Lee Ellis's Blog, page 313
March 7, 2015
This Month’s Leading with Honor Coaching – “3 Ways to Tell the Truth in Leadership”
In this month���s Leading with Honor coaching video, Lee Ellis shares three things to equip you to tell the truth even when it���s difficult. Trust us���this is helpful advice for work or life!
Sign up for these monthly leadership coaching clips, and watch this month���s message. Please share with as many people as you wish ���
March 6, 2015
Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, March 6, 2015
���Leaders must be good listeners. It���s rule number one, and it���s the most powerful thing they can do to build trusted relationships.��� ��� Lee Ellis
March 4, 2015
Four Lies that All Leaders Are Tempted to Use, and How to Tell the Truth
Unlike the torturous battles our leaders faced in the Vietnam POW camps, most of the battles we face as leaders aren���t physically painful. But the emotional and mental battles to get results may seem equally challenging. Want to know the guiding force that kept my comrades and me unified while the enemy was trying to systematically divide and disable us?
It was the bond brought by our efforts to live up to the Military Code of Conduct, six articles articulated on a single page. Though most of us had memorized this code in our early training, we couldn���t have imagined what a critical role it would later play in our daily lives. In my recent book, Leading with Honor��, I shared that when we faced the cruelty of isolation, hunger, torture, and constant threats, this code was a powerful reminder to choose the harder right and serve with honor.
Ironically, now living in freedom, we see a growing stream of headlines and stories about dis-honorable behavior from every occupation and industry. How can you fight to survive and win in your domain while honorably influencing others to lead and work in a spirit of unity?
To address this concern, our team at Leading with Honor developed an Honor Code that all leaders can use as a foundation for honorable leadership. It consists of seven articles that will help guide and unify your team or organization.
On the surface they may sound elementary and even easy, but if you are honest, you know how difficult it can be to live up to these simple principles. Think about the impact of leaders adopting this code and then courageously living these commitments.
Let���s take an in-depth look at Article 1 ���
���Tell the truth even when it���s difficult. Avoid duplicity and deceitful behavior.���
In its basic form, truth is foundational for science and law; without absolute truth in these disciplines, we couldn���t maintain or achieve more as a society. In less structured parts of society such as relationships, politics, business development, and others, we know that the absence of truth can lead to chaos and the decline of freedom and justice. Clearly, duplicity, guile and deceit chip away at our freedom, as individuals, organizations, and as a society as a whole.
Most people grow as adults wanting to be known as honorable and trustworthy, even though ironically we naturally learn to lie as young ���innocent��� children without being taught.
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.
Having an awareness of this short list of common ���lie generators��� will help us guard our character ���
Fear of Negative Consequences. Consider the many headlines of politicians, businessmen, religious leaders, doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers, coaches, pro athletes, media personalities and literally every role in society that lie when caught in a transgression.
Fear of Not Looking Good or Good Enough. Insecure people will lie to enhance or protect their image. There has been a lot of talk about this issue in the media recently, but the tendency to stretch or shade the truth is a commonly used protective strategy. The root issue is pride.
Fear of Losing. Using lies to promote oneself and smear others has become an accepted tactic in many areas of our society���especially politics. Where is the honor?
Ideological Spin. This problem uses a half-truth or lie to advance a cause. Our communist captors boldly declared that, ���Truth is that which most benefits the party.��� And on that basis, they routinely tortured POWs to sign false propaganda lies.
I���m sure you can think of many other situations where truth is trampled for expediency, but truth is resilient and eventually we reap what we sow.
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 promote Article 1 of the Honor Code ��� ��
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.
What are your thoughts? What has been your experience? Please share them in this forum.
LE
Related Resources:
Download a copy of The Honor Code from Lee Ellis and Leading with Honor.
Sign up to receive Lee’s monthly Leading with Honor video coaching. This month’s coaching video addresses this month’s article topic.
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March 3, 2015
50th Anniversary Ceremony Honoring Air Force POW/MIAs: An Example of Honorable Leadership
U.S. Air Force Memorial, Washington D.C.
Pictured (from left to right): Betty Welsh, Lee Ellis, and General Mark Welsh (USAF Chief of Staff)
Lee was honored to be a part of the 50th Anniversary Ceremony in Washington D.C. yesterday remembering the shoot down and capture of the first Air Force POW of the Vietnam War. He is pictured here with Air Force Chief of Staff, General Mark Welsh and his wife Betty.
So grateful that our nation���s military leaders today still remember and honor Air Force POW/MIAs who did not return.
March 2, 2015
Decoding Leadership: What 4 Types of Behaviors Make the Difference
Telling CEOs these days that leadership drives performance is a bit like saying that oxygen is necessary to breathe. Over 90 percent of CEOs are already planning to increase investment in leadership development because they see it as the single most important human-capital issue their organizations face.
A big, unresolved issue, though, is what sort of leadership behavior organizations should encourage. In one of their latest articles, McKinsey & Company share the 3 leadership behaviors that make the difference.
Read Now, and please share your thoughts ���
Related Resources:
Leadership Behavior DNA Discovery
Today March 2nd – 50th anniversary of POW Shoot Down & Capture: See Inside
Hayden J. Lockhart, Jr.
Today March 2 is the 50th��anniversary of the shoot down and capture of the first Air Force POW of the Vietnam War. As part of the ongoing events celebrating the ��50th��Anniversary of that war, today AF Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh will host a ceremony at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington honoring Air Force POW/MIAs who did not return.
Captain Hayden Lockhart (USAFA Class of 1961) was the first Air Force pilot captured and was a POW for almost eight years. He returned with honor in February 1973. I look forward to joining General Welsh and other POW friends at the memorial service today.
Hayden J. Lockhart, Jr. – Vet Tribute Page
Leading with Honor Video Coaching ��� Free Offer to Help You Grow as a Leader
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March 1, 2015
On This Day in Leadership History, March 1, 2015
On this day in 1949, Joe Louis announced that he was retiring from boxing as world heavyweight boxing champion. In addition to being considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, Louis’ cultural impact was felt well outside the ring for the next 30 years.
He is widely regarded as the first African American to achieve the status of a nationwide hero within the United States, and was also a focal point of anti-Nazi sentiment leading up to and during World War II. He was instrumental in integrating the game of golf, breaking the sport’s color barrier in America by appearing under a sponsor’s exemption in a PGA event in 1952.
Our guess is that Joe never sought the goal of being an influential leader���he simply followed his passions and natural abilities. This is one of hallmarks of a great leader; stay true to your natural strengths and develop them as much as possible!
February 28, 2015
Does Your Team Need a Spring Boost? Special Offer Inside
Need a Spring boost with your work or volunteer team during the month of March? Try discussing a chapter each week from Lee���s book, Leading with Honor, for inspiration and practical advice.
Everyone on your team will benefit from his life and leadership lessons. Purchase multiple copies, and save over 20 percent off!
Visit our online store for details.
Each leadership lesson shares in-depth questions and quotes from Lee.
February 27, 2015
Leading with Honor Wisdom for Today, February 27, 2015
���When someone does something wrong, don���t forget all the things they did right.��� ��� Unknown
