Lee Ellis's Blog, page 148

Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, April 10, 2020

“Genuine, secure leaders are willing to vet their ideas and listen to feedback from others before stepping out in a new direction.” – Lee Ellis

Read the entire article associated with this quote – “4 Courageous Leadership Principles for Difficult Times”

 

 

 

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New Announcement! National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day

Today is the first proclamation of ‘National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day’ on April 9th. Per the proclamation –

“We honor the more than 500,000 American warriors captured while protecting our way of life. We pay tribute to these patriots for their unwavering and unrelenting spirit. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 9, 2020, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.  I call upon Americans to observe this day by honoring the service and sacrifice of all former prisoners of war and to express our Nation’s eternal gratitude for their sacrifice.  I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Please visit the Proclamation Page on the U.S. White House website.

 

 

 

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Article – Resiliency Matters in A Crisis

Leading with Honor always appreciates the input and advice from friend, author, and board governance expert and advisor, Stuart Levine.

In his new article below, he shares points to remember in a corporate crisis situation and the need to “fight for clarity” as we often mention, too. Great perspective and points to remember –

Read it Now

 

 

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4 Quick Tips to Lead in Difficult Times

It’s ironic that the “Corona Virus” brings to mind the wisdom of an old expression about a phrase related to a crown, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” But it’s never been truer than now because leaders must lead.   

Courage is the critical “binding agent” to good leadership because you’ll need to make some critical decisions in the coming days and weeks. Apply these four tips to help mitigate fear and insecurity when we’re out of our comfort zone –

Courageously guard your character. When times are tough and there are hard decisions to make, followers look to their leaders to see if they will come through and walk the talk. These are the times when leaders are exposed—is their character anchored in virtue, or do they fall into self-preservation out of fear to protect their image, position, power, or personal security?
Courageously seek wise counsel. Genuine, secure leaders are willing to vet their ideas and listen to feedback from others before stepping out in a new direction.
Courageously clarify. As young military officers, we learned to “Fight for Clarity.” Knowing that communications get twisted as they are passed along, clarify your message so that it communicates what is expected, any guidelines that are included, and who is accountable for carrying out the actions.
Courageously stay connected. Leadership is very much about influencing attitudes and emotions, so you must stay connected to your people. In remote or stress-filled work environments, it’s especially important to over-communicate, making sure you are connecting to their hearts.

Finally…not to incite paranoia, but it’s important to know that you’re being watched. Go and lead with courage, and your team will respond as you infuse confidence into their lives.

Please add your comments below. You can also read and watch the entire article on this topic – “4 Courageous Leadership Principles for Difficult Times”

 

 

 

 

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Leading with Honor FAQ – 5 Years in Captivity

Leading with Honor FAQ –

“You spent more than five years in captivity. What did you learn about leadership [and life], and how can I apply it in my own life today?”

Lee’s Answer –

“Because we had a lot of time to reflect and think about things in the POW camps, I really got to know myself. What are my strengths and struggles? What are my fears? Am I authentic, or do I hide behind a persona or façade—I wanted to be real, authentic in every situation.

“I learned to be positive and expect a good outcome, even in difficult circumstances. Communication is so important. We had to work hard to communicate, because the enemy tried to keep us from communicating. Another important lesson learned is being resilient and bouncing back. We got knocked down and tortured, and what we learned was resilience.

“Our senior POW leaders suffered first and most often and the most torture and hardship. They were committed to doing their duty in spite of the heavy costs. They leaned into their doubts and fears to do the right thing and that was a powerful example. We wanted to be like them, so they raised our level of courage and commitment by their example. My goal became to do the right thing regardless of my fears or the risks associated with the situation.”

Read more FAQs

Purchase your copy of Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton

View our Speaking and Events Calendar

 

 

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Thank you SAS Shoes CEO, Nancy Richardson

Thank you SAS Shoes CEO, Nancy Richardson, for your words about the new book ‘Leadership Behavior DNA’ –

“Leadership Behavior DNA has been such a valuable discovery process for me and my team’s personal awareness and cohesiveness. If you apply the principles and insights in this book, you will gain a competitive edge in the marketplace that will yield long-term dividends for you and the people that you serve.”

Purchase your copy in the Leading with Honor online store or your favorite book retailer –

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Video Coaching – “How to Lead with Courage in a Virtual Team”

Over 47 years ago under the crucible of a Vietnam POW existence, Lee Ellis learned some valuable leadership lessons from his senior leaders that we can apply today in our virtual team environments.

Lee offers coaching advice on how to build and bolster your courage and confidence so that you can lead with honor! Please watch his inspirational message below.

Also read the companion article this coaching clip – “4 Courageous Leadership Principles for Difficult Times”

 

 

 

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On This Day in Leadership History, April 5th

On this day in leadership history in 1887, Anne Sullivan taught Helen Keller the meaning of the word “water” as spelled out in the manual alphabet.

What’s the leadership lesson? Even when honorable leaders are struggling to connect and communicate clearly, they keep trying and ask for help. Stretch yourself to communicate with strength, confidence, and humility with your colleagues and team members.

Helen Keller – Wikipedia

 

 

 

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Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, April 3, 2020

“When times are tough and there are hard decisions to make, followers look to their leaders to see if they will come through and walk the talk.” – Lee Ellis   

 

 

 

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Conquering COVID-19 with Honorable Leadership

As you’re continuing to change and adapt to this COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak season, Leading with Honor is looking for ways to serve you.

Please check this new webpage below filled with wisdom, tools, and options that you can use immediately as you lead others. Lee also offers 5 over-arching insights of leadership wisdom gained during his five-year POW experience that are applicable today.

Please post your comments and experience too

 

 

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