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Who Made You the Leader?

September 14, 2014 By

As children, we often had the experience of someone telling us what to do and how to do it. We wondered and often asked, “who made you the leader?” or words to that effect. If the person telling us what to do was an adult, hopefully, we were wise enough to not ask that question. But, if the person telling us what to do was another child, a peer, we usually asked the question loudly and with great conviction. Today, I believe we have a much clearer picture of who made you the leader.

The dictionary defines a leader as, “1. a person or thing that leads. 2. a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group”. Please note that nowhere in this definition does it say that a leader holds a specific management position, political office, or designated job. Rather, it tells us that a leader is a person who leads, guides, or directs others. So, how does a leader do these things.

  • Leaders inspire others to dream. No great thing is accomplished by dreams alone. But, great accomplishments require big visions, big dreams of what might be possible “if only…”
  • Leaders encourage others to learn. Consider the Wright brothers. They had the dream of one day flying. But they knew that they did not know enough yet to make that dream come true. So, they studied birds and the shape of their wings and noticed what we now know as an airfoil, the shape that creates lift and enables the birds to soar.
  • Leaders motivate others to do more. Great achievements require great effort. When many are tired and tempted to give up, leaders help them keep the vision in sight and put forth the extra effort needed to turn that dream into reality.
  • Leaders empower others to become more. A young man facing an Eagle Scout Board of Review stated that a leader inspires someone to achieve things that he/she never thought could be done. It is still one of the best definitions of a leader I’ve heard.

Who made you the leader? If you did any of these four things, you made you the leader by doing so. If you did all four, you are well on your way to being a Great Leader.

Have you known a leader who inspired you to become more than you already were; to do more than you had previously done; to learn more and grow; to dream of the possibilities? Click “comment” and share that 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 by Example, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Make a Decision!

September 7, 2014 By

In my experience, decision makers are not always Great Leaders; but, Great Leaders are always decision makers.

I remember that, as a beginning life insurance agent, I was often frustrated to hear people tell me that they did not want to make a decision about the purchase of a policy … especially without having the opportunity to “think about it”. The experience of my peers and subsequently my own experience had shown that the longer people thought about a decision, the more likely it was that they would make no decision. I came to believe that the decision to make no decision was, in fact, a decision to do nothing. In hindsight, I can see that my belief was only partially correct.

For a great many individuals, this assumption was accurate. They chose to avoid a decision in the belief that, so long as they made no decision, their circumstances would always remain the same and that they would have ample time to take action when they chose to do so. Of course, we all know that this is not true; that circumstances are always changing and that those changes can and do remove options that we may have previously had available to us.

On the other hand, Great Leaders are very aware of the continuous changes going on around them. This is not to say that they can predict the changes that will occur; or, that they will recognize the change the moment it happens. However, they know that change is inevitable and that indecision only delays the decisions that must be made. They also recognize that the passage of time can alter the options available to them … sometimes offering more options, other times fewer options. So, what do they do?

Great Leaders stop and take time to consider the options available to them, including the option to do nothing at this time. They weigh the plusses and minuses of each option and then make a decision based on what they believe to be the best alternative. They make this decision with confidence and then they lead their team in the implementation of the decision that they have made. They take action … massive action. As a wise man once said, “Massive action provides immediate feedback. It tells you that you are on the right course and you should proceed; or, it tells you that you are on the wrong path and that you need to turn back, reconsider your decision, and make the appropriate changes.” Decision makers are not always Great Leaders; but, Great Leaders are always decision makers.

How do you make decisions? Click “comment” and share your decision making process.

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, Leadership Qualities, Uncategorized, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , ,

When Was the Last Time You Sharpened Your Ax?

September 1, 2014 By

Dennis entered his sales manager’s office with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. He was the company’s top sales representative and knew why … he was the only person on the team who was willing to do the work, the real work, every minute of every hour of every day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. He’d earned every award and accolade the company offered. So, when his sales manager asked him to step into the office and close the door, he fully expected that he was going to be praised for his dedication, commitment, and hard work.

“Dennis,” his sales manager, Ken, began, “First, I want you to know how much I appreciate all that you do. You are our top sales rep. Your customers love you. Customer service tells me that your customers say you always under promise and over deliver. Your mind is on the job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and, I’m worried about you. You don’t take vacation time you’ve earned. You don’t take time to celebrate holidays. You have a loving wife and beautiful children but, by your own admission, you don’t really spend a lot of time with them. I’m don’t want to lose you to burn out or health problems. So, I want to share a story with you and I hope you’ll spend some time this Labor Day Weekend thinking about it.

