Can a Great Leader “Play to Win” and Still be Ethical?

I once worked with a man who had an interesting way of viewing all potential actions. He asked himself if the action was ethical. He explained himself this way …

“Some will ask if a course being considered is legal. Many things are legal. However, just because there is no law prohibiting an act does not make that act ‘the right thing to do’. The more important questions must be ‘is it the right thing to do … is it the way I would want to be treated … does the course of action improve the lot not only of my business; but, does it benefit or harm the other party?”

This person is a Great Leader. Great Leaders in business recognize that they must “play to win”. They understand that, in the final analysis, the company must show a profit in order to succeed and survive.

Great Leaders also recognize that a reputation is a double-edged sword. Those who always choose to do the right thing … to make certain that deals truly benefit all parties … will have customers who are loyal and return time and time again; plus, those customers bring others with them and recommend that their friends do business with the firm as well.

Conversely, the individual who looks only at the immediate, short-term, picture will say and do anything to “do the deal”. This individual does not care if the customer truly benefits, only that the company does this deal. He or she will get a reputation for caring only about his/her own benefit and customers will look to do business with someone else … someone who is working toward the customer’s benefit.

Great Leaders win in business and in the game of life because they make ethical choices and do the right thing.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

A Great Leader’s View of Character

Presidents’ Day morning. My “In Box” contains a quote from a Great Leader, President Abraham Lincoln, about a person’s character and reputation. Lincoln wrote, “A man’s character is like a tree, and his reputation like its shadow; the shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing”.

Reputations are funny things. In some instances, they are based entirely on facts. In other cases, they are based on perceptions held by individuals or groups of individuals. By way of comparison, let’s look at two fictional individuals that we will call Clay and Stone.

Clay has a reputation for being a real savvy businessman. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time; a guy who can turn a profit no matter what he does and no matter how adverse the situation may appear to be. It’s as if he has an “inside track” on information that no one else has … because he does. Clay has built his business and his reputation by using inside information to the detriment of those he exploits to his own personal benefit. If Clay were in the securities industry, he would be guilty of insider trading … of using information that is not available to the general public for personal profit … a criminal act. Clay has a reputation for being in the right place at the right time. But, his character is lacking a strong moral compass. In Clay’s mind, what he is doing is wrong only if he gets caught. If history teaches us anything, it teaches us that the sun moves; the shadow shifts; and, ultimately, the deeds done within the shadows of unethical behavior will be exposed and the wrong-doer will be caught.

Stone, on the other hand, has character. As a Great Leader, Stone is “the real deal”. When presented with opportunities, he first checks his personal moral compass and asks, “Is it legal; is it ethical; does it treat others as I would wish to be treated?” If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, he abstains and allows the opportunity to pass him by. Great Leaders such as Stone know that if they conduct themselves and their businesses in a manner that never calls into question their character or their morality, the world will beat a path to their doors for the opportunity to associate with them, to work with them, to do business with them. They will be presented with more opportunities than they will be able to handle; opportunities to grow personally, professionally, and financially.

Reputations are mere shadows of the person they purport to be; always shifting, intangible, subject to the shifting tides of opportunism and “what’s in it for me?”. Character, when it is grounded with a strong moral compass, is unyielding in the face of temptation. When the character of a Great Leader is consistently asking the three questions above, constantly and routinely reminding itself to do what is right both morally and ethically, it is then that this character stays away from temptation and keeps itself morally straight. Great Leaders present their character in their daily conduct and allow it to speak more loudly than any reputation can.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

GREAT LEADERS WELCOME 2015 WITH GOALS SET!

