Is it Time to Say it Differently?

Do you ever feel like no one is listening? Like you are Charlie Brown's teacher, wah, wah, wah, wah?
It might be time to imagine you are a baseball pitcher and change things up.
In their book, Made to Stick, Authors Chip and Dan Heath say, “The most basic way to get someone’s attention is this: Break a pattern.”
[Tweet "“The most basic way to get someone’s attention is to break a pattern.” - Chip & Dan Heath"]
Is there a message in your organization that feels tired and worn? If so, today is the day to say it in a new way.
Randy
What message do you need to change up in your organization?
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Empower Your People to do Great Things

And so it begins ... political season officially kicks off today with the Iowa Caucuses as America seeks to find its next leader.
In the spirit of the season, I was reminded of the quote from former US president, Ronald Reagan ... "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things."
[Tweet "The best teams have leaders who are focused on making those around them better."]
As you begin a new month of work you will be tempted to focus on your job. If you really want to be great, spend a bulk of your time focused on your people. Empower, resource, and encourage others to do great things and you will be well on your way to greatness.
Randy
Do you know a leader who empowers those around them? What effect do you think it has on their team?
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Do You Go First?

If you want to know who the leader is in any group, pay attention to the one who goes first.
[Tweet "If you want to know who the leader is in any group, pay attention to the one who goes first."]
“If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?” Probably. And the one who jumped first would be our leader.
Has your team failed to live up to your expectations? If so, you might ought to look in the mirror. They are merely doing what you do.
Need a group of hard workers? Then work hard. Looking for a relational bunch? Be accessible and show that you care. Hoping for others to show initiative? Model it.
There is a reason the leader is called leader. It’s because he takes the lead.
Leaders Go First!
Randy
Who do you know that models the “Leaders Go First” mindset?
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Is Your Castle Full of Friends?

There are many things I love about my life. Near the top of the list are the people in my inner circle. I cannot imagine how hard leadership would be without a few trusted partners.

Sadly, everywhere I go I meet leaders who feel lonely. They remind me of a line from the the 1941 film Citizen Kane describing Charles Foster Kane.

Is Your Castle Full of Friends?

There are many things I love about my life. Near the top of the list are the people in my inner circle. I cannot imagine how hard leadership would be without a few trusted partners.
Sadly, everywhere I go I meet leaders who feel lonely. They remind me of a line from the the 1941 film Citizen Kane describing Charles Foster Kane.
"In his castle surrounded by riches without allies, isolated."

I'm guessing, like me, you never want to feel that way. What good is a castle without someone to share it with?
As a leader the most important thing you have is your people. Please don't neglect their worth. Listen to their stories, value their opinions, and foster their dreams.
[Tweet "People don't leave organizations, they leave leaders."]
If you will remember what is really important, and refuse to isolate yourself, your will castle can be full friends, and you will love your life.
Randy
Why do you think so many leaders end up isolated?
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A Leadership Lesson from Humpty Dumpty

A couple days ago I ran across a conversation between Humpty Dumpty and Alice. The dowdy egg was being questioned by the girl from Wonderland about the meaning of a word he had used out of context.

“When I use a word, it means exactly what I tell it to mean.”  Translated = Humpty was a bit delusional. Not surprising for a nursery rhyme character, but an indicator of one of the biggest temptations we all face … to live in denial and define things to our advantage.

No one is immune from this temptation. We tell ourselves we are fit, when truthfully many of us lack the self control to push away from the table. Who needs resolutions! We convince ourselves we are generous, but our finances say otherwise. We believe ourselves to be committed to family time, when in reality most of the time our families are together everyone’s face is plastered to a screen.

[Tweet "Leaders who lie long enough begin to believe the lies. Such people really only hurt themselves."]

If you want to make progress over the coming weeks, begin by refusing to change the definitions. Excellence means there are no short cuts. Integrity (wholeness) encompasses every area, not just the places where it is convenient. And a great relationship requires one to show up and be fully present.

Perhaps the reason Humpty Dumpty had a great fall was because he lost the ability to balance truth and reality. Remember, once he fell no one could put him back together. As leaders, our influence is fragile. Let’s commit ourselves to being men and women who do what is right and refuse to alter the meanings.

Leadership Begins at Home,

Randy

What is one area where leaders lie to those they lead?

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Do Others Want to Follow You?

