Lee Ellis's Blog, page 136

On This Day in Leadership History, August 23rd

On this day in leadership history in 1999, rescuers in Turkey found a young boy that had been buried in rubble from an earthquake for about a week.

What’s the leadership lesson? Leaders with persistence, endurance, and strength of character can do amazing things and help others along the way, too.

1999 Turkey Earthquake – Wikipedia

 

 

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Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, August 21, 2020

“Regardless of age or experience, listening must be reciprocal. We all need to listen, but unfortunately we still have a few leaders who are tone deaf.” – Lee Ellis

 

 

 

 

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Fantastic Leading with Honor Testimonial

Thank you, Dan Janal, Author of “Write Your Book In A Flash”, for your kind words about the Leading with Honor message –

“Without a doubt, Lee Ellis’ book, [Leading with Honor], is not only the most inspiring book I’ve read but as a book coach and ghostwriter, I can say it is one of the best organized and best written. Unlike many books in this genre, Lee’s book has several techniques that help leaders understand his valuable lessons and apply his worthwhile techniques.”

Purchase Your Copy

 

 

 

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The Best Behaviors for Listening Leaders

By Lee Ellis | It’s time that I confess something to you. I’m not naturally a good listener; I have several personality challenges that undermine this area for me. When you review my natural Leadership Behavior DNA, our coaching and training assessment, struggles include being impatient, taking charge too quickly, and at times I can be too confident in my own opinions—all of which threaten my ability to be a good listener.

A few years ago I made a commitment to become a better listener at home with my wife Mary because we had transitioned into being empty-nesters. It was quite a challenge for me, but today Mary would say that I’m a much better listener. It has greatly improved our communication and relationship. But listening is not just a gift for family relationships, it’s also the most powerful skill that leaders can master with their team members.

This Valuable Behavior Revealed

“Choosing to listen is easy when it’s obviously beneficial for us, but to focus and listen when it’s needed (and we don’t want to listen) requires great effort and sacrifice. It can even feel like suffering!” [Tweet This]

Over my leadership development and coaching career, I’ve surveyed hundreds of leaders and managers asking them to identify the one key attribute of their greatest leader that made them such an exceptional leader (we ask them to exclude integrity and diligence, which are assumed pre-requisites). Can you guess the number one answer by a significant margin? “They listened to me.”

Whether it’s a leader naturally skewed towards relationships or results, successful, honorable leaders learn how to listen. Listening is strategically important for two reasons –

It provides clarity which is essential for good execution, accountability, and results.
It builds strong relationships and trust because it makes people feel respected, valued, and important—some of our deepest personal needs as human beings.

Musical Listening Tips

Several years for our wedding anniversary, I took Mary to New York City. It was a fabulous experience and was enriched when we were invited to a holiday party by one of my clients. At this party, I struck up a conversation with a most interesting fellow named Harry Glantz, and we somehow got into the subject of listening.

Harry serves as the VP/HR for a company in New York, but he started his career as a professional trumpet player. In our short conversation Harry shared five music-related insights on listening that have served him in life and career. Listen closely, as they could be music to your ears too –

Multi-Task to Be a Good Listener. Good listening does take focus, but a good listener also has to multi-task. In an orchestra, it’s not good enough to play; you have to hear the music of others and blend with them. Listen to all of the moving parts to get the meaning of the conversation rather than just playing your notes.
Intonation—You Have to Play in Tune. An A note is pitched (tuned) at 440 Hz or it grinds on you. Think of some political leaders who are never on the same page in their conversations because they’re not listening to each other. Being in tune verbally is mastering not only what’s being said, but the tone so that you can respond with some degree of resonance.
Find the Rhythm. Listening is waiting for the right moment to contribute to the conversation. If everyone in the orchestra played whenever they felt like it, the sound would be confusing and irritating!
Be Creative in Your Response. Listening closely allows you to be more creative and relevant in the conversation. You’ll be smarter if you listen first, engage your brain, and then analyze your response smartly.
Practice Listening. Musicians practice for hours, and good listeners need practice too. One way to practice is “listening” in a wide variety of situations, even while reading emails. If you have a question in these scenarios, practice asking a clarifying question and then listen.

Generational Listening

Younger generations—Millennials, Gen Z, and others—have unique technology and cultural insights that older generations need to understand.