“Once upon a time, there were two lumberjacks. They were the greatest axmen alive. The young lumberjack bragged that he could cut more wood than the old one and after a while, the two agreed to have a contest to see who was the best. The day of the contest dawned bright and sunny. Both men were feeling great and began chopping wood. As the day wore on, everyone could see that one man was building a lead over the other and; as the sun was setting, it was clear that the elder lumberjack had won by a significant margin.

“The young lumberjack exclaimed, ‘How could you possibly win? Every time I looked around, you were sitting in the shade; you spent almost a half hour eating lunch while I didn’t take a single break and I skipped lunch completely! How could you possibly beat me?

“The older man smiled and said, ‘Son, what you didn’t notice was how I timed those breaks. After 50 minutes of work, I sat down in the shade for 10 minutes and drank some water. When I broke for lunch, I provided my body with the fuel it needed to work through the afternoon. You also failed to notice that each time I took a break, I spent the time sharpening my ax.’

As Dennis walked out of Ken’s office, the significance of what Ken had said hit him. He had known for a while that he was tired; that it was getting harder and harder to generate the enthusiasm that he had always felt for his job; that he could not recall the last time he’d watched his son play in a ballgame; and, he’d missed his daughter’s last two piano recitals. He’d felt for a while that his wife was drifting away from him and now he recognized that it was him who was drifting away. He didn’t need all weekend to think about the story … he needed to spend it with his family and renew those relationships and refresh the love that he felt for them.

As we celebrate this Labor Day weekend, let us rest in the shade and share the time with our friends and loved ones, nourish our bodies, and refresh our spirits. This is how we can sharpen our axes. Doing so helps us keep things in perspective and recognize the things that are truly important. Doing so also makes it possible for us to better motivate and guide those that we have been given the privilege of leading.

Happy Labor Day!

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, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Do Great Leaders Seek Small Improvements or Revolutionary Change?

August 24, 2014 By

You’ve seen it before, a new manager, new department head, new supervisor comes in and announces that “we’re going to turn this place upside down and change everything to make this place run better” (whatever those words mean). “If you can’t get behind the new way of doing things, then hit the road, your services are no longer needed.” You’ve also seen how this strategy usually works out … a number of old familiar faces leave; a number of new faces take their place; and, when things don’t run better right away, a new person comes in to replace the guy who came in and is now gone and a whole new wave of changes is coming to fix things and make them better.

Then, one day, a new leader arrives with a totally new philosophy; a philosophy that says, “let’s look and see what’s working well and then build on that foundation.” Gradually, small changes are implemented and integrated into the systems that were working efficiently and effectively. Each passing day and week witnesses a slow but steady improvement in both the systems and the employee morale.

It can be suggested here that this new leader is practicing the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen … a philosophy or practice that focuses on continuous and gradual improvement. It might also be suggested here that you are working with either a Great Leader or one who will soon be recognized as a Great Leader.

Great Leaders seldom advocate for revolution. Rather, they seek gradual and continuous improvement in all things … systems, practices, people. They seek out the very best in the people that they are privileged to lead and find ways to bring the best to the forefront where all can see it and benefit from it. It should come as no surprise, then, that Great Leaders achieve great results. They surround themselves with great people and provide those people with every opportunity to shine and be their very best. Through gradual changes, they achieve extraordinary (and often revolutionary) results.

Have you had the privilege of following a Great Leader who achieved extraordinary results through gradual and continuous change. Click “comment” and share that 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 by Example, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , ,

Where Were You, Really, When You Said You Were “There”?

August 17, 2014 By

I recently received a picture from a friend showing a hand holding a “smart phone”. On the screen of the phone were the words, “Putting your phone away and paying attention to those talking to you? There’s an app for that. It’s called RESPECT.” This photo reminded me of an incident that I was involved in many years ago as well as a meeting I attended a few years ago.

In the first instance, I had just been appointed to manage a branch office by my first agency manager, Ray. Ray had come to Tucson to meet with me; to review my actions over the first 60 days in my new office; and, to help create a plan that would grow the branch office in the coming months. As we talked, my telephone rang and I answered it. (Keep in mind that this is well before “Caller I.D.” told us who was calling) Ray sat patiently and waited while I spoke with the caller. When I hung up the phone and turned to resume my conversation with Ray, he fixed me in a firm stare and said, “Son, do you realize that when you interrupt a conversation you are having with one person to answer the phone, you are essentially telling that individual that while you don’t know who is calling, anyone is more important than the person you are talking to? Don’t ever do that to me again!”

