Success » The World of I

7 Keys to iLeadership

Mar 102011

Brushing up on leadership skills is a constant necessity for those who want to improve their leadership. I’ve learned leaders are constant learners and are often ferocious in learning as much as they can and reading as much as they can to improve who they are. Recently I purchase Brain Tracy’s book “How the Best Leaders Lead,” Brian details what he feels are the 7 most essential leadership qualities. Take a look:

First, leaders have a clear vision of where they are going, and they convey that vision to everyone around them. Remember our vision? Celebrating life with dedication, excellence and innovation.

Second, leaders have the courage to take risks, to move forward and to take risks with no guarantee of success. Samuel Johnson said, “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.”

Third, Leaders have integrity. Integrity defined as doing the right thing when no one else is around. There are 3 kinds of people, the unsuccessful, the temporary successful and those who become and remain successful. The difference is character!

Fourth, leaders are humble; they use the strength and knowledge of those around them. They know how to listen and they know how to learn. Noted author Jim Collins says, “The best leaders look into the window, not the mirror, to apportion credit for the success of the company.” The key, listen as much as they talk.

Fifth, leaders have foresight; they continually look ahead and anticipate what might happen. They place themselves in the best position for the best opportunities.

Sixth, leaders focus on what’s important. They concentrate their efforts on activities, time and resources of the company that will yield the greatest results and make the most difference. As Goethe said, the things that matter most must never be at the mercy of the things that matter least.”

Finally, leaders cooperate with others. They are liked and respected by others around them. They go out of their way to get along with key people upon which the company depends. They believe that people are their most valuable asset. Leadership is the ability to get people to work for you because they want too.

Ultimately, the most important contribution you can make to your company is to be a leader, accept responsibility for results and dare to go forward.

Which one of these qualities stands out the most to you? Which one do you struggle most with as a leader?

Got Your Attention? Got You!

follower, Maturity, Relationships, sheep, Spiritual Growth, Success No Responses »

Mar 092011

I was reading an article from a well-known motivational guru out of Houston named Mike Jones. Each day I get a nugget of motivation from Mike Jones in my email inbox. In one of those nuggets something really stood out. At the end of his morning motivational piece I read these words:

“…Remember – what gets your attention, gets YOU.”

Wow! How many things get our attention and gets us that is rarely important? How much time do we spend on items that really produce very little out of us? One could argue without balance the incredible world of digital and informational access could be on the top of that list. I have to admit, I am an Apple guy, I love their products and I am easily consumed by technology.

As a Christ follower I have learned that the enemy works subtly. Satan never intends to be obvious, because most of us are smart enough to dodge the obvious. The subtle, the mystique, we are not so good at deterring that one. The Bible calls us sheep. Sheep are not smart animals; they oft are easily lured away. Sheep are found eating away never paying attention to the surroundings that can easily entangle them, nor the dangers that loom nearby.

“All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

The Old Testament psalmist tells us to write the very words of God on our hearts. To bank the promises in the vaults of our heart to that we won’t bankrupt ourselves. As sheep we won’t fall victim or prey to the subtlety of the enemy. What gets our attention indeed gets us!

“I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.” Psalm 119:11

Interestingly enough scripture addresses the very statement that caught my attention, take a look:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

If my treasure is in technology, lust, porn, money, position, power, control or significance that’s where my heart will lie. My treasure should be in the very words of God above all, his truths stored in the vault of my heart. Not in the vault of my blackberry prayer or iphone app or Ipad2.

Do you find things getting your attention? Are there things stealing your heart? Have you been easily distracted or taken away like a lamb to the slaughter?

Ignore the Truth

follower, God, Spiritual Growth, Success No Responses »

Mar 022011

This past weekend my family and I decided to all go and watch a movie. While heading out early to grab lunch my wife’s friend called and reminded her about a concert. Once she hung up the phone, we took a family vote and decided to forego the movie and catch the concert instead. So we went to lunch with the anticipation of catching some live music a little later.

As we approached downtown, we found a place to park and paid, then began the long trek to the center for the concert. Lots of folks were walking in the same direction, so the excitement was building. The kids were in a bit more of a brisk walk, more than usual. They were smiling and talking about their excitement to see a live concert.

As we reached the venue, the lines were tremendous, so much so, you could hardly see the entrance doors. We waited uncertain as to what the holdup was. We moved around to another area that seemed to be moving quicker, when a worker opened the door and said the concert was full and no one else would be allowed inside. While disappointed, there was another movie theater close by so we opted to again revert back to the movie. While walking back to our car, I decided to be a Good Samaritan and let others that were waiting know of the news we just received.

