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SA Leadership Podcast Episode #077

A Game Plan For Life

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You Can Have A Leadership Plan For LIFE!

It is well known that everything rises and falls on leadership. Because this is true, I personally have been on a learning journey that has taken me through 35+ years of leading nonprofits, strategic committees, teaching in foreign countries, 14 years of formal education, and a commitment to be a life learner.

To discuss the 5 Levels of Leadership is to start by defining leadership as a VERB and not a NOUN! Leadership is a process and not a position. There was a day in which the words leadership and management were used interchangeably. Today I believe that most people understand there is a huge difference between these two topics.

Management at its best presumes keeping things the way they have always been. Leadership on the other hand deals with people and their changing dynamics of which by the way, are continually changing! They are never static.

The ultimate challenge of leadership is to create change and facilitate growth. This requires movement of which is inherent in moving from one level of leadership to the next.

In this series we will look at 5 levels of leadership and the various sub-sets under each of these levels. I totally get the notion that leadership can be overwhelming and confusing. WHERE DO YOU START? Just thinking about the process, how to gain influence, how to develop a productive team, and how to develop followers into leaders can be overwhelming. By breaking down the subject of leadership into 5 levels, we will attempt to make these subjects and many others understandable.

The 5 Levels of Leadership can provide a game plan on how to think and act our way into a stronger position of leadership. Please understand that good leadership is not about advancing yourself, it is about advancing the team.

Here is a list of the 5 Levels of Leadership with a quick synopsis.

1. Position – Position is the lowest level of leadership – the entry level. The only influence you have at this level is title. People follow you because they have to.

2. Permission – This level is based solely upon relationships. You can like people without leading them, but you cannot lead people well without liking them.

3. Production – This level is based upon results. This is the level that momentum kicks in. Joe Namath once stated, “When you are winning, nothing hurts.”

4. People Development – Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. Production may win games, but People Development wins championships. It is at this level that teamwork goes to a high level. Secondly performance increases.

5. Pinnacle – This is the highest level of leadership. Level 5 leadership requires the highest level of skill, talent and intentionality. Because of this only the naturally gifted leaders ever make it to this level. Leaders at this level often transcend their position, their organization and sometimes their industry.

Do not lose sight of the idea that we are discussing a GAME PLAN FOR LIFE! This is not a quick fix. This is about learning the difference between “Strategic Action” Vs. “Strategic Thinking.” One is about acting with the market principles and strategies with out asking “Is this the right thing to do in the first place.”

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

 

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Perfection

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Perfection is defined as a state of completeness and flawlessness. Have you ever experienced perfection? Does it exist? Is it egotistical to think that we can achieve perfection? Is perfection a perceived concept and does it mean something different to others? Most importantly, does it matter? In the grand scheme of life, does it matter if you achieve perfection and does it matter if you perceive something as having achieved perfection while someone else may disagree?

I ate a chocolate chip cookie the other day. In my opinion, the baker achieved perfection. There was nothing wrong in my mind with that cookie. It brought my taste buds to nirvana. It was delicious and it made me so happy to eat it. What a cookie! Have you ever experienced that before? That total feeling of perfection?

What keeps us from thinking or feeling that when we create something ourselves? Most of us create something and then begin to tear it down mentally – which in turn tears down our confidence. Is this innate in humans or just those of us lucky enough to think we aren’t good enough to ever achieve perfection.

This in itself is flawed thinking. Our minds are perfect. How we perceive things is what becomes fuzzy. We have experiences that cloud what is really there and what we perceive to be there. Know that our minds are miracles and are perfect. Know that we are capable of incredible things. Urban legend says we only use 10% of our brain. Although physically we use all of our brain what we really are using is a small portion of our potential. This keeps us from accepting and achieving perfection because we hold back a lot of our potential out of fear.

Perfection is not something that many people can accept – but is so worth the effort of exploring and understanding because it helps raise your awareness of what you truly are capable of and how you alone hold yourself back from reaching that level.

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SA Leadership Episode #076

The Law of Dividends

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Investing In The Team Compounds Over Time

Here is one of the greatest team builders in all sports, yet, you have probably never heard of him. Here is a list of his accomplishments:

  • 40 consecutive basketball seasons with at least 20 wins
  • 5 national championships
  • Number one ranking in his region 33 years in a row
  • Lifetime Winning percentage of .870

His name is Morgan Wootten. He is a High School Basketball Coach! Coach John Wooden of UCLA fame stated; “People who say that Morgan Wootten is the best High School coach on the country, I disagree. I know of no finer coach at any level…I’ve said it elsewhere and I will say it here, I stand in awe of him”

Here are 10 insights on how to achieve compound impact for your team.

1. Make the decision to build the team…This starts the investment in the team. Deciding that people on the team are worth developing is the first step in building a better team.

2. Gather the best possible…This elevates the potential of the team. The better the people on your team, the greater your potential will be.

3. Pay the price to develop the team…This ensures the growth of the team. It will cost you to build the team. You will have to dedicate time that could be used for personal productivity. You will have to spend money that could be used for personal benefit. Sometimes you will have to set aside your personal agenda. But developing the team is worth the investment.

4. Do things together as a team…This provides community for the team. The only way to develop community is to get them together, not just professionally, but personally. Share common experiences.

5. Empower team members with responsibility and authority…This raises up leaders for the team. The greatest growth for people often occurs as a result of the trail and error of personal experience. If you currently are a leader of a team, don’t protect your position or hoard your power. GIVE IT AWAY! That is the only way to empower your team!

6. Give credit for the success of the team…This lifts the morale of the team. Mark Twain states, “I can live for two months on one good compliment.” Napoleon Bonaparte stated, A soldier will fight long and hard of a bit of color ribbon.” If you are the leader, take the blame and never the credit!”

7. Watch to see the investment in the team is paying off…This brings accountability to the team. If you put sweat equity into the team, you expect a return on the investment. Maybe not right away, but certainly over time. Some people develop quickly and some slowly and that is okay. The main outcome you want is to see progress.

8. Stop your investment in players who do not grow…This eliminates greater losses for the team. One of the most difficult experiences for any team is to leave a teammate behind. Yet this is what you must do if someone on your team refuses to grow or change.

9. Create new opportunities for the team…This allows the team to stretch. When a team has the opportunity to take new ground and face new challenges, it has to stretch to meet them. This gives the team a chance to grow. Everyone should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

10. Give the team the best possible chance to succeed…This guarantees the team a higher return. Where there is a will there is a way and where there is a team there is more than one way.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

 

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Patience

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In our current times, we are surrounded by lightening fast technology, decision making, expectations, life… Practicing patience in an era where it seems no one has any patience may feel counter-intuitive but patience allows us to slow down, calm our minds, show compassion, love and be loved.

Being able to tolerate delays without feeling angry or frustrated is a necessary quality for our greater good. Easing our minds mentally also allows our bodies to physically function in a stress-reduced state, lowering our blood pressure, staving off illnesses and not compromising our immune systems.

So how does one practice patience when all things point in a different direction?

  • Persistence – the ability to keep moving forward even if you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. Having faith that you are moving in the right direction without distraction brings a sense of inner peace.
  • Acceptance – believe that everything happens for a reason and even if the reason is illogical, it will be revealed at a later time when and if it is necessary. Whatever is happening now is the way it is.
  • Peace – having a sense of serenity and knowing that whatever distraction is happening, it will pass, as the now is what is meant to be.

Practicing patience alleviates the need for anger. When we are impatient, we go through a gamut of emotions from irritation to impatience to anger and then rage. Not only does patience help us achieve that which we desire, it helps us keep our anger in check.

The easiest way to practice patience is to count to 10 or take 10 deep breaths. This creates space between an impulse reaction and an actual action step. Practicing patience with others allows us to slow down and enjoy life with a new viewpoint.

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SA Leadership Podcast Episode #075

The Law of High Morale

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When You Are Winning Nothing Hurts!

The Law of High Morale may ring a bell with you because the phrasing of the law was inspired by the words of Joe Namath who led the New York Jets to a Super Bowl victory in 1969. He understood that the exhilaration of winning could be so strong that is sustains you through the discipline, pain and sacrifice to perform at the highest level.

Its ironic but if you play hurt, you can put the team in a place to win. And if you win nothing hurts! George Allen, Coach of the Washington Redskins in the 1970’s states, “Every time you win you are reborn; when you lose, you die a little.”

High Morale is the Great Exaggerator

When an entire team is positive and all of the players feel good about themselves, everything seems good. Preparation seems smooth, Every break goes your way, small victories seem sweet, big victories almost make you feel invincible. Even the bench players play beyond their skill. Some people call it a winning streak. People want to be around winners and people will pay top dollar to access the inside story of winners. Are teams really that good. Are they really a rags to riches success overnight? Probably not! High Morale is the great exaggerator.

High Morale is the Great Elevator

When a team has high morale, the performance of the team goes to a whole new level. The team focuses upon its potential and not its problems. Team members are extremely committed. Everyone finds it easy to be unselfish. When teams are loosing the opposite is true. People begin to take care of themselves – I have to get my – you get yours mindset settles in on loosing teams.

High Morale is a Great Energizer

High morale gives any team energy. No mountain seems too high. No project seems too difficult. No race seems too long. Their enthusiasm builds along with their energy.

High Morale is the Great Eliminator

Teams with high morale keep pressing through huge obstacles or even setbacks. Problems seem to disappear no matter how big they are.

High Morale is the Great Emancipator

Winning teams are FREE! Winning creates some breathing room. They will use that breathing room to tackle new challenges and take some risks or new ideas. A winning team will ask questions of itself that they would not otherwise ask. The end result is higher potential.

Consider The Four Stages of Morale

Stage 1: Poor Morale – The Leader Must Do Everything

Nothing is more unpleasant than being on a team where nobody wants to be there. The team vibe is negative, hopeless, and generally is a real downer of energy.

Stage 2: Low Morale – The Leader Must Do Productive Things

In the beginning any movement is a victory. However at some point you must pick up speed. Think about it – You cannot steer a parked car!

Stage 3: Moderate Morale – The Leader Must Do Difficult Things

In order to get a team moving and moving in the right direction, a leader must focus on the difficult things that will move the team to a higher morale.

Stage 4: High Morale – The Leader Must Do The Little Things

If you want to reap the rewards of the Law of High Morale, you can’t wait until your morale is high to begin performing. You need to act your way into feeling, not feel your way into acting. Begin by performing at a level of excellence appropriate for someone who is experiencing a winning season. Your dedication will help your performance and inspire the team.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

 

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Organization

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What does your closet look like? Is it all tidy and color coordinated and arranged by season?

If so, move on… And for the rest of us who have closets full of clothes from ten years ago that we will fit into one of these days – or that style will surely come back – or this is a classic – it will go with everything… You know who you are… or maybe you can’t even close your closet because the shoes are spilling out onto the floor…

Life is like a closet. We hold onto past thoughts and emotions and we think if we hold on to it long enough and tight enough something will change – it will fit now – it will be all right – or we hold on because we can’t let go of the pain. As one of my mentors says – let the dead bury the dead.

It is time to clean the closet and let go of all that dead weight. It is time to organize and compartmentalize all those things in that closet – put the shoes here, the belts there, the ties or purses in their spot and let’s now get rid of our high school prom dress. It is time to make room for all the new things that we will acquire. Make room…

When you organize anything, a closet, a drawer, a thought, a process, you suddenly find you have room. Room for something new. If you hold onto all that old stuff, there is no room for anything new. No new relationships or job opportunities, or whatever it is you desire because you don’t have room. You don’t have the bandwidth to take on anymore until you clear out all the old.

We can’t change the past so why hold onto it? Get out the duster and boxes and let’s release all that which we no longer need or want and let’s make room for all that which we desire.

Organize your life as you would a closet. Remove the old and make room for the new.

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SA Leadership Podcast Episode #074

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:27 — 23.3MB) | Embed

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INTERACTION FUELS ACTION!

