What characterizes good leaders

Is the Number of People You Lead Important?

October 20, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

I recently had the privilege of presenting an all day workshop on leadership and the art of converting people who are considered hard to work with into allies. In the course of the day, one of the participants asked the question, “Is the number of people that you lead important?” As we discussed this question, it became evident that the thought behind the question involved this participant comparing himself to world leaders and wondering how he could have the same impact on the world as someone who leads millions of individuals.

On the surface, it would appear that someone leading millions would clearly have a greater impact on the world than an individual leading one person or a dozen people; on the surface. But let’s dig a little deeper.

Great Leaders recognize that leading, in and of itself, influences those who follow. Whether it’s a single follower or a million followers, the potential is there to change the world.

Consider a small pebble dropped into a pond. It generates ripples that expand out into the pond and continue on to the shoreline where they meet the resistance of land and rebound back toward the center of the pond. In and of itself, this sounds like it is no big deal that has little, if any, impact on the world around it. But, if that small ripple dislodges a small rock and weakens an earthen work dam which ultimately collapses sending a torrential flood downriver, how insignificant was that pebble that fell into the pond?

Regardless if they lead one or millions, Great Leaders give their very best and lead their followers toward the best knowing that the lessons that they teach, the examples that they provide, today will impact generations to come by of the changes that they make in the lives of their followers today. Has a Great Leader changed your life; or, have you, by your leadership, changed the life of another? Comment here to share your story.

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, Lead from strength, Leadership, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership

DO GREAT LEADERS PAINT THEMSELVES INTO INESCAPABLE CORNERS?

October 13, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, How personality type impacts leadership, Integrity, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Personality Assessment, Personality types, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Building a Legacy, Character, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, Integrity, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, personality types

What Could Possibly Make an Introverted Organizer a Great Leader?

October 6, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Organizers can be Great Leaders. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at a few of the characteristics and skills that the Organizer brings to the leadership table.

Analytical – Organizers who use their “alone time” to examine situations often see opportunities where others see only problems, obstacles, limitations, and dead ends. Given sufficient examination, these impediments can be turned into motivations and opportunities. The analytical Organizer finds the opportunity to do what “they” say can’t be done.

Detail Oriented – There is an old saying that “the devil is in the details” and here is where the Organizer shines. While the Commander does not want to be bothered with the details, preferring the “big picture”; and, while the Entertainer may not always recognize that there ARE details (as an Entertainer myself, I feel I can safely make this observation), the Organizer identifies the key elements that must be included if a project is to succeed and then makes sure that someone is responsible for ensuring that they are attended to.

Focused – While Organizers are extraordinarily attentive to details, they still are able to “keep their eyes on the prize”. They make sure that the details are attended to because they see how those details contribute to the ultimate success of the team and the project.

Consistent and Fair – Teams seem to function best when all members know what is expected of them and what each member will be contributing. Organizers, being detail oriented and having systems and processes in place to ensure that those details are attended to, tend to make certain that the processes and procedures ensure that things are done the same way each time and that the standards are consistently applied. Ultimately, fairness means that the same standards are applied, consistently, to every member of the team.

Perseverance – The value and importance of some projects is always readily apparent to others. When a Great Leader knows that he or she has a good idea, perseverance is a key component required for the ultimate adoption of that idea. While others may give the idea a passing glance, the Organizer sees the value and persists in presenting that value to the audience and will not give up.

Organizer personalities can be Great Leaders … they bring vital traits and skills to the leadership table. If you think about the truly great leaders you have known and admired, there is probably at least one Organizer on your list. Click the “Comment” button and share your story about that Organizer Leader 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: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, How personality type impacts leadership, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Personal Coaching, Personality Assessment, Personality types, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, personality types

What Do You Mean, Introverts Can Be Leaders?

September 30, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

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

Filed Under: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, How personality type impacts leadership, Integrity, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Personality Assessment, Personality types, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Character, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, Integrity, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, personality types

Do As I Do, Not As I Say

September 8, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Recently, I’ve been following a group discussion about how organizations can reduce the likelihood of someone within their team or organization engaging in unethical behaviors. Interestingly … but not surprisingly … the consensus seems to be that ethical behavior starts at the top of the organization when it is modeled by the leaders of that organization. Great Leaders recognize that their behavior speaks so much louder than their words. Consequently, they keep these points in mind at all times and allow these points of ethical behavior to guide them in all that they do.

Remember … wherever you are and whatever you do, you represent your company, your team, and yourself. People will see you and how you deport yourself. They will remember. They will make the logical assumption that what you did is a clear indication of who you are and what you stand for. As an example, I once knew a young man who was a teacher. He made the careless assumption that what he did outside of school hours would neither be noticed nor remembered by his students. One weekend, he went to a flea market wearing a t-shirt with a rather risqué saying on it. He saw no problem with that since he was “an adult” and could do as he pleased. On Monday, one of his students stated that he’d seen the teacher and quoted the saying on the t-shirt. Then, the student shocked the teacher by asking, “How can you tell us in class that we should respect others when that t-shirt tells us that you do not respect the people it makes fun of?” This teacher had forgotten the reality that EVERYTHNG he did, wherever he went, told others his values and his beliefs.

If you expect others to maintain confidences, you must maintain them yourself. All leaders, Great Leaders and not-so-great-leaders see and hear things that should not be repeated. The difference is that not-so-great-leaders see these things as fodder for gossip and opportunities to get a laugh by making someone the object of a joke. Great Leaders adhere to the old adage that “What you see here, say here, and hear here must stay here.” They don’t repeat things that were said in confidence and they don’t turn the misfortunes of others into punch lines.

If you expect that others respect you as a person, you must demonstrate that you respect other people. Great Leaders understand that respect cannot be demanded nor can it be expected by virtue of the title on one’s door. It must be earned; and, one of the best ways to earn respect is to show it. An actual case witnessed by someone that I consider to be a Great Leader should serve to illustrate this point. The owner of a company expected his employees to respect him. He felt that it was his due. However, he regaled his employees daily with tales of his wife’s ineptitude and what he considered to be her lack of common sense. Rather than finding these stories humorous, his employees could not believe the disrespect that he showed for his spouse and wondered aloud how he talked about them when they weren’t around.

Great Leaders set the example that they want others to emulate. Be it their professionalism, their work ethic, their compassion and understanding for others, Great Leaders model the behavior that they expect of others. They know that actions speak far louder than words and they make sure that their actions set the standard for others to live up to.

What actions have you witnessed by a Great Leader who sets the standard for others to live up to; or, by not-so-great-leaders who lower the bar to the lowest common denominator? Click the comment button and share your experiences 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: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Leadership, management

Being Busy Doesn’t Mean You’re Accomplishing Anything!

September 2, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

When I first entered the insurance industry, my agency manager held weekly telephone sessions at which agents were to make calls and schedule appointments for the coming week. Some agents enjoyed success at these sessions and scheduled a full week of appointments. Others left the sessions exhausted but with few or no appointments set. As a new agent, I wanted to know why these sessions worked for some agents and not for others. Ray challenged me to find out for myself … to look back at sessions where I personally enjoyed success and at those sessions where I was exhausted with no tangible results to show for all of my work. He also challenged me to keep track of how many times I dialed the phone (okay, the phones were push-button phones but we still referred to making the call as dialing), how many people I got to talk to, and how many appointments I set. Here is what I learned.

When I made a lot of calls (100 dials was the goal), I was energized at the end of the day. Typically, I had scheduled all of the appointments I needed. Those appointments were usually with highly qualified prospects; and, I could not wait for the week to begin. I was excited because I knew that it was going to be a great week!

When I spent most of my time shuffling papers, looking for the “hot lead” to call; searching for the “perfect prospect” to set an appointment with, I ended the day exhausted. I had very few appointments with qualified prospects. I viewed the coming week with trepidation; and, I “knew” it was going to be a horrible, unproductive week.

Great Leaders recognize that being busy alone does not make them productive nor does it make their team members productive and successful. It just makes them busy. The activity may or may not lead to successful outcomes. Great Leaders help their associates focus on those activities that lead to successful outcomes. By just changing the perspective from which activities are viewed, Great Leaders help their followers focus on those actions that drive the success of the team and the individuals who comprise the team.

Click the comment button and share how you have learned to focus on productive activities in order to make your “work time” an investment in your personal success.

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, Lead from strength, Leadership, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: dynamic leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership

Just Wishing and Hoping Won’t Get It Done!

August 25, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Back in the 1960’s, there was a song title “Wishin’ and Hopin'” in which the opening lines stated that wishing and hoping, planning and dreaming, would not get a person where he or she wanted to be. The song concluded by acknowledging that getting where you wanted to go requires that a person take action. Great Leaders know this!

Great Leaders know that all of the planning in the world accomplishes nothing if the plans aren’t implemented.

Great Leaders know that creating a vision of the future and wishing to make it so is crucial. They also know that turning that vision into reality requires action … massive action.

