Sunday nights are “blog nights” in our home. Laying a foundation of [uncommon] Leadership on the first day of the week is an important element in helping me to prepare for my own, personal leadership. Writing about the topic du jour, helps me more effectively anticipate the leadership challenges that await each week.
This Sunday night offers a different blogging environment, courtesy of my “extended family” at Delta Airlines. [Is it sad that I recognize the faces of every flight attendant on this flight; and that they recognize me??] But hey, in 20 minutes, we will have Red Sox/Yankees; Sunday night baseball, right here over…Wyoming! How cool is that?
I’ve been in Seattle for the past few days to perform a wedding [congratulations Carly and Brian!], and then hang out with family. At this age and stage in life, the time I get with kids [including daughters/son-in-law], grandkids, and my wife is a huge source of personal encouragement. I’ve been blessed…way beyond what I deserve, with the family that graces my life. Around the table last night were [uncommon] leaders – “kids” who are now making their lives count in an incredible way; the wife who invested deeply in each one; as well as grandkids who are [uncommon] leaders in the making. Very cool weekend.
In preparing for the wedding, then leading bride/groom through the charge, pledge, vows, and ring exchange, I was reminded again that the cornerstone of a fulfilling marriage could be summed up in a word – “giving.” Giving…the act of considering other’s interests as more important than our own; of being willingly inconvenienced and feeling good about it; of losing the focus on “me,” replacing it with a vision for “we.” The same acts of “other-mindedness” that will mark Carly and Brian’s marriage as [uncommon], are also distinguishing marks of [uncommon] Leadership!
It’s not a stretch at all to think of [uncommon] Leadership as giving, philanthropic, or altruistic. If altruism defined is, “The principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others,” could we agree without any hesitation that we’ve also described [uncommon] Leadership in those words? Not one week passes without us seeing the contrasts in “leadership” this world puts on display.
When in Seattle, I eat seafood whenever possible. I love it, and usually alternate between salmon and halibut. Today, fresh halibut with asparagus and wild rice. It was incredible. Have you ever indulged in a “fish sandwich” at McDonald’s? I did. Once, when I was 12. That was enough for me. Fish sandwich, salmon, halibut. What’s the difference? It’s all “seafood,” right?
Maybe it’s a stretch just to make a point, but I see what passes for “leadership” on display each week – “fish sandwich” leadership. To be halibut with asparagus and rice, is to be altogether [uncommon] in your leadership. Aren’t we all tired of the politicians who care nothing about the desires of their constituents, but are so self-absorbed they will do absolutely anything to gain popularity and votes.
On the other hand, [uncommon] leaders do their work in a manner that demonstrates respect and appreciation to all the people who are involved in carrying out the mission of the organization, team, class, sales force, or staff with whom they are engaged. In other words, [uncommon] leaders give. In settings like this, everyone knows the mission. They have embraced the vision for the future. Staff, volunteers, teammates, or donors [for those leading in non-profit settings] all believe they are a part of something special. They are on mission with a team that knows how to give as well as receive. These organizations are dedicated to providing an excellent customer service experience and communicating with everyone that can make that service possible. Giving organizations [uncommon] are transparent, open, and work diligently to ensure clarity. They celebrate wins together; honor hard work; and appropriately affirm the team’s extra efforts.
The [uncommon] leaders guiding the way in the environments described above, all share some very practical qualities:
§ They work overtime on communication. They pay attention to communication details, ensuring that those around them are always “in the know.” The [uncommon] leaders are always at work to make “insiders” of those on the team.
§ They are always “with” those people in the room, in the huddle, or in the meeting. In other words, they lay aside all distractions to better listen and pay close attention to those around them. They turn away from the computer screen, put the blackberry on “quiet,” stop tweeting on Twitter, and put the phone on “do not disturb.” They make the person in the room feel like the most important person in the leader’s life…because at that moment, they are!
§ They respond promptly to e-mail and phone calls. Leaders communicate, whether they intend to or not, a very powerful message when they ignore calls, or return e-mail days or weeks after the fact. In my role as a consultant, I can tell much about the quality of a new engagement in the early days of the relationship, by how the leaders respond to calls and e-mail.
§ They go the extra mile to help a staff member/teammate when needs become apparent.
§ They notice positive contributions and provide appropriate, special recognition.
§ They take the time to thank people for the “little things” that make a big difference.
§ They pay more attention to what goes right than they do figuring out who made things go wrong.
§ They assume the best of others, even when things go wrong.
§ They look to and press on toward the future, rather than living in the past.
In the ordinary, simple things of life, we show others how deeply we care and how much we value the act of “giving.” When we give of ourselves, we put an [uncommon] standard on display for others to see. Make no mistake; others ARE watching. You may say, “the points above are simple, everyone should do them.” I agree. Everyone should do them, but I assure you, most leaders do not. When you lead in a manner that is truly [uncommon], those behaviors will be replicated by those on your team. As they are, your organization will become [uncommon] over time.
Three weeks ago, we realized that the riding mower I needed to use on the upcoming Saturday had a flat tire. My wife took the tire into the new hardware store that recently opened near our home. You know the store…the one with the self-proclaimed commitment to customer service. The man behind the counter was polite and told her he would repair the tire, then call her early Saturday morning when the tire was ready to pick up. At 3:00pm Saturday, we had received no call, so I went into the store to see what had happened. The tire was still on the counter; in exactly the same location it had been placed the day before…still in its un-repaired state.
I left the store and took the tire to the hardware store I’ve always used in the past, even though it was miles out of the way. There, I told my story and expected to leave the tire for the weekend, frustrated because my travel schedule the next week would preclude me from mowing the lawn now, for several days. The [uncommon] leader of the service department said, “Wait right here,” then re-appeared 15 minutes later with the repaired tire in hand. Needless to say, I am a raving fan of Howard Brothers Hardware, Oakwood, GA. Was this a one-time, “accidental” occurrence at Howard Brothers? Hardly. They are a group of [uncommon] leaders focused on giving of themselves to exceed the expectations of their customers – every time, no exceptions.
Do they hit the target every time? Probably not; but they do more often than not; and they continue to improve…day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month. Your commitment to being a giving leader will have an [uncommon] impact on your life, the lives of those you lead, and your organization. Lead this week in a manner that will cause others to take note!
No comments:
Post a Comment