When Gordon Bethune took over Continental Airlines back in the 1990’s the company was a mess with its stock price at $3.25/share. They had gone through 10 leaders in 10 years. The airline arrival and departure was quite unpredictable. In his book From Worst to First CEO Bethune began a process of changing the culture of the company by opening up communication. His communication policy was simple: “Unless it is dangerous or illegal for us to share, we share it!” In 1995 the company lost $204 million. In 1995 it gained $202 million.

Communication is not the only reason for the turn-around. However there is no denying that without good communication they would have continued their death spiral.

Effective teams have teammates who are constantly talking to each other!

FROM LEADER TO TEAMMATES

John Gardner observed; “If I had to name a single all purpose instrument od leadership, it would be communication.” If everything rises and falls on Leadership then it must be said that everything rises and falls on communication.

Here are some guidelines for communication:

BE CONSISTENT – Nothing frustrates people more than leaders who cannot make up their mind.
BE CLEAR – Your team members cannot execute if they do not know what you want. Do not try to dazzle people with your intelligence, impress them with your straightforwardness.
BE COURTEOUS – Everyone deserves to be shown respect, no matter there position or kind of history you might have with them. Being courteous to people sets the tone for your organization!

FROM TEAMMATES TO LEADERS

Good team leaders never want yes-men! They want direct honest communication from their team members. Encourage open, direct, and honest communication with people. If you develop strong relationships you can disagree and still remain effective.

Respect is an important quality of communication. Team leadership is not easy – it is HARD! Show loyalty to those who have assumed the position of leader.

AMONG TEAMMATES

Author Charlie Brower stated, “Few people are successful unless a lot of other people want them to be.” If a team is to be successful, all members must communicate for the common good. That means the following qualities;

BEING SUPPORTIVE – Magic Johnson stated “Ask not what your teammates can do for you, ask what you can do for your teammates. Communication that focuses upon giving versus taking moves the team to a new level
STAYING CURRENT – You cannot solve tomorrows problems with today’s insight!
BEING VULNERABLE – “If we are to use the word community meaningfully we must restrict it to a group of individuals who have learned how to communicate honestly with each other, whose relationships go deeper than their masks of composure.” M. Scott Peck, The Different Drum
BETWEEN THE TEAM AND THE PUBLIC – Internal communication is not the only communication that is important. We have communication outside of the team. In order for this type of communication to succeed remember the three R’s: receptive, responsive, and realistic. Working together means that we win together!

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

 

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Multiple Sources of Income

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Most of us earn income by trading time for money. In other words we go to a job, work a set number of hours and are compensated for those hours. So we trade our time for money. Keep in mind everyone has the same number of hours in a day so if you work harder or longer, you can only work up to 24 hours a day as that is all there is. So there is a limit to how much time you can trade for money.

Some of us earn income by trading money for money. An example would be investments that generate income through dividends and interest. We are no longer trading our time for money because it is working for us while we do other things.

Few of us earn income through multiple sources. This is how most people who have wealth build it. Multiple sources of income is having income coming in from different avenues that do not require trading time for money or trading money for money but a combination of many different ways to generate income.

The advantages to having multiple sources is that if one slows down, there are others to pick up the slack so it isn’t as painful as losing a job or losing on the stock market. Another advantage to having multiple sources is that there is no longer a dependence on trading time for money, which is the slowest and most difficult way to build wealth.

A third advantage is that new options become available to serve and do good work which is what most of us want. No one lies on their deathbed and wishes they had spent more time in the office. We all want more time with loved ones and to do those things that bring our souls pleasure such as giving and serving others.

Creating multiple sources of income is not as hard as it sounds. Start small – take out a piece of paper and draw a circle with a dollar sign in the middle representing your income. Then draw a few circles around the page. In one, put your job if you are employed. In another put your investments like 401(k), then in a third think about how you can generate more income. Are you in any affiliate programs? Do you have a blog? Do you give seminars on the weekends? Do you sell products on the side? Do you have a hobby? This is a place to start.

