way too many leaders are "task" and "do." You don't want to wake up one day wondering what happened. You'll have be deliberate here, so make an appointment with yourself to stop and look around.
- The downside can be scary. Facing it is the only right approach.
- The only way to eliminate risk is to stop. Stop loving, stop learning, stop serving, just be a spectator.
- You won't find your strength in prime-time. It's found in places and people who you never expected to find connection with. Prime-time people are only there for the party. Stop the party, and they stop the caring.
Two Types Of Leaders
My friend Terry Walling points us to a profile of two leaders (one of them being me). His post is here, and be sure to check out the video.
How We Were Meant To Respond In A Changing World
It's obvious that the world has changed. Some say for the better, some say for the worse. I think the truth is found somewhere in the middle.
Regardless of your opinion, I want to address the human response we were designed to have in the midst of change-especially the crushing variety.
When my father passed away some weeks ago, I entered into a place of deep pain. To say he left a void would be an understatement. But what is striking is the advice a friend and adviser gave me. He told me to expect, potentially, a two-year journey through grieving. I immediately thought: "I don't have two years to give." My mind, body and soul said: "yes you do." You see the dichotomy between my "poser" self and the real Eric Pennington?
I am no longer able to deny the real Eric Pennington, so I am preparing for whatever may come. This hasn't set well with some because of their need for me to be ok. I understand this and I am learning to navigate these waters with grace. It hurts.
So what do you do when the changes (career, love, death, other life events) come? Do you resort to old tricks? Do you convince yourself that you just haven't found the right marketing (yes, we apply marketing to our personal lives)?
Here are some observations that I have found appropriate in moving through a changing world:
- Some things are meant to end. Letting go not only sets a pace for coping, but it allows the new to enter. I don't miss corporate America because I found my life when I lost that way of existing. The pain of that was excruciating and liberating all at the same time.
- Our lives are a story played in the midst of a backdrop called eternity. A heaven-created story on display for all to see. Keep in-mind here that no great movie or book is predictable. So if you have a great life, it will look different than you imagined-better I might add.
- We must come to terms with our fears. Yours could be different than mine, but we were designed to confront them. Not doing this will leave you crippled and half-alive. Don't by into the dogma of "I'm ok, your ok." Assigning blame to a circumstance or another person is a recipe for regret.
- Believing in a vision and it's eventual matching up with life is essential. For example, I have a vision of a day when the thought of my father will not illicit heartbreak. Life does not meet up to that now, but it will. Use this in any change path and you will inject a hope of great depth.
- Knowing yourself through a deliberate inventory of your tendencies will make sense of your journey. I haven't always done this well. I've spent days asking why I have recurring challenges of a certain variety. I have discovered that these challenges were my tendencies. For example, virtually all my life I have been underestimated. Many doubters, many scoffers and critics alike would bring resistance. When I recognized that underestimation was a tremendous tool, I experience much success and breakthrough. Know your tendencies.
Finding Something Bigger Than Yourself
These days I feel like an alien. Could be a good thing considering our culture, our times and my grief.
Mother Teresa and Nelson found something bigger than themselves. Both paid a high price, but the mark/legacy is indisputable. They were not people of merely words, but of action. I have to believe that God designed them to specifically leave an imprint.
I used to think that certain leaders were special. Sort of the chosen ones who were given a green light while the masses just looked on. I don't believe that anymore. God doesn't waste DNA on anyone, but we do sometimes get watered down. Who we are vanishes in a haze of success and pursuits. Ever notice how a poor economy unmasks this act. Take away the toys and who we are is on display.
I'm rethinking the meaning behind economic downturn.
Maybe all of the messages about uncertainty are true. Maybe this is the best place we could ever hope to be in. No more dependence on government (liberal or conservative), no more hope in Wall Street, no more turning away, just asking questions that are personal. Questions like the following:
- Mother Teresa said that Calcuttas are everywhere. If that's true then where's your Calcutta?
- If death is certain, then how do you cheat the grave? Here's a hint: Do what my dad did, poor yourself into someone (me) without them knowing it.
- Have you found something that leaves you totally vulnerable? Could be a person, vision, movement or organization.
- What are you afraid of? This answer will reveal your greatest threat.
- Will anyone be the better for your contribution/participation.
- Have you given up serving by proxy.
- Has your heart been broken? This could the place to find your greatest imprint.
A Stimulus Package That Will Work
Since there is so much discussion about the stimulus package here in the USA, I thought I would offer my own stimulus package consideration. No votes required, but comments are always welcome.
Before I unveil my package, please remember I'm introducing change. Change implies pain and a gap between the spoken desire and the behavior change. The list below has been proven to work-at least in my life:
- Get healthy by changing your diet and starting an exercise routine. You'll save money on your grocery bill and you might add years to your life.
- Love deeply everyday. It will affect the quality of your life and those around you.
- Cut back on your consumption of media that is negative. I write cut back because I don't recommend burying your head in the sand. Get your information and move on. Don't romance gloom and doom.
- Stop worshiping at the alter of money and career success. Money and careers were designed to be tools for a great life. Value a great life and the rest will follow.
- Stop embracing fear. If I asked you to buy a story based on False Evidence Appearing Real, would you pay?
- Get a mentor and a coach to see you through this package. You were not designed to go it alone.
- Return to God. He designed you in a way that produces beauty and happiness. It seems to me he'd be good at giving you a path toward a great life.
I Have Learned…
I have learned…
- When you give love, it's permanent.
- The process is infinitely more important than the outcome.
- Fairness will be addressed on the other side of eternity.
- Life without risk is impossible, a risk-free life is death disguised as living.
- When your race is finished, the mirror will provide 90% of the answers to the why questions.
- Your heart will determine the size of your shadow.
- No one remembers a manager.
- The best leaders avoid embracing the "manual."
- Every human needs a great quest, just like air.
- Pain shapes a heart like nothing else.
- Time goes by quickly, better value it more than gold.