Lee Ellis's Blog, page 310
April 9, 2015
APS Leadership Integrity Followup ��� What���s Your Opinion on the Verdict?
Judge Baxter hears the verdict in the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Court Case.
Lee has mentioned the Atlanta Public School System cheating scandal in the past as a failed integrity and character leadership example. Last week, 11 of the 12 defendants in the case were found guilty of conspiracy and other counts.
What���s your reaction to this story? Do you feel that they should experience prison time for their acts? Please share your comments ��� thank you!
Read and watch the verdict in this long-standing court case.
April 8, 2015
8 Factors to Hire the Best Employees: What Your Management Class Didn’t Teach You
The employee hiring process always has the potential to be a stressful one. Hire the wrong person, and it causes lost time and money for the organization. Hire the right person though, and team momentum and getting results gets a huge boost.
In this new SlideShare presentation, Lee shares his insightful list for all leaders to consider as you hire your next employee. See how many that you���re using, and please share your experience too!
April 7, 2015
USAF Air University ��� Squadron Officer School Keynote Presentation
Lee was honored to return and share his leadership expertise with more than 500 leaders at the USAF Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base last week. These sharp and dedicated military leaders instantly connected with Lee���s leadership lessons learned. We are grateful for their sacrifice to protect and preserve our freedom!
Lee is pictured with two famous fighter pilot friends, his former boss and mentor Lt. Gen. Charles ���Chick��� Cleveland, USAF (Ret.) (right) and Col. William ���Goldie��� Goldfein, USAF (Ret.) (left).
Gen Cleveland was an ACE in the Korean war and was known for his impeccable character and courageous leadership throughout a distinguished career. Goldie is a Vietnam veteran and a notoriously entertaining fellow who never meets a stranger. Goldie and his wife ���St.��� Mary are famous for having three sons a grandson and granddaughter who are graduates of the AF academy and two or his sons are general officers serving the USAF.
After his presentation, Lee signed books and met many of today’s sharp and dedicated warriors.
After his presentation, Lee signed books and met many of today’s sharp and dedicated warriors.
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As president of Leadership Freedom�� LLC, a leadership and team development consulting and coaching company, Lee Ellis consults with Fortune 500 senior executives in the areas of hiring, teambuilding, human performance, and succession planning.��His media appearances include interviews on networks such as CNN, CBS This Morning, C-SPAN, ABC World News, and Fox News Channel. A retired Air Force Colonel, his latest award-winning book about his Vietnam POW experience is entitled Leading with Honor��: Leadership Lessons from the��Hanoi Hilton. Learn more at��www.leadingwithhonor.com.
Leadership Guidance – What Has Been Your Experience?
Choose one answer, and please share it in this forum ���
���In my experience, my leaders have given (too much, just enough, or too little) guidance about my work role.���
April 5, 2015
On This Day in Leadership History, April 5, 2015
On this day in leadership history in 1955, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, the British leader who guided Great Britain and the Allies through the crisis of World War II, retires as prime minister of Great Britain. After a 55-year political career with numerous accomplishments including the office of prime minister, he remained in Parliament until 1964, the year before his death.
Timing is so important in leadership and life. It takes courage and self-awareness to know when to stay, when to wait, and when to move forward. Trust your intuition, seek wise counsel, and always work with passion and excellence. You can do it!
April 3, 2015
Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, April 3, 2015
���The hardest decisions in life occur when we must choose between two good things: Honesty, Justice and Frugality on one side, and Loyalty, Mercy and Generosity on the other. Let us hope neither side ever wins.��� ��� Roy H. Williams
April 2, 2015
Treating Others with Dignity and Respect Even When It���s Difficult: Four Leadership Traps to Avoid
By Lee Ellis
What happens inside you when you feel disrespected? Have you ever had some form of attack on your dignity, and how did that feel? Some of my strongest emotions from my Vietnam POW experience were the daily attempts by our enemy to humiliate us and destroy our dignity. Even many years later, I still get torched when I feel disrespected. One of my areas of growth has been to learn to calm myself, give grace to others and forgive.
So with the pain of being dissed in mind, let���s look deeper at the four dangerous traps related to dignity and respect that leaders should avoid.
Deep Desire and Human Need
Many leaders may not be aware that the strongest motivations we have are to meet our deepest desires and human needs. Beyond safety and security, most of us have a deep desire to be valued, to count for something, and to have meaning and purpose. Being disrespected attacks our basic dignity and that undermines these deep needs, arousing strong emotions of negative energy. The Golden Rule exists in similar words in the eight major world religions, and it���s all about respect and showing dignity to others. This universal truth has remained a cornerstone of wisdom for one simple reason���it works and it���s very important for healthy living. It���s also crucial to good leadership.
As we continue to review the seven Honor Codes related to Leading with Honor, let���s look at the four dangerous traps that violate Article 2 ���
���Treat others with dignity and respect. Take the lead, and show value to others.���
The Trap of Domination.
