Lee Ellis's Blog, page 228
October 15, 2017
On This Day in Leadership History, October 15th
On this day in leadership history in 1860, Grace Bedell, 11 years old, wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln. The letter stated that Lincoln would look better if he would grow a beard.
What’s the leadership lesson? Influence comes in all forms and not always the strongest and most charismatic. Be a positive leadership influence around you in your own unique way.
Grace Bedell – Wikipedia
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October 13, 2017
Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, October 13, 2017
“Have the courage to act instead of react.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
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October 12, 2017
Natural Leader, Michael Jordan – Watch the Bio Clip
One of the top 7 basketball players of all time, a multi-winning Olympian, and entrepreneur. During his career, he wasn’t flashy in person—he kept the flashiness for the court.
Check out this brief biography clip on his natural leadership –
Want to develop your own honorable leadership style? Lee offers 14 leadership lessons learned in his award-winning book, Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton. To purchase or review a chapter sample, visit our Store or your favorite book retailer such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
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October 10, 2017
Successful CEO reveals his radical leadership habit
You have to be honest yet respectful, so what do you say? And how do you say it? Or just leave it alone and say nothing? In last month’s coaching article, guest Tom Crawford(1) stressed that communication is the essential ingredient for organizational success. As former Chairman and CEO in three major companies and current member and principle Crawford Corporate Coaching, his record of leadership success is almost unparalleled. When he shares his experience, wise leaders bend an ear to listen and learn.
Please pay attention as he shares an important habit that has guided his career.
The Elmer’s Glue of organizational development
Last month, Tom highlighted communications (not Elmer’s) as being the critical glue that aligns senior leaders and all staff people in the organizational culture with mission, vision, values, and strategies. It strengthens the team’s bond and allows them to collaborate better, bringing the best ideas and efforts into focus toward accomplishing goals. Then, he spoke about clarity—the critical next step in the communication bond.
Clarify to align expectations and goals
It takes work to gain clarity by communicating and over-communicating to get alignment. [Tweet This]
In my 30 years of work in the art and science of natural behavioral assessment, it’s a distinct characteristic that clarity doesn’t come naturally for many leaders not to mention the variety of behavioral profile types on your team that hear and process information differently.
In Engage with Honor: Building a Culture of Courageous Accountability, I list five reasons why we don’t clarify. The barriers are so strong that we all must be intentional and push ourselves, or in the words of my military staff college training, “Fight for Clarity.”
The one revolutionary habit
In this month’s Leading with Honor coaching video (you can it watch below), Tom shares another gold nugget that also connects us back to communications. But this time, the bottom line is more about listening. Here is the way Tom expressed it:
Knowledge is powerful.
Knowledge shared is more powerful.
Knowledge from the people in the company who touch it every day is the most powerful of all.
Wow! Tom is saying that senior leaders need to be listening to the ideas and insights from people at the lower levels. On the surface that seems logical and practical, and it’s so obvious and simple that you would think it’s a “no brainer.” But the higher you go in the organization, the harder it is to “lean down” and listen. It is a consistent consulting point in the work that I do with organizations.
Strategic listening is not a natural, common practice among busy senior leaders because it requires time and patience and a positive belief in the power and capacity of others. And like all the other great leadership attributes,
Strategic listening requires the rare leadership combination of confidence and humility that few of us naturally have. [Tweet This]
Choose to learn new behaviors
Much of the problem is that we’re fighting nature, and our natural tilt is either results-oriented or relationship-oriented.
[image error] – For Results-oriented leaders, strategic listening is typically a big challenge. It is contrary to their strengths and emphasizes their struggles.
– Strengths: Quick to grasp big picture; initiating, want to move quickly to get results
– Struggles: Can be over-confident in their own opinions and reject others ideas; not naturally good listeners, impatient
[image error]– For Relationship-oriented leaders, strategic listening is also a challenge but for different reasons.
