Revisiting Leadership: Get Out In Front

The last of the Dr. William Cohen’s Eight Universal Laws of Leadership is to Get Out In Front. This law is probably the simplest and yet, the most difficult to follow. Getting Out In Front is the simplest law because as a leader you are already expected to be the first one to greet your employees and be the last one to say goodbye at the end of the day. In between the leader is fully present not just in the moment, but her finger is on the pulse of what is happening. Having your finger on the pulse of what is happening does not mean being a micro-manager, it means being aware of what your people are doing and standing ready to assist, teach, guide or just let them do the job they were hired to do. Checking the pulse every once in a while will tell you whether something is seriously wrong or not.

Getting Out In Front is also the most difficult leadership law to follow, as there will always be a stigma associated with putting yourself out front. The point man, the first person to arrive, the last person to leave, the one that everyone sees all the time makes you the responsible one. If you are the first person that management, peers, and subordinates see everyday then you are the person they will associate with being the one that knows what’s going on and ultimately, the responsible party (good or bad).

While there is nothing wrong with being the responsible one or the “go-to” person there will be instances when being that person is not a good thing. This may be where the stigma, of being out front is a bad thing, took root and from it the dark side of getting out front was born. Making matters worse there are plenty of adages that add fuel to that fire such as “the nail that stands up will be pounded down.” Don’t let those that believe such things drag you down, they will poison your way of thinking what a leader is and ultimately, you will never want to get out in front or it will be that much more difficult to take the first step.

Good or bad, being out front is the best way to not only get noticed by your superiors within the organization, but by really knowing your stuff it is the best way to become a recognized leader in your field. Then, it is not so bad being out front. Thus the sooner you let go of the feeling that being out front means that you are the first volunteer to put your head in the guillotine, the better off you will be. Another advantage to being out front is that those you lead will not be afraid to step up and take the lead when their time comes.

Never forget that along the way there will be critics. There will always be critics just as there will always be bad situations that occur when someone steps up. You and your followers will recognize that the bad situations will happen to those that are just not ready to be out front or lack the skills that they will need to successfully and continuously lead through the path they will be finding.

Lastly, being a leader is not just about pulling your subordinates up and along but giving them a clear path that will lead them to ultimately go and blaze their own trail.

Thank you for your time.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional+Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • William Cohen • Eight Laws of Leadership • Get Out Front • Be Visible • Pathfinder • Trailblazer • Embrace your critics • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Get into the thick of it

There are three things you can do when it comes being/becoming a leader. You can get into the thick of it, you can stand back and watch others get into the thick of it, or you can be one those that wonder what happened and how did everyone get into the thick of it. What I mean by the thick of it, it is what you do (your job, your career, or your studies).

You can breeze through your job or school and get by with just enough but all that will get you is a paycheck or a degree. Then what? If you are one of those foolhardy individuals that thinks that because you have a degree or a cool job title you are automatically a leader, well got another thing coming.

No matter, how long you have been working or have been in school it is not too late to get involved with your organization and with what it is doing. Once you get involved, it will be that much easier to move to the front or the top. It may not be instant move up, remember you will have to pay your dues. The only way to pay those dues will be to get up and get into the thick of it.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional+Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Get into the thick of it • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Revisiting Leadership: Put Duty Before Self

The leadership law of Putting Duty Before Self is probably the most difficult of all the laws. Today, unfortunately we live in a time that is about survival and survival of the fittest. The economy dictates that you must be the best you can be and don’t worry about the other guy. It is understandable when the other guy is worried about how he is going to feed his family, pay his bills, and stay one step ahead of foreclosure.

Thus the economy is creating a generation that reinforces that self is more important than the team, the group, or the organization. Therefore, changing that mindset requires the individual to more than just want to change but to truly believe that the paradigm, that is their life, must and will be shifted in a direction that makes looking at things that are bigger than him with better perspective.

Classic examples of the ability to put duty before self can be found through US military history. In World War II, every soldier that landed on Normandy on D-Day was certainly putting duty before self. They knew that the mission was going to be difficult and deadly but they left the relative safety of the Higgins Boats and ran into the wall of bullets and bombs anyway. They knew that the only way that Europe was going to be liberated from oppression was to walk out onto the hell that was being unleashed that June morning in 1944.

In November 1965 in Vietnam, there was LTC. Harold Moore and approximately 450 U.S. soldiers that were dropped into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley by helicopter. The 1st of the 7th Cavalry troops were soon surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army soldiers and over the course of 48 hours the US soldiers took on a force that was on its home turf. At one point during the action the US soldiers knew that re-supply and reinforcements were not going to be arriving anytime soon. Yet, instead of giving up these soldiers fought even when their commanding officer ordered an artillery strike on their own position.

These two along with countless other examples show that people when faced with overwhelming odds will choose what best serves the cause as “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one.”

Sure the soldiers in these examples have been trained to wage war and act under adverse conditions, as a leader you are also trained to act under adverse conditions and change as conditions change in order to ensure that mission is successfully completed. Hopefully, your organization will never find itself conducting an amphibious landing on some hostile beachhead or lands its helicopters into a hot LZ but if it does trust in the organization’s mission and executing to deliver on that mission and vision is what a leader does.

In order to be a success within the organization the leader must not only take care of her people but she must genuinely do so with an emphasis on meeting the directives, mission, and vision of the organization. This means shedding one’s old “Me, Me, Me” attitude and shifting to an attitude that calls on doing what is best for the organization in order to achieve what the leader can to get the company to where it needs to be. Remember, putting duty before yourself is really the best thing you can do for yourself and your career with the organization. This then makes it truly the only way to survive in the modern workplace.



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional+Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Duty Before Self • World War II • D-Day • LTC Harold Moore • Vietnam • We were soldiers once • Trained to Act under Adverse Conditions • Change as Conditions Change • Successfully Complete The Mission • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

The Check Engine Light

Early this past week, I was having a conversation with a friend. My friend is a manager of a rather large department within the organization he works for. We were talking about how things were going and he told me that he was having an issue on how to address a problem with a member of the staff that he is responsible for.

Long story short: The employee has a problem doing his job. He completes his assignments but instead of putting 100% effort into it, he gives 80% in everything he does. Then the employee has a tendency to do extra work for members of other departments. While the employee’s primary work does not actually suffer it just isn’t to the level the manager was expecting. The manager, my friend, expects that the employee commit to the department he works for and keep outside work to a minimum especially from 8 to 5 and wants to really do what he can to get the employee back on track. The manager then told me about an incident that occurred a week prior.

