Leadership

Giving Thanks For the Great Leaders We’ve Known

November 29, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Two years ago, I wrote that I had had the privilege of knowing some truly great leaders; some professionally, others socially. In the ensuing years, I’ve been repeatedly reminded of the role these individuals have played in my life and in the lives of others.

My father taught me that leadership need not be loud and boisterous. He demonstrated that it could be quiet while setting an example for others to emulate; that the example would speak more loudly and more clearly than words ever could. He taught me that it required patience, honor, integrity, and honesty … honesty in one’s dealings with others and when seeing one’s own talents and shortcomings.
My first agency manager, Ray, introduced me to Napoleon Hill’s statement that, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve”. For Ray, this wasn’t simply a memorable quote, it was a credo that he taught to everyone and repeated daily until we truly believed in its truth. He was committed to helping each of his followers grow and become leaders … without ever voicing these words, he was committed to replicating the best qualities in him and shaping the lives of those who would replace him and become the leaders of the future.
The individuals who serve on Eagle Scout Boards of Review. These men and women not only donate two nights a month to serve on Eagle BOR’s but also serve as unit leaders, unit committee members, and unit commissioners.
The Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Committee Chairs who make the local troops possible and empower them to function as the training grounds for future leaders.

This week, we gathered with family and friends to give thanks for the many gifts that we have been given. Please join me in giving thanks; not only this week, but in all the days and weeks to come, for the Great Leaders who have influenced each of our lives and the lives of so many others.

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: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, dynamic leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Leadership

How Would You Answer This Question

November 8, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

“What are the characteristics of a leader you would choose to follow?” is a question I like to ask Eagle Scout candidates during their Boards of Review. The answers are as diverse as the individuals providing the answer.

In the early days of Boy Scouting, Sir Robert Baden Powell wrote extensively on the qualities of leadership and I had the good fortune to read one of those articles this past weekend. He cited four valuable characteristics of great leadership. They appear below along with my interpretations of these points as they relate to Great Leaders. They are …

The leader must believe wholeheartedly in the rightness of the cause – Great Leaders have a vision of the future they want to create; the goal they want to attain. They believe that the goal is attainable and the importance of turning the vision into reality that they become passionate about it. They convey that passion to their followers and team members. They lead those individuals into an irrefutable belief as well.
The leader has a personality that is likeable – Great Leaders are likeable. They tend to be cheerful, optimistic, uplifting. People like being around them. They have empathy for those who experience difficulties and help others work through those difficulties by being supportive and encouraging. When people are not experiencing trouble, Great Leaders provide an optimistic vision of a future that people want to be a part of.
The leader knows his/her job and has confidence in his/her ability to do it – Great Leaders believe that they are the “right person” in the “right place” at the “right time”. They see the course of action that should be taken and they feel compelled to do so. They believe, not only in the rectitude of what they do but in the rightness of why they do it. They believe that they have the ability to make a difference for the better and that they cannot idly sit by and do nothing.
The leader practices what he/she preaches – Great Leaders do not say one thing and do another. They lead by example.

The writings of Sir Robert Baden Powell are as valuable today as they were nearly a century ago. Great Leaders are willing to learn from others.

Have you thought about the characteristics of the leader you would choose to follow? Click “Comment” and share those characteristics.

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: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, dynamic leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Leadership

Great Leaders Under-Sell and Over-Deliver

November 1, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Have you ever followed a leader who “promised the moon” and delivered nothing more than a “Moon Pie”? How much did you trust that leader the next time a promise was made? Believe me, I had no trouble hearing your answer to that question; and, while each of you had a slightly different way of expressing it, it was resoundingly negative.

Great Leaders know that they have been given the privilege of leading teams of highly talented, extremely capable, individuals. They also know that their own credibility is going to be key in helping the team deliver its very best efforts. The Great Leader knows that he/she must be honest and tell the team the truth. Here are three rules that Great Leaders abide by …