The reaction was stunning. People stood there acknowledged us and continue to wait in line or continued to head toward the venue as though we had said nothing. My children responded, “Dad, why aren’t they listening to you?” While we all have had someone tell us something untrue, this seemed different. As is common for me, my mind began to drift to spiritual things. I thought back to the times of Christ, when this very thing occurred to him. So many Doubting Thomases’ then and they still remain today.

How many times have you told someone the truth and they simply didn’t believe you? How many times have you heard the truth and chose not to believe it? We’ve all done it and likely will do it again. Is it good for us to be so skeptical? Are we too skeptical? Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through me.” Yet, so many don’t believe that or they have heard it and they continue to walk toward the venue.

Truth is difficult even for the wisest of people. Many times we ignore the truth or chose to ignore it. But Jesus said, “…the truth shall set you free.” Freedom in truth with the key being our ability to accept it and that’s another blog post.

What truth have you chosen to ignore? What truth have you accepted?

3 Critical Phases of Employee Development

Leadership, Relationships, Success No Responses »

Feb 282011

As a sales professional, I want to talk about a challenge all of us have in leading teams, especially sales teams. You interview, hire, train and the person just doesn’t turn out like you thought. Or as a leader, you inherit a team of folks who have been with your company for quite a while and they just seem to be going through the motions. No drive, motivation, passion or buy in, they simply seem to be coming to work right on time and leaving promptly at 5pm.

How do you change that? How do you turn them around? Believe it or not there is something you can do. You’ve likely tried all the methods most managers would. You may have tried to be inspirational and encouraging, you may have tried what you thought were great incentives and lots of Atta-boys or Atta-girls, yet nothing seems to stick. I want to share with you what I believe will revolutionize the way you manage. But you must listen closely.

I want to share with you 3 phases you must take your people through in order for them to come to work with passion and dedication and the real desire to make a mark with your clients.

First, is the compliance phase? Many of your staff members are likely stuck here. They are simply performing their duties to compliance with no passion or drive. During their reviews you may get a lot of head nods, ummm-hmmm’s yet they languish through each day; leaving sharply at 5pm. Rarely do they run appointments after 5 o’clock or in the evenings. They are simply compliant. If you have a sales rep and you constantly have to drive them to quota, or your conversations revolve around the rules of your company, they are on the compliant phase of development. It’s time to move them to a different phase.

Second, is the Buy-in phase? The Buy-In phase is really established by you the Sales Manger during the training and onboard process established by your company. When sales reps see you model the scripts, model the process and observe you in action, they unknowingly are moving into the Buy-In phase. When they observe you networking with clients, office management and other associates, they begin to buy in to what it is you do. When they observe you during in home appointments, making them money, they are in the buy-in phase. This is a critical phase and one that you have great control over.

Thirdly, is the ownership phase? This is the phase we would like all of our employees to be in. In this phase employees come to work before work starts, they go the extra mile to provide families with an incredible experience of service beyond expectation. They work evenings excited about the possibility to get the next big sale. Their attitudes are infectious; they comment to you how much they love their jobs. These are the”A” players on your team. We would love for all of our staff members to be in the ownership phase, to be the “A” team.

As you read to this you have staff in a variety of these phases. The truth is that the majority of employees are in-between the compliance and buy-in phases. So in order to make this transition, you must first look in the mirror as the leader and ask yourself, which phase am I in? Then make the appropriate adjustments.

Next begin to model it with your new hires. Here are 2 questions I ask you to make a part of your everyday leading.

1) What can I do to help you?

2) What else do you need from me?

When you have your entire staff asking these 2 questions, service will improve overnight and will reflect in customer satisfaction. Your sales will naturally improve, teamwork will improve, and job satisfaction will absolutely improve. Here’s what we know;

Your people are either green and growing or they are dying and decaying.

What have you found to be the most difficult stage?

Lesson #1: Failure or Growth

hurtful words, Leadership, Maturity, Relationships, Spiritual Growth, Success 1 Response »

Feb 232011

Yesterday I observed someone accepting failure. While it was painful to watch, it caused me to reflect on my own failures. It caused me to think back to the times I blew it and there was no fixing it. Sometimes despite all of our efforts we cannot repair things. I also thought about what carried me. For me it was my faith, my faith that God loves me more than my own earthly father and truly knows what’s best for me. I resided myself in the thought that God is in control and I’m not, while I don’t understand why this occurring, I must accept it and more importantly grow from it.

