Some Things That Can Kill Good Leadership

It's end of the month and I didn't get a chance to write an original blog. Instead I saw this article I wanted to share with you. Hope you enjoy.

SOME THINGS THAT CAN KILL GOOD LEADERSHIP

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2015 AT 10:03AM

There are certain attitudes and actions that can kill good leadership and bring its effectiveness and fruitfulness to an abrupt end. Here are twelve "killers" offered by Ron Edmondson:

Originally posted by Ron Edmondson

I know numerous leaders with great potential. They have all the appearance of being a good leader. But they lack one thing — or two.

In my experience, some of this self-learned the hard way, there are a few killers of good leadership.

I decided to compile a list of some of the most potent killers I’ve observed. Any one of these can squelch good leadership. It’s like a wrecking ball of potential. If not addressed, they may even prove to be fatal.

It’s not that the person can’t continue to lead, but to grow as a leader — to be successful at a higher level or for the long-term — they must address these killers.

Here are 12 killers of good leadership:

Defensiveness – Good leaders don’t wear their feelings on their shoulders. They know other’s opinions matter and aren’t afraid to be challenged. They are confident enough to absorb the wounds intended to help them grow.

Jealousy – A good leader enjoys watching others on the team excel — even willing to help them.

Revenge – The leader that succeeds for the long-term must be forgiving; graceful — knowing that “getting even” only comes back to harm them and the organization.

Fearfulness – A good leader remains committed when no one else is and takes risks no one else will. Others will follow. It is what leaders do.

Favoritism – Good leaders don’t have favorites on the team. They reward for results not partiality.

Ungratefulness – Good leaders value people — genuinely — knowing they cannot attain success without others.

Small-mindedness – Good leaders think bigger than today. They are dreamers and idea people.

Pridefulness – Pride comes before the fall. Good leaders remain humbled by the position of authority entrusted to them.

Rigidity – There are some things to be rigid about, such as values and vision, but for most issues, the leader must be open to change. Good leaders are welcome new ideas, realizing that most everything can be improved.

Laziness – One can’t be a good leader and not be willing to work hard. In fact, the leader should be willing to be the hardest worker on the team.

Unresponsiveness – Good leaders don’t lead from behind closed doors. They are responsive to the needs and desires of those they attempt to lead. They respond to concerns and questions. They collaborate more than control. Leaders who close themselves off from those they lead will limit the places where others will follow.

Dishonesty – Since character counts highest, a good leader must be above reproach. When a leader fails, he or she must admit their mistake and work towards restoration.

A leader may struggle with one or more of these, but the goal should be to lead “killer-free”. Leader, be honest, which of these wrecking balls do you struggle with most?

What would you add to my list?

Back to Basics

September is just around the corner.  Arizona kids are back in school, we are all ready for the heat to go away. A final Labor Day weekend at the coast is simply a couple of weeks away. 

Ken and I attend Central Christian Church in Mesa. This last Sunday, Senior Pastor Cal Jernigan (back from his summer break) spoke about how easily we get off track and forget the “why” behind the “what” we do. 

An illustration Cal used is the 1953 Parable of a Life Saving Station originally written by an Episcopal priest - Theodore Weidel. If you have never heard the story it is worth a listen 

https://youtu.be/qSbMUvkHH5w

The insightful story is simply a reminder:  stick to the basics, make your big audacious goal your focus.

Great teams and coaches know their “what” and their “why”.  They stick to it!

John Robert Wooden did.  As an American basketball player and coach, he was nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood," as head coach at UCLA he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period, including an unprecedented seven in a row.   Annually, on the first day of practice, the entire squad learned how to put on socks.

According to the National Football Hall of Fame, Vince Lombardi insisted on a five-year contract to give his building program a fair chance, but he set his plan into action at his very first team meeting. Teams reported to camp to sit on the field and hear Lombardi explain to everyone, “Gentlemen, this is a football”.

Really when you think about it the story of a Life Saving Station, the success of a basketball squad and the strength of a football team is all about the basics.  Live and breathe the basics.

Here are our basics:

We exist as an Escrow Team to provide Arizona Realtors and Lenders cutting edge marketing and educational opportunities; in turn, providing them the most effective and efficient escrow closing process achievable while maintaining a high standard of performance for Great American Title Agency, Inc.

So with September just around the corner, we’re once again back to the basics as we continue to hone processes and systems to better serve customers and clients.  How about you?  Oh, and yes there will be Thanksgiving!

A Look Back

A look back to almost a year ago.

Friday, September 19, 2014

It Keeps Me Up at Night

It never ceases to amaze me what wakes me up at night. 

Believe it or not, I woke up the other evening thinking about coaches.  Yes I said coaches. Football, business, life, Mom’s, Dad’s in my dream there were coaches here, there, everywhere. Big ones, small ones, tall ones, short ones---old ones,  young ones, happy, cranky---they were all there in my dream.

When I actually  remembered my dream I realized coaches are simply people.  Coaches  have temperaments, personalities, and skill sets just like the rest of us.  Coaches fall into profiles.  

We have coaches who simply tell it like it is;  coaches  who rally around us;  and there are group coaches for accountability.

 You might say they could be straight forward, mutually supporting; or even interdependent on us.

In my life it has often  taken one, two or even a combination of all three coaching styles to help me reach benchmarks.

People have asked me  “Well, Carolyn, how do you find the right coach?”.  My answer depends upon how stubborn I am  to change, and what my cost for not changing is.

Experience has taught me, change is never easy!

My first personal coach was Joy.   She taught me to develop a life statement along with some valuable habits at a beneficially critical time.   Joy became a real good friend and the perfect first accountable coach.

Levi, is my current fitness coach.  He is a no nonsense guy with a  “get it done” attitude.  Levi doesn’t  listen to me whine.  Mornings in the gym are  “do or do not do, there is no try”.

Ken is probably my best inter-active coach.  He and I made a conscious decision 43 years ago to “do life together”.  We project, plan implement, evaluate (CANI) and regroup.  We work at it all day long, every day and will until the Lord takes one of us home.

I’ve learned that as long as I am breathing I  need a coach.  Someone to help me plan, grow, and live pro-actively.

I challenge you to stop this week think deeply about coaches.  Do you need help to figure out:  1) Where I’m at right now?  2) Am I  happy?  (If not what do you need  to change)  3)  How do I implement a plan  to become a pro-action-airy (Maybe I just made that word up). 

Dig deeply into you!

Find someone to drill it into your head, a friend to simply come along side you to be an ally, or work with the love of your life (parents, children, and spouses) to become your best!