What characterizes good leaders

Which Leader Would You Rather Follow?

May 18, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Two individuals, Joe and Mary, were hired into sales positions for the same company. They had different sales managers, Travis and Ray, who also served as their sales trainers. They completed the basic sales training courses in the classroom which taught them all about the company’s products and the company’s basic sales presentation. They received the same scores on their product knowledge tests. Now, it was time to venture out “into the field” where they would be meeting with real customers under the watchful eyes of their respective sales managers. Joe and Mary agreed to meet for a light dinner after their first day of “field work” to compare notes. When they met for dinner, they found that they had experienced very different days.

Joe had worked with Travis. After each customer meeting, Travis pointed out everything that Joe had done wrong. Travis told Joe everything he had to “fix” before they went out on more sales calls the next day. Joe concluded by stating that he had made no sales, was disappointed and frustrated, and was questioning his future in sales.

Mary, on the other hand, had spent the day working with Ray. After each customer meeting, Ray asked Mary to identify the things that she felt she had done well. Ray then pointed out things that he felt Mary had done well but she had not mentioned. Ray then asked Mary what she felt she could improve on and, through a series of questions, guided her as to how she could make those improvements. Mary concluded with the statement that, while she had not made a sale either, she was eager to make more calls the next day and was confident that would make sales.

Great Leaders understand that a major part of their role is to help team members discover their skills, their competencies, and what they do especially well. Rather than tearing down team members, they help build the team member’s confidence while building their skill sets as well. This does not mean that Great Leaders ignore those things that need to be changed and improved; but, Great Leaders help the team member identify those things for themselves and discover, for themselves, what must be done to become better every day.

If you will be a Great Leader, ask yourself who you would rather work with … Travis or Ray; then, model the behaviors of the leader you prefer and build the people you have been given the privilege of leading.

Click “Comment” and share your experiences of working with a “Travis” or a “Ray” type of leader.

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, dynamic leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Leadership, management

How Do Great Leaders Set An Example for Others to Follow?

April 27, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Two weeks ago, we saw how a Great Leader can influence the life of a person without ever realizing that he/she had done so. Shortly thereafter, I ran across an article which began with the premise that a leader is anyone that other people choose to emulate; and, is someone who embraces the role.

Great Leaders want to be given the opportunity to lead; in fact, they thrive in leadership roles. They recognize that their behavior, their habits, their mindset serve as examples that others will choose to aspire to. How do they do this?

They maintain a positive attitude – While some see the glass as half empty, Great Leaders see the glass to be half full; and, they know that they got the very best in the glass.
They work toward a common goal with confidence – Great Leaders believe in the goals that have been set. They work toward those goals with confidence that the goal will be reached
They have faith in the team that they have the privilege of leading – Great Leaders have as much faith in the team as they believe in the goal. For the Great Leader, there is no doubt that the team can work together and achieve outstanding results. Great Leaders believe in the team and know that it will reach and surpass the goal.
They inspire the team – through their own confidence and faith, Great Leaders inspire others to reach for the moon and the stars; to believe that they can reach the goal, no matter how lofty it might be.

Aware that others are always watching them, Great Leaders are mindful of their own behaviors and attitudes seeking always to ensure that they are worthy of emulation. They make certain that they project only the positive traits so that others will choose to follow in their footsteps.

Who are the Great Leaders who have inspired you? Think back and you will recognize them. Click “Comment” to share your experience.

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, dynamic leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership

Can You Impact the Life of Another and Not Even Know It?

April 15, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

I recently attended an Eagle Scout’s Court of Honor and heard the Eagle Scout give credit to those who had helped him along the way. He presented what is known as an “Eagle Mentor Pin” to several individuals, citing what each had done to help him reach Scouting’s highest rank.

As the young man talked about one of his Mentors, he related how, when he was only 11 years old, this individual had made a comment to the effect that the young man really had no choice but to become one of the few who attain this honor, that it was his destiny to become an Eagle Scout. The young man went on to tell that whenever he thought about quitting, he would remember this comment and it kept him working toward the goal.

Later that evening, I got to talk with the Mentor and I asked him about that comment. Had he really told the young man that he was destined to become an Eagle; that he had no choice; that it was something he had to do? The Mentor smiled and shook his head from side-to-side saying, “You know, I have no memory of that conversation. I don’t remember telling him that. Clearly though, it made a big impression on him.”

