Lee Ellis's Blog, page 243

Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, May 8, 2017

“Leaders must model the attitude, commitment, and leadership behaviors they are advocating for others.” – Mark Miller, VP High Performance Leadership, Chick-Fil-A

 

 

 

 

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On This Day in Leadership History for May 7, 2017

On this day in leadership history in 1941, Glenn Miller records “Chattanooga Choo Choo” for RCA. What’s the leadership lesson?

In the midst of making and selling records for RCA, Glenn Miller was still able to focus on the love of making music! Remember to keep a core love of the work that you do amidst getting results.

 

 

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Leading with Honor Freedom Package – Save 30% Off for a Limited Time

For a limited time, we’re offering the Leading with Honor Freedom Package @ 30% off that can be used as a personal study. Take one chapter at a time, and set your own pace to read about the 14 leadership lessons Lee learned through the crucible experience of the Vietnam POW camps.

Includes the Leading with Honor softcover book and training participant guide. Please visit our Store for details!

Link – Leading with Honor Freedom Package

 

 

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Honoring and Remembering Col Leo Thorsnesss USAF (Ret) – 1932-2017

Please join Lee Ellis and the Leading with Honor Team in expressing our thoughts and condolences for a fellow Vietnam POW who flew west this week, Colonel Leo Thorsness USAF (Ret).

As part of the band of brothers in the Vietnam POW camps, Col Thorsness returned home with honor and continued to be an important contributor to his community and profession. Thank you for celebrating his life and impact with us.

Col Thorsness’ Story and Obituary

Leo Thorsness, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism in the Vietnam War, died Tuesday, May 2, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 85.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announced that Thorsness died in St. Augustine, Florida. Thorsness grew up in Minnesota and was an Eagle Scout.

He enlisted in the Air Force in 1951 when he was 19. He received his wings as an Air Force pilot three years later. He became a fighter pilot and completed F-105 “Wild Weasel” training. He was assigned to Vietnam to locate and destroy surface-to-air missile sites.

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The F-105F, AF Ser. No. 63-8301, flown by Maj Thorsness and Capt Johnson on 19 April 1967.

In April 1967, Thorsness was a pilot on a mission to take out a surface-to-air missile site. One of the fighter planes on that mission was hit, and two crewmen had to eject from the plane. Thorsness engaged four enemy planes, damaging one of them and driving the four planes away. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

Less than two weeks after his heroism, Thorsness was shot down over North Vietnam and spent six years as a prisoner of war at the Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton. His cellmate was John McCain, currently a member of the U.S. Senate representing Arizona.

Thorsness was released March 4, 1973. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon at a White House ceremony Oct. 15, 1973. He retired from the Air Force in 1973 with the rank of colonel.

He ran for U.S. Senate in South Dakota in 1974, losing to George McGovern. He served as a state senator in Washington state from 1988 to 1992.

Later, he moved to Alabama. Huntsville, Alabama, Mayor Tommy Battle, who worked with Thorsness, expressed his condolences.

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Retired Lt. Col. Leo Thorsness speaks at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s Air Force 60th Anniversary celebration Aug. 11 Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Colonel Thorsness is a Medal of Honor recipient. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kenny Holston)

Leo Thorsness – Wikipedia

PBS American Valor Biography – Link

 

 

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Leading with Honor Coaching – Free Signup Offer

Each month, Lee Ellis shares a free ‘Leading with Honor Coaching’ video like the clip below, but it’s only available when you sign up to receive in your inbox.

Click to Register or sign up at the bottom of our website, and please share with others! Thank you –

 

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Carole Hickerson’s Inspirational Vietnam POW Story

Here’s an inspirational story for your Tuesday! When Carole Hickerson’s husband was missing in action during the Vietnam War, she started a movement of families frustrated by a lack of information on their missing loved ones. In fact, her husband Steve was the inspiration for the silhouette displayed in the POW-MIA Flag that is still flown around the world today!

This inspiring story shares the power of taking action with the time and resources that you have—no matter how humble or meager the situation may be.

Read her Story on RememberedSky Blog, and please share Carole’s story with others—thank you!

 

 

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Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, May 1, 2017

“We have a universal, moral duty to do what is right for its own sake.” – Immanuel Kant

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Lead from Your Core Values: 3 Way to Get Ahead of the Competition

(Editor’s Note: This blog ties directly to The Honor Code—7 Core Behaviors for Honorable Leadership that can guide all leaders to honorable behavior. Download a free copy at www.LeadingWithHonor.com/Code.)

[image error]The headline on the cover of the May 2017 issue of Fast Company profoundly states: “Put your Values to Work.” That’s a great idea for leaders to consider and in fact was the intent behind Article 7 of The Honor Code we introduced in a series of blogs back in 2015.