The great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said that, “A goal properly set is halfway reached”. As we welcome the new year, Great Leaders will ask themselves these questions …

  • Are the goals I’ve set clear in my mind? Great Leaders recognize that, first, they must have a clear vision of the future that they want to create. This cannot be a collection of vague ideas. The Great Leader must have the clarity of thought to know precisely what they desire the future to look like.
  • Am I communicating my vision clearly and with specificity? Great Leaders understand that, having been given the privilege of leading a team, they now have the responsibility to deliver specific goals and objectives. They cannot allow team members to wander aimlessly in the wilderness of generalities that is populated with only the current industry buzzwords. The Great Leader must communicate their vision with clarity and in sufficient detail that team members can see themselves turning that vision into a reality. In essence, they empower the team members to feel the warmth of the goal attainment sun on their faces long before they complete the journey … they can smell the sweet smell of success that beckons them onward.
  • Do I have a road map in my mind that tells me what steps must be taken in order to traverse the path between vision and reality? If the Great Leader is to guide the team, he or she must know how to get from Point A (the vision) to Point B (making that vision a reality). Like the captain of a sailing vessel, the Great Leader must be able to identify the correct route and ensure that it is taken. There must be a specific course set and adhered to; no orders to the helmsman to set a course “thataway”.
  • Have I delegated tasks to the people most qualified to perform them? COREMAP shows us that each personality type has strengths and weaknesses that can significantly impact job performance. For example, if the job requires close attention to detail, it is probably best to assign that responsibility to an individual who has an Organizer personality (lives for policies and procedures that make certain that the job is done right) rather than to the person with a Commander personality (sees the “big picture” and prefers not to deal with details) or the person who has an Entertainer personality (may or may not know where to find the details). If the team has a number of clashing personalities, the Great Leader knows the importance of including a person who has a Relater personality, someone who is skilled at helping team members find common ground and building consensus.

Great Leaders will ask and answer these questions; make adjustments as needed, and then, monitor progress toward the goal. With these questions answered, the Great Leader has taken the all-important first steps toward reaching the goals and turning the vision into reality. Make 2015 your best year ever!

Have you set your goals? Care to share? Click “comment” to share your goals for 2015 and how you will turn those goals into reality.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

An Eagle’s Eye View of Mentoring

Not every boy who joins Boy Scouts becomes an Eagle Scout. In fact, statistics tells us that fewer than 5% of Scouts will attain this rank. What I find especially interesting is the fact that every Eagle Scout I’ve ever met has stated that there was always at least one individual who played a key role in helping them attain the highest rank that Scouting offers; someone who served as a mentor and helped the young man achieve his goal.

In recent conversations with three gentlemen who, as youths, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, I asked them to talk about their mentors and what made those individuals Great Leaders and Great Mentors. Here are the characteristics that they cited. Unsurprisingly, each of the young men cited the same trait first …

  • They lead by example – The way great mentors live their lives and conduct themselves in all that they do constantly reinforces the values that they preach and the desire to achieve the goals that they set.
  • They want to be a mentor – Mentoring is a lot of work and the truly great mentors know it. Mentoring is not something that is done for a few minutes every now and then. It’s a full-time job because the mentor never knows when he/she is going to say or do something that rocks the mentee’s world and changes that world.
  • They are great listeners – Oftentimes, the mentee will tell the mentor what he/she needs at that point in time. It seldom is an outright statement of, “what I need today is…” Rather, the need is usually buried between the lines and the great mentor sees/hears it and determines how best to meet that need.
  • They are supportive and want to help the mentee grow – When a great mentor sees someone struggling or doing a job incorrectly, they do not criticize or make fun of the person’s struggles. Rather, great mentors see the mentee’s struggle as an opportunity to help that person grow, to become more proficient, and help is given in an encouraging way. The great mentor “catches the mentee doing something right” and then builds on that foundation to foster improvement.
  • They hold themselves and others accountable – Great mentors accept their responsibility as a mentor and hold themselves accountable for their own actions or inactions. Likewise, they hold the mentee accountable and guide the mentee to the desired outcomes by holding up a mirror of self-evaluation and asking the mentee, “what did you do well; what can you do to improve; when will you make the improvements?”
  • They often ask; they seldom tell – The truly great mentors seldom tell the person that they are mentoring what to do or how to do it. Instead, they guide them through the use of questions. They help the person discover the answers for themselves. The great mentor knows that it is not necessary for the mentee to always answer every question correctly; but instead, knowing that there is a better answer, asks more questions that lead to the better answer, the more effective solution, the best decision.

These Eagles also pointed out that Great Leaders are often great mentors, but not always. They observed that Great Leaders seek out those who have the potential to become great mentors and provide them with the opportunity to fulfill their promise and potential.