Great Leaders often say and do things without really thinking about the positive impacts they are making on others. They may offer encouragement when it is needed most; guidance without realizing that the recipient is feeling lost; an encouraging word to someone who is feeling down; and, they don’t even realize that what they’ve done could be making all the difference in the world to that person.

Perhaps what is most encouraging about this is that the impact the Great Leader has made does not stop there. Like the ripples on a pond spreading out from where a tossed pebble breaks the surface, that impact is passed from its original recipient to others with whom that original recipient interacts for the rest of his or her life. Someday, somewhere, that original recipient will recall how his or her life was changed for the better by someone who took the time to care and will pass along that encouragement to another. Great Leaders make the lives of others better and oftentimes don’t even know that they’ve done it.

Who was the Great Leader that made your life better? Have you passed it along to someone else yet? Perhaps the opportunity to make a life changing impact is still in your future. Perhaps you have already made it. There are many opportunities in the world for you to do this. Look around and you will find them.

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, Character, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Moral Leadership

Does a Great Leader Take a Little More or a Little Less?

April 6, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Who gets the credit when a project goes well; is completed on time; comes in under budget; exceeds the client’s expectations?

Who gets blamed when things don’t go well; are not done on time; experience cost overruns; result in dissatisfied customers?

The answer depends on the leader.

The mediocre leader basks in the glory of the job well done and takes credit for the results. The mediocre leader is convinced that his/her leadership made all the difference in the world and, therefore, is deserving of all the credit. Of course, when things go badly, the mediocre leader seems to either melt into the shadows and cannot be found when accountability comes into play; OR, the mediocre leader, the poor leader, looks for the person or persons at whom the finger of blame can be pointed. This poor excuse for a leader makes statements like, “It’s not my fault” or “I couldn’t help it” or “What do you expect with the losers assigned to my team?” “They wouldn’t listen” and “They did not follow my instructions”. “It’s their fault”.

Great Leaders, on the other hand, share the congratulatory limelight with team members when the “attaboy points” are being handed out. They make comments like, “The team was great. They did the work. My biggest job was staying out their way and letting them do what they do best”. Conversely, when the customer is unhappy, the budget limit has been busted, a deadline is missed, the Great Leader shields the team from blame and retribution. The Great Leader takes responsibility and is held accountable. The Great Leader says, “I could have provided clearer direction. I could have watched costs more closely.”

Great Leaders have the privilege of leading great teams; and, they earn the respect and loyalty of team members by taking more than their share of the blame and giving the credit for a job well done to the team they have the privilege of leading.

Have you had the privilege of working with a Great Leader? Click comment to share your experiences and tell us what made that leader great.

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, Character, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Moral Leadership

Do Great Leaders Always Inherit Great Followers; or, Do They Provide Great Training?

March 23, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

While visiting my mother in Arizona recently, I had the opportunity to have dinner in the dining room at the Independent Living Facility where she resides. Now, don’t get me wrong … they do a lot of things right at this facility and Mom appears to be very happy there. But, I saw a lot of things in the dining room that, in my mind, were like dragging fingernails across a chalkboard.

I watched the server hand one of the residents a spoon with her thumb squarely in the middle of the “business end” of the spoon; saw another server cover a soiled and stained table cloth with napkins rather than replacing it with a clean one. At a table designed to accommodate six people, I witnessed a party of three being served their dinner while dirty dishes from the six diners who had previously been served at the table were stacked at the far end of the table. Having worked in the restaurant industry while I attended college, I knew that these behaviors were not proper food service etiquette. Some discreet inquiries revealed the underlying problem … new servers received minimal training. Basically, they were assigned to a “veteran” who was told to “show ’em how we do things”.

Great Leaders recognize that in order to have those who follow them provide great customer service, they must make certain that those followers know what great service looks like. This requires training! How do Great Leaders provide great training?

When classroom training is delivered, Great Leaders make sure the training is fun, interactive, and memorable – No one wants to sit in a chair all day and listen to the teacher drone on and on. They want to be on their feet doing something. They want to be a part of the program, not an attendee but rather a participant. At the end of the day, they want to walk out the door thinking, “I’m glad I came … I learned things I can really use to make my customer/client happy; and, I had fun doing it.
Great Leaders include what has been called “Field Training” – While classroom training may provide the textbook “how to’s”, practical application is where the new skills become ingrained habits. This is also where mentoring comes into play. The person who is being trained works closely with, or “shadows”, a person who can demonstrate the proper execution of the skills; then, the field trainer watches the person who is being trained perform the same skills and coaches him/her in techniques that enable him/her to become more skillful.
Finally, they make certain that those who are doing the training are the best at what they do – The trainers do the job right and provide the best examples for others to emulate. They pass along the “best practices” of whatever skill they are teaching. They are professional and are lifelong learners who are always working at upgrading their own skills in order to continue to be “the best of the best”.

