Lee Ellis's Blog, page 229

Battle-Tested Leadership Survival Steps: How to Treasure Your Trials in Challenging Times

 

Are you going through tough times? Someone you know? Do you sense that our nation is going through tough times? How can you help lead through times like these? It may be time to reflect on some who have been down that road before you…

The Litmus Test of POW Life

For the POWs in the Vietnam War, facing serious trials became a way of life.  In that bleak existence locked up and isolated in a communist prison camp for five, six, seven and even eight years, every day had its challenges. The POWs had to depend on their enemy for the meager food that kept them alive. The same sinister enemy used isolation, beatings, and torture in their attempts to exploit them and make them into propaganda pawns for the communist party.  The diet was pitiful and medical care was virtually non-existent.  Yet the POWs emerged stronger, becoming successful military leaders, congressmen, teachers, lawyers, doctors, counselors, businessmen, and even a Senator and Presidential candidate.  They learned to treasure the trials of their hardship.

Not many will have to contend with the tribulations of POW life, but everyone faces hardships and disappointments—either individually or collectively. When you’re in dark times or caught up in the chaos of a battle, it isn’t easy to see the treasure in your trials.  Here are some tips to help you refocus toward not only your goals but the true gold found in trials.

Go Deep—Find Meaning and Make Changes

Adversity builds character by forcing us to face our deepest beliefs and values. [Tweet This]

In the crucibles of life, when all the pretend stuff melts away it’s much easier to clarify what is really important and what is not. We have the opportunity to find meaning in our suffering and meaning is a treasure worth finding.

The transformation that we most need isn’t very inviting in good times, but in difficult times our pain can give us the energy and motivation to change our attitudes and behaviors. Personal growth is the only path to genuine leadership development.

Go Long—Gain Wisdom and Experience

Leadership research confirms that the experience of overcoming difficulties is not only transformational; making us stronger, but it also makes us wiser and better suited for the challenges of leadership.  On the other hand, leaders devoid of crucible experiences are likely to be overly confident about their ideas, and surprisingly more susceptible to fears. Difficult trials generate strong emotional memories that stay with us longer and are more easily accessed—gold that we don’t have to search so hard to find.

Don’t Go It Alone 

When you are in a battle, you don’t want to be alone—you need supporters in your corner—people who care about you and have your back.  They can provide encouragement when your spirit is down and your hope is sagging.  Encouragement can provide vital energy for bouncing back and continuing to persevere. Sometimes a shared idea or a new perspective on a problem can make all the difference.

Connect with other people to be resilient and bounce back from trials. Don’t do it alone. [Tweet This]

Next Steps

More than likely, you have already passed through some tough times in your life.  It may be helpful to look back and see the treasure that you gained from those past challenges.  What was the meaning you gained through those trials?  What did you learn about yourself that may be helpful now?  What changes did you make then?  Who walked with you?

You have a choice. You can let your trials bury you or you can dig for the treasure in them. If you follow these tips, someday, looking back, you will see enormous value in your trials. Please share your comments below.

LE

[image error]Let us help you during challenging times–remembering the honorable behaviors that will enable you to emerge in victory. Download a free copy of the Honor Code: 7 Core Behaviors for Honorable Leadership for you or your team.

 

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Tensions growing lately? Here’s some help

 

Tensions growing lately? Little time to get things done, yet you want to communicate well with others? When you’re in a stressful leadership situation, this small yet invaluable tool will help you avoid dominating or withdrawing and choose to engage as a courageous leader.

Download the free Courage Challenge card with our compliments, and please share!

 

 

 

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Updated Training Tools in the Online Store!

 

Updated Leading with Honor items in the Online Store! We have reminder cards, courage challenge cards, wristbands, and more to use as inspirational training tools with your team or staff.

Purchase in the Online Store.

 

 

 

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On This Day in Leadership History, October 1st

On this day in leadership history in 1852, Alfred Russel Wallace returns to the U.K. after four years of travel, collecting, and research in South America. He was a naturalist, biologist, and explorer.

What’s the leadership lesson? Maybe you don’t have time to research your important endeavor for four years, but do enough due diligence to fully understand it before you commit.

Alfred Russel Wallace – Wikipedia

 

 

 

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Giving Highlight – The Gary Sinise Foundation

 

Lee Ellis and Leading with Honor want to highlight a special nonprofit organization that we support with a portion of our sales.

The Gary Sinise Foundation serves our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. They do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.

Please learn more about his fantastic organization and the hurricane relief efforts that they’re providing to those in need –

 

 

 

 

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Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, September 29, 2017

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

 

 

 

 

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This Leadership Style Has Never Worked! See Inside

 

In case you’re wondering, this famous phrase and leadership style has never worked! Honorable leaders do what? Share your comments –

 

 

 

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Lee Ellis Video FAQ – “Describe an Important Lesson that You Learned and Still Use Today”

Great, common-sense wisdom from Lee Ellis in this clip where he’s asked to “Describe an Important Lesson that You Learned in your POW Experience and Still Use Today”.