“Regardless of age or experience, listening must be reciprocal. We all need to listen, but unfortunately we still have a few leaders who are tone deaf.” [Tweet This]

They likely won’t hear this message, but let’s not be like them.

The gift of listening requires sacrificial humility, courage, commitment, and lots of practice. But if you make this effort, your suffering will be rewarded in better relationships and better outcomes at home and at work. Happy Holidays.

LE

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Who Are the Good Listeners on Your Team?

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Every human is unique — and the best leaders know why this might be an advantage. Learn how embracing different talents and abilities, both our own and those of others, can lead to more effective leadership and success.

Grounded in statistical research and supported by data from millions of clients and more than 45 years of workplace experience, Lee Ellis and Hugh Massie reveal their personal stories and experience on how they’ve successfully helped organizations achieve their goals by applying practical insights on human design.

Get Your Copy

Additional discount available for bulk orders.

“…There are few that have made significant strides on making ‘knowing yourself’ operational and real as Lee and Hugh have in this marvelous book. Reading this book is a compelling adventure. If you follow the path, you will change for the better!” – Richard Boyatzis, Co-author of the international best seller, Primal Leadership and the new Helping People Change

“This is the book that I have longed for during my decades in managing talent. Having seen the positive impact of DNA Behavior on my teams, this is a must-read for leaders who desire to build strong teams by accelerating natural talents in an authentic and lasting way.” – Belva White, CPA, MBA, Vice President for Finance & Treasury, Emory University

 

 

 

 

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New Online Event – “Hiring the Best Talent”

Not all of behavioral assessments are created equal. Everyday, we receive success stories on the value of the scientifically validated DNA Behavior Discovery Process when hiring new talent.

In this latest game show-style webinar, Hugh Massie and Lee Ellis present several hiring scenarios and how DNA’s 8 Factors clearly reveal the best choice. Several prizes will also be given away for those attend.

Click to Register

 

 

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99 Cent eBook Offer

It’s back to school, and students need leadership wisdom too! Amazon.com has selected ‘Leading with Honor’ for their Kindle Monthly Deals for the month of August! For a limited time, get the kindle edition for only 99 cents.

Click to Purchase your copy on Amazon.com

 

 

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On This Day in Leadership History, August 17th

On this day in leadership history in 1977, Elvis Presley died at the age of 42 in Memphis, TN. He died of coronary arrhythmia. Amid the ups and downs of his life and career, he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century and is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply “the King”.

Elvis Presley – Wikipedia

 

 

 

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Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, August 14, 2020

“There is some truth in every angle, but not everyone is driven by pure motivations. So, it’s more important than ever for honorable leaders to be very discerning.” – Lee Ellis

 

 

 

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What’s the first step in Courageous Leadership?

What’s the first step in Courageous Leadership? You must choose to clarify. Here’s a reminder to follow this sequential order if you’re wanting results in your leadership conversations. Do this every time and see what happens –

Read the entire book on this topic – Click to Order Engage with Honor: Building a Culture of Courageous Accountability

 

 

 

 

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3 Quick Leadership Discernment Tips

When listening and observing words and actions in a local team or our national spectrum, we must recognize as honorable leaders that there’s some truth in every angle, but not all the groups in these instances are driven by pure motivations. Many people are distorting real issues to lead good people and naïve leaders into the influence of the pack where they will have join in and act like a wolf or be eaten alive. So, it’s more important than ever for honorable leaders to be very discerning.

Here are three ways we can influence our culture with good discernment skills:

Listen carefully. Be open to hear and learn the truth underneath the messages that are forthcoming.
Be discerning. Do your research to determine the whole truth and the motivation of the messengers. Is it pure and aligned with truth, freedom and justice for everyone? Or, is it more about a political message or a power grab by those advocating a destructive ideology?
Use your influence wisely. Consider your opportunity as a leader and citizen to promote and support messages, groups, and organizations that seek truth, justice, wisdom, and collaboration.

Ultimately, we must believe that we can get through these current challenges. I often rely on the The Stockdale Paradox by Jim Collins which basically says, we should never give up hope in a successful outcome, but we must be disciplined to confront the brutal realities of our current situation. I’m challenging myself and you the reader to intentionally seek the truth, expose the wolves, collaborate with our well-meaning opponents, and guide our nation toward a higher level of justice and freedom.

Please add your comments below on this topic, too – thank you

 

  Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t, James C. Collins, pp. 86-88

 

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