At least one-third of the population is naturally talented to want to be in charge and take control of the agenda. Those of us in that category, naturally turn to power to get things done and get what we want. Being in charge and responsible for results isn���t a bad thing, but dominating others destroys their dignity and undermines respect. No one likes to be micromanaged, controlled, bullied or manipulated. Human dignity requires respect regardless of roles and position, and leaders especially need to be careful in this regard. Choose the healthy alternative and courageously engage others with respect and a positive attitude.
The Trap of Withdrawal.
Another one-third of the population will have a natural tendency to use withdrawal as a way to control and manipulate others. This is a more passive-aggressive way to gain power and dominate via stealth. But the message is the same, ���you are not respected.���
In the past, I���ve been hired to coach leaders who go into their office and shut the door so they don���t have to deal with others. It wasn���t intended to be manipulative or disrespectful, but that���s the way it came across to their people. Likewise some leaders don���t give positive feedback, or show value to their people, or avoid getting to know their people at all. Choose to follow the tactics mentioned previously for those who dominate by courageously engaging with respect and a positive attitude.
The Trap of Gossip.
Gossiping is a widespread yet subversive way to lower others, minimize our own personal insecurities, and elevate ourselves at the same time. Not only does it create negative energy detracting from the mission, but relationally it undermines team morale and trust.
To eliminate gossip, first we have to personally scrutinize ourselves to recognize and break the habit immediately. Second we have to be willing to courageously engage others on the issue reminding them that it���s disrespectful. Human beings are masterful at disguising gossip, so it won���t be easy. The best tactic is to objectively approach it as a human problem that affects any team and then build a culture that recognizes and stops it as soon as possible. Educate and enlist everyone on your team to make gossip taboo in your organization, and then take action with consequences for those who continue this destructive habit.
The Trap of Judging.
Many leaders have a strong natural talent for discernment and the ability to make quick judgments. It can be good in certain situations, but often it undermines the dignity of others and makes them second-class citizens. Like gossip, judging may help us feel better about ourselves, but it���s also destructive and doesn���t stand up to the Golden Rule.
Some time ago, I read a couple of biographies on General Dwight D. ���Ike��� Eisenhower, supreme allied commander in WWII and our 34th President. While hazing a plebe at West Point, he berated him for his prior occupation as a barber. Ike ruthlessly ridiculed the young man for being such a ���lowly��� person. Ironically, Ike came from a blue collar background himself, but he had good upbringing; so upon reflection he was so ashamed of his behavior that he went to the plebe and apologized. This was an emotional event with a lesson that he never forgot. Ike���s ability to work with others without judging was a key skill that enabled him to collaborate with the egos of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Generals Montgomery of Britain and Patton of the US. Choose to be impartial with others without judging them, and you will open many doors of favor and good standing with those around you.
Soft Skills that Make a Difference
In the Honor Code that we recently published, these seemingly soft leadership skills of displaying dignity and respect may sound simple and unimportant, but they���re foundational for long-term success and growth. In this one area of showing respect for the dignity of others, I struggle with at least two of the issues above and sometimes three. So what about you? Where do you struggle and what are you willing to do about it? It���s all about being intentional and constantly working to improve. Please share your thoughts and experiences with us.
LE
Download a complimentary copy of the Honor Code from Leading with Honor, and share with your team!
Want to see Lee’s monthly Leading with Honor video coaching on this topic? It���s free���simply sign up to receive it in your inbox.
April 1, 2015
Funny Tips for Creative Teamwork ��� Ideas for Achieving Your Goals
Do you dream of a finely tuned, coordinated work team? It takes planning, practice, creativity, and courage to get results. See the funny clip below for some tips to improving your leadership development, and please share any lessons learned!
March 31, 2015
New Study Finds that ���Being Mindful Prepares a Foundation for Growth��� ��� Read Inside
How can the concept of ���mindfulness��� increase your chances for success in life and work?
After some intentional study in this area, leaders actually increased the gray matter density of their brains governing perception, emotion regulation, introspection, complex thinking and sense of self.
Click to read this article on tips for growing in this critical area, and please share your comments ���
March 30, 2015
A Frequently Asked Leadership Question from Lee Ellis
A Frequently Asked Leadership Question from Lee Ellis ��� ���When the pressure is on, I���m tempted to lie or withhold information to make me look better. How can I combat this integrity issue?���
Answer ��� ���After leading and managing people for more than 40 years, I can assure you that lying or misrepresenting the facts is always right beneath the surface. Usually it���s fear or pride that makes it raise its ugly head. Regardless of the daily opportunities to misrepresent the truth or lie, we must all remain vigilant and choose the truth to get the best results for us, our teams and our society. Here are three things you can do to keep truth and integrity intact ���
Set the example by telling the truth even when it���s hard.
Talk to others about why the truth is so critical to trust and organizational effectiveness.
Bring out the truth to expose those who are telling lies.���
Want a guide to post in your home or office reminding you of the foundational principles of honorable leadership?
Download a free copy of the Honor Code.