Have you had a great mentor; or, have you been a great mentor? Click “comment” and share your story of mentorship here.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

Great Leaders Do What’s Right … Even When It’s Not Popular

Opportunities to demonstrate leadership arise from time to time. In some instances, they appear at moments when the entire world appears to be teetering on the brink. Whatever action is taken will long be remembered and will be talked about for years. In other cases, these opportunities will be subtle, little noticed and without fanfare. They may … or may not … be talked about for a few seconds, minutes or hours; perhaps they will be remembered for a few days and then forgotten. Regardless, the person who would be a Great Leader must see and recognize the opportunity and take action.

While watching the History Channel recently, I saw an example of Great Leadership. The year was 1865. The war had ended and the country was trying to return to “normal”, whatever that might be. During a Sunday morning church service, an elderly black man arose from his seat in the section occupied solely by blacks, walked to the front of the church, and knelt down at the communion rail. The congregation froze. The minister stood staring, not knowing what to do. Not a sound could be heard in the church. Then, without saying a word, an elderly white man stood up and quietly walked to the communion rail and knelt down next to the black man. He knew that his action would surprise some and shock others. Yet, he did it because he knew that in the post-war world he lived in, it was the right thing to do.

His fellow parishioners recognized the man and knew that the war had left him penniless and homeless. They were, indeed, shocked; and yet, slowly, they followed his lead and walked to the front of the church to receive the sacrament of communion. They did this because they followed the lead of a Great Leader who had done the right thing. They followed Robert E. Lee.

Have you had the privilege of following a Great Leader who did what he or she knew to be the “right thing to do” even when it was not popular? Click “comment” and share your example of courageous leadership.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

How Can You Create A Legacy by Sending People Out Into the World?

The privilege of leadership brings responsibility … the responsibility of helping those that you lead to grow and develop so that they can become leaders as well. Consider …

Some managers see themselves as being responsible for assembling a staff of people who can meet the needs of their customers. Once they put that staff together, their primary concern is to keep the staff intact so that it is not necessary to identify new talent and develop it. For these managers, the status quo is the ideal that they strive to maintain.

Other managers, however, recognize that they have been given the privilege of leadership. With that privilege comes the responsibility of helping people improve their skills and cultivate new talents so that they can advance in their chosen careers. These managers have the potential to become Great Leaders. Attaining this status, though, requires that they adopt a new mindset; a mindset that measures success against a standard that involves the number of people they send out into the world to accept new challenges and opportunities. I had the privilege of working with a Great Leader who had adopted this standard.

My first agency manager, Ray, realized very early in his career that he was helped by those around him who recognized his ability to recruit, hire, and develop new agents who had the ability to advance into agency management; and, they encouraged him to use this talent and helped him increase his skills in this area. He saw the help he received as a debt that he could only repay by doing the same for others.

As he grew his agency, Ray sought out talented people and exposed them to the possibility of career growth and the opportunities that agency management could offer them. Even though promoting people out of his agency reduced his income (at least temporarily), Ray began measuring his own success in terms of the number of new agency managers he developed and allowed to leave to develop new agencies. He never begrudged them the chance to grow their careers in new directions. In fact, he encouraged them to do so if that is where their ambitions led them. At the time of his death, Ray counted 29 new agency managers as one of this greatest legacies. Ray was a Great Leader. He accepted the responsibilities that being a Great Leader entail and he thrived on those responsibilities.

Have you had the privilege of working such a Great Leader? Share your story by commenting below.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

Let Us Give Thanks For the Great Leaders We’ve Known

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of knowing some truly great leaders. Some I knew in professional relationships; others through my avocations.

Looking back, I see them and the impact that they had on my life with far greater clarity than I did when I was within their circles of influence.