Leaders have a tendency to fall into one of two camps.
There are those who walk around looking for what others are doing wrong. Whenever they find it, they smack the guilty party on the hand. These leaders come across as harsh, critical, and negative toward their team. The result is sagging morale, and believe it or not, lower performance. This style of leadership is an indicator of insecurity on the part of the leader.
Thankfully, there is the second kind of leader. The one who looks to catch others doing right. This leader sees the potential in his team. He is positive, affirming, and constantly building others up. The result is high morale. With such a leader performance soars. He is confident, secure, and full of trust.
There are many things beyond your control as a leader. One thing that is not is what kind of leader you choose to be. The choice is YOURS.
[Tweet "If you want to maximize your impact, become a positive leader."]
If you want to maximize your impact, I suggest you become the second kind of leader. Do so and watch what happens. You will soon look behind you and find an army of people wanting to be on your team.
Leadership Begins at Home,
Randy
Are you more apt to be a positive or a negative leader?
What would your team say? 
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Is the Force with You?

Last night a couple of my kids played the crazy card and caught the midnight premiere of the new Star Wars movie. So much for raising them right. I think I'm the only American who has never seen a Star Wars movie, but with or without me, it appears the force still lives.
Is the force with you?
One of my favorite words is the word “virtue.” It is not a word we use much anymore, but it is a great word.
Virtue traces its origin back to the Hebrew language. Its actual meaning is “force.” In other words, when a person has virtue, in the form of character and integrity, that person is a force.
[Tweet "When a leader has virtue, in the form of character and integrity, that leader is a force."]
In his book, IntegrityDr. Henry Cloud alludes to the power of virtue when he writes, “When a hurricane comes through a town, you can see the results of its force. When the wind moves across the water, or through the trees, you can see the results of its force. Likewise, when you move through life, through your company or organization, through your career, and through your relationships, your character is going to be a ‘force.’”
Many leaders fail to recognize the “force” of their character. Company after company fails because the person in charge lacks virtue. The result is a team that is drowning in the wake of a leader's lack of character.
As you approach today, I hope you will lead with integrity. Make virtue your focus and watch what happens. Your character will be a force!
Leadership Begins at Home,
Randy
What is one area of your leadership virtue that needs to improve during the upcoming month?
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The World Needs More YOU!

Last Friday I had the opportunity to speak to a company's core leadership team on the subject of high performance. To set up the day we looked at several changing market dynamics.

I think we would all agree, from technology to competition, the demand to adapt to the needs of your customer base is enormous. The only thing unchanging is the pace of change, which continues to accelerate. 

[Tweet "The only thing unchanging is the pace of change, which continues to accelerate."]

With our minds wrapped around the need for change, it was the end of the day that brought us back to reality. The company brought in Howard Behar, former president of Starbucks International for a Q&A after I spoke. What an honor to share the stage with such a great leader ... and talk about a guy who is comfortable with change. Howard helped take Starbucks from 28 stores to over 23,000 during his time with the company. 

Howard Behar

But it was what Howard said about not changing that resonated most. 

"I'd rather work for an organization that was unsuccessful, yet true to their values, than one that was successful financially without being true to their values. Never change who you are. Hold to your values!" 

Howard's words challenged me on many levels. Truthfully I value my values much more than I do financial success. But if I'm dirt honest, I am conflicted at times. Too often it is easy to be lured by the bottom line or to desire approval from those I encourage. 

[Tweet "Holding to your values will lead to greater influence."]

How about you? Do you set your affection more on your success or your values? Are there times when you compromise who you are to impress others. 

Duplicity is the enemy of trust. You can increase your impact if you will be who you are ... define your values and live them out. If you want to win in today's marketplace and you're a values driven leader, be willing to change everything except the most important thing ... who you are.

The world needs more YOU!

Leadership Begins at Home,

Randy

Why do you think so many leaders compromise on their values?

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Is Your Team Bringing You Life?

One of my favorite authors is, corporate poet, David Whyte. In his work, The House of Belonging, Whyte reminds his readers of the importance of being surrounded by people who bring life.
He writes, “Anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you.”
As you look at your team, is there anyone who is not bringing you life? Is there anyone on your team who would say you are not bringing life to them?
Great leaders are emotionally intelligent. They pay attention to relationships, seeking to add value to the people they lead. They also are wise enough to rid themselves of draining team members.
If you want to have a great team, it starts with people who bring each other life. Anyone who fails in that department might be too small for you.  
Leadership Begins at Home,
Randy
What type of team members bring life to you as a leader?
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