Power. Formal power bestowed upon us. Once we finally get some, it feels good. No, it's more than good. It's validation that our point of view is right, and those who report to us are fortunate to have us as their leader. Thank goodness we're here to make sure we control everything around us, and stop learning new technologies and modern approaches to working with people. Thank goodness that we're right!
Bigger Is Better
Now that we have all this power, we can begin to expand our internal empire. We need more authority, whether it fits into our vague job description or not. Our influence must grow. Our impact must grow. After all, we're important, and just need some extra time to show everyone how big and important we are. The greater our influence, the bigger our role becomes. Bigger is absolutely better.
Current Is Not Better
Wow are we busy! There are so many people that we need to intimidate that there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. This makes it impossible for us to understand the differences in our workforce or to learn new tools or ways of thinking. Remember, we have the power! It's OK if we aren't current. We wouldn't be in these jobs if we were supposed to learn. We're done with that. We all ready know how to treat people, right?
Dinosaurs Were Big Too
The antiquated and pathetic leadership style I just described is so far out of touch with today's workforce that I don't think I can fully explain the FAIL. Sadly, we've all had colleagues who espouse this philosophy.
It's true dinosaurs were big and powerful and had tremendous influence over their world. Until they could no longer adapt to that world and became nothing more than a display in a museum of bizarre creatures from a time long ago.
I wish I could tell you that being a leader is easy. Simply land that big promotion and presto! You're a leader! Oh sure, the perks are incredible: on-call 24/7, never able to truly finish your work, lots of great technology holstered to your hip so you can check your email at 11:30 every night, and of course the greatest perk of all - the opportunity to satisfy customers above, below, and at your level. What a great gig! Right?
How About You
Leadership is a privilege. Power is not your right, it is a gift that must be given away as frequently as possible. The shrewd leader understands that in giving power away, it comes back ten fold. Do you believe that you are always right? Have you convinced yourself that learning no longer applies to you? Is bigger always better? If so, don't be surprised if those around you show respect to your face, but mock you privately as just another museum piece waiting to be retired. Trust me, it's happening right now.
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic courtesy of www.123rf.com/photo_2409749.html
I use my Droid Fascinate smartphone constantly. Whether I use it to take notes during meetings (I've given up paper), or text, tweet and chat, manage multiple email accounts, post on facebook, check LinkedIn, read blog posts, surf the web, manage my hectic schedule, use my voice-activated GPS, read the New York Times or Mashable, or actually talk on it, my Droid is completely integrated into my life.
I also work for a very sophisticated healthcare organization. We use technology for everything from documentation to implanting miraculous devices that practically restore hearing, to replacing failing little hearts with new ones.
And we all live in such a technologically advanced society that human beings now blast into outer space and work on space stations. We use Skype or Green Interview to speak face-to-face with candidates from across the globe. We praise the power or lament the shortcomings of various 24/7 news organization's coverage of our world which brings us real time coverage of events.
So as a fan of the original Star Trek series I've been convinced for some time that everything from that 1960's classic would one day come true.
EXCEPT FOR ONE THING
One of the strengths of the Star Trek series was the diversity of the cast. Check out the picture above, all sorts of countries, colors (and planets!) are represented as valued members of the team. Nations came together to make the universe a better place. Nations. You know, like Israel, North Korea, Iraq, Venezuela, China and the United States together on the same team.
Maybe having our entire planet come together is too lofty a goal for now. Perhaps we should focus on just our country. Hmm...still too much? How about our organizations stepping up and including everyone as equals? That just may work. Whether or not you have strong feelings about which department should own diversity and inclusion, you need to own it. That's right. Stop waiting for someone else to get started. YOU need to do it.
And so do I.
HOW ABOUT YOU
Are you up for the challenge? Are you willing to critically examine not only your own belief system, but to accept the fact that waiting for someone else to "do it" has never made a difference? Ever. I've taken that step, and I think you should join me.
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic courtesy of The Supernatural World
We face them all the time. Sometimes dramatic, sometimes not. One thing we can guarantee though, is that unexpected moments are something we should "expect." So how do we react to these moments? Just as importantly, how do we prepare to react?
BE READY
I never seem to get used to the idea that I am viewed differently by many employees. Partly out of respect or partly out of fear - (good grief I hope not the latter!) - they see me differently. Which means they are watching me (Me = Us). They are watching how I react to the various issues I must address every day.
Am I consistent? Am I fair? Do they realize why the phrase burden of leadership is so incredibly accurate sometimes? The answer to these questions is simple - it doesn't matter. We are expected to handle ourselves well. Period.
Whether we like it or not, as Charles Wallace wrote recently, with the privilege of leadership comes responsibility.
TIME TO PREPARE
The path to readiness for these unexpected moments is not a difficult one. It actually comes down to a decision, a commitment, to do the right thing in the moment. Handling situations well that we know are coming and that we've had time to prepare for, afford us the opportunity to smoothly roll out our plans. That is not a true test of our leadership. Yes, those situations are important, and need to be handled well. However, the true test always comes in those unexpected moments that catch us off-guard.
That is when we can make a huge difference. Right at that precise moment.
HOW ABOUT YOU
How do you react when your world turns upside down in an instant? What do your employees see? Are you calm, focused, and leading the way; or, in that split-second do you show the team that perhaps you don't deserve their respect just yet?
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic courtesy of http://www.blacklava.net/