It hurts to Grow.

The truth is at times we as humans can be rather predictable. We steer away from the pain to comfort. That comfort might be food instead of exercise. That comfort might be clamming up instead of openly communicating. That comfort may be relying on what you know instead of choosing to learn, grow and develop new thoughts and ideas. It can be a myriad of things, however, the truth remains we do not like pain.

It hurts to Grow.

I’ve been enamored with this idea for the better part of 20 years. Why is it that in order to be better we must suffer? Why is it for us to become stronger there must be some life-altering event? What is it that occurs in those critical moments when emotion floods logic? When we want to scream instead of be calm, when we want to lash out instead of own. It has and continues to intrigue me.

It hurts to Grow.

In the New Testament book of James, chapter 1, the author says that we should consider pain, trials, difficulties, problems joy. Joy, I don’t know many people who are genuinely excited about problems and difficulties. The author then goes on to say, that the problems, tragedies and difficulties that these events and moments are meant to test and challenge our faith. Why? Why does my faith need to be challenged?

It hurts to Grow.

Probably for the same reason teams play other teams, the challenge makes them better, more agile. Players watch films and recognize weaknesses or moments where they make mistakes and in that recognition, there is correct and reproof. See when we are hurt, we need to breathe, step back and allow the emotion to run its due course. Then get our heads together to process through what just occurred. While I have mentioned the following in other posts, it’s appropriate to mention again.

It hurts to Grow.

Years ago I stopped asking why and starting asking what. Here’s what I mean. Instead of asking God why is this happening to me or why God are you allowing this to occur. Take another approach, ask what. Like this:

1) God what are trying to show me?

2) God what are you trying to teach me?

3) God what is it that you want me to learn?

4) God what did I do, if any, to cause this?

These are all amazing questions to ask yourself following failure. It’s not easy, but the beauty is on the other side. You will become better, stronger, and wiser and more importantly, more like Jesus. That is the ultimate goal.

What are some things you have learned to ask yourself when you fail?

3 Critical Phases of Employee Development

Leadership, Relationships, Success No Responses »

Feb 212011

As a business leader, I want to talk about a challenge all of us have in leading teams, especially sales teams. You interview, hire, train and the person just doesn’t turn out like you thought. Or as a leader, you inherit a team of folks who have been with the company for quite a while and they just seem to be going through the motions. No drive, motivation, passion or buy in, they simply seem to be coming to work and leaving at 5pm. No good for most sales people, outside of business to business.

How do you change that? How do you turn them around? Believe it or not there is something you can do. You’ve likely tried all the methods most managers would. You may have tried to be inspirational and encouraging, you may have tried what you thought were great incentives and lots of Atta-boys, yet nothing seems to stick. I want to share with you what I believe will revolutionize the way you manage. But you must listen closely.

I want to share with you 3 phases you must take your people through in order for them to come to work with passion and dedication and the real desire to serve others beyond expectation.

First, is the compliance phase? Many of your staff members are likely stuck here. They are simply performing their duties to compliance with no passion or drive. During side-bar conversations or reviews you may get a lot of head nods, ummm-hmmm’s yet they languish through each day; leaving sharply at 5pm. rarely do they run appointments after 5 o’clock. They are simply compliant. If you have a sales associate and you constantly have to drive them to quota, or your conversations revolve around the rules of your company, they are on the compliant phase of development. It’s time to move them to a different phase.

Second, is the Buy-in phase? The Buy-In phase is really established by you the Sales Manger during the training and onboard process established by your company. When associates see you model the sales process, they unknowingly are moving into the Buy-In phase. When they observe you networking with company associates and other associates, they begin to buy in to what it is you do. When they observe you during in home appointments, making them money, they are in the buy-in phase. This is a critical phase and one that you have great control over.

Thirdly, is the ownership phase? This is the phase we would like all of our employees to be in. In this phase employees come to work before work starts, they go the extra mile to provide families with an incredible experience of service beyond expectation. They work evenings excited about the possibility to make sales. Their attitudes are infectious; they comment to you how much they love their jobs. These are the”A” players on your team. We would love for all of our staff members to be in the ownership phase, to be the “A” team.

