Here are 10 things any leader
can do to maximize potential –
theirs, and that of their followers.
These are not listed in order of
importance, since it will require all 10
to achieve truly transforming results.
- Occupy the Land with
Character
Norman Schwarzkopf, the charismatic
general who led coalition forces
in Desert Storm, once defined leadership
as a potent combination of strategy
and character. "If you have to be
without one," he said, "be without the
strategy." Schwarzkopf understood the
impact of Robert Frost's admonition to
"occupy the land with character."
While it's important to have a viable
plan (strategy), it is essential to
remember that belief in the plan is
often contingent upon belief in the
planner. Leaders can ill afford anything
other than passion in protecting
their character.
TIP: If this hasn't been your strength
before, start where you are. It's never
too late to become the person you
might have been.
- When Storms Hit, Stroll
the Deck
When my father was a boy, he
accompanied his mother on an ocean
voyage from New York to Bremen. On
the return trip, they encountered one
of the worst storms of that era. As the
ship tossed back and forth between
crashing waves, frightened passengers
grabbed railings along the hallways
and hung on for dear life. I asked my
father if he was scared as well. "I was
at first," he said, "then I saw the captain."
In the midst of all the turmoil,
the ship's captain was seen walking
leisurely about the deck with hands
clasped behind his back. "I was comforted
by his presence and confidence,"
my father said.
TIP: In times of difficulty, a leader's
walk should be both visible and
confident.
- Deserve to Win
Young fans often besiege Sadaharu
Oh for his autograph. The legendary
Japanese baseball player always obliges
... sort of. When he signs a baseball
or picture, he writes the word doryoku (effort) instead of his name. "I
achieved what I did," Oh says,
"because of my willingness to work
hard." He prefers to be remembered for
the effort he gave, not the 868 home
runs (more than Hank Aaron) he hit.
It's a message for leaders too. The quality
of a person's leadership is rooted in
the quality of his or her effort.
TIP: Avoid a crisis of legitimacy by
never asking followers to give more
than you are prepared to give yourself.
- Make Selfless Decisions
According to the Old Testament,
when Solomon ascended to the throne
at the death of King David, God
appeared to him in a dream and
offered to grant him anything he asked
for. Imagine the possibilities that lay
before this young man! He could have
asked for a long life, riches beyond
imagination, the power to control others,
or the endless praise and glory of
followers. His response is recorded in
II Chronicles. "Give me wisdom and
knowledge," he said, "to rule them
[followers] properly." Solomon's most
important decision as a leader was a
selfless one.
TIP: Remember that leadership is first
and foremost an act of service.
- Connect with the Need
On the wall of my office hangs a
copy of a letter Abraham Lincoln
wrote to Lydia Bixby on November 21,
1864, to acknowledge the death of her
sons in the war. Lincoln wrote, "I feel
how weak and fruitless must be any
word of mine which would attempt to
beguile you from the grief of a loss so
overwhelming." Part of Lincoln's gift
as a leader was this marvelous blend of
compassion and humility revealed in his handwritten letter to Mrs. Bixby.
Lincoln was a tough commander able
to make hard calls, but it was his ability
to connect with the human condition
that made him a leader.
TIP: Never underestimate the power of
a handwritten note of concern or
encouragement.
- Keep the Pipeline Full
At the age of 84, Michelangelo had
reached godlike status in Europe. His
paintings and sculptures were the stuff
of genius. One day he was asked if he
had a motto, something that had guided
his work and actions throughout
his life. Michelangelo, responding in
his native tongue, said, "Ancora
imparo." (I am still learning.) At a period
in life when most men of accomplishment
were content to rest on their
laurels, Michelangelo was still pursuing
the raw material of his greatness:
knowledge.
TIP: Avoid knowledge obsolescence by
staying on top of new trends, ideas,
and concepts. Keep the "product"
current!
- Demonstrate Graciousness
George Washington said, "Every
action done in company ought to be
with some sign of respect to those who
are present." Although a man of stature
and consequence, Washington understood
the importance of making those
around him feel important and valued.
The principle is simple: People don't
follow a leader because they like her.
They follow because they like themselves
under her leadership. In a world
largely defined by anger expressed in
everything from terror to road rage,
leaders must rekindle kindness and
respect in the workplace.
TIP: Goodwill demonstrated by leaders
toward followers facilitates everything
from creativity to teamwork.
- Manage Moments of Truth
A number of years ago Jan Carlzon,
the president of SAS Airlines, transformed
his company with a simple,
but potent strategy. Realizing that his
company's reputation for service was
formed daily by thousands of brief
encounters with customers (he called
them moments of truth), Carlzon challenged
his team to make every one a
meaningful experience for the customer.
In similar fashion, leadership is
defined by the quality of its "contacts
and contracts" with followers. Casual
commitments made in these encounters
become the backbone of trust and
confidence.
TIP: Honor all mini-contracts ("I'll be
glad to hear your ideas ...") made with
followers.
- Guard Your Words Carefully
Whenever the president of the
United States makes a statement, people
worldwide parse the words to see
if there's another, perhaps hidden,
meaning. Why? Because they understand
that words have power and that
serious leaders choose them carefully.
Leaders who speak without first considering
the impact of their words risk
sending a blurred or misleading message.
A leader's words have the power
to clarify or confuse, encourage or
frustrate, inspire or discourage.
Failure to understand this is a fundamental
failure in leadership skill.
TIP: Avoid being "hung by the
tongue," by choosing words with care.
- Listen to the Engine
I met a railroad engineer recently,
the guy who actually drives the train. I
told him that as a boy I loved seeing
the engineers, whistle rope in hand,
leaning out the window to inspect the
tracks as they drove by. "Actually," the
man said, "that's not exactly what they
were doing." He went on to tell me
that the primary reason the engineer
sticks his head out of the cab isn't to
check the tracks but to listen to the
engine. "He's so familiar with his
machine," the engineer said, "he can
easily catch something wrong with his
ears alone."
TIP: The best way to keep your engine
(team) on track is to listen ... really listen
... to it daily.
Mark Eppler is a speaker, trainer, and author specializing in management and leadership development. Mark has presented worldwide to such organizations as P&G, General Electric, Cintas Corporation, 3M, Ford, Scripps Media, and the City of Detroit, to name just a few.
Learn more about Mark Eppler and his
powerful books, Management Mess-Ups, The Wright Way, and his upcoming
book, The Proverbial Leader.