It was one of those days that key individuals were going to be out for some reason or another. The employee was the first one to be scheduled to be out on Monday. Another co-worker had an emergency at home that carried over from the previous week and a third co-worker was coming in at noon due to a personal reason. The employee in question telephoned the manager, bright and early on Monday morning and offered to come in, on his scheduled day off, because of the others not being available. The manager while shocked to receive this very considerate phone call told the employee that he was originally scheduled to be off, he should not worry, go about his business, and everything would be fine.

The dilemma that my friend had was that how could he counsel the employee about his work ethic, commitment to his work, and minimize the need to do work for other individuals from different department after receiving such an unselfish, “do it for the team” phone call?

I offered this scenario to help guide my friend:

Congratulations you have just won a store raffle. The payout is one brand new SUV with the works (DVD player, Surround sound, individual viewing stations, GPS navigation, on call phone support, seat warmers, you name it its in there) and a year’s worth of gasoline at your disposal. After paying the taxes that SUV is yours. You have never had a vehicle that was yours outright, without having to finance it. You are one happy camper.

Then one day soon after you get your brand new SUV in your driveway the check engine light comes on. You are worried, as you are about call your local dealer to get the SUV in to be looked at, the check engine light turns off. All is good with the world. The horn works, all the lights turn off and on. The vehicle starts with no problem; the on-board Satellite TV still gets video and the surround sound plays your favorite tunes as if you were right there in the recording studio.

So you forget about that minor incident and for the next month or so all is good until the Check Engine light comes on, again. This time you are cruising down a highway and there is no sign of civilization for at least another 20 minutes or so. Then just as you enter the next town the light mysteriously turns off. For the next couple of months this same scenario repeats itself, light on and light off. When that light comes on you stress about what it might or might not be and when it turns off you feel fine, so you live with it as the light is off longer than it is on, thus so long as the car keeps moving everything is good.

Deep in the back of your mind you know there is a reason the light keeps turning on. In the end, that issue will have to be addressed before the Check Engine light stays on and you find yourself stranded miles from nowhere.








Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Check Engine Light • Something wrong • Manager • Employee • Work for others • Do it for the team • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Who are your travel companions?

Would you rather go on that journey with someone who is eager to join your adventures? Or would you prefer to travel with someone who always wants to stop because you never get to your destination? Would it be one who whines and complains about how bumpy the road is or one that experiences everything with eyes wide open? I don’t know about you but give me a wide-eyed eager companion every time.

They say that life is a journey and not a destination. I agree 100%. It is a journey that all of us have to take. However, we have to choose for ourselves who accompanies us on that journey. We can make life a great and happy journey if we surround ourselves with people that motivate us, inspire us, and make us want more for ourselves and in return you motive, inspire, and make them want more for themselves.

Surrounding yourself with people that bring you down, question your actions or counter your decisions is not going to make for a pleasant journey. There is never room for people that are going to weigh you down, slow you down, and hold you back. There is no excuse for tolerating that kind of behavior, yet many of us do. We allow that behavior to kill a good time. By allowing that behavior to continue we encourage its growth, so much that it grows into something so bitter and ugly that the only way to eradicate it is by doing something radical.

It may be by radically cutting loose all those that are dragging you down, no matter how close they have grown to you.

It may be difficult but in order to travel through life’s journey you best serve yourself and those you choose to travel with by not bringing any dead weight along. Realize that in doing this you will have to be stronger than the negativity. If you want to travel into a world that is full of richness and wonder and not in a world that dwells in bitterness, jealousy, disdain, and contempt your inner strength will have to be rock solid.

Of course, there will be hurt feelings. There are always hurt feelings but in this case by casting off those that bring you down you, the only hurt feelings will be of those that recognize that you are no longer giving them a place for their behavior to fester.

It will be difficult but if you don’t sooner rather than later, you will never do it.

Bon Voyage
======

Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Life is a Journey • choose for ourselves who accompanies us • motivate and inspire • do something radical • be stronger than the negativity • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Revisiting Leadership: Take Care of Your People

The leadership law of taking care of your people obviously is one that is rooted in common sense. As a leader, you will have already found out or will soon find out you have to take care of your people and they will take care of you. Fail this and the opposite is just as true.

As I mentioned in the previous blog post when you are expecting positive results you must be prepared to deliver positive results. Now let’s that this one step ahead and give it a human dimension and the need to take care of your people is born. What this means is that you have to ensure that you will be there for your people no matter what.

In a military situation, taking care of your people takes on a whole different meaning than in the modern workplace. In the military, a leader is responsible not just for her people from 8 to 5 but a full 24-7-365. Yes, the full-time health, morale, welfare, and readiness of the Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine is the responsibility of the leader. While in the civilian workplace, most leaders that have never experienced the military kind of responsibility will have the extra level of responsibility of ensuring that all the staff members attend the company picnic. Of course, I embellish here but in the civilian world I have not truly been able to find anything that comes close to the military example of taking care of your people.

There have been many times that I have seen where the manager appears to care about a subordinate and it may be genuine. However, there have been just as many times that the moment a subordinate does something wrong the manager is nowhere to be found and the subordinate is left to alone to defend his actions. What does that say about the manager?

It says that the manager is happy so long as things are going good and is enjoying the success the employee is bringing to the department and the organization. The manager gets the praises and all is good with the world. Then the manager will certainly act like he genuinely cares about the morale and welfare of the employee that is driving the success. Then when the house crumbles the manager is anything but caring.

I am not saying that this is wrong, what I am saying is that this is VERY WRONG. As a leader it is for you to understand that you cannot have it both ways. Either you genuinely care about them or you don’t but you cannot fake your way. People will read you like a book the moment you feign a smile or look past them when they talk to you. Heaven help you if start playing favorites with one or two employees over the others.

So what does this have to do with taking care of your people? Simple. Be authentic about showing that you really true care about the people that will make you a success. Be there for them when they succeed but most importantly be there when they fail, even if it was their fault. It shows that they matter and that no matter what the outcome of that failure the future will be brighter. Therefore, as a leader it is your job to ensure that you make all things possible for those you lead. Be there for them when they need you and when they don’t. Be visible because, as I have tried to make clear, your success depends on their success just as your failure means you failed them. The sooner you know this, rather than later, the better off you and those you lead will be.