As you listen to this you have staff in a variety of these phases. The truth is that the majority of our employees are in-between the compliance and buy-in phases. So in order to make this transition, you must first look in the mirror as the leader and ask yourself, which phase am I in? Then make the appropriate adjustments.

Next begin to model it with your new hires, existing employees and the like. Here are 2 questions I ask you to make a part of your everyday leading.

1) What can I do to help you?

2) What else do you need from me?

When you have your entire staff asking these 2 questions, service will improve literally overnight. Your sales will naturally improve, teamwork will improve, and job satisfaction will absolutely improve.

Here’s what we know;

Your people are either green and growing or they are dying and decaying.

“23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Col 3:23-24

Work at Work - Home at Home

God, Leadership, Maturity, Relationships, Spiritual Growth, Success No Responses »

Feb 182011

People need to learn to leave work at work and stuff at home at home. Ever hear that saying before? I know I have. Or how about that, leave your ego at the door? Whoever was brilliant enough to create these sayings did a great job. We’ve all heard them before.

I have to honestly say, I disagree. I don’t think it’s possible. Why? We are complex as humans; we have physical, spiritual, emotional all going on in unison. It would be like saying, wake up tomorrow and don’t breathe. Or for the Christian, go to work but leave Jesus outside the office.

Excuse me, not gonna happen. The truth is, we mature and learn to cope at various levels with things. We learn perseverance in times of difficulty or to keep on keeping on, even when we would rather quit. Or how about this one, Listen, I know your dad just died, but you need to leave that stuff at home.

Do a little research and you’ll find companies now are trying to mitigate some of these issues by creating environments that include avenues for these issues to be vetted out? Some businesses have napping pods, daycare centers and chaplains or pastors that walk around and infuse themselves into the employee’s life. Why?

The truthful companies have seen that when you hire someone, you hire them with all their baggage. Divorce, drinking, broken homes, bad behavior, the whole kit and caboodle. You get all of it. These employers have also learned that lots of money is wasted on sick days and personal days that cost big money to corporations.

In no way am I saying that I am against sick days or personal days, they certainly have their place. However, on a much grander scale, even the smart companies have picked up on the obvious. We are complex beings and trying to separate those things out of our work and personal lives is virtually impossible.

Men are defined by what they do, how much they make, and their professional success. Women typically are defined by feeling valued, a sense of belonging, important work. For many of us what we do is a very large part of who we are. Quite frankly, I love what I do for a living. I also love my family and the work I do is in major part due to providing for them.

Leave work at work, home at home. Hogwash, the real key is learning to manage your personal and professional lives. Maturity does wonders, coping is important, your faith is essential. Jesus is with me everywhere I go, I remember the impact on my life, when I realized that. I spent way too much of my life trying to pontificate his purpose for my life, his will. When the truth is, he is with me always.

No matter where I am, work, family, God, they are all with me, they are who I am. Except it, manage it, learn to cope, you’ll be glad you did.

Have you heard that saying before? How do you feel about it? Can we leave work at work, home at home?

The Secret to Success

Leadership, Relationships, Spiritual Growth, Success No Responses »

Feb 092011

As I rapidly approach my 40^th birthday I find myself reflecting on much in my life. Lately I have thought about all the leadership and business books I have read over the years. Being a pretty veracious reader, I assure you I have read quite a few. Leadership secrets have become to some, much like a drug of sorts.

Every month, some author has a new twist on the characteristics of what a leader is or what a leader should be. It’s easy in our give it to me now, fast food society to become a leadership addict. Constantly looking for that next tip or suggestion, story or characteristic that just might take you to the next level.

So I have come to some conclusions that I’d like to share. I’ve come to the conclusion that leadership really is about one single most important characteristic. While having experience is no doubt valuable, you can lead without it and learn along the way. While having a strategic mind can be helpful and insightful in guiding a leader through the minutia of office politics, that too can be learned.

While being a great orator is incredibly helpful, that too can be improved upon and one can become a better speaker over the course of time. Yet there remains one single characteristic that I feel surmounts all of these important leadership criteria. If we were to flip chart the characteristics of a fine leader, I have no doubts the chart would be covered with things like smart, well-groomed, well dressed, intelligent, passionate, effective communicator, strategist, field expert and so on the list would go.

Yet, again I am convinced there is one single characteristic that overshadows all of these. Over the years I have found myself more and more moved by the leadership of the Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. President Mandela shares this incredible characteristic and the more I read about him, watch video and film about him, it seeps through the very fabric of who he is.