Great Leaders know that hoping to reach a goal is not an actual strategy for reaching that goal. Reaching the goal requires a plan that can be acted on. It requires that specific actions be taken to accomplish what we set out to do.

Do you have hopes and dreams? Do you wish to turn those hopes and dreams into goals that have been reached? If so, create a plan that includes specific Action Steps that you can and will take to make progress toward the attainment of that goal. Then, take action … massive action … to turn your dreams into realities!

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, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Uncategorized, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership

Hopes and Dreams are Important

August 18, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

While attending the National Speakers Association Convention recently, I heard keynote speaker Walter Bond issue a challenge to leaders everywhere as he said, “Leaders, validation is a lost art. Validate people’s hopes and dreams.”

Validation is defined as substantiating, supporting, or confirming something and this got me thinking. How can Great Leaders validate the hopes and dreams of those that they have the privilege of leading?

Inspire people to dare to dream – Great Leaders encourage their followers to dream; and, to dream big. They know that the bigger the dreams, the greater the internal incentives to turn those dreams into realities. Great Leaders communicate their support of those dreams and demonstrate their willingness to help the follower attain the dream.

Create an atmosphere that is conducive to success – Have you noticed that some plants grow better than identical plants in other locations? Why is this? Friends in the real estate business would attribute the difference to “location, location, location”. I prefer to say, “environment, environment, environment”. Some places simply provide an environment that fosters growth, success, and the achievement of goals. Great Leaders create such an environment in which their followers who dare to dream big can do what is necessary to turn those dreams into realities.

Share the vision – Great Leaders have a vision of what they want to accomplish and the goals that they want to achieve. They expect their followers to see that vision and work for its fulfillment. Why should followers not expect the same support from their leaders? Great Leaders not only look at the visions of their followers, they look for ways to help those visionaries fulfill their visions as well.

Great Leaders, your followers, your team members, have hopes and dreams for their futures and the futures of their families. Just as you expect them to see your vision and support it, you have a responsibility to validate their hopes and dreams; and, demonstrate that you consider them to be worthwhile by providing your support, your enthusiasm, and your help in making those hopes and dreams come true.

Click the “Leave A Comment” button and share how a Great Leader has helped you reach a goal or turn a dream into a reality.

Filed Under: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Leadership, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Create a Vision, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership

Do You Curse the Darkness or Bring the Light?

August 11, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

When facing adversity, how do you respond?

Do you complain about the circumstances? Do you play the blame game, trying to make someone (anyone) else responsible for the problem? Do you bemoan the adversity, determined to prove that it’s not your fault? Playing the blame game is like cursing the darkness … it may feel good at the moment but it does nothing to solve the problem.

Or, do you look for constructive solutions? Do you identify the cause of the difficulty and look for ways to cure the cause? Solving problems is very much akin to lighting the candle that pushes back the darkness. It brings solutions to the table and changes the environment.

Great Leaders fall into the latter category. They know that few projects unfold without difficulty; few people face no adversity. Great Leaders acknowledge that “stuff happens” and they prepare themselves for the potential problems by planning in advance. How will they respond to a possible objection? How will they overcome a potential road block? What is their contingency plan if adversity presents itself? Great Leaders look ahead and identify potential problems and plan to overcome them. This is one of the factors that differentiate the Great Leader from the those who are satisfied with mediocrity; the ability and willingness to look into the future and actively plan for it.

Have you had an experience where planning ahead has helped you overcome adversity? Share your story here.

Your Actions Speak Far Louder Than Your Words

August 4, 2013 By Soaring_Eagle_One

It is easy to tell others how to do something. All that must be done is open one’s mouth and let the words come forth. But, that is not true leadership. It is merely the parroting of things previously read or heard. While people may hear the words, they are seldom inspired by them.

Great Leaders, on the other hand, live by the words that they speak. They know that those who choose to follow do so because they KNOW that the words are not mere concepts to the leader. Rather, they are principles by which the Great Leader lives.

Perhaps one of the finest examples of a Great Leader exemplifying the choices and actions that he wanted his followers to emulate was George Washington, Commanding General of the Continental Army at Valley Forge. While many captains, majors, and colonels went home and left their troops to face the brutal winter and starvation, General George Washington remained in camp, on the job every day, living under the same conditions as his troops. He did not keep the army together by saying, “you need to stay here”. Instead, he said, “WE need to stay here” and then did as he asked of them.

Great Leaders do not preach a sermon and expect others to obey. Great Leaders set an example for others to follow.

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