  • First and foremost, there was my father who taught me that leadership need not be loud and boisterous. Rather, it could be quiet while setting an example for others to emulate; that the example would speak more loudly and clearly than words could ever do. He taught me that it required patience, honor, integrity, and honesty … honesty in one’s dealings with others and when seeing one’s own talents and shortcomings.
  • There was Mr. Knapp, my Cub Scout Leader who made it a point to ensure that every one of “his” boys had a ride to den and pack meetings. He made it his mission to send us to Boy Scouts with the tools we needed to continue on the Trail to Eagle Scout.
  • Mr. Satzke was my Scoutmaster. I doubt that he ever knew the impact of the example that he set when he came to the pool at summer camp to find me. It had gotten dark and cold and dinner had already been cooked and served in camp; but, one of “his boys” was still trying to pass a canoeing merit badge requirement at the pool. He brought a jacket to keep me warm and made sure that a generous serving of Mulligan Stew was kept hot for me to eat when he brought me back to the campsite.
  • Then there was my first agency manager, Ray, who introduced us to Napoleon Hill’s statement that, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve”. For Ray, this wasn’t simply a memorable quote, it was a credo that he taught to each of us and repeated it daily until we truly believed in its truth. He was committed to helping each of his followers grow and become leaders … without ever voicing these words, he was committed to replicating the best qualities in him and shaping the lives of those who would replace him and become the leaders of the future.
  • More recently, I met the owner of a company who, at the end of a very trying and exhausting week, brought a refreshment cart through the office and served cold drinks to his employees, as he personally thanked each of them for all that they had done to bring a critical project to a successful conclusion.
  • Finally, there are my fellow Scouting volunteers who give so generously of their time and talent to shape the character of the next generation of leaders.

This week, we gather with family and friends to give thanks for the many gifts that we have been given. Please join me in giving thanks for the Great Leaders who have influenced each of our lives.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

Do Great Leaders Follow A Moral Compass?

I recently read an article written by Frank Bucaro, a regular contributor to a LinkedIn group for Ethics and Compliance Officers. In this article, Frank asked, “How Does One Set A Moral Compass?” (http://www.linkedin.com/groups/How-does-one-set-moral-50939.S.5793914936249827331?view=&gid=50939&type=member&item=5793914936249827331&trk=eml-anet_dig-b_nd-pst_ttle-cn) His question started me thinking about the Great Leaders that I have had the privilege to follow and learn from … and the moral compasses that I believe they used to navigate moral dilemmas and life. I believe that these compasses were aligned with the following points.

  • They knew the difference between right and wrong – I’m not talking about the difference between legal and illegal behavior (although this distinction is certainly important). I’m talking about behaviors that, while technically may be legal, are morally wrong. As my father would ask me, “Just because it is legal to do something, does that mean it’s the right thing to do?”
  • They consider the impact that their actions may have on the lives of others – Great Leaders ask if their decisions, their actions, will improve the lives of those they have the privilege of leading; or, will their actions and decisions harm those around them.
  • They think about how their behavior will impact not only their own reputations but also the reputation of the firm they represent and the reputations of those who follow them – My father used the expression “guilty by association” and Great Leaders understand that, fairly or unfairly, the reputations of both their firms and their followers are tinted (or tainted) by their own behavior and reputation. When they behave morally and ethically, those they represent and those who follow them are perceived to be ethical and moral. When they behave improperly, the firms they represent are perceived to be tolerant of unethical behavior; and, it is anticipated that their followers will follow the example that the unethical leader set.

Great Leaders possess a moral compass and they have it oriented to the “true north” of doing the right things for the right reasons. Think about the Great Leaders that you have known and followed. What were the key points on their moral compasses? Please share those points by commenting here.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

DO GREAT LEADERS PAINT THEMSELVES INTO INESCAPABLE CORNERS?

This is an open letter to those who would call themselves “leaders”.

It’s time to look at how current leadership strategies are working. All too often, we hear those who would call themselves “leaders” stating that they will not negotiate; that proposals from those who hold different views are “dead on arrival”; that differences must be resolved “my way or the highway”. In the vernacular of personality assessments, these behaviors are examples of negative personality styles wherein …

  • the Negative Commander declares that “it’s my way or the highway” and that the only acceptable behavior is conformity with exactly what he/she declares;
  • the Negative Organizer seeks refuge in the unbending adherence to perfect detail; the perfect dotting of the i’s and the perfectly balanced crossing of the t’s;
  • the Negative Relater stops seeking consensus so that “we can all get along” and takes on a martyr mentality that we are not worthy of solutions;
  • the Negative Entertainer ceases caring about making life good for everyone around him/her and begins believing that he/she must be the focal point of everyone’s attention and adoration.