Watch his answer in this quick clip, and please share it with others – thank you

 

[image error]Want to read about Lee’s Vietnam POW experience?

Buy a copy of his award-winning book, Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton.  Visit our Store or your favorite book retailer such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Bulk savings packages available.

 

 

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3 High-Performing Behaviors of Authentic Leaders

By Lee Ellis

Authentic leadership is a grand, worthy, and potentially overwhelming goal for any leader to attain. Based on almost 20 years as a leadership consultant, I’m convinced that authentic leaders are the best leaders in any industry sector. For growing leaders, the goal of being an authentic leader is both energizing and inspiring. Yet all too often our human nature and the battle against our doubts and fears make it seem an almost impossible goal to attain. 

The first and most important element is to know yourself, and this idea encompasses three major points.  

Clarify Your Priorities.

You can pause right now and assess whether you’re living in alignment with your passion, purpose, and personality. At the time of my capture after my plane was shot down in Vietnam, I was just a typical single 24-year-old exuberant pilot who had largely ignored such weighty issues. Partly because of my solid spiritual upbringing, however, I believed deeply that my life was guided toward a divine purpose. I also was passionate about my work. Since the age of five, I had felt destined to fly and to be some type of warrior. My choice of a military career as a fighter pilot was also well aligned with several of my innate natural behaviors: bold, take charge, adventurous, and challenge-driven.

After my capture, I definitely had doubts and fears about what the next hours and days might bring, but there were no second thoughts. I had known the risks, I had made my choices, and I was committed to my cause. In short, I was authentically living “on purpose.” That clarity helped me to stand firm to my values of duty, honor, and country in the days, months, and years ahead.

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.” [Tweet This]

Unfortunately, many people are not living on purpose. Either they don’t know how to uncover their purpose, or they lack the motivation to search for it. No wonder they lack energy and zest!

Hugh Massie, one of my strategic business partners, didn’t stop searching until he discovered his purpose. Hugh was working for a world-renowned consulting company as a successful CPA in Singapore and Thailand when he felt drawn to educate people on finances. He moved back home to Sydney, Australia and started his own financial services business. It was successful, but within a few years he realized that he had a more specific calling: to teach people how their natural personality responses, such as fear and risk-taking, influence their financial decisions.

That quest led Hugh to the United States, where he became a partner in the work my previous company was doing in the field of human behavior. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Atlanta and launched DNA Behavior International, which is now recognized as a pioneer in the field of behavioral assessment and more specifically behavioral finance. Although Hugh is intelligent and diligent, his success in great part is due to his relentless focus on gaining clarity about his purpose.

Capitalize on Your Behavioral Strengths.

When I first began conducting leadership training in corporations, a young man came to me at the break and asked somewhat sheepishly, “What are the best personality traits for leadership?” Intuitively, I suspected what he really wanted to know was, “Do I have the right traits to be a leader?” That question comes up in some fashion almost everywhere I go, regardless of the age of the group or the size of the organization. Recently it emerged in a training session with executives and senior leaders of a Fortune 500 company.

To illustrate different styles of leadership, I had asked this large audience to physically group themselves in the four corners of the room according to their strongest personality trait. When one participant tried to join the “highly dominant” group, he was good naturedly rejected by the other members. Somewhat disappointed, this man then joined a different group that better matched his key trait. In our debriefing after the exercise, he commented, “It’s true that I don’t fit with that ‘dominant’ group, but I’ve always wanted to be like them.”

“Your honesty and vulnerability are admirable,” I told him, “and it’s not wrong for you to adapt your behaviors from time to time to be more effective in specific situations.

“It is a mistake to deny your natural strengths and try to reinvent yourself to be like others.” [Tweet This]

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.” After that experience, I’m confident he became a more authentic and effective leader.

Find it Now

Critical moments can be catalysts for constructive change, but I urge you not to wait for a life-and-death situation or another type of crisis before you begin to think about who you are and where you’re going. Take the time now to ensure that your personal and career choices are aligned with your purpose, passion, and personality. Living authentically enables you to wholeheartedly pursue your goals.

LE

Find Your Lane – Assess Your Unique Natural Behaviors

[image error]Knowing your natural leadership behaviors of your team is the smart way to lead. With this valuable information, unity, productivity, and performance increase dramatically giving you the strategic edge in the marketplace.

Learn More about Leadership Behavior DNA and Contact Us for customized proposal.

 

 

 

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Host a Golf Event for a Special Cause – See Inside

 

Lee is attending an upcoming Special Operations Warriors Golf Event to raise funds for this organization’s cause.

Their mission ensures full financial assistance for a post-secondary degree from an accredited two or four-year college, university, technical, or trade school; and offers family and educational counseling, including in-home tutoring, to the surviving children of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty.

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation also provides immediate financial assistance to severely wounded and hospitalized special operations personnel.

Golf events can raise a significant amount of money for their work. Would you like to host or attend an upcoming golf event like Lee? Please on their website – thank you

 

 

 

 

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