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

Whose Brain Power Do You Use?

March 9, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

I once worked with a man named Jack who, when asked for his opinion of something, had the habit of asking “do you want me to tell you what I really think or what you really want to hear?” Personally, I found this habit annoying because I felt one who would be a Great Leader would only want the benefit of this veteran’s experience. My feeling was confirmed one day when I heard the District Manager respond, “Jack, I don’t need a ‘yes man’, I need the opinion of a man who has your experiences and has learned something from those experiences”.

Great Leaders are smart enough to recognize that they cannot possibly have seen it all, heard it all, or done it all. They look to others whose experiences are different from their own and ask for input based on those different experiences. As someone once said, “I use all the brainpower I’ve got and all that I can borrow”.

Great Leaders are willing to learn. They make no pretense of having all the answers. They value diverse opinions and experiences and are willing to benefit from what the great Cavett Robert called “O.P.E.” … Other Peoples’ Experience.

Great Leaders are inclusive. They seek out individuals whose backgrounds and experiences are different from their own. They surround themselves with people who will bring different points of view to any discussion. They encourage those individuals to “speak up” and offer their perspectives; and, they actively listen to those perspectives in order to obtain new ideas and improve plans.

Will you be a Great Leader? If so, open your eyes, your ears, and most importantly your mind. There is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom available to those who will listen for what they need to hear.

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, Character, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, Leadership

What Makes You Think You’re Not a Leader?

March 2, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

History provides us with some interesting perspectives regarding what makes a leader. John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States and the first former President to be elected to Congress after having served in the Presidency, wrote,

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

With these words, Adams clearly articulated that any person could be a leader. It was not necessary that the individual hold a specific job, complete a specific course of study, or hold an elected office. Rather, any individual who, through his or her actions, words or thoughts, caused another individual to become more than he or she was, had in fact become a leader who had earned a follower.

Interestingly, not all leaders embrace their leadership roles. Many downplay the leadership role that they have played in the lives of others. Some do this out of modesty. Others do it because they truly believe that the “follower” would have taken those actions on their own.

Great Leaders influence those around them; at times they do so knowingly and at other times with no conscious thought or effort. They exert their leadership through their words and deeds; by the examples and lessons that they provide. Think back on those who have influenced your life. Did they do so deliberately; or, was it simply by the way they lived their lives that caused you to think, “I want to be like them” or “I want to change the way I am or what I do”?

Are you a Great Leader? Do you have the potential to be a Great Leader? The answer may surprise you.

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

February 23, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Integrity, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership

Will the Leader You Follow Nurture Your Talents and Help You Grow?

February 9, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

The great entrepreneur, author, and speaker Jim Rohn remarked, “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”

Normally, I agree with nearly everything Jim Rohn says. But, in this case, I believe that someone who is working for a Great Leader may be able to take exception to this quote.

Great Leaders have the unique ability to implement their plans for the attainment of their goals in ways that promote the growth and advancement of their followers. They recognize that with the privilege of leadership comes the responsibility to nurture the talents of those that they lead and to help the individuals on their teams grow both personally and professionally.

A Great Leader of my acquaintance used a method he called “Demonstrate/Alternate” to nurture and cultivate the skills of those he lead. He would first demonstrate how to handle a situation, encouraging the person that he was training to ask questions when they later reviewed the situation and how it was handled. Then, he would have the person he had trained deal with that situation the next time it arose. When he critiqued how the person had dealt with the situation, he would begin by asking “what do you feel you did well?”; “what would you do differently if you could do it all over again?” Only then would he offer his comments of what went well and what might be done differently.

If you want to be a Great Leader, seek out opportunities to help the members of your team grow. Provide those who choose to follow your lead with opportunities to learn by doing and promote their achievements to others who can help them grow and advance.

If you are one who follows the lead of another, you are not absolved of responsibility for your own career growth and advancement. Help your leader become a Great Leader by asking for chances to learn; first, by watching and then by doing. Take the initiative, set your goals, and create a plan that will help you reach those goals. If you do … and if you help your leader become a Great Leader … you just might find that, together, you accomplish far more than either of you thought possible.

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, Character, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, Integrity, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership

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

February 2, 2014 By Soaring_Eagle_One

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

Filed Under: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Integrity, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, Character, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership