Monday, October 31, 2011

What’s Weighing You Down?


Yesterday our region was hit hard with an unusual late October winter storm. The heavy wet snow accumulated quickly, made driving treacherous, and brought down hundreds of trees. The resulting accidents and power outages have disrupted life for thousands of persons. As I write this blog (using the battery power of a laptop) my neighborhood in Bucks County is currently without electricity. Although tomorrow is officially Halloween, one has to note the irony of this situation as today is traditionally celebrated as mischief night. Seems the trouble has begun a bit early!
Because most of the trees in our area have yet to completely shed their leaves the storm’s wet and sticky precipitation placed additional stress on branches and limbs. The expansive tree in our front yard suffered significant damage when a major bough cracked and crashed to the ground at the height of the storm. It is likely we won’t be able to salvage what is left. The photo accompanying this blog is evidence of the aftermath.
As I thought about how quickly the weather system brought havoc and destruction it reminded me of the significant challenges facing many of today’s leaders. Like the storm’s weighty snow, leaders are carrying increasingly heavy burdens in their work and personal lives. Much of this pressure is a result of working with less people and resources, some a consequence of the nation’s financial meltdown, and perhaps some is the impact of an increasingly challenging and changing marketplace.
How does a leader hold up under the weight of these ongoing pressures? What will prevent you from cracking as the pressure to do more with less is magnified? Some of my clients have sought out coaching to guide them through these dark and lonely times. They recognize the value of a non-biased opinion and the importance of an accountability partner as they try to change their behavior. In my practice I often invite clients to reframe their thinking about the uncertainties they are facing. The simple act of changing how we think about a situation invites us to consider new approaches and possibilities.
It is difficult to ask for help when the storms of life are dumping heavy burdens on our already weary shoulders. Many of us have been taught and mentored to “suck it up” when under pressure and just work harder. Yet we all know that without a support network eventually every leader will succumb to the weight of his or her anxieties and fears. The lesson of a freak October snowstorm seems clear; seek help or like the snow-covered tree branch in my front yard you too will crack and fall.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Follow the Leader

This past week I shared a luncheon presentation with a small group of young business professionals on the topic of leading versus following. As a child I remember playing a “follow the leader” game where each participant was expected to duplicate all actions of the leader during the course of each round or lose your spot until the next stage began. This autocratic approach to management and leadership is far too common in today’s organizations. It’s a methodology that crushes the human spirit and does little to create motivated followers at any level.

Each of us longs for inspirational leadership—someone who trusts the human spirit, connects with employees and customers at a soul level, and who exudes hope and optimism. When I consider leaders who fit this description there is often no title or role to validate their actions. They are mothers, students, truck drivers, and coaches who inspire others to follow them, even while they assume the role of follower on just as many occasions.

Inspiring leaders are focused on serving others. They seek to be kind instead of just being right. They learn how to be empathetic listeners with a willingness to act in a constructive way to what they are hearing and learning. Inspiring leaders practice courage, live authentically, and love unconditionally.

A paradox of leading and following emerges when one considers that a quality leader is only as good as the quality of his or her followers. Effective followers support the cause of their inspiring leader. They tell the truth and keep their promises; are open and willing to learn and change; are capable of leading when required; and provide emotional and spiritual support to their leader.

I have experienced both sides of this paradox although others will judge how inspiring a leader I am or have been. Where might you emerge? Do your followers see you as an inspiring leader? Do you contribute effectively as a follower who supports the cause, keeps your promises, and contributes to the energy of your team?

Regardless of your role as leader or follower, one thing seems clear. Organizations would benefit from inspirational leadership and inspiring followers. By unlocking the potential of both groups a virtuoso performance is possible, even in difficult economic times.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Thinking Big

When Steve Jobs died less than two weeks ago, the world lost a brilliant American inventor and entrepreneur. His vision impacted so many aspects of our personal and professional lives. It’s hard for some of us to imagine not having a smart phone or a tablet computer. His versions of this technology, the iPhone and iPad, remain the best in class.

Jobs, who began his inventing in a garage, had an uncanny ability to foresee or set the next trend in technology. In that regard he was similar to National Hockey League hall-of-fame player, Wayne Gretzky, whose success was forged by skating to locations on the ice where he anticipated the puck would be. Like Jobs, he thrived by anticipating the future with astonishing accuracy.

Many of today’s leaders seem to lack any notion of the bigger picture. Political leaders are mostly preoccupied with protecting the familiar or status quo so their power isn’t diminished. Business leaders regularly respond like sheep by mimicking the products and services of competitors. Few demonstrate true innovation and vision about how to make a product or deliver a service that is unique or remarkable.

The unimaginative Occupy Wall Street protestors portend a dismal future for our nation. They have chosen to pit one class of society against another mostly to fuel their own selfish purposes. No one is thinking big about the future, embracing an economic system that rewards innovation and hard work. Instead they simply complain about those who have more than they do and openly proclaim their rights to free stuff provided at the coercive behest of a government that already has too much power.

When a problem is enormous, leaders would do well to dream about big solutions. This often involves dismantling processes, thinking, and systems that don’t serve us any longer. We all know how hard it is to break an old habit. That is the dilemma we face in our organizations and in our nation. Without a cohesive, committed effort toward thinking bigger we will succumb to the smallness of our selfish interests and nothing much will change.

I hope the death of Steve Jobs won’t signal an end to big thinking. Our current economic circumstances require more than pointing fingers. Who will step up to point the way?

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Envy or Aspiration

In recent weeks a “grassroots” protest effort on Wall Street has been loudly and angrily denouncing the evils of capitalism. It isn’t always entirely clear what those gathered there are demanding but as a casual observer it seems that much of what they are complaining about is driven by envy. By definition, envy is a resentful emotion that "occurs when a person lacks another's (perceived) superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it." It’s easy to see why envy often causes unhappiness. How can one be happy if his neighbor or some unnamed Wall Street banker has more money or possessions?

The capitalist system is unique in that it offers those who aspire to wealth or status the opportunity to achieve it by assuming risk and working exceptionally hard. Just ask the millions of entrepreneurs who pursue their dreams every day and are the primary engines that drive our economy. While some of them may have been envious of their competition, instead of complaining about their fate they aspired to accomplish even more. 

When leaders harbor envy there is often a victim mentality that accompanies such thinking. The focus becomes “How can I tear that other person down?” not “What must I aspire to so I can achieve similar or greater success?” Envy blinds leaders of the blessings, qualities, talents, and opportunities already present. Perhaps that is why so many of those protesting seem oblivious to how they can change their plight. By blaming others they don’t need to take personal responsibility for improving their lot in life.

Over the years I have been motivated by personal aspirations, not by envying what others have achieved. Many of my mentors and colleagues would echo this sentiment. Each of us has God-given talents that we are responsible to nourish and cultivate. No amount of complaining about how hard it is or how unfair the system can be should keep us from pressing forward.

Aspirations encourage positive thinking while envy breeds more negative thoughts. I hope the Wall Street protestors understand how dangerous the place they are wishing for will be. Without aspirations to feed ones soul the banality they seek will cripple the human spirit. Envy will have succeeded in its quest to “wish that others lacked what we also lack” but in its wake will be a far less productive and innovative society. I trust we can aspire to something greater than that.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Second Season

If you are a baseball fan this is the time of year when everything changes, unless your favorite team is the Pittsburgh Pirates who packed their bags earlier in the week after a record 19th consecutive losing season. The latter would be my plight...but I digress. The postseason is an exciting time as division champions and wild-card qualifiers battle to reach the World Series. Since I live near Philadelphia I’m wishing our home team, the Phillies, much success as they enjoy another appearance in baseball’s second season.

A player’s reputation can rise and fall based on his playoff performance. Just last year the Phillies star first baseman, Ryan Howard, was abysmal after a very productive regular season. Yesterday he quickly erased those memories with a towering home run that sparked a decisive win in Game One of this year’s division series. That’s the beauty of baseball’s second season, from goat to glory with one swing!

The goal of getting into baseball’s postseason is simple...make it to the World Series and win a championship. Along the way each team is challenged to find a combination of pitching, hitting, and defense that gives them a competitive edge. Sometimes it is one player whose on field performance ensures a victory—like a dominating pitcher. Other times it is the entire team’s commitment to superb execution, like timely hits, stolen bases, or outstanding defense that wins the game.

I doubt if leaders view their work in terms of regular or second seasons. With today’s challenging environment I’m thinking many leaders are simply in a survival mode. What might happen if leaders took seriously the challenge to turn their teams from consistent losers into a winning, productive group? Suppose everyone imagined their company as competing for a championship crown? What would your customers say if they experienced world-class service on a routine basis?
  
I don’t particularly like to quantify leadership and teamwork only in terms of winning or losing. We have enough over-the-top competition in the marketplace. But I do like the concept that second season implies—a chance to create a superb reputation for integrity, execution, and service. Play ball!