 

Article 7 says –

“Live your values. Be faithful to your spiritual core, your conscience, and your deepest intuitions.”  [Tweet This]

Leaders Modeling Values

They say that values, mindsets, behaviors, and habits are caught more than taught. I believe that. Truly one of the greatest blessings I got from the years of hardships as a POW in Vietnam was living in the presence of courageous leaders who daily fought to remain faithful to their personal values and those of our organization.  They modeled honorable behavior and I “caught” some of their commitment; it made a difference in my life, then and now.

Granted, in the camps there weren’t many vices or normal everyday temptations to compromise our values, so we were protected in that respect.  Yet, every day for several years it was a battle to live up to our motto Return with Honor. In the camps living by our values was in essence our main goal and the focus of everything we did; it was the only way we were capable of achieving purpose and meaning.

Personal Values = Organizational Values

“As you have probably seen in your own experience, personal values inevitably drive organizational and team values.” [Tweet This]

Our organizational values were simple: be faithful to our country, our fellow POWs, and do our duty by resisting the exploitations of the enemy. These basics were summarized in our short six- article Military Code of Conduct which we had all memorized early in our training. We had clarity, we were committed, and we followed our leaders who acted on these values every day.

It was this singular focus on living and leading with honor that bound us together and galvanized our resistance against the enemy’s schemes to convince us to take the “easy way out.” The lines were clear; the enemy and consequences were obvious, and perhaps that made it easier for us to suffer and sacrifice to live by our values.

Three Valuable Lessons for All Leaders

The environment was unique, but I think there are some clear lessons we can extrapolate from that experience to help set yourself apart and excel in your work or industry –

Clarify your values. What do you really believe?  Who are you? What do you stand for? Reflect on the foundation of your beliefs.  Consider your faith, your family teaching, your professional ethics, your patriotism, your sense of community. What are your non-negotiables? The Honor Code would be a good place to start.
Commit and stand courageously.  Will you stand firm in the face of a busy schedule, unfair competition, the need to look good, the desire to meet legitimate desires for comfort and pleasure in ways that compromise your values? Recognize that your doubts and fears will take you out. Commit to suffer and sacrifice to remain faithful to your values.
Act in congruence with who you are. Be true to yourself.  It’s not easy; we are humans and not firm and fixed.  We operate by ebbs and flows of our commitment. Fight the battle to keep your honor intact and when you fail, admit it and bounce back.

Be Inspired and Stay Connected 

Need some practical ways to maintain and fulfill your personal and organizational values? Here are a couple of important ones –

Inspiration is Important and Must Be Ongoing. Emotions are the energy that drives us to accomplish our deepest desires. Find your inspiration from various sources –

Spiritual Foundations – renew them and be true to your faith.
Family Relationships and Traditions of Your Heritage
Personal Development through Conversations, Books, Blogs, Podcasts, Events, and more. Are you authentically sharing with others to help them develop?


Stay Connected to People Who are Like-Minded.

Who is speaking into your life?
Do you have authentic relationships?
Be discerning. Don’t let those with negative values pull you down.

A frequent review of our values is crucial to actually living them out in the moment. Even then it’s always an ongoing battle because we have the weaknesses and temptations along with the tendency to rationalize that comes with our human nature. Please share your experiences in this area and do the favor of passing along a copy of The Honor Code to others. 

LE

[image error]P.S. Want to watch Lee’s video coaching clip on this topic? Sign Up Free to receive in your email inbox. Your personal information is safe with us.

 

[image error] Next Step – Leadership Authenticity has Become a Game-Changer Between Those Teams that Excel or Fail

Having a set of strong personal and professional core values is the hinge point to inspire unity and energy for your team or organization.

Need a set of core values? Download a complimentary copy of The Honor Code.

 

 

 

[image error] Recommended Resource – 14 Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton

In Lee Ellis’ award-winning 2012 release, Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton, he shares the core lessons that enabled him and his comrades to return home with honor.

Purchase a copy from our Online Store or your favorite retailer such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

 

 

 

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On This Day in Leadership History for April 30, 2017

On this day in leadership history in 1789, George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America. Note that it was 13 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.

The leadership lesson? In our fast-paced “want it know” culture, significant changes and accomplishments take time. Be patient, stay focused, and work the process.

George Washington – Wikipedia

 

 

 

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Engage with Honor Reminder Cards – Team Development Tool

Engage with Honor Reminder Cards can help remind your team everyday of the Courageous Leadership Model shared in Engage with Honor: Building a Culture of Courageous Accountability.

Durable and designed for quick scanning and use in the workplace. They are sold in a pack of 10 cards.

Check them out in our Online Store – thank you!

 

 

 

 

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