These negative leadership styles are not working!  It’s time to try something else. To provide a historical example of finding workable solutions that benefit everyone …

In 1787, the Founding Fathers found themselves at a crossroads while writing the Constitution. The question centered on the nature of the legislative branch of the government.

Large states favored proportional representation wherein each state would have representation based on population; i.e., one representative for each xx number of people. This was a key component of what was referred to as the “Virginia Plan” and would give large, more populous states, more representatives than would be given to small states. Small, less populated, states feared that this form of legislature would make their opinions and wishes irrelevant; that the large states could overwhelm their smaller representation and do only what was in the interests of the large states.

Conversely, small states endorsed a legislature that would provide each state with the same number of representatives so that each state would carry the same weight in any vote; essentially, one state, one vote. This was a key component of the “New Jersey Plan” that would have kept the Articles of Confederation in place.

After a period of extended debate, Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth … both representatives from Connecticut … offered a compromise solution. Combining both proposals, their compromise created a bicameral legislative branch; a Congress with two houses. One chamber, the House of Representatives would have a membership based on population; the Virginia Plan’s one representative for each xx number of people. The second chamber, the Senate, would give equal representation to each state; the New Jersey Plan’s “one state, one vote”. In proposing this compromise solution, these men demonstrated true leadership … they actively sought and found a solution that was in the best interest of the country and that the majority of the representatives could support.

Great Leaders not only talk the talk of wanting to do what is best for the nation, they work together to find solutions that accomplish the goal of doing what is right and what is best for the country. Great Leaders recognize that when they find themselves in a hole, it’s best to stop digging deeper and start digging out of the hole; to find common ground that can lead to solutions based on a consensus of what is best for the majority. Great Leaders understand that, in the immortal words of Star Trek’s Mr. Spock, “The needs of the many (the nation) outweigh the needs of the few.”

As stated above, negative leadership styles are not working!  It’s time to try something else. It’s time to seek out and find compromises that, while not giving everyone everything that they want, offer solutions that most can accept as being in the best interests of the nation. Set aside the negative leadership behaviors. It’s time to become true leaders; Great Leaders, who act in the best interests of those that they have been given the privilege of leading.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com

What Do You Mean, Introverts Can Be Leaders?

Hello, type casting? I’d like to order a leader … you know, someone who is outgoing, a back-slapper, a hail good fellow well met type of person; a “take charge” guy or gal. That’s what leaders look like, isn’t it? Or is it?

COREMAP tells us that there are four personality types; Commanders, Organizers, Relaters, and Entertainers. Commanders and Entertainers are extroverts … outgoing; never saw a stranger, only a friend as yet unmet. Organizers and Relaters tend to be introverts who value their “alone” time; who are happy to be in the back of the room observing rather than at the front of the crowd drawing attention to themselves.

Call type casting for a leader and the odds are that they will send over a Commander or an Entertainer; usually the former. But, Organizers and Relaters can be Great Leaders because of the talents and skills that they bring to the table. Consider …

  • Organizers and Relaters use their alone time to re-energize themselves; and, this often includes taking time to bring clarity to their motives and values. By using their alone time to determine what truly motivates and excites them; what actions they will take in the pursuit of their goals (as well as what actions they will NOT take because those actions would violate their own personal code of ethical conduct), these introverted personalities are able to clearly set a course that they can explain to their followers and the vision that they have for the future … a vision that their team members can see and choose to be a part of.
  • While Organizers and Relaters may shun the limelight, they are often at their very best in one-on-one conversations. They use these personal conversations to convey their core message; their core values; their vision as they personalize the conversation to the individual needs of their listeners.
  • As people who choose to avoid the spotlight, introverts can be more observant of the actions of others. Organizers and Relaters watch what others say and do. They are able to see and hear those who quietly have an impact on the thoughts and actions of others. They are adept at drawing those quiet leaders into the conversation; and, they allow those people to guide the thoughts and actions of others. Equally important, they are able to identify those things that they want to change and improve … both in their environment and in themselves.

Hello, type-casting? I need a leader. Let’s not limit ourselves to the usual suspects. Great Leaders come in from all personality types and each personality type brings very specific and valuable skills to the leadership table. Let’s find the candidate who brings the needed skills to the role.

Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com