I’m very excited about my upcoming book, Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life, coauthored by Mark Miller from Chick-fil-A and published by our good friends at Berrett-Koehler. It will be available to everyone this Tuesday, February 7. Continue reading
New Year’s Resolution Time!
It’s time again to think about New Year’s resolutions. I like to picture myself sitting here one year from today, looking back on 2012 and smiling because I’ve accomplished two or three things that I wanted to accomplish over the year. I’m patting myself on the back!
So what would you like to do between now and then? Now you’re going to obviously have some goals in terms of your job and your organization, but what about you personally? What about your weight? Your exercise? Your health? What about learning a new language, like Spanish or Chinese? What about improving your organizational skills? What about writing something that you’ve wanted to write for a long time? What would really make you feel good if you accomplished it by the end of next year?
It’s great to write out your resolutions as SMART goals. Be Specific on what you want so that it’s observable and measurable. M stands for motivational—make sure it’s something that excites you. Is it Attainable? Don’t set some unrealistic goal that there’s no chance you’ll accomplish. Make sure your goal is Relevant and important to you. And have a goal that is Trackable, which means you can chart it over time so you can catch yourself doing things approximately right and see yourself making progress.
I have found that I do best on New Year’s Resolutions if I share them with my wife Margie and people at work, and anybody else who is around me, so they can help and support me. We all need an accountability group to help set ourselves up for success.
So in the next few days I’ll be thinking more about what I would like to accomplish that’s going to make me feel good. What would you like to do? How do you want 2012 to go for you? Let’s see if we can help each other keep our commitment to our commitment. So often New Year’s Resolutions are just announcements. Don’t just announce it; really make it happen! And good on you for 2012!
Lastly, I’ve posted a few of my resolutions for 2012… take a read, and let everyone know a few of your own! https://howwelead.org/resolutions/
Take Care of Each Other During the Holidays
This coming week is the week people can really get stressed out if they work on it. We’re rapidly approaching the heart of the holiday season. Hanukkah begins on December 21st and runs through the 28th, Christmas is coming up next Sunday the 25th, and then Kwanzaa begins on the 26th. It can be a busy and stressful time, with all of the celebrations, traveling and gift-giving attached to the holidays. We all need to keep a sense of humor and laugh and enjoy this time of year. Don’t knock somebody down trying to get into a parking space. Remember, this is the time to feel the spirit of love and appreciation and thankfulness. Keep things in perspective as you go along—even if you don’t get all of the shopping done that you expected to. It’s a special and meaningful time. Reach out and give somebody a hug and tell them that you love them—that’s probably the most important gift.
I came across a wonderful quote by Henri Nouwen. He was a Catholic Priest from Canada who spent much of his life ministering to the less fortunate and he has written some great things over the years. Just listen to this as a way to think of this holiday season:
“More and more the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, sit up on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have time to practice the simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, and to be a part of some impressive project is so strong, that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans; not to organize people around an urgent cause; not to feel that you are working directly with social progress—but I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and to tell your own. To let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them but you really love them.”
Isn’t that wonderful? I think that we get busy with work, busy with shopping, and aren’t practicing the whole wonderful ministry of presence—simply being present with people we care about. So today and throughout the holidays, consider the idea of just being present with each other. Maybe what you ought to be doing first is to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own. Let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, you truly love them. I think that’s what the holiday season is all about. Take care.
Leaders Don’t Need Charisma
A lot of people wonder if they can be a leader if they don’t have charisma. I’m not sure I really even know what charisma is.
I think what you need to do as a leader is be who you are. I think sincerity and caring are the qualities people look for in a leader—not some dashing person with charisma. Don’t feel you have to play some sort of a role and try to be something you’re not. On the other hand, if you’re a person who does have that extroverted style, don’t hold back. Be who you are, because that’s who people want to get to know.
Leadership is about being authentic. And it’s about reaching out to people in a way that says, “I think you’re important. And I’d like to help you be the best you can be.” People don’t care if you have charisma. They just want to know that you care about them.
Leadership is Not About You
As a leader, you should never start thinking that leadership is all about you. When things go well, a great leader doesn’t look in the mirror and pound himself or herself on the chest and say, “Aren’t I fabulous?” A great leader looks out the window and gives other people the credit. Get your ego out of the way and remember that leadership is about people who work with you, not for you. People want a leader who cares about them and wants to help them achieve their goals so they can be magnificent. So don’t get overimpressed by yourself as a leader. The fact of the matter is this: You are nothing without your people.
How We Lead 