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Category: Leadership
Staying on top means being nimble
“Adaptability is probably the most distinctive characteristic in life” – Dr. Hans Seyle
One question I like to ask in my seminars is, “What can we say about change?” The almost universal answer is, “It is constant”
I remember when a fax machine was the most exciting talk of the day. Most of us recall the ritual of our weekly Friday night visit to the video store to select a movie. And before VCR’s, many of us remember how we clamored for the TV guide in the Sunday paper so that we could see what movies were coming up. The speed of change is mind boggling. We either get better or get beat.
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True-spirited entrepreneurs like a take-charge culture
If you are a successful entrepreneur, you probably like to hire “take-charge” people who own their actions and make good decisions. The challenge is that this type is hard to find and also challenging to keep. Why? Because they want to be an entrepreneur.
You can learn a lot from a Beatle
“The problem with success is that too often it comes disguised in overalls and hard work” – Mark Twain
About 40 years ago the Hall family (Hallmark Cards) opened a luxury Hotel in Kansas City that was the talk of the town. Built on a rock formation, the urban gem had waterfalls and landscaping that gave a renewed ambiance to KC. I remember when they interviewed the general manager: They asked him his success secret. He said, “I started my career as a bellhop, and I never used the luggage cart…People like to see you earn your money” He’s right.
Respected leaders communicate with courage
With a leader, we know where we stand. Good leaders are great communicators. Have you ever worked for someone where you weren’t quite sure where you stood? You know…the kind that is almost too nice? We gain esteem as a leader when we have the courage and the emotional intelligence to give consistent feedback. Our people want to know the truth. It may not always be what they want to hear. It is what they need to hear.
The most important and neglected principle in leadership
Yesterday I was talking with a client who had some exciting news: She was the heir apparent to taking over a key position in her company. She wanted a professional development plan that would help prepare her for the position. We started with the amount of annual income she would be making, and computed that her time would be worth $75 per hour. We then reviewed her time log, and asked the question: “How many of these tasks and activities would you pay $75 per hour for?”