Leadership in the Moment

Our last newsletter, the Leader’s Almanac, approached the subject of “Leadership Now”.  We received some feedback from readers hoping we weren’t forgetting the value of looking at the past for insights into the future.  So, being open to the voices of experience, our Fall issue will be along the lines of “Leadership Lessons from History”.  One of my favorite expressions is, “There are no mistakes in life, only lessons to be learned.”  Do you find value in looking back over your shoulder at times?  (Other than it being a good neck exercise?) 

Remember Chris Rodriguez, the child who was hit by a stray bullet while taking a piano lesson?  He is now paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair.  It occurred in Oakland, California over a year ago during a robbery. The accused man was given a long prison sentence.   Most felt he “got what he deserved” but the boy, the victim, wanted to say something to the man at his sentencing.  He could have sent a letter or a message but he delivered it person. His message, “I forgive you.” 

San Francisco Chronicle’s Columnist, Tammerlin Drummond, in reporting the story wrote, “We only hurt ourselves and impede the flow of our own good by holding onto past grievances.  Yet many of us continue to cling to real or perceived slights because our egos refuse to let go.”

In the context of leadership, by offering forgiveness, leaders may risk vulnerability but they demonstrate the essence of leadership—credibility. 

When rather frumpy yet phenomenal singer, Susan Boyle, came onto the scene via “Britain’s Got Talent”, Piers Morgan of the same show said, ‘She has gone from anonymity to being the most downloaded woman (YouTube) in history.”  My first posting asked:  “Is there a Susan Boyle in Your Organization?”  Meaning, a person who has star talent but is unrecognized, overlooked, or even worse, unknown. 

Since her rest due to exhaustion, she’s back and may even appear in  the American version of the program.  But it’s been an emotional ride for her and it brings up another challenge for leaders to consider:  When you DO recognize that “unsung hero” in your organization, how would you handle the discovery?  Perhaps by approaching that person slowly, with consent, sensitivity and coaching to guide him/her into the limelight.  Then, could you get out of their way and watch their star rise?  Does “American Have Talent” somewhere in your organization?

Many of us are drawn to the before and after photos or videos of remodeled houses, peoples faces, body shapes, sizes, etc.  How about the same idea of selecting images which represent the way your unit, team or organization looks now and how it could look in the future?  That was the exercise used in the Leadership Challenge® Workshop held in Sonoma, California recently.

Colorful, photograph images were laid out on the floor while workshop participants selected their “befores and afters.”  The group pondered and moved thoughtfully within the trail of glossy photos and found appropriate images.  Some showed chaos, disharmony, lack of communication and credibility.  Then, they advanced to more hopeful ones representing the exact opposite. 

“A picture is worth a thousand words” was demonstrated that day.  What if a snapshot of “what could be” became a reality?  That would be real vision!   

Popular night-time talk show host, David Letterman, made some irresponsible jokes about the daughters of the Governor of Alaska, Ms. Palin. His first off-hand apology was followed by a more sincere one the next night.  He admitted that his joke was “beyond flawed” and “really, in and of itself, can’t be defended.”  While I did not find his humor appropriate, his apology had a sincere ring to it.    

This made me think about the subject of credibility.  People tend to believe you in other areas when you admit you are wrong when you are wrong!  In Kouzes and Posner’s book, Credibility, they write, “We choose to commit to leaders we find credible and trustworthy.”  Why do you think it is so difficult for some to admit they are wrong and in turn put their credibility on the line?   

In the April 15 publication, Bottom Line/Personal, Paul Facella tells how he spent his first 34 years at McDonald’s, rising from behind the counter cashier to regional VP. He attributes his success to understanding the company’s culture and the principles of leadership underlying it. A few highlights of his success secrets:

Lead by example – model the behavior you want to see in others
Foster relationships – integrity is a high cultural value; everyone is treated as a partner
Raise the bar – the company mantra is “Never be satisfied”
Provide recognition – acknowledging and inspiring workers at all levels

With these principles in place, it’s no wonder they get results: 42% of the current worldwide leadership at McDonald’s start out as crew members. Do you have any examples of leaders who started at a lower level and rose to the executive suite? What were the (or your) leadership principles that got such inspired results?

Next time your breakfast consists of Post’s Shredded Wheat, consider what their fictitious CEO, Frank Druffel, says in their recent ad campaign:  “Progress is Overrated”. He takes a jab at the idea that progress has taken us to a better place.  He goes on to explain himself by stating that throughout the years, their product has not changed since it was introduced over a hundred years ago.  It’s natural, 100% whole wheat and free of additives that would make it enhanced.  Looks like they’re staying the course. 

Are there times when your organization when it has strayed too far from its brand and core belief in the name of innovation?  

This attention-grabbing news headline today reported that French scientists predicted that “In the distant future, the earth and planet after planet will collide with each other…the ultimate chaotic disaster.” The good news is they defined future as approximately five billion years from now.  Apparently we have time to get our affairs in order.  This ominous scientific prediction makes the idea of living “in the now” the way to go.  If we only focused our thoughts and worries on the future of the universe, we’d be ignoring incredible moonscapes, sunrises and sunsets right in front of us.  We need to enjoy every incredible moment in nature and in life today, in the present, now—before planets start to play the ultimate contact sport!  Your thoughts? 

I attended Sonoma Leadership Systems’ The Leadership Challenge® program in Sonoma, California yesterday. Thought-provoking and compelling classroom leadership training evolved into even more depth with an outdoor orienteering experience. Teams walked to nearby Sonoma Plaza to view historical sites which evoked compelling questions and innovative replies. When you stand in a historically significant place where leadership has been transformational and even risky, does it pose questions to you about where you stand in your leadership commitment?

We’ve heard quite a bit lately about “shovel ready” projects usually framed as “construction projects ready-to-go” but just in need of a bit of “stimulus.” Well, in these difficult times, with perhaps more to come, the hour has arrived for our leaders to become shovel ready. It’s time for you to get shovel ready. It’s time for all of us to become part of the stimulus.  To me, the term shovel ready means that some advanced thought and effort has precipitated the ability to be ready.  What does the term “shovel ready” mean to you?  Is your shovel ready to “dig in” when the time is right—or even before you get the “green light”?