Many years later, I attended a meeting with two other individuals, John and Joseph. John had been working on a research project assigned to him by Joseph and was now to deliver his findings. When the project was first given to John, Joseph repeatedly stressed how the information was urgently needed; how the findings of John’s research could play a huge part in determining the future success of the company.

On the morning of the meeting, John confidently walked into the meeting room and took his place at the conference table and awaited Joseph’s arrival. Joseph arrived late to the meeting, sat down at the head of the table and drew his cell phone from his pocket placing it on the table in front of him. “Tell me what you found,” he told John.

As John began his report, Joseph’s cell phone vibrated on the table and Joseph picked it up and read the message on the screen. “Go on, John, I’m listening,” he said. A few minutes later, the phone rang and Joseph answered it as if John was not talking. John stopped and waited for Joseph to end the call which, based only on the half that he and I could hear, was clearly a casual conversation and not an urgent matter. When the call ended, Joseph turned to John and said, “Well, go on, what are you waiting for?” This pattern of behavior continued throughout the meeting. At meeting’s end, John and I left the office and I heard him mutter, “I wonder if he even heard a word I said?”

Great Leaders do not treat associates in this manner. Great Leaders show the same level of respect for their associates that they expect from those associates. Great Leaders make certain that they are present when an associate asks for time with them. Great Leaders give the person(s) that they are with their total and undivided attention … they are truly present when they are “there”.

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 by Example, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Where’s The Top of the World?

August 10, 2014 By

If you’ve ever attained the pinnacle of your profession or been recognized as “the best” at your avocation, it can feel like you’ve reached the top of the world; you’ve got nothing left to prove and you can now step back and rest on your laurels. It can definitely feel that way; and yet, deep down inside, there is this little nagging voice that insists that there is still something left that needs to be done. While many people are able to ignore that voice, Great Leaders stop and listen carefully, recognizing the truth that is being spoken … there is still much to do if they are to truly reach the Top of the World.

Great Leaders understand that they are within reach of the top, but they are not there quite yet. To truly reach the top, they must now identify those individuals who have the ability to excel but may never do so without the help of another … a coach, teacher, mentor, advisor who comes along at the right time to help them overcome a hurdle that may be blocking or delaying their progress. Great Leaders offer that helping hand, the timely suggestion, the encouragement that is needed and helps another achieve his or her goals, the pinnacle of their success.

For Great Leaders, helping another to succeed is a passion, a commitment that drives them. Great Leaders realize that the true “Top of the World” comes when they get to sit in the audience and quietly think, “I helped this individual realize this moment.” Great Leaders do not brag or boast about this. They do nothing to detract from the other individual’s moment in the spotlight. They do, however, enjoy a momentary smile as they look around and ask themselves, “who can I help today?”

Have you enjoyed a “Top of the World Moment”? Click comment and share your story 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, Lead by Example, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Read Any Good Books Lately?

August 3, 2014 By

My first agency manager, Ray, always encouraged us to be readers. Two of my favorite “Ray Sayings” are “Readers are Leaders and Leaders are Readers” and “When you’re green you grow. When you’re ripe you rot.” While I’ve always been a reader, his encouragements have often steered me to books that can help me grow professionally. I recently finished reading such a book.

A Leaders Gift: How to Earn the Right to be Followed is one of the best leadership books I have read. Barry Banther uses just the right mix of how he had to learn about the 5 Gifts of Leadership the hard way along with real world examples where the 5 Gifts have helped leaders succeed and earn the right to be followed.

Looking back at the Great Leaders I have had the privilege of knowing, I find that each practiced the 5 Gifts, perhaps knowingly, perhaps unwittingly; but, practice them they did. This is what made them Great Leaders.

If you have any desire to become a Great Leader, this book is a must read!

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 by Example, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, Uncategorized, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Must a Great Leader Have Humility?

July 22, 2014 By

This past week, I had the chance to talk with a man who I knew and respected; but, I had never considered him to be a leader. Our conversation changed my mind on this point.

He shared a story about a situation in which he had recently found himself; a situation in which he disagreed with an associate. As he recounted the incident, it became clear that, while the disagreement had been resolved, it still bothered him … a lot. When he finished his story, I told him that I sensed the incident was still bothering him even though, by his own admission, the disagreement had been resolved and the incident had been put behind them. It was his response that changed my opinion of him as a leader. He said,

“I was put in charge of this project because my judgment was trusted; because people believed that I could separate my personal feelings from the position and its authority and do what was right and best for the group. In this case, I failed … I allowed my personal feelings to override my judgment and create conflict where I should have been preventing it. I handled the whole thing badly.”

I asked him what he thought he should have done; or, were he to find himself in that situation again, what would he do differently. After a few minutes of silence, he shared with me what he thought he should have done; what he would do differently; how he should have responded to his associate.

Great Leaders recognize that they are imperfect human beings; that they will sometimes make mistakes. Rather than ignoring their imperfections, they review the event that they feel could have been better handled, they reflect on it and look at the options that they did not initially consider. Great Leaders have the humility to acknowledge that they can still improve their leadership skills. They see these errors in judgment as opportunities to learn and to grow, to become better leaders. This conversation made me realize that this gentleman was, in fact, a leader who was well on his way to becoming a Great Leader.

The odds are that you, too, have had this kind of opportunity to improve your leadership skills; to become a better leader, perhaps a Great Leader. Click comment and 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: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead by Example, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Is Never Making a Wrong Decision a Sign That You Are Not Making Enough Decisions?

June 30, 2014 By

Helen was recently promoted into a leadership position. She was happy with her new job and new title and recognized that she was going to be making decisions in situations that she had never had to face before. She also knew that her new supervisor, Victoria, was going to be judged by her bosses since she had promoted Helen ahead of more senior and experienced people. In fact, Helen’s old manager would now be reporting to Helen.

When facing situations requiring a decision during the first few weeks, Helen would analyze the facts and personalities involved; consider all of the options that were available to her; and then, she would sit down with Victoria to review all of the facts, the options, what she thought her decision should be and why. In most cases, Victoria would endorse the course of action that Helen proposed. But, occasionally, Victoria would point out facts or background considerations that Helen was not aware of that needed to be considered.

Victoria understood that Helen wanted to make the right decision. However, she also knew that vacillation and delays in decision making made Helen look indecisive and weak; like a follower rather than a leader. So Victoria had a heart-to-heart talk with Helen, telling her

“Helen, I chose you for this job because I believe you are intelligent and have the ability to reach logical conclusions based on facts and the personalities involved; to examine evidence and available options and reach the best possible decision. Make decisions. Right or wrong, I’ll back you in public. If you make a poor decision, we’ll talk privately and determine what might have been considered and what might have been done differently. Be decisive and understand that if you don’t make a wrong decision from time to time, you aren’t making enough decisions.”

As a result of this “pep-talk”, Helen became more decisive. She made good decisions for the most part and, in the end, she became a Great Leader who mentors others to become the Great Leaders of the future.

Have you had the privilege of working with someone like Victoria who helped you to become a better leader? Share your story here by clicking “comment”.

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 by Example, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words?

June 15, 2014 By

Over the years, I’ve listened to many individuals talk about the type of leader that they would prefer to follow. While they cite many different leadership traits, they usually come back to one trait that seems to be almost universally desired. They want a leader who “walks the talk”.

Perhaps this was best expressed by one of the great entrepreneurs of the late 19th century, Andrew Carnegie, who stated, “As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.”

Make no mistake. People can and do listen with their eyes. All of the well spoken platitudes from someone whose plan is to “fake it ’til you make it” vanish like a puff of smoke in a breeze when the behavior of the speaker is at odds with the spoken word.

Great Leaders know this and live their lives in such a way as to make certain that their behavior and their words are congruent.

  • When asking that they be treated with respect, Great Leaders treat others respectfully.
  • Desiring to be treated courteously, Great Leaders treat others with the same courtesy that they desire.
  • When speaking, they want others to listen. Thus, when others speak, Great Leaders give the speaker their undivided attention and actively listen, asking questions to better understand the speaker’s intent and meaning.
  • Asking others to arrive on time, Great Leaders arrive early and stay late.
  • Wanting a 100% effort from others, they devote their entire being and effort to the task at hand.

Great Leaders know that their actions will speak far more loudly than their words. They lead by example and demonstrate the character and traits that they desire from others. Who are the Great Leaders in your life that set the examples that you choose to emulate? 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

Filed Under: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead by Example, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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