Monthly Archives: February 2013

#165 – A Tiny Word, yet Potentially Huge Risks

In response to last week’s essay about Captains and Lieutenants, one of my readers wrote this very insightful reply: I used to think about this a lot, because I was always more comfortable as a lieutenant than as a captain. I pushed myself to be captain to satisfy my ego, but I was never really comfortable in that role. As a lieutenant, it’s easy for me to make my captain look good and to get everything done that needed to be done.

Food for Thought ~

In his reply is The Tiny Word With The Potentially Huge Risks. The word is ego. In contemporary use, as in the above example, it is synonymous with self-esteem, self-worth, self-image, self-respect. However, ego is also used as shorthand for egotism, when healthy self-esteem slides into self-interest, self-importance, boastfulness, or hubris. If a leader is driven by egotism, their effectiveness as a leader diminishes dramatically. Their egotistic behavior reduces their positive influence, so they rely primarily on power and authority. Sadly, their behavior frequently undermines their own talents and goals. I have seen careers, projects, departments, and companies nosedive due to a leader’s ego. Often they are neither liked nor respected. For the individual, it’s a lonely penance. For companies, communities, and indeed, our world, the costs of egotism are huge. We see the results depicted in the news media every day.

Question for the day ~

Is your self-esteem healthy and well-balanced with concern for others and the greater good?

In Closing ~

My recent and relevant column in the North Bay Business Journal is about your values as a leader and your organization’s values. Click here to read the article.

Mary

#164 – Captains and Lieutenants

One of my readers shared with me his conclusion that he was a better lieutenant than a captain. In other words, he prefers, and excels, in being second in command, rather than first. I certainly have seen this principle illustrated in my work with leaders. There are people who are ideally suited for the top leadership position and others who are best suited for the next level. And there are some, who in certain circumstances, can do either job equally well.

Food for Thought ~

The important point here is to have the self-awareness and clarity to understand your own skills and strengths. In turn, you can then seek the level of leadership that is the best fit for you. Both of these leadership roles are crucial to a well-managed organization. Although we might be able to generalize as to what traits are best suited for which level, I think the more salient issue is to use this concept to be sure that all the leadership and management bases are covered. Every top leader/captain will have strengths and weaknesses, and having a good lieutenant is ideally someone who complements your skill set, someone who has the strengths you don’t have. If you are young, early in your career, serving as lieutenant is certainly a time-honored way to grow into the captain’s role. A small aside… the lieutenant position goes by many names or titles. That’s not important. What’s important is the function, the role and the trust and collaboration between the captain and lieutenant.

Question for the day ~

Which role are you best suited for – captain or lieutenant? If you are a captain, do you have trusted and skilled lieutenant(s)? If not, how can you develop someone for this position?

In Closing ~

My new column in the North Bay Business Journal is about clarifying your personal values as a leader and then extending that to the renewal of your organization’s values. Click here to read the article.

Kind regards,

Mary

#163 – Leadership and Love

Leadership and love are interwoven. Indeed, exceptional leaders generally come to understand that leading is more a matter of the heart than we might think.

Food for Thought ~

In their classic book, The Leadership Challenge, authors Kouzes and Posner end their 400 page treatise with this summary observation: “The best kept secret of successful leaders is love: staying in love with leading, with the people who do the work, with what their organizations produce, and with those who honor the organization by using its work.” I witnessed a beautiful example of this philosophy in an interview with British filmmaker, Anthony Minghella, the highly acclaimed director of operas and films, including the Oscar award-winning The English Patient. Minghella said: “I think the job is to love everybody, to give as much love as you can to everybody around you, to make them feel good about what they’re doing and proud of what they’re doing.” One of his actors, Jill Scott, commented: “Anthony Minghella expects the best and encourages it in the gentlest way.” I will add that I believe this applies to any leadership situation, whether you are leading a family, a neighborhood group, or a business. Leadership is about love.

Question for the day ~

Does this philosophy ring true for you? If so, how can you expand your expression of these principles?

In Closing ~

I am fortunate to be able to say quite sincerely, I love my clients! As Katherine Graham, former publisher of the Washington Post, once said: “To love what you do and feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun?”
Happy Valentine’s Day,

Mary

#162 – You Are What You You Eat and More

Most of us are familiar with the axiom, “You are what you eat.” That’s certainly true on the physical level. I believe it’s also true that “You are what you value.” Our values are calling the shots – whether we are aware of it or not. Values are what we hold dear, what we believe in, what matters most to us and gives our life meaning. Oh, and by the way, did I mention that values determine the decisions we make and the actions we take? Our personal values are supremely significant, shaping our lives and our experiences.

Food for Thought ~

For these reasons, it makes sense to be intimately acquainted with your values, to know what’s important to you. For some, this is a ready awareness. Others may need to give it some thought or set aside a chunk of time to reflect on the matter. It would be time well spent, much like aligning navigational instruments so they provide accurate readings. Our values can change and evolve over time, and may need updating. And for leaders, this is just the beginning. Part of being a leader is to guide your team/company through the organizational version of this values clarification and commitment process. My new column in the North Bay Business Journal is on this very subject, and you can click here to read the article.

Question for the day ~

What are your top five values? How do your values synchronize with your behaviors?

In Closing ~

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” Rumi

Mary