I am convinced it was this very single characteristic that has yielded him the success he so aptly deserves. Have you figured it out yet?

Attitude.

Simple, yet powerful, I remain completely convinced “ATTITUDE” remains the overarching secret to true success in business and life in general. Our ability to keep our attitude in check is paramount in our success and how we perceive failure or defeat. It’s the single most powerful secret to my personal Savior and Lord Jesus’ success. Look at a few scriptures.

“be made new in the attitude of your minds…” Eph 4:23

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Phil 2:5

If you want to be a true success, be influential beyond your wildest dreams or expectations, garner the right attitude. It will take you beyond the top to worlds unimagined. You can choose your attitude. You can change your attitude. Only you can, no one else. What will you choose? Next to his son, God gave each of us the second greatest gift. Choice.

Do you need to adjust your attitude? Have you locked in on the “ATTITUDE” of success?

Life Sentence

death, Fear, God, Leadership, Relationships, Spiritual Growth, Success No Responses »

Feb 082011

Ever thought about your life sentence? I’m not talking about prison; I’m talking about what people will say about your life when you are no longer here. Have you thought about it? If you are like most, you have not thought about it. If you have it was only brief, let’s face it no one likes to think about not being here.

I work in the funeral business and I can tell you that the summation of our life will be etched on a tombstone somewhere. What will it say? In many of the cemeteries, I see military markers or beloved father, brother and husband. Really! That’s it; my whole life came to the word beloved?

More than a hundred years ago, a Swedish chemist name Alfred Nobel opened the morning newspaper to read his own obituary. Unfortunately for Alfred, they had confused his brother with him. Alfred’s brother had passed away, but the obituary read, “Alfred Nobel, a chemist, died a wealthy man. As the inventor of dynamite, he enabled people to kill each other more efficiently than ever before.”

As you can imagine, this got Alfred to thinking. Reading those words was a major life change moment. So Alfred took action and began to make some changes in his own life. He set his wealth aside in a fund designed to be given to people who fostered peace as opposed to killing. That fund still exists today and is known as “The Nobel Peace Prize.”

Late in his life Alfred Nobel said, “I believe everyone deserves a chance to change their obituary in the middle of their life.” Interesting. Benjamin Franklin, an accomplished inventor, philosopher and statesman had this statement prepared for his gravestone: “Benjamin Franklin. A printer. Food for worms.”

What will your life sentence be?

Before Jesus ascended to heaven to be at the right hand of the father, he left us with what ought to be our life sentence. He told us to go into all the world and make disciples, to baptize. This is known as the great commission. He also told us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love others (our neighbors).

The fact remains that none of us will escape physical death. The question remains what will our life sentence be? What will our legacy be, what will others say in passing when we are gone? Tough questions to answer, the good news is you and I have today to begin. We can start now to change the past and set the future on the right course. Here’s a question to ask yourself that may help:

What would I want others to say about me, when I’m gone?

Now, you must brutally ask yourself, am I that? Do I do those things? If not, you can start today, now! The future is in our hands; God loves you enough to give you the freedom of choice. Will you begin today?

What would you like your life sentence to say? Do you need to make some changes?

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The World of I

7 Keys to iLeadership

Which one of these qualities stands out the most to you? Which one do you struggle most with as a leader?

Got Your Attention? Got You!

“…Remember – what gets your attention, gets YOU.”

“All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

“I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.” Psalm 119:11

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Do you find things getting your attention? Are there things stealing your heart? Have you been easily distracted or taken away like a lamb to the slaughter?

Ignore the Truth

What truth have you chosen to ignore? What truth have you accepted?

3 Critical Phases of Employee Development

Your people are either green and growing or they are dying and decaying.

What have you found to be the most difficult stage?

Lesson #1: Failure or Growth

What are some things you have learned to ask yourself when you fail?

3 Critical Phases of Employee Development

Your people are either green and growing or they are dying and decaying.

“23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Col 3:23-24

Work at Work - Home at Home

Have you heard that saying before? How do you feel about it? Can we leave work at work, home at home?

The Secret to Success

“be made new in the attitude of your minds…” Eph 4:23

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Phil 2:5

Do you need to adjust your attitude? Have you locked in on the “ATTITUDE” of success?

Life Sentence

What would I want others to say about me, when I’m gone?

What would you like your life sentence to say? Do you need to make some changes?

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