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Take Care Of Your People • they will take care of you • responsibility of the leader • Be Genuine • Be Authentic • Be Visible • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Revisiting Leadership: Expect Positive Results

Expecting Positive Results is another one of the most difficult leadership laws one must deal with. If you have ever been to Corporation’s Annual Meeting you hear plenty of talk about expecting positive results in this quarter or that quarter. If you have ever been in a football team’s locker room before the start of a game, you will certainly hear a motivational speech about why expecting positive results is the only thing and nothing less will be tolerated. I have received many Operations Order from my Platoon Leader or Company Commander where he would tell us that Positive Results were the only expected outcome of the upcoming operation. Luckily, when it was a matter of life and death there were no casualties, and the results were always positive. There were times that Pvt. Murphy (and his law(Murphy's Law)) said otherwise but those were few, far between, and something to be talked about at another time.

How do we take these examples and turn them back onto the modern for profit or non-profit workplace in order to expect positive results?

You as a leader must do what it takes to ensure that those results come out positive all the time (OK, 99.998% of the time). You do this by showing uncommon commitment, declaring your expectations, knowing your stuff and, above all, having the integrity to show others that you mean business. Then will your peers, co-workers, subordinates, followers, and other leaders know that what you expect of them and that it is nothing less than what you give them. Once that is clearly understood then can you truly expect and realize positive results.

People that are committed to you and can truly champion your cause will deliver those expected positive results. Thus, when you start delivering consistent positive results to them, you won’t have to expect positive results because they will already be coming in. Remember, Expecting Positive Results from others should never be greater than the positive results you give others.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Expect Positive Results • motivational speech • Operations Order • Uncommon Commitment • declare your expectations • know your stuff • have integrity • deliver consistent positive results • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Revisiting Leadership: Show Uncommon Commitment

Showing Uncommon Commitment is a leadership law that may seem antiquated, not what most people expect from today's modern leaders, but it is there and does exist. Therefore, it should be one of the first things people and organizations look for in a modern leader.

Uncommon Commitment should not be too difficult to spot in a leader. They show their Uncommon Commitment in everything they do. It surrounds them and permeates within and throughout them. Thus leaving you with no doubt that the leader’s commitment and dedication to her peers, subordinates, the people she leads, the people she follows, her organization and its mission and vision is something she fully believes in and lives everyday.

How does Uncommon Commitment differ from plain old commitment? In the workplace, Uncommon Commitment refers to the dedication that goes beyond what is initially expected in a relationship between a manager and a subordinate, among co-workers or between the employee and the organization. The uncommon commitment exhibited by an individual, especially by a leader, is that it secures a dedication to nothing less than the best an individual can offer and attain. The result of that dedication to the best is just that: the best.

The same logic applies to personal life. Remember you have to fully believe in what you are committed to as well as living that commitment. That means living it 24/7 and not just 8 to 5 Monday through Friday. Your dedication and uncommon commitment has to run the gamut of your life and it has to be genuine and authentic. Anything less, then why bother?

Just like anything you are work for, if you find yourself working with the best people, the best product, the best organization, then you are going to make, produce, buy, manufacture or sell the best. It is really that simple.

So, why not strive to be the best by uncommonly committing to the best? Who knows you might just get there.



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Uncommon Commitment • modern leader • dedication • mission and vision • dedicate to be the best • believe in what you are committed to • Genuine • Be Authentic • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Revisiting Leadership: Declare Your Expectations

As a leader you will find yourself having to stand for what you believe in, even if it is not popular and goes against the grain of the party line, your friends, and sometimes even family. However, if you fully believe you are right in what you are doing then you should have no problem as others will have long known to expect this from you. That is because you have set your standards and declared your expectations.

When you publicly acknowledge your expectation of others and of yourself you set the standard by which others will measure you. They will be ready to see how well you keep your word and meet the standards you set for yourself.

Once, you can consistently deliver on meeting your expectations then those that you have declared your expectations to will begin to meet yours. If you find yourself in a management position, your subordinates will initially work hard to meet your expectations of them, but there will come a time when meeting those expectations might not be easy for them to do, especially when you are not meeting your own expectations. Rest assured, if you do not notice that you are not meeting your own expectations, your staff will. They will just as quickly respond by not meeting your expectations of them.

Of course, they will also let you know if your expectations are a little too much for them. They will start to resist and push back. That is perfectly normal and will happen in almost any job setting. So do not fret too much over it when it does happen, be ready to give a little (where & when you can) but don’t give too much. If you come across as “caving in” to your subordinates then they will be the ones to set future standards and have their declared expectations met. As a manager, that is the last thing you want to happen.

Knowing when to give and when to take is one of those leader skills that will take time to master. Understanding that you are in charge is something that you have to fully grasp, especially if you are coming up the ranks within the organization and not too long ago you were right there among the people you are now leading.

It can be a difficult jump from co-worker to manager. However, if you started early in your career with the organization and declared your expectations from the get go, you should have no problem. If you think you haven’t done so, then ask yourself how could you have landed a management position within the organization without being an individual that declares their expectations of themselves and others? Any organization worth its salt will know who can and cannot get the job done, especially when they are hiring from within.

Now, if you are coming in from the outside then you are in a very unique position. You get an opportunity to start from scratch and declare your expectations early in your tenure with the organization. That is a very good thing. Then again there is nothing better than following through to ensure you and those you lead deliver on those expectations.



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Declare Your Expectations • stand for what you believe in • consistently deliver • Do not cave in • Never give up • know who can and cannot get the job done • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Revisiting Leadership: Know your stuff

There will come a time when you will need to prove your mettle, to show your stuff, prove you know what you are talking about. When that time comes you better be ready because if you are not ready, rest assured you will have a lot of explaining to do. Especially, to those that put you in the position you are in now as well as those who have taken to following you and what you do. If you can’t explain yourself then you better start looking for the closest exit and make a beeline for it.

To avoid those embarrassing situations there are plenty of things you can do to keep the wolves at bay. Remember, you can’t fake your way into authenticity; you will have to work for that authenticity. In order to know your stuff you have to at least become proficient in what you are doing, teach someone else to do what you do, and always keep learning.

Become proficient: When it comes to doing what you do, the only thing you can do is the very best you can. How do you become the best at what you do? You learn everything you can about you do. Become the recognized expert in your chosen field or profession.

Teach: Another way to learn more about what you do is to teach someone else what you do. Be a mentor/teacher and teach those that want to learn. If someone is following you then they want to learn from you and about you. If you do not have a department of people you supervise or a squad of Infantrymen, then get yourself a Padawan/Apprentice and teach that person. Obi-wan Kenobi had a Padawan called Anakin Skywalker and Darth Sidious had an apprentice called Darth Maul, then later Darth Vader. Heck, even Donald Trump is always on the look out for his next Apprentice. Seriously, it is all about sharing your knowledge and skills.