You will find that as you begin to think about what you love to do, your creative mind will open doors to new thoughts and ideas. Write all of these down. Some will turn into viable income generators and others won’t. If you don’t try, then you give up on the opportunities that are waiting for you right now. Everything you need is right there. Exercise your creative mind and build the awareness to see that achieving wealth is just a reach away.

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SA Leadership Episode #073

The Law of The Edge

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:27 — 23.3MB) | Embed

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The Difference Between Two Equally Talented Teams Is Leadership

What is the key to success? Is it talent? Hard work? Technology? Efficiency? TO be successful a team will need all of these things. But it still needs something else to succeed. LEADERSHIP!

  • The personnel on your team will determine the success of the team
  • Vision determines the direction of your team
  • Work Ethic determines the preparation of the team
  • Leadership determines the success of the team!

Everything rises and falls on leadership. If it has leadership then a team can gain everything it needs to go to the highest level. Look at any team that has achieved success and you will find that it has a strong leader.

With good leaders, everything improves. Leaders are lifters. They push the thinking of their teammates beyond boundaries of creativity. They elevate the performance of others, making them better than ever before.

While managers are able to maintain a team at a certain level, leaders are able to lift it to a higher level than it has reached previously. You have to bring out the best in others around you in order for this to happen.

  • Leaders transfer ownership for work to those who execute the work. For a team to succeed, responsibility must go down deep into the organization, down to the roots. Leaders must delegate responsibility and authority to the team. Stephen Covey stated once, “People and organizations don’t grow much without delegation and completed staff work, because they are confined to the capacities of the boss and reflect both personal strengths and weaknesses.” Good leaders seldom restrict their teams, they release them.
  • Leaders create an environment where each team member wants to be responsible. Good leaders know ho to read their team members to know what it takes to motivate each of them. Leaders remember that they are responsible to their team members, not responsible for them.
  • Leaders coach the development of personal capabilities. The team can reach its potential only if each member reaches their potential. Effective leaders help each team member accomplish this.
  • Leaders encourage other team members to learn rapidly. Leaders lift themselves to a higher level first, then they lift the others around them. Modeling comes first, then leadership! If everyone is improving, then the team is improving!!

If you want to give your team a lift, then provide it with better leadership. The Law of the Edge works every time.

LINKS

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

 

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Movement

Have you ever made a plan or created a life roadmap and then something happened – like a big rock rolled down and blocked your progress and instead of finding a way through you gave up and retreated back to your comfort zone? Does that sound like you?

Why do we stop this inertia we are in – we get a little friction and BAM – we stop, retreat, we take our ball and go home. Give up. I’m done. Good night…

But then it’s tomorrow and guess what – that rock is still blocking our path and we say – yeah so what. We can opt to see the rock for what it is and keep going or we can pretend it doesn’t exist and say well, I liked it here anyway so I’m staying

NO!! Get out the pick and axe and let’s keep moving. Life is full of bumps and obstacles and lots of bruises. Who said life was easy? Who wants easy? Easy is boring! Easy is for people who don’t have a clue what is on the other side waiting – waving its flag saying I’m here – come and get me! Come and see what this side is like – it is awesome!

We have all hit obstacles, every one of us. So many times we hit a rut and think we are the only one. No one understands. This only would happen to me… oh here comes that pity party.

How do we get that movement back? How do we pick ourselves up and try again. How do we change our thinking so that we don’t feel like we are out of options? Can you ever be out of options? Albert Einstein says, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Think about that. If you have a problem, how can you solve it using the same brain that created it?

There is a simple solution to so many of life’s problems and it is not an age-old secret only available to the wealthy and wise. The answer is to create a third mind. But how? By masterminding with others who can truly help you. So if you have a business quandary, join a business mastermind and bring your problem to the table. You will be amazed at the number of ideas that become available to you – ideas that you never even thought of yourself. If you have a relationship problem then join/create a mastermind of like minded people who you can trust to share this problem with. There are solutions out there that your mind alone cannot create – you need the power of a mastermind to get you back in movement gear.