– Strengths: Optimistic, like new ideas; Trusting and supportive of others
– Struggles: Too optimistic and take on too much, try to do everything at once; too trusting, strong need for approval, may be taken advantage of by others
Know yourself and get going
This month’s nugget is that great leaders are intentional about getting input from their people. We’ve discussed some common reasons why this is not easy, but you should reflect objectively on your own personal situation. The bottom line is that leaders need a proactive plan to understand yourself and your natural tendencies.
To help in this process, download our free Leading with Honor Discovery Profile and get a one-page report that gives insights into your personality bent toward either results or relationships. Your comments below are welcome too – we’re listening and appreciate your listening as well. 
Want to engage with honor with all you connect with today?
Want to engage with honor with all you connect with today? Remember the 4Cs! And, please share with others –
Engage with Honor – Link
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October 8, 2017
On This Day in Leadership History, October 8th
On this day in leadership history in 1952, “The Complete Book of Etiquette” was published for the first time. The book has sold millions of copies in its 65-year history.
What’s the leadership lesson? Even as times change, honorable leaders know that influence and success is best achieved by having the etiquette of treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Amy Vanderbilt – Wikipedia
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October 7, 2017
How to re-focus on being a genuine leader – 3 points to remember
How to re-focus on being a genuine leader – 3 points to remember. Apply them, and everyone around you will benefit:
Clarify Your Priorities. – You can pause right now and assess whether you’re living in alignment with your passion, purpose, and personality. If you’re not, there’s always an opportunity to change it.
Connect with Your Purpose and Passion. – A sense of purpose fueled by passion is essential for true success. It’s fine to set your sights on any number of worthwhile goals, such as attaining a certain position of influence or making enough money for a comfortable retirement. Clarity of purpose sharpens focus, lifts confidence, and promotes fulfillment.
Capitalize on Your Behavioral Strengths. – It is a mistake to deny your natural strengths and try to reinvent yourself to be like others. Great leaders come in a wide variety of styles and traits. The best traits for you are your innate traits, the ones you already have. You will be the best leader when you are authentic. So, be yourself. The more you try to imitate others and ‘pose’ as someone you are not, the more difficulties you will have.
Please share your comments too – thank you for being on journey with us at Leading with Honor
Read the entire article on this topic.
Want more help discovering your leadership strengths? Take the free Leading with Honor Assessment with our compliments.
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October 6, 2017
Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, October 6, 2017
“Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894)
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October 5, 2017
A Novice’s Journey: Providing is not Serving
Honorable leaders are so busy trying to serve their clients and customers everyday that they search for the moments that they can lead their teams and help them grow.
Great insight from friend and colleague, Pat Falotico, on the difference between providing and serving in leadership.
Please read on Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership website, and share your comments – thank you
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October 4, 2017
Re-focusing on Genuine Leadership – How to Get There
For growing leaders, the goal of being an authentic leader is both energizing and inspiring. The first and most important element is to know yourself, and here are 3 quick points to get you there –
Clarify Your Priorities. – You can pause right now and assess whether you’re living in alignment with your passion, purpose, and personality. If you’re not, there’s always an opportunity to change it.
Connect with Your Purpose and Passion. – A sense of purpose fueled by passion is essential for true success. It’s fine to set your sights on any number of worthwhile goals, such as attaining a certain position of influence or making enough money for a comfortable retirement. Clarity of purpose sharpens focus, lifts confidence, and promotes fulfillment.
Capitalize on Your Behavioral Strengths. – It is a mistake to deny your natural strengths and try to reinvent yourself to be like others. Great leaders come in a wide variety of styles and traits. The best traits for you are your innate traits, the ones you already have. You will be the best leader when you are authentic. So, be yourself. The more you try to imitate others and ‘pose’ as someone you are not, the more difficulties you will have.
Please share your wisdom and comments below, and also read the entire article on this topic.
Want more help discovering your leadership strengths? Take the free Leading with Honor Assessment with our compliments.
The post Re-focusing on Genuine Leadership – How to Get There appeared first on Leading With Honor®.