Keep Learning: Now that you have achieved a level of professional competency and you are teaching those whippersnappers a thing or two that does not mean you can stop. On the contrary, it means that you have to keep learning. It means continue to stay the recognize expert in your field of work. As there are always new things to learn and apply to what you do. So embrace the new stuff and the changes that come along with it and that will make you a better leader, because you will know your stuff.



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Know your stuff • authenticity • Become proficient • Teach • Apprentice • Share your knowledge and skills • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Revisiting Leadership: Integrity

Undoubtedly, the first universal law of leadership is “Maintain absolute integrity.” You probably know the word, what it means and how it applies to your everyday life. Do you know what the Merriam-Webster dictionary says about this word? The dictionary notes that Integrity as a word originated sometime in the 14th Century and is defined as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values. An unimpaired condition. The quality or state of being complete or undivided.”

What a powerful word: Integrity. How can one simple nine-letter word pack so much punch? How can it not? Integrity is just that important.

Projecting the image that you are a righteous and honest person and living that will help in getting you established not only as a leader but also most importantly as a follower. You will be the kind of person who will follow the right people and shy away from those not moving in the direction you want to go. Best of all, those that will follow you will do so knowing that you are taking them in the direction they want to go and be in the place they see themselves eventually being in. Just remember, as with anything that is important it will not happen overnight.

As a leadership trait integrity is something that takes a long time (if not a lifetime) to master. Unfortunately, it can take almost no time to tear it down. This reminds me of a great quote attributed to Sir Winston Churchill, which he said around the time that London was getting firebomb in the early years of World War II, “To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day.”

Personally, I believe that Integrity is one of those traits in life that you have to work on every single day. There is no wiggle room; there is no taking a personal day from integrity, either you do it or you don’t.

As a leader those that you lead and those that you follow will expect nothing less than Integrity in its purest form from you. They will see that you can be counted on when things get tough. They will also expect your behavior to be the shining example of what Integrity is supposed to be. They will also expect you to be this way all the time because if you cannot be honest all the time then why bother? You end up wasting your time just trying to keep things in order. It is just not worth it, my recommendation is to just do it all the time? It will prove to be less of a hassle and everyone will respect and follow you for it.

Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Integrity • Honesty • Righteous • Maintain absolute integrity • Leader • Follower • Sir Winston Churchill • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Revisiting Leadership

Last week, I received an email that contained a list of the “eight universal laws of leadership” that could be found in the book The Stuff of Heroes by Dr. William Cohen. The list of eight gets down to the nitty-gritty of what a leader should know if they want to be top tier leaders. The list pulls no punches: Maintain absolute integrity, Know Your Stuff, Declare Your Expectations, Show Uncommon Commitment, Expect Positive Results, Take Care Of Your People, Put Duty Before Self, and Get Out In Front.

Does some of it sound familiar? It should over the past months and years I have talked about one or another from the list of eight. As I read the email, I realized that I had started something and never really finished it when it came to talking about leadership in the modern workplace.

When the first Collateralized Debt Obligations started to tank, around the summer of 2007, the working world has gone into an “every man for himself” mode. Meaning, that the writing was on the wall and people did what they could to stay relevant. Even then it was not enough. While people became shining stars in their organization, others coasted along, riding in the wake of what was happening. If you know of one of those wake riders rest assured their time will come. If you are wake rider, consider yourself on notice. See what happens is that eventually those that remain after a round of layoffs or cutbacks better start delivering and if you weren’t delivery before the layoffs and are still not delivering, as this is when things start to get very interesting.

This is the time when real leaders must shine. No matter what level you currently hold in your organization, you want to lead then you better lead. No one is going to give you permission to lead and if you are looking for permission to lead then you are doing something wrong. You do not need any kind of special permission to do what you need to do. So go out there and do it.

With that being said, over the next several blog posts I will tackle the rest of the list. I will primarily focus on those universal laws of leadership that I have not dealt with in my previous blog postings.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Eight Laws of Leadership • Permission to Lead • Go ahead and be a leader • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Keeping Your Word and When to say No

The question is: When is it right to say No? The answer is: Anytime.

Anytime that you cannot do something either because you have committed to something else or you don’t feel right doing it, just say No. There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying No. As a professional, you will hear the No throughout your business career. You might even have to say it a few times. While having to say No is expected, when someone tells you that they cannot do something, it is no reason to hold it against them. Remember, there will come a time when you have to say NO and you will not want them to hold it against you. So don’t start now.

Then on the flip side of things, if you say YES, you better well be ready to deliver on that YES. If you know you cannot accomplish what is asked of you then please never say that you would do it. Just say NO and be honest about it.

Remember you have more to gain by saying No and being truthful as to why you cannot complete what you are asked to do than you will ever gain by saying you will do it but fail to deliver on that commitment. That just makes you look untrustworthy. Once you are labeled as untrustworthy, rest assured it will be a long, long time before you can get that trust back (if you can get it back at all). Being labeled as untrustworthy will quickly end your career as a leader and that is not a good thing.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Say Yes • Say No • Keep your word • Respect • Honesty • Be real • Be Truthful • Be Trustworthy • Be Respected • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Building Trust (part 2)

Let’s briefly revisit Trust and building that trust, especially among those you must lead and manage.

Building trust is a great way to ensure that the people you lead will follow you unconditionally. Once you have people following you based on trust, your organization stands to benefit greatly from the leadership and guidance you are providing your followers (no matter if you directly supervise them or not).

For this revisit I want to refer back to the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. If you have not had the honor and privilege to be part of the Seven Habits training I highly recommend it. There is a quote from Stephen R. Covey that I really like, “One of the most important ways to manifest integrity is to be loyal to those who are not present. In doing so, we build the trust of those who are present.”

How does this happen? This is quite simple, as they recognize that you are not one to talk bad about those that are not present and they feel comfortable knowing you won’t talk about them behind their back. Those that are not present may or may not know that you remain loyal to them. That’s OK because the ones present will know.

Once you have gained their trust you must remain consistent and do nothing that can break that trust. Remember that the work you put in to building that trust is not something that comes easy. It takes time and it takes effort, genuine effort.

A word of warning: If you ever slip and break their trust, as a leader you are through. Whether they know it or not, you know what you did and once its out there you can’t take it back. You have violated the trust you worked so hard to gain.

Don’t hesitate, don’t compromise, just don’t do it, stay true to yourself and they will stay true to you. Isn’t Staying True what Trust is all about?


