Leadership Principle number 9

What will make one leader stand out from another is how he or she treats others.   We all tend to treat our supervisors or bosses with at least a moderate amount of respect.  How do we treat those working for us such as the cleaner or security guard?

Always treat others with honesty, respect and fairness

Let us define honesty, respect and fairness.

Honesty is not simply the absence of lies but the lack of full disclosure of the truth.  In the workplace, everyone does not need to know everything. However anything relevant to the work or work environment does need full disclosure.  At times that might even mean a statement as simple as “I do not know but will find out and keep you posted”.   In your personal life, full disclosure is FULL DISCLOSURE.  The truth always comes out in he end.  It may seem like the kinder thing to tell white lies or outright lies at times but ultimately, it never works out that way.

Respect is one of the hardest words to define as it means different things to different people.   I regard respect as something earned first of all.  it does not pertain to age or job title or income.  It is relevant only to how you treat people, especially the vulnerable.  It is about how hard are you willing to work to achieve your goals and do you maintain a good set of morals while climbing your way up the ladder.  Are you willing to step on others on your way up or do you help lift others up to move with you instead?  Do you accept responsibility for your words and actions or do you push the responsibility for the things that go wrong onto others while taking credit for the work of others when ever you can?  Your responses to these questions will determine the definition of respect.

Fairness is a simple term to define unlike respect.   Fairness is hearing both sides of a story before making a judgement.  It is putting a situation into context before thinking you know how it feels.  It is judging a person for their heart and mind instead of their clothing, religion, skin colour, sexual orientation or gender.

The most common tool at work, used to destroy all of these things, is office gossip and rumour.  It seems to be a rampant disease in the workplace and has destroyed the careers and spirit of many hard working people.   A true leader will never participate in these behaviours and will do everything to maintain a professional environment at all times.  Be fair, be respectful and be honest.  It always gets returned.

Leadership Principles part 8

Leadership should be inspiring and motivating.  How do you know if you are successful?  Who is striving to be like you and comes to you for guidance and advice?  Teaching and mentoring others is one of the most important roles you have as a leader

Mentor and educate others, support them in meeting their challenges and goals

Teaching and mentoring is what assures the continuing success of the company.  Taking those from within the ranks and lifting them up, even if it means that they leave the company to test their skills and knowledge elsewhere, is a positive thing.  It assures the lasting legacy of leadership.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that only those with advanced education or better job titles, deserve the benefit of your mentoring.  Too often those in entry level positions are passed up because of the lack of that certain framed piece of paper.  I personally believe in the value of education but strongly implore those in senior and leadership positions to look at the whole person.  If he or she does not have certain credentials, do they have other ones?  Why have they not received significant post secondary education?  Is she or he a single parent, parent of a sick child or perhaps caring for elderly or sick parents?  Some highly intelligent and hard working people just never had the opportunity due to personal situations.  So do not overlook them when mentoring.  I would even suggest that you seek out those with personal characteristics of excellent work ethic and drive along side those who have had more opportunities land freely in their lap.  I recognize that this may be controversial however I implore you to first of all implement a mentoring program within your work place,  Secondly I implore you to mentor based on merit on a flexible list of criteria.   Beyond raising your children, this will contribute the most to a better world and a bright future.

Leadership Principles part 7

As referred to in previous posts, one vital element in leadership, is acknowledging that we are human beings, working with / for and serving other human beings.   We ALL have our strengths and our weaknesses,  Characteristics  and personalities tend to fall into one of several categories which leads to many types of communicators,  One size does not fit all, even in the workplace.  None of these types of communication styles precludes professionalism or ethical behaviour,  Leaders, however must be aware of these facts and, to be fully effective, must demonstrate a degree of efficiency in each of the ways.  It does require knowing those that you are leading.  It requires understanding them.

Demonstrate that you value your colleagues / team members / family members / friends as human beings as well as sources of information and labour

We all want our fair pay for the work we do.  When we start a new job, generally speaking, we are pleased with the pay and feel properly rewarded for the tasks ahead.  So why does this become less effective as time goes on?  Why do we begin that search for the next job or begin to slack off in our duties?  More often than not, it is because we do not feel valued,  Professionals do not need a daily pat on the back nor reinforcement for doing our job,  However even the most seasoned professionals appreciate the acknowledgement for going above and beyond, for consistent effort and for being a positive influence at work,  The simple act of a genuine smile, a good morning, a thank you goes a very long way to a stressed or overworked employee.  A leader who only finds fault and points out the negative, will never establish a team of loyal employees who put out their best effort everyday.  Burn out and extended stress leave are relatively new phenomenon in office environments.  Never before were employees feeling that they were on duty 24 / 7 thanks to the increasing use of smart phones.

I was in one job, one that should have been exciting and so fulfilling, but which became intolerable after ten months.  I was on call 24 / 7 for ten months straight.  I worked an average of 75 hours per week, sometimes as many as 100 hours in a week.  i did not get extra pay, time off or bonuses.  More importantly, I never heard “good job” or “thank you” or “I appreciate your extra effort and dedication to the job”.  I heard about all of the things I did wrong in my boss’s eyes, but no positive or encouraging words.  The organization promoted theories such as putting the right person on the bus, moving from good to great and various other leadership concepts,  This was the corporate talk.  It was not the corporate walk however.

These same values and leadership practices should be applied equally in your personal life.  Too often we focus on our work environments and take our family and friends for granted.  While I speak here about the workplace, do not neglect those who are most important to you.

Say thank you.  Give a hug when appropriate,  Ask a person how he or she is and actually listen to the answer.  Do not just hear the words, listen to them.  Read body language and facial expressions.  They will teach you alot more than any words will tell you.  Be sensitive to people around you who may be going through an exceptionally difficult time and be as flexible as possible to allow him or her to work through the problem without adding further to their stress by making them feel invaluable,  It builds loyalty, reduces sick days and will create an environment of respect and hard work.  Be human, Be a leader who is so equal that you stand head and shoulders above all others.

Leadership Principles part 6

As discussed in a previous blog, it is essential that a great leader be able to think outside of the box before making many decisions. It is equally important that a leader be ready to make a decision quickly and with confidence.

Be open to other ways of doing things  but always be ready to make decisions as required.

Part of the characteristics of a strong leader is one who is efficient and effective and who has the backbone to make decisions, even the hard ones.   That includes the willingness to stand up for those decisions, to stand by them and to admit when a decision was wrong which will be inevitable at times.

In an ideal world, we would all have hours or days to make important decisions, ones that impact others.  We could then explore options, look outside the box and process these options using various scenarios and outcomes.  In many situations however, that is simply not possible.  Within some industries, instantaneous decisions are often called for, especially in policing, military and security industries.  Time may be a luxury that is not possible to utilize.   A great leader must be ready to make those quick decisions.  He or she knows when to take the time to consider all options and when to be firm, efficient and decisive.  The strength of a leader is in his or her backbone, as well as calm, cool and intelligent decisions.

Going from surviving to living...how do I begin?

I know from repeated personal experience, how problems can overwhelm you, making you see no further than surviving today.  We are frequently told to plan for the future.  We are bombarded with this message by financial experts, teachers, work supervisors and friends.  Plan , plan, plan….the every man’s version of location location location…the realtor’s mantra.  But how to move past today?

Let me say first of all that when the bills collectors are calling, the utilities are at risk of being shut off and you do not know how much longer you can keep that roof over your head, nothing more than today matters.  You know that eventually tomorrow will arrive and the bills and the problems will still be there.  It is too much to think about.  Even when you love being alive and are not suicidal, the momentary thought of the possibility of not seeing tomorrow, can be comforting.   So how do you move forward?  How do you find that path out of this situation?  Whether you are working or in school or on social assistance of some type due to no fault of your own, there is a solution.  Working with a certified life coach can help you.  Does it cost money?  Yes…money that I know you do not have.  Private arrangements can be made confidentially.

Why would I be willing to make arrangements based on your difficult situation, when I can easily spend my time making alot more money?  Because I have been there and I would have done anything to have someone help me.  I needed a shoulder…someone to lean on.  I have been blessed enough to have finally found a way to lean on myself instead but at times I ask myself how much easier the path would have been, how much less time it would have taken, if only I had had that someone years ago.

I have five spots open to help clients in this situation.  I can help anyone who is truly motivated and is willing to do the work required.  If you are in Canada or the USA, send me an email.  Give me a brief summary of your story.  I will take five clients…once those spots are filled, this opportunity will expire.  Please pass this message on if you know someone who would benefit from a Certified Life Coach.

unleashtheknow@outlook.com

please put surviving to living in the subject line

Leadership Principles part 5

We have all had managers, supervisors or others in positions of authority over us, set certain standards for our behavior, but not follow their own rules.  One of the most frustrating elements in the workplace is hypocrisy and double standards.  One of the most important elements for leadership to be effective is

Motivate and Lead by Example

Nothing pulls together a team faster than a leader who says what she / he means, means what she / he says and who leads by example.  A sense of security and comfort develops in a workplace or other environment, where the rules and standards are straightforward.  Ambiguity which leads to a sense of  ”cliquishness”, favoritism or uncertainty often leads to divisiveness and a high stress level.  Productivity is reduced and sick days increase.

Be the leader that employees, colleagues and those senior to you, respect and appreciate.   Be the leader that is held up as an example and who people look forward to seeing and working with.  Being a leader like this is easier than you think and is a valuable investment in yourself.

Leadership Principles continued

So far we have established some characteristics for exemplary leadership.  How does a leader know that he or she is making a good and sound decision?  There are some principles which can help make the best decision possible.

Think outside the box when you make decisions

Most corporations, large or small, private or public sector, have policies and guidelines on how everything from security to finances to client service will be put into place.  Even though these policies are often written in general terms, they are not interpreted except in the narrowest of contexts.  In order to protect oneself from liability, protect their job or protect the integrity of the company, managers generally make decisions based on those narrow interpretations.  What would happen if they thought outside the box?

Corporations are often as seen strictly as business lines and bottom lines.  The inevitable fact, however, is that businesses are human beings serving the needs of other human beings.   Government serves it citizens ultimately.   Factories produce product for human consumers.  The media seeks human viewers.  All business ultimately serve human needs and wants.  Human beings come with emotions, history and opinions.  Having flexibility within  the policies to go outside the box is of great value.  When I was a security manager of a major convention centre, I often said that my job was to take care of my staff.  It was their job to take care of the convention centre clients.   I provided my staff with the tools, the training and the information that they needed to do their jobs.  We wrote policy together, based on basic industry wide best practices, but left room for input based on our specific needs and the needs of our potential clients.  I put trust and value in my staff and in turn, was rewarded with loyalty and a high level of excellence.   We went outside the box where possible and where it would better serve the human beings involved.  To determine that one way fits all gets the work done but does not get the results desired.

Another example is of one inventor who wanted the major chain stores to carry his product.  No one would.  This was in the late 1960s.  So he began a marketing campaign saying that his product was available in each of those stores that had turned him down.  Consumers went in demanding his products and the stores were forced to call him, ask for those items and he was then able to demand a better deal for himself.   The company became a household name and was one of the most popular producers of  gadgets and other products in the 1960s and 70s.

Thinking outside the box simply means being open to the clients and the staff and having some built in flexibility which will enhance the experience of all involved.  Do not be afraid to try new things and new ways of doing things.  Without change and new possibilities, we cannot stand out in our fields.

Leadership Principles part 3

One of the absolute most important features or qualities of a true leader is effective communication.  No matter how powerful or important your message is, if you are not being understood clearly, the message and is lost.

Ongoing communication  should be clear and effective. ensuring your message is easily heard and understood,  Ensure that you are , in turn, hearing and understanding others in the messages they are conveying.

it is always recommended to repeat back what you hear and understand to a person you are speaking with, especially when in a stressful situation.  This, of course, must be done in a respectful way so that the person knows that you are simply ensuring that you have understood properly.

Communication must always be two ways.  More arguments, misunderstandings and stress is caused by unclear communication than actual issues.  One of the roles of a leader is to ensure the communication of the people around leads towards solutions, not problems,

Leadership Principles part two

Part of being a leader, is knowing both your strengths and your weaknesses.   We all have both, however at times we seem to get caught up with knowing what we know, without stretching our boundaries personally as well as professionally.

Acknowledge that self improvement is a never ending challenge and that education must be ongoing.

It is so easy to get comfortable in being who we are.  While being comfortable as a human being is vitally important, it is simply not enough as a contributing human being or as a leader.  Self improvement includes taking an honest look at yourself.  How patient are you?  How easily do you get angry?  How well do you listen to others without having pre conceived notions of what you will say in response to what has not yet come out of their mouths?

Whether you have a high school diploma or a graduate degree, how far do you stretch your learning opportunities?  Do you make time to read novels or biographies?  What do you know about those whose path you want to follow?  Have you ever analysed all of the skill sets you may need for your career to grow, then followed through with taking a course?  Oprah Winfrey's success did not come from her talk show.  Her professional and  financial success came from her business knowledge and her ability to open her mind to  understand the politics, the accounting and the marketing of being Oprah.

Whether you take a course, read a book or listen to an audio book as you lay in your bath at night, keep on learning.  Take a few extra minutes to listen fully, breathe in slowly as you sit in traffic and use that time to think positive thoughts and enjoy your own company instead of leaning on your car's horn.  Every moment that passes without learning and improving, is  a moment lost.  Enjoy it.  Life is amazing when you grab as much of it as it allows.

Leadership Principles

While any leadership program must be tailored to a corporation or organization building the program, certain essential principles are universal.  Military or police organizations will modify the wording to take into account the innate structure and chain of command of these organizations.

Over the next several days I will post foundation principles of leadership and define them.  Please feel free to comment.

Always maintain professional ethics and standards, in the workplace and in public, especially in these days of social media and cell phone cameras. 

A true leader is one who commands respect in part by how he or she conducts themselves in a consistent and professional manner.  It is so easy to think our social media posts are private, view able only to our friends and family.  We believe that once we delete a photo or comment if we have a more sober second thought, it is gone.  The fact is once something is in cyberspace, it will be there long past our own expiry date.    Perception is truly everything.  As the old saying goes, you only have one opportunity to make a first impression.   What is never said is that the second impression and ongoing impressions are what will be most present in the observers mind.  So keep your public image one which you can be proud of, one which will not come back to haunt you.  Know that the world is watching, whether you have invited them in or not.