Category Answer This

I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. —Ralph Nader

Think about this quote and ask yourself if you are producing leaders or followers. What is working? What needs to change?

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” – Sam Walton

How are you doing at boosting the self-esteem of those you lead?

From the Chess Not Checkers Field Guide – “Emerging high performers in business are no different than those in athletics.  They need someone to show them the way to greatness.”

I had some great coaches and team members who inspired and challenged me to become better. So – Who showed you the way to greatness? and How are you setting the pace for the people you lead?

This weekend I watched a movie that is on my top ten list, Field of Dreams. The following dialogue is from one of my favorite scenes.

John Kinsella: Is this heaven?

Ray Kinsella: It’s Iowa.

John Kinsella: Iowa? I could have sworn this was heaven.

[starts to walk away]

Ray Kinsella: Is there a heaven?

John Kinsella: Oh yeah. It’s the place where dreams come true.

[Ray looks around, seeing his wife playing with their daughter on the porch]

Ray Kinsella: Maybe this is heaven.

What dreams do you want to come true? Where is your place to make them happen?

Leaders set the pace. What is your development goal? Create a culture of growth and learning.

I had a friend who often said “Vision gives pain a purpose.” There is great truth in this simple but deeply profound statement.  I’d be willing to endure hardship, sorrow, and even pain if it meant the fulfillment of a dream or at least a step in that direction.  What pains might you need to endure in order to see the vision for your team or organization fulfilled?

I recently had a good friend pass away. It got me thinking – death is a part of life, and sometimes life cannot happen without a death first. Often times we do not like the topic of death, but it seems that death has the potential to be a good thing, depending on how you look at it. Death doesn’t have to be literal, it can be the death of a way of thinking, the death of an unhealthy relationship, or the death of certain behaviors and/or patterns. It also doesn’t have to be sorrowful or complicated, especially when there is hope. Consider a seed, unless it is planted in soil it cannot die, and unless it dies it cannot produce its fruit.  So, what needs to die in your life or in your business, so that good life and fruit can happen? Here’s to bearing good fruit in all you do!

Blessings!

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” ~ Zig Ziglar

What do you need to start to be great?

Look back at your calendar for the past week. When it comes to organizational values and a commitment to learning, what does your schedule communicate to your team?

Is your organization better characterized by The Lone Ranger (everyman for himself), or The Three Musketeers (all for one and one for all)?  Think about what changes you might need to make.