You are here: Home / Archives for Character

Saying Goodbye to a Good Friend and Great Leader

June 7, 2015 By

Working with a Great Leader is a wonderful experience. It affords the opportunity to study a leadership style; to see how it works in real life; to identify traits and techniques that can help you grow as a leader; and, if you are fortunate, benefit from the mentoring of that individual.

Sadly, though, each of us is born with only a set number of years or days to walk this earth and then we are called home. I recently had to say goodbye to a friend who was, in my opinion, a Great Leader because he lived the traits of great leadership.

  • Commitment: When Steve accepted a responsibility, he committed himself to doing the job well. When he became the Outdoor Committee Chairman for his son’s Boy Scout Troop, he promised that the scouts would have good, safe, outings. When it was time to leave on a camping trip, he had pre-planned the transportation ensuring that every scout had a seat and a seat belt. His was always the last vehicle to leave the meeting place so that he could make certain that no one was left behind. He did the same thing when it was time to leave the campground. At the end of the outing, he did not leave the parking lot until every scout had been picked up by a parent.
  • Lead by Example: Wanting to go backpacking at the Philmont Scout Reservation with his son, he began a physical conditioning/exercise plan and lost a significant amount of weight to make certain that he would be able to make the trek and support the scouts without becoming a burden on them. At monthly campouts, he firmly believed that those who prepared the meals should not have to clean afterwards; and, he made sure that his vision was reality … not by telling others to clean or wash dishes but by standing and announcing that he was going to start the clean up process and asking who would help him.
  • Caring: Steve cared about the boys and his fellow adult leaders. Noting that one of the adults was terribly overheated, Steve took a cold drink to that individual and had him sit in a car with the air conditioning running to cool him down. During that time, he educated that individual about outdoor clothing, helping him to see the value in wearing clothing that wicked moisture away from the body and helping it evaporate quickly in order to keep the body cooler.
  • Knowing How and When to Relax: When circumstances required a serious attitude and focus, he knew how to be both and how to bring others to that same level of concentration. Steve also knew that relaxation was also needed. He had a great sense of humor that never tore anyone down or belittled others. His joyous, heartfelt laugh could be heard throughout the campground and he told jokes, good clean jokes, that brought smiles and laughter to those around him.

At times, Steve was my student. At other times, he was my teacher. Always, he was my friend. I and those he lead will miss him. We say goodbye, for now, with this prayer …

May the trail rise up to meet you;
May the wind always be at your back;
May the sun shine warmly on your face;
When you come to the river, may you cross over gently
and rest in the shade of the trees;
And, until we meet again, may the Great Scoutmaster
of all Scouts hold you in the palm of his hand and give you peace.

Rest In Peace, my friend.

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: , , , , , , , , , ,

When Plans Fall Apart, Great Leaders Lead the Way

May 10, 2015 By

Last week, we remembered the actions of General Teddy Roosevelt, Jr. when he was part of the initial landings at Utah Beach, the only General to land with the first wave of troops on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Today, we look at another example of leadership from the front, Brigadier General Norm Cota.

When General Cota landed on Omaha Beach an hour after the first men came ashore, it was clear that the assault plan, a plan which had taken over a year to create, was quickly falling apart. German defenses had blocked all exits from the beach with barbed wire, concrete pillboxes, land mines, and well planned zones of fire.

Rather than telling men to go forward, General Cota led by example, climbing over the seawall and showing engineers where he wanted them to place explosives that would tear holes in the barbed wire and create an exit off the beach. When the detonation created a hole, Cota was one of the first men through the breach. Inspired by his example, soldiers followed and overcame the defenses that had been meant to keep them out of mainland Europe.

On each of the landing beaches, individual officers and non-commissioned officers took similar actions that inspired their fellow soldiers to overcome the obstacles that stood between them, the destruction of tyranny, and the preservation of liberty. In the final analysis, it was the cumulative effects of many individual initiatives that propelled the Allies to victory.

As we look ahead to the Memorial Day Weekend when we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice on the altar of liberty, let us look at those who led from the front … the mark of truly Great Leaders. Click “Comment” and tell us who you believe were the greatest leaders of the “the greatest generation”.

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

Do Great Leaders Rely on Facts or Trust Their Intuition?

March 15, 2015 By

Last week, we looked at the decision making process of the Organizer personality who is a sensing, logical, thinker who relies on facts, figures, data … things that can be seen, touched, felt, and studied when making decisions. This week, we will contrast this with the decision making process of a Commander personality.

COREMAP(tm) teaches us that the Commander personality is an intuitive, thinking, logical, decision maker who is quite comfortable relying on his/her “gut feelings” when making decisions. In fact, even when presented with facts, figures, and demographics in support of a specific course of action, the Commander personality will often counter with the statement that, “while the facts and figures may say that we should do A, my gut tells me that we should do B. I’m going with my gut on this”. To the Organizer personality, this tendency to rely on intuition and “gut feelings” is uncomfortable and feels irrational.

However, this willingness to trust “gut feelings” empowers the Commander personality to be decisive and provides both the confidence and the willingness to take the lead and accept the responsibilities of leadership in order to ensure that the desired outcome is reached. Their decisiveness and confidence will frequently command the respect of others; but, it can also intimidate the less confident and the more introverted personalities.

Great Leaders who have a dominant Commander personality are quick thinking and level headed in times of stress and emergencies. Great Leaders also recognize that they cannot do everything themselves and are good delegators who find the right person for the job and inspire that person to greatness. Great Leaders are highly motivated to see those that they lead succeed in their own right. They are always willing to listen to the ideas of others and implement those ideas when they provide a better way to reach a goal; and, they give full credit to the one who provided the suggestion. At the same time, they have the self-confidence to reject those ideas that are contrary to their own ideas of what is right and what is wrong, what will work and what will not.

Have you had the privilege of working with a Commander personality and witnessing his/her decision making process? Click “Comment” and share your experiences.

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, Lead by Example, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, Personality Assessment, Personality types, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Is That Pause Indecision or a Moment to Consider the Facts?

March 8, 2015 By

“Now wait … let’s think this through.”

Do these words sound like the reaction of a Great Leader to someone’s suggested course of action? If you are like most people, you’re probably thinking that these words sound indecisive; like the words of an individual who has little or no self-confidence. However, they could well be the words of a Great Leader who has a dominant Organizer personality.

COREMAP(TM) teaches us that Organizer leaders are sensing, logical, thinkers who rely on facts, figures, data … things that they can see, touch, feel, study when making decisions. They think things through rather than go with their “gut reactions”. To know that they have made the right decision, Organizers need to know that they have considered all possible courses of action; have thought about all of the benefits that can be derived from the decision or the potential for unintended consequences of each course of action.

When given the time to weigh all factors, Organizer leaders are able to be decisive and rock-steady in their pursuit of the determined course of action. If the ultimate decision is different from their original idea, they are able to endorse the other person’s idea with conviction because they have weighed the benefits versus the costs and are convinced that it is the best course to pursue. Likewise, if they truly believe that the actions proposed by another are not in the team’s best interest, they can voice their opposition with graciousness and in a manner that shows the proposer that his/her suggestion has been heard, considered, and acted upon.

Great Leaders make every team member feel valued and know that they have been heard. Great Leaders who have Organizer personalities do this especially well for all of the reasons listed above. If you’ve worked with an Organizer Great Leader, click “Comment” below and share your experiences.

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

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

March 1, 2015 By

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

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

A Great Leader’s View of Character

February 22, 2015 By

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

Filed Under: Building a Legacy, Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Integrity, Lead by Example, Lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, Uncategorized, 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: , , , , , , ,

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: , , , , , , ,

How Does a Great Leader Earn the Undying Loyalty of Others?

June 1, 2014 By

It is the winter of 1777-78 and the Continental Army has fought one losing battle after another. The seat of the Continental Congress and largest city in the Colonies, Philadelphia, has fallen and is now occupied by the Redcoats. There, the British Army rests while dining bountifully in warm colonial homes.

Meanwhile, the Continental Army has made its winter encampment at Valley Forge. There, they face shortages of everything; food, medicine, warm clothing, shoes. The soldiers sleep in cold, drafty, log cabins that they have hastily built. The soldiers witness the departure of many officers who request, and are granted, leave to go home to sleep in their own beds and eat well with their families. They also note that one officer does not leave. Promising to share their every hardship, Washington stays with the army at Valley Forge.

Great Leaders lead by example and do not ask those that they have the privilege of leading to do things that they would be unwilling to do themselves. They share the work, the good times, and the bad times. They know and understand what their teams know and have experienced because they, too, have shared the experiences of the team.

In the spring of 1778, the Continental Army marched out of Valley Forge led by a Great Leader who had earned their undying loyalty by remaining with them; by sharing their experience, their privations, their hardships. In June of that year, the Continental Army defeated the British at Monmouth Courthouse, the last major engagement in the Northern Theater of the Revolutionary War. Following the battle at Monmouth Courthouse, the British withdrew to New York City and shifted the focus of their campaigns to the Southern colonies. Ultimately, the British would surrender at Yorktown and a new nation, The United States of America, would take its place among the nations of the world … in large part because a Great Leader stood shoulder to shoulder with the troops and led them to victory.

If you have had the privilege of following a Great Leader who has earned your undying loyalty, 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, Uncategorized, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts