Hey Leader...Grab A Towel!

I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking, speaking, and writing about effective leadership. It's been such a big part of my professional and personal life for so long that I don't really know anything else. Sometimes I'm convinced I've figured out the key pieces of being a leader...and at other times I feel like I'm just getting started.

...and that's where the trouble begins...

Title and Being Right
For many leaders having a fancy job title equates with their opinion always being the correct one. This is a colossal failure, and sadly happens regularly to those who find themselves with new authority or power.

Let's pause for a moment to remember what leaders are supposed to do. Our task is to guide, inspire, support and harness the power of the bright people around us. Our job is not to be an idea factory that squashes the creative genius of our teams.

Are you with me? It's not about us...it's about us leading our colleagues!

Title and Vision
Here's where thing get a little tricky. Leaders need to have a vision of how the team, department, organization or industry can be in the future. Their needs to be an inner drive to move toward that vision that gets the people around you fired up. 

However, the path to achieving that vision needs to be a shared process. When leaders who are unaccustomed to new found power, combine their enthusiasm with "their vision" we quickly find ourselves with a disengaged team and embarrassing credibility issues for the leader.

Remember the Emperor with no clothes? Well...you get my point.

How About You
Think about the leaders you work with...and think about your own leadership style. Is the combination of power and vision compromising your ability to inspire, support and leverage the team's creativity? 

If so, it might be time to reach for a towel and cover up.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



pic

Be More...I'm Talking to Myself

I've come to realize two important things over the last year. The first is that I enjoy blogging much more than I ever thought I would. The ability to engage with people from around the world, to challenge conventional thought, and to hold myself, and you, accountable on the most public of platforms can be very powerful.

The second is that I feel a need to have NoExcusesHR be more. As many of you know, I am a long time healthcare human resources professional. When I survey the healthcare HR landscape I simply do not see enough (or any) voices pushing the issues from an industry that dominates state and federal budgets, creates political grid-lock in Washington, and took over the Supreme Court for an unprecedented three days of debate.

It's time for NoExcusesHR, and me, to be more.

What Does That Mean

2013 is going to look and feel a bit different. Yes, leadership is a passion of mine, and will continue to be a regular topic here. My #HealthcareHR series will continue as well in an attempt to fill a gaping HR leadership hole in my industry. Overall my posts may be less frequent as I try to elevate my game, but the same level of energy and accountability will remain.

I'm also looking forward to speaking more as the appropriate opportunities arise. I almost feel an obligation to discuss HR's role both as leaders inside our organizations, as well as what HR is doing (or should be doing) to stay current in the healthcare industry. That is going to be fun...and loud!

It Might Get Ugly
I can't guarantee that my writing will be any better. Nor can I promise that my presentations will be inspiring every time. But what I can speak confidently about is that as I juggle new projects at work, dive into this blog as well as the PerformanceICreate project, and stand up in front of an unsuspecting audience somewhere, I will bring the energy, and yes passion, for what I'm doing each and every time.

How About You
Beyond the corny resolutions and personal goals list for the coming year, what is it that you are seriously building into your life for 2013. Are you as fired up as I am? If not, throw out your list and start over. This stuff is simply too important to take lightly.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



Pic from the Keynote at the 2012 Healthcare Internet Conference