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Trust • Building Trust • Stay True • Be Genuine • authenticity • People respect you if they believe in you • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Don't Give Up

There is an old school belief that as a leader you are expected to change the way you live, act, and behave. Guess what? That belief remains true even in 2009. Changing the way you live, act, and behave is a good thing but you should only change to the point that you remain authentic and genuine to who you are, anything more will make you seem like you are out of your element, anything less will seem like you have no clue as to what is going on, and neither are a good thing, trust me on this one.

Change does not mean you have to give up everything for the sake of giving something up and instantly you are changed. It means adjusting who you are, it means growing into the person you want to be and not what someone else wants you to be or expects you to be. You are your own person and at one point in your life only you will know what is best for you.

You may ask yourself when is that one point in your life? I don't know when that time will come for you but you will certainly not know when that time will come until you have lived through it. I will not bother you with the details but I can tell you there been several points in my life, that I have lived through, that were the catalyst for change. Each time, it has involved a life or death situation. One time was in the Army, the next was just after I left the Army, and the last two times were the birth of my children.

Those changes have shaped me into the person I am today. Those major life changes along with the changes I experience every day continue my evolution, future events and experiences will bring about more changes in me and in those around me.

Whether you want to admit it or not you are changing and evolving everyday. Sometimes it may take a little longer to realize you have changed. That’s OK, so long as you do not give up who you are. Those you will lead will respect you for not trading in who you are for what you are expected to be by others.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • • Personal Growth • Be all that you can be • Continue to grow • Evolve • Don't Give Up • Never Give Up • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

If you avoid serving then be prepared

Hello Neighbors, let’s step into the land of not so make believe for a little bit. In the land of not so make believe there is group of professionals that I know. Each and every one of them is a recognized leader in what they do and they are all in situation that has me shocked and perplexed. To me, if the people that recognize them as leaders could see their behavior now, well, they would certainly give them a second thought before considering them leaders again.

I will keep this on the surface as much as possible as I don’t want to give away too much out of respect for their privacy. Here is what I can give you:

They were given an opportunity to be the leader of the group they belong to, to be the top dog, the big cheese and each one of them wanted no part of being the leader. Either it was not in their plan to be the group leader, or it would cut into their free time, or it would force a couple of them to cut back on private revenue generating opportunities. No matter what the excuse was, no one wanted to be the Big Kahuna.

The organization’s executive management needed a manager/leader of this motley crew in place. The group was warned that if no one volunteered an interim manager would be appointed until a permanent manager was found. True to their form, no one stepped up and subsequently someone was appointed. The interim manager was not well liked by the others. The others included the ones that had outside activities that were generating them a quite substantial amount of revenue aside from what the organization was already paying. Of course, the others that valued their free time were also not in favor of the appointee and trouble began. My best guess was that anyone in the position would start enforcing the rules and they were not about to let that happen, especially when free time and revenue generating opportunities were tolerated in the past. Why rock the boat?

The newly appointed interim manager got a raw deal right from the start. The remaining staff did not want him in the position he was appointed to and fought him every step of the way until a new permanent manager was found, hired, and put in place. For over one year, this guy was getting crap from those that didn’t want to step up and be in charge, the funny thing is that at one point the top hater even went as far as calling the interim manager an ‘ineffective leader” obviously he knew what makes a person an ineffective leader. These so-called professionals were behaving like 3rd Graders in the way they were treating the interim manager.

Yesterday, there was a luncheon in honor of the outgoing interim manager. The newly hired leader was in attendance. Those staff members that wanted nothing to do with being in the leadership position are already sinking their fangs into the new guy. They are making snide comments, talking bad about him to other internal staff members, and to make matters worse, they are talking bad to those outside the organizational unit. This is something that is expected of those 3rd Graders with their “you’re not my friend” attitude better yet, it is expected of a bunch of High School kids who will only accept you if you are part of the clique otherwise you either “conform or be cast out”

Is there any excuse for them or their behavior? Not at all! It excuses nobody. All are just as equally guilty. Those that speak ill of the people in the position they wanted no part of, those that listen to them and do nothing, and especially those that are in a position of authority to do something about it and choose to ignore it.

Folks, it is real easy: If you don’t want to be in charge then you better learn to live, real fast, with the decisions that are made for you. This whole situation reminds me of voting. If you didn’t vote in the last election and now you don’t like the way the guy who won the election is doing things, you really don’t need to be saying or doing anything just to stir the pot.

Remember, if you do not want to be part of the solution, then you are part of the problem, plain and simple. Therefore, don’t be so surprised when you get what you least expect and I guarantee you will get it.

Another word or two of advice: Talking bad about others will make you look like a child that is throwing a tantrum (aka hissy fit) and when was the last time you saw a child throw a tantrum and win?


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Do not reward bad behavior • lack of respect • ineffective leaders • tantrum throwing • childish behavior • not acceptable • Step up and be a professional and an adult • • Don't take cheap shots they only make you look bad • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Mondays

What is it about the first day of the business week that drives everyone crazy? Personally, I am not a Monday person and the only comfort I have about Monday mornings is that there are others like me. There are many others like me. So how do we beat the maniacal Mondays?

Great question and it is a question for the ages? Don’t go to work? Sleep in? Get drunk the night before? No, No, and most definitely No! Here is the trick and it is a trick because I very seldom use it but when I do it works like a dream, a sweet dream.

Yep, get plenty of sleep. That’s it (please note, that if I did it all the time it would no longer be a trick but a habit). When I get enough sleep I am ready to go. The hard part and why I do it so seldom is that I want to drag the last few minutes of the weekend out as long as possible. Summer is here and for the kids there is no school on Monday so there I am right there with them. However, while I so much want to spend time with them, Monday suffers for the actions of Sunday night.

Luckily, for those that I have to deal with on Monday morning Juan Valdez and his burro invented the coffee bean and Lt. Starbucks invented roasting that bean and the rest is a caffeine-induced bliss (please note that this moment in coffee history was completely fabricated).

So what does this have to do with the price of tea in China? Nothing, but it does have a lot to do with being at your best come Monday morning. Monday sets the standard for the rest of the week, to include Friday. If you happen to be in a leadership position you are expected to be at the top of your game come Monday morning. Those that you lead will expect you to be there bright and ready to lead them into the great unknown that the next 40 hours will bring. To those of you that are solo-workers your clients expect the same of you. I know they want us to take them and their business to a better place and by giving them all that we can especially on Monday morning we are on that right path.

Get some sleep (recommended), chug down several cups of coffee, or do what you have to but make that Monday yours. Own this and every Monday from here on out.

Have a great week.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Monday morning blues • be on top of your game • rest • get plenty of sleep • be well rested • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Trust

Every day brings changes into our life; a part of those changes involve building trust. People will have to trust you and you will have to trust people. As a leader, people will be putting their trust in you knowing that you will do the right thing for them. As a manager, your superiors will be putting their trust in you to do the right thing for the company.

As an individual that is doing everything you can to become a great follower and ultimately a great leader, you will have to trust yourself to do what is right for you.

How important is trust to an individual and an organization? Growing up, we trusted our parents to raise us and teach us right from wrong. We trusted our teachers to give us the best education they could. As adults, we trust our employers to pay us an honest wage for honest work. As employees, our employer trusts us to deliver honest work for honest pay. Trust, in all these cases is mutually expected and accepted. Trust is a dialogue and not a monologue. Trust is a conversation.

So when it comes to creating new relationships based on trust, the truth is that it is very difficult to achieve but it can be done. It just can’t be done overnight, as there is no magic pill to take that will instantly build solid relationships. It will take time and plenty of it. So long as you make the effort to be genuine and authentic the other person will either reciprocate or make his intentions clear that a relationship built on trust is not his cup of tea.

While that may be what it will be, it does NOT mean that you have to stop trusting them. If you see the relationship worth pursuing (either professionally or personally) then it is worth to continue building that foundation of trust.

In the end, everyone wants to be trusted. People eventually come around as relationships is what every person wants. No matter whether it is a personal or professional relationship they want it, so be there for them.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • trust • relationship building • Conversation • Dialogue • Trust is a conversation • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Who owns the problem?

This past week, I had an unfortunate run in with a vendor's field representative. There was a problem and it was not getting fixed as it was just getting swept under the rug. At one point, the field rep apologized on behalf of the company, left and the problem remained.

My question is: Who owns the problem?

Does apologizing for the failings of the company mean you take ownership of the problem? If you open your mouth long enough to apologize for the failings of your company does that mean you are taking ownership of the problem?

Don’t say you are just a cog in the corporate wheel, that makes you look weak and inauthentic. This is especially so when you have openly apologized on behalf of the company you claim to be a cog for/in. If you have the power to apologize on behalf of the company then you are not a cog and you are expected to own the problem.

It is like this:
You wear the company shirt, you are the company.
Your company has a problem, you have a problem.
You apologize on behalf of the company, then you OWN the problem.

Deal with it, stop apologizing and get the problem solved.


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • own the problem • solve the problem • accept ownership • less apology • more results • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Self-Confidence

I firmly believe that Good Leaders can be made but Great Leaders are born. I also believe that every one is born with the potential to be a leader. It is the path you take through your life that makes you either a follower or a leader. Remember, all leaders must be followers. It is when a follower gains the self-confidence to take that extra step and become a leader that they are on the path to greatness. Therefore, a great leader must have great self-confidence.

Self-confidence is about believing in yourself and in your abilities.

Of course, there are times when you doubt yourself and your abilities. It is human nature to do so that but when it consumes you enough to not take that extra step and step outside of what makes you feel comfortable then that is when you have a problem. As long as you recognize that stepping outside your comfort zone is the only way you can do something about it, then will you be half way there.

What is the thing that will help you step outside the box is up to you to do decide. It does not matter if that thing is something big or small. Once you do it, then it is up to you to stick to it and don’t back down.

This is when the confidence kicks in.

Don’t worry about what others say or think about you taking those steps outside of your comfort zone. Consider their negativity as distractions put there to make background noise. It is up to you to ignore the naysayers. So keep it up, one step at a time and before you know it your self-confidence will be at a level you never imagined possible.

A word of warning about being self-confident; it can and has long been confused with arrogance. There is definitely a fine line between being arrogant and self-confident. Who will notice when you cross that line?

Everyone and no one.

Everyone as they will let you know, in no uncertain terms, when you have crossed that line and when you think you crossed it no one will notice, so be careful. It can be tricky. However, do not let that distract you from doing what you must do as you will only have yourself to feel good about.



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • self-confidence • Leaders are born • believe in yourself • believe in your abilities • step outside your comfort zone • don't be arrogant • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Purpose and Vision

As a leader you will be constantly be tasked to share the purpose and vision of the organization with those you lead. This may be difficult, as your organization may be in a state of flux (as a result of the current economy show me a company that isn’t in a state of flux) and might not do a good job of getting everyone to buy-in to what the company is selling. By selling, I mean the selling of the mission and vision of the company to its employees and other stakeholders.

This then left up to you to interpret and extrapolate the purpose and vision from what they may be offering. Once you have done that, then you must process it in a way that will get your immediate subordinates to buy in.

Once they have bought in to the purpose, then buying into the vision is easy, as the two usually operate in tandem. As the old saying goes, “you can’t have one without the other.”

Having them buy-in to something real, genuine, and authentic is the hard part, because if you try to sell them anything less, people will see right through you and the “load of bunk” you are trying to sell. Then what’s the point?

Moving on, it is up to you, their leader and all the other leaders, to give every employee the reason to work together (the purpose) towards achieving a common goal (the vision).

Remember, anyone can say “OK, let’s do this now so that we can knock off early” only to find out it was done in such haste that it had to be re-done. In that case, the vision was all about going home early, instead the vision should have been about getting it done right the first time. While your intentions may be right on, it is still up to you to think and act responsibly. Therefore, you must carefully think things through, and then the message should be: “Let’s do it right the first time and we might be able to knock off early.”

Setting and executing the short term the vision will play right into the hand of the long-term vision of the organization.

Stay Sharp!


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • purpose • vision • mission • employees • stakeholders • short-term • long-term • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Forward Looking Is Not A Choice

Simulation and scenario planning is something that will come as second nature to a leader. A leader that is forward looking is one that not only becomes a valuable asset to the organization but they also become an even greater asset to their peers, co-workers, and those they lead.

Those that recognize being a forward-looking individual as an essential part of being a leader also recognize the importance of doing it all the time. Growing up our elders told us to think before we act. Then at one point in our lives, Dr. Stephen Covey told us that it was not only OK to begin with the end in mind but that we must do it all the time. He even reinforced it when he made being proactive a habit. If you have not done so already, head on over to your local library and check out the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey to read what I am talking about.

Forward-looking leaders can see the goal, the desired outcome, and also see the outcome of any situation based on the current conditions of the situation. For example, someone who sees lightning outside and immediately saves her work is someone who is thinking ahead and prepares by keeping her work safe and secure should the power go out. Another example, is that of someone who can create a list of supplies needed based on what is currently available and the potential needs before, during, and after a hurricane strikes.

These two examples focus on disasters or potential disruption because of a disaster. Trust me, if you have ever lost a paper you have been working on because the power goes out and you forgot to save then you know how much of a disaster that can be. Other forms of forward-looking deal with visualizing where you want your career to be in five years and what are the steps you have to take now to get there.

Of course, there are everyday activities in which forward-looking is essential. Therefore, by habitually applying the ability to look ahead based on the current situation, you can be one of those few within the organization that can see the bigger picture. Once you see that, you can then see where you in the bigger you are now, next week, next month or even, in five years. That is definitely a good thing.



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Forward Looking • Stephen Covey • 7 Habits of Highly Effective People • Begin with the end in mind • Be Proactive • Simulation • Scenario planning • • • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Split-Second Decision-Making (part 2)

Back to Split-Second Decision Making. I hope you have given this some thought since I posted Part 1. There are times that things will happen and situations will change numerous times over the course of an hour or over the course of several minutes. Having the situation continually unfold or develop is not something that I recommend to anyone but as far as learning situations go, it does not get any better.

Short of having a full-scale hurricane or tornado come roaring down your street here is an example of a situation that requires split second decision-making:

You are in a lifeboat and it is starting to sink, you can see an island with lush vegetation close enough to swim to. The problem is that lifeboat will sink in 10 seconds and all your emergency survival gear will sink as well. You will never be able to row to the island in 10 seconds that means you will have to swim. You will only be able to carry three items with you as you swim to shore. From the list below pick your three items; pick them wisely because in 10 seconds the rest of the gear will be down in Davy Jones' Locker never to be seen again.

Pick Your Three Items (you have 10 seconds starting now):

• Blanket
• Bucket
• '50 rope
• Box of food
• Survival knife
• Disposable Lighter
• Handgun
• Box of signal flares
• Two-Way Radio
• 5-gallon container full of fresh water
• One ream of writing paper
• Volleyball
  

Once you have made your decision think about the long-term ramifications of the three items you took to the island with you, especially if you find yourself on the island for quite a long time.

Don’t feel bad about your decisions, as you will most certainly doubt your decisions after the fact. You will ask yourself questions such as “could I have done better” and “was there something else I could have done” and the answer will always be “Yes”. That is why you simulate and practice now. When the real thing happens you be more apt to make the wise decision.

Something else: there will always be those that will second guess your actions and Monday Morning Quarterback your every move and question your actions and decisions. Just remember, that while some of them may be managers they might not be leaders. While they may have no problem working within their little sphere of influence, and feel threatened by the work you have done.

Words of advice: Until those that can only feel good about themselves by criticizing you have walked in your footsteps and believe that being a leader is not the same as being a manager, then and only then can you accept their criticism, because they will only be offering professional constructive criticism and not cheap shots.

Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Split Second Decision Making • simulation • exercises • practice • second guessing • Monday Morning Quarterbacks • manager does not equal a leader • constructive criticism • avoid the cheap shots • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Keeping Your Word

Nothing embodies whom you are more than keeping your word. That is why it is important to work on keeping your word. Keeping your word will set you apart from those that do not. It will go far in that people will recognize you are someone that can be trusted, responsible, and someone who walks the talk.

I am certain you know one or two (please no more than that) people that do not know how to keep their word. They are great at making promises, yet haven’t a clue on how to make those promises come true.

Do you take them seriously? More than likely you don’t, I know I don’t. If you are one those individuals that promises the world but fails to deliver then please tell me how can you be taken seriously? There is no real answer other than you cannot be taken seriously.

So don’t do it. Promise only what you can deliver. If you have no intention of keeping your word then don’t say or promise anything and just say “No.” It really is that simple, saying “No” will not make you out to be the bad guy (or girl), it will show that you are not going to over extend yourself just to be liked. Then again making a promise and not keeping it will put you on the fast track to not being liked as well as not able to be trusted.

Of course, there will be times when you have every intention of keeping your word and life happens. Well, as soon as possible tell those affected that there has been a change in your intentions and what your solution is. **Always Have A Solution**

Remember, in keeping your word you demonstrate your ability to know your limits, know what you are truly capable of and not. As for working towards becoming a leader, keeping your word will show your trustworthiness, you ability to accept responsibility, and someone that not only talks the talk and walks the walk, but also Walks the Talk. It also shows your ability to be genuine and authentic (and who doesn't want that).

So, if you are having difficulty keeping your word, then please stop making promises you have no intention of keeping. It is not too late; there is still hope in making a complete turnaround. It can be done, so why not try it. In the end, everyone will recognize and respect you as leader.

Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Keep your word • Trusted • Responsible • Walks the Talk • Making Promises • Trustworthiness • Genuineness • Authenticity • Respect • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Split-Second Decision-Making (part 1)

This weekend I came across the term: Split-second decision-making. While in combat situations or any situation that is unfolding the need for Split-second decision-making is essential. This form of decision-making is critical that there exist Split-second decision-making drills.

These drills are designed to challenge your ability to make quick accurate decisions during a situation that is either unfolding (where a series of quick decisions are needed) or there is no time to make a single decision. Such situations can be natural disasters (hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, etc.) or man-made disasters (fires, bombings, acts of terror, vehicle accidents, etc.)

These drills cover all aspects of data gathering, interpreting & processing, formulating a decisions, and then acting/implementing on that decision. Usually, for split-second decision making the time to collect data is constantly ongoing. Interpreting and processing is made in milliseconds as is formulating the decision, and launching the decision. This leaves little to no room for decisions to be made by committee. Usually, the decision maker is the solo decision maker in these situations, if incapacitated, someone else will have to step up.

Whoever stands up better be ready, as they will be calling up on all their critical thinking skills, training and knowledge, experiences and above all, their common sense to start making decisions. Of course, no two critical situations are alike and each will be unique in the actions that have taken place as well as the response to those actions.

I know that when Hurricane Emily (2005) was forecast to come to my neck of the woods, we were preparing for the worst. Instead, it headed south and was merely a slight rainmaker. Then last year, when Hurricane Dolly decided she was heading this way, we were preparing for the worst. However, the storm turned north and dropped a lot of rain and blew a lot of wind our way. At one point, the eye of the hurricane was less than 15 miles from my front door. Still it was not that bad and that’s a good thing.

There you go, two storms that could have done a world of damage but instead did two separate things. Decisions were made at every point of the storms' journey, arrival, and subsequent departure, which goes to show that if one is ready to lead in a time of crisis or disaster they can. Helping this process can be done by working through the situations via simulations and in some cases implementing or executing part of that split-second decision-making process as if something had happened.

...more to come

Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Split-Second Decision-making • decisions • Critical Situations • unfolding circumstances • unplanned events • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Roll With The Punches

What a day yesterday turned out to be. It was one of those days where expecting the unexpected was suddenly the norm. Luckily, there are not very many days like yesterday.

This just goes to show that things happen so out of the blue, even when they are expected things happen and life changes. Certainly, no one woke up yesterday morning and imagined what was about to unfold. There have been days like that in the past and I know there will be days like that in the future.

So what is one to do? You go with. Things happen for a reason and if you cannot control them or influence their outcome then you just let it happen, try to minimize the damage or prevent anyone from getting hurt.

This means, that you have to not only remain calm but also be the rock, the pillar that stands strong and tall, the one that everyone looks up to. Why? It is during times of uncertainty people will turn to those that are calm, cool, and collected.

How do you spot those that are calm, cool, and collected? Well, they are the ones that walking tall while everyone else is running for cover. Notice how I wrote they are the ones that walk tall and everyone else runs.

So how do you become the tall, cool one? Experience life with all its good, bad and most certainly, all its ugly. Know that things can and will happen without notice or warning. Expect the unexpected.

In the meantime, as life continues to throw those curve-balls what do you do?
Dicky Fox, Jerry Maguire’s mentor, suggests that you "Roll with the punches. Tomorrow is another day."


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Roll with the punches • Jerry Maquire (movie) • Dicky Fox (character) • Experience • Uncertainty • Life • Good, Bad, Ugly • Tomorrow is another day • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Knowing (Part Deux)

As I mentioned in my last blog post, knowing yourself and know what you are capable of, will ensure that you have the confidence to lead. Then again, just because you know yourself does not automatically make you a leader. There are still plenty of tasks ahead, while the road may be long, it does not have to be winding.

There is something else you must know: You must know your job. Sure, you may be done with school or you could be starting your training in the vocation of your choice or you could be a seasoned veteran doing the same job for the past 8 years but if you don’t really know your job then you will never move ahead. If you are not proficient in what you do then how can anyone see the potential in your leadership abilities?

Think about it, would you want your leader to be someone who hasn’t a clue as to what you are doing, let alone what they are doing? No! You want someone that not only knows how the job is supposed to be done but can teach you how to do it right. That’s not asking for too much, is it? No.

There you go, another secret to successful leadership development: Know your job and it doesn’t hurt to know the job of the employees that you might one day be called upon to lead.

This means there is no time like the present to become cross-trained. Cross-training not only increases your versatility within the organization but helps you become recognized as someone who is ready to step up and fill in gaps within your organization when needed.

This applies to anyone and everyone. You never know, one day you could be mixing cocktails behind the bar, the next you are managing the entire wait-staff. It might not sound like much but to a person that wants to open her own restaurant, knowing what the wait-staff does is priceless.

Additionally, being cross-trained will help you see the company’s big picture as you now can see how your job affects how others do theirs. This in turn makes you an asset that the company’s management and leadership will recognize and will readily offer more opportunities for advancement. That is a very good thing!



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leader • Know • Know Your Job • Be Proficient • Cross-Trained • Training • Leadership • Lead • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Knowing

You have gone to school, studied hard, learned a thing or two and are ready to start a career that will involve people looking to you for guidance and leadership. This won’t be an easy task but it can be done, it’s done all the time. One thing that can help in achieving this task is to make certain that you know who you are. Well, do you know yourself?

When I ask, do you know yourself, I am not referring to the things friends, family, and coworkers see about you, such as you are a shopper, a warrior, or a piano player. That is your public-self.

What I mean is do you know your private or inner self? The private or inner self is the side of yourself that you see when you look in the mirror, how well do you know the person you see on the other side of the glass? How well do you know your character, knowledge, and skills? Do you have enough confidence in your character, knowledge and skills that they will direct you when it comes to guiding and leading others?

If you have not figured out who you are and what you are capable of, the sooner you find out, the better leader you will become.

Something to remember there is no magic pill or a simple test that will tell you who you are. In order to know yourself you have to look at yourself not just as how others see you or how you see yourself on the surface but you have to see yourself from the inside out. If you find that you do not like what you see then you better be ready to do something about it and fast. Again, no magic pill here.

What is available is that you must continually work on yourself. Do something that is constantly challenging you. By constantly challenging yourself, you are strengthening your inner and outer self and expanding your horizons, along the way you will learn more about who you are, what you are made of, and what your character is.

Not too sure how to go about it? Start off slowly, and then gradually build up to it.

Want some ideas? You can come up with something I know you can. Remember there are no magic pills.



Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Lead • Know • Know Yourself • Challenge • Public Self • Private Self • Inner Self • Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Today is June 18 & We Got Your Back

Today is not just Sir Paul’s Birthday but also my brother’s birthday. In this case, it is my youngest brother and today is his birthday. So if you read this and see my brother somewhere in New Mexico wish him a Very Happy Birthday. I know where in New Mexico he is, but to save him some potential embarrassment I will not say in which town he can be found.

Like I said he is my youngest brother and like most little brothers, big brothers take great care to look out and watch over them. However, unfortunate as it may be I was not around during his formative teenage years, as I was off trying to be all that I could be on the government plan and as for the other adult male role models, I won’t go there.

Moving on, while I was off in a foreign land doing what my country wanted me to do for those years that I was in the Army, he was at home trying to find himself and find his place in the world. Yet, he did the best that he could and has done so for over 20 years.

Along the way, he met a wonderful woman and several years after they married they had a wonderful son. My nephew is their only child and but he is not my only nephew. Some things happened along the way and they are no longer together. That’s life, for good or bad that is life and I am not going to go any deeper into it.

I will say that my youngest brother is again in a place that I wish I could be there to look out and watch over him; sorry it’s just what this big brother wants to do. Now that I am in a position to be there for him, we find ourselves separated, yet again by geography, with him in New Mexico and me in Texas. The only consolation is that I am proud of the man he grew up to be, especially with all the knocks he took along the way and I know that he will be at the top of his game, again. I also know that whatever path he finds himself on today, it is one that will take him to a better place. A place of happiness and a place that will make him a stronger man, both physically and emotionally. Above all, I know it will make him wiser.

Of course, he knows just like all of us know that we can’t do it by ourselves. We can only achieve great things when we recognize that we are not alone and others are there to help. Therefore, always remember and never forget you are never alone when family has your back. Brother, We Got Your Back.

Happy Birthday, J. We Love You!!!


Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero