It’s Not What I Know

A leader without any followers is just a guy taking a walk. That statement might be called a thinker but have you ever met someone who is a self-declared leader only to find that they are still looking for followers. Leadership is earned. It cannot be decreed by others, declared by one’s self, or determined by our DNA.

We become a leader when we inspire others to embrace a common goal. Followers must perceive a benefit to them or their cause before they will embrace the leadership that will get them to their cause. Continue Reading

People view their life, job, family from inside of the box or out side of the box. The In-the-box view is “this is the way it’s always been done” or “this is the way I know will work.” The Outside-the-box thinking is “this is the way it’s always been done but can ‘different’ be better? We need both in our society…in our lives.

Three things to know about the box:

1. What is my box…am I in the box or out-side-the box?
2. What is their box…recognize other people’s boxes?
3. When can I get a new box…can I change?

In general, people have a particular propensity for their box. Some have dominant in the box characteristics but show recessive outside the box in certain situations. The converse is true for the dominant outside the box characteristics.
No one is 100% in or out of the box. Continue Reading

It’s ok to be bad at something so long as you are willing to try again. If you don’t try again, you will always be bad at it. I’ve heard people say, he’s good at everything he does…not talking about me, for sure. I wonder if they really believe it or is it just an excuse for them not to try to be better themselves.

When I was 15, I asked my dad, a natural athlete, to teach me to golf. When he swung the club, it was smooth. When I would swing the club, it was erratic, and I missed the ball. I exclaimed that the club did not feel comfortable. I felt that I was really bad at golf. Continue Reading

It was springtime and the ducks were migrating north. Our pond was a perfect rest stop along the way. I decided to take some grain down to the pond and feed them.

I knew they would appreciate the treat after a long flight.

With a bucket of grain under my arm, I ran down to the pond calling them to come and enjoy a fresh grain culinary masterpiece. When they saw me running down the hill toward them, they moved further out into the lake.

When I jumped into the water, they moved further away. “Here Ducky, here Ducky,” I shouted. The more I persisted, the further away they swam. Now the water was at my shoulders and the grain was getting wet. Don’t they know that I’m trying to feed them. I’m trying to help them. Continue Reading

Managers do things right. Leaders do the right things.

Managers make sure the trees are cut down efficiently so that the road can be completed. The leader makes sure that the right trees are cut down so that the road is built in the right direction.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet with many successful businessmen and women. It has given me the opportunity to learn about their success. I can’t remember even one individual who achieved their success without dealing with failure or adversity. Continue Reading

People observe and form impressions about one another as part of their daily interactions. We can assume that we are on stage every day and that our performance may affect not only us but other people as well.

We can influence the impressions that we leave with people when we:

1. Take responsibility for our performance
2. Give a credible performance
3. Prepare for the performance
4. Give our best performance

There are two hats that we might wear when giving our best performance. The first is when we know that we are on the stage, we know our audience and we have a message to deliver. This is a more obvious performance. We showed up in order to perform. Continue Reading

People observe and form impressions about one another as part of our daily interactions. We can assume that we are on stage every day and that our performance may affect not only us but other people as well.

We can influence the impressions that we leave with people when we:

1. Take responsibility for our performance
2. Give a credible performance
3. Prepare for the performance
4. Give our best performance

Let’s look at how preparation for our performance affects our message…impression. Most people would agree that professional actors/actresses spend a lot of time in preparation for their role. They did not begin the preparation process when they became successful. They prepared in order to become successful. Continue Reading

People observe and form impressions about one another as part of our daily interactions. We can assume that we are on stage every day and that our performance may affect not only us but other people as well.

We can influence the impressions that we leave with people when we:

1. Take responsibility for our performance
2. Give a credible performance
3. Prepare for the performance
4. Give our best performance

Taking responsibility for our performance was covered on my previous blog. Let’s look at how credibility influences peoples’ impression of us.

Credibility depends on developing a relationship with the audience. It is important to recognize that we have a huge influence on our credibility and thus the message that we bring to the stage. Credentials, paper credibility, may open the door but a relationship keeps it open for another visit. Continue Reading

People observe and form impressions about one another as part of our daily interactions. We can assume that we are on stage every day and that our performance may affect not only us but other people as well.

We can influence the impressions that we leave with people when we:

1. Take responsibility for our performance
2. Give a credible performance
3. Prepare for the performance
4. Give our best performance

Responsibility…the tough questions:

• Are we willing to take responsibility for our performance?
• Are we serious about our performance?
• How will our performance affect our audience?

I feel that taking responsibility for our performance is the most important part of the performance. Once we decide that we will be responsible for everything that comes from the performance, we take ownership. Our agenda, positive or negative, helpful or destructive, motivating or self-serving will be manifest by our performance. Continue Reading

Did you ever come home from a social event and find yourself talking about the people or a person more than the event? Those people didn’t know that they were on stage. You may have noticed their dress, their animation, their opinions, their looks or their shoes.

You gained an impression of them simply based on your observation. Conversely, you were also on stage. There was some one who noticed you. They formed an impression of you and you didn’t even see them.

Most people would agree that we form opinions about people based on our personal observations or the opinions of others. We simply accept the premise and value our opinion of people as valid and factual. It is based on the information that is available at the moment. Continue Reading