Don’t make promises you can’t keep – Nothing undermines a leader’s credibility than failing to keep promises. Great Leaders don’t make promises unless they are in a position to make sure the promise is kept. Great Leaders don’t say, “I promise you it will happen”. Rather, the Great Leader says, “I won’t promise you that this will happen; but, I DO promise you that I will do everything in my power to make it happen.”
Always tell the truth – A leader’s credibility will be destroyed when he/she is caught telling lies. Telling the truth can be uncomfortable, particularly when it shows culpability in failure; failure to deliver a product; failure to develop and implement a project; failure to keep a promise. Great Leaders know that making excuses and trying to shift the blame won’t work. They understand that they must tell the truth and accept full responsibility for their actions … or inactions.
Deliver more than “just enough” – Great Leaders know that “good enough” is never good enough. They understand that “squeaking by” is bound to disappoint even the most ardent supporter. Great Leaders advocate delivering “above and beyond” expectations; and, they go out of their way to make sure that they do go above and beyond what others expect from them.

How do you go “above and beyond” in the performance of your leadership duties? Click “Comment” to share your thoughts.

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: Attitude of Leadership, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership

What Would You Do if You Hired the Best?

October 18, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

What would you do if you had the very best people on your team? What would you do if you had the most talented people on your team? Would you dictate every action that they were to take; every move that they were to make; every strategy that they must pursue? Or, would you show them your vision for the future; the goals that should be reached; the desired outcomes?

When my first agency manager, Ray, was looking for new agents to bring into the agency, he would remind agents, supervisors, and sales managers that “1^st class people hire 1^st class people. 2^nd class people hire 3^rd class people.” This was his way of reminding everyone that we wanted the very best to be part of our team. He believed that the best leaders had no fear of someone surpassing them or being better than them. He lived the belief that the truest measure of a leader’s success was how many new, outstanding, team leaders he developed.

Great Leaders recognize the truth of this belief. Great Leaders know that the only way to build a strong team is to bring the very best people into the team, to show them what the end goal is, and give them the authority and the power to develop winning strategies for the attainment of that goal. As Ray used to tell us, let that talented individual see what can be accomplished and then get out of the way and let them do it.

Great Leaders also know that micro-managing is a sure road to tearing down a strong team; to undermining the confidence of the people who comprise the team and turn them into drones who are fearful of taking any action without direct “say-so” from the boss lest they be criticized or penalized for having the audacity to take the initiative.

Steve Jobs once said, “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do”. Great Leaders follow this advice!

Have you had the privilege of working with a Great Leader who showed you how much you were capable of accomplishing and then got out of the way and let you do it? Click “Comment” and share that experience.

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

Is a Title Needed to be a Leader?

October 11, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

The July/August Readers’ Digest contained an excerpt from Hector Tobar’s book Deep Down Dark about a mine cave-in which occurred in August 2010 in Chile. The excerpt tells the story of thirty-three miners who spent sixty-nine days trapped in a gold and copper mine nearly a half-mile beneath the surface of the earth. It contains an interesting story that illustrates how a person need not have a title to be a leader.

Shortly after the miners discovered that all routes of escape were sealed and that there was no way out, the shift supervisor told the miners that he was no longer their boss; that, since they are all trapped together, they should make decisions together. While his position that they should make decisions together is admirable, with this decision he removed himself from his leadership position; a position which could have been instrumental in providing guidance in the decision making processes.

Conversely, another miner who has no standing in the mining hierarchy, Mario Sepulveda, decides that he will take control of his own fate and the fate of his fellow miners. He focuses on survival and optimism. When he finds that some of the miners have broken into the emergency food supplies, he stops them from eating those supplies immediately, reminding them that they may be trapped for many days or weeks; that those supplies will be needed. He then tallies the supplies on hand to determine their resources and how to make them last. He creates a plan for a single daily meal and distributes each miner’s portion.

By his actions, Mario Sepulveda showed himself to be a true leader. He held no title, no position of authority. Yet, he directed the activities of his fellow miners, shared his vision of survival, and in the end, made that vision a reality for all of them.

Have you known someone who held no rank, no title, yet stepped into a leadership role and turned a vision into a reality? Click “Comment” and share your experience.

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

Leadership as an Opportunity to Serve

October 4, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

In his book, Servant Leadership”, Robert Greenleaf wrote that “The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first.” This is not now, nor was it then, a new concept. References to the leader being a servant can be found in the Bible and the writings of Lao-Tzu. For the Great Leader, service to others is a prime concept and a primary goal.

While the mediocre leader sees his/her position as an affirmation of his/her authority and recognition of his/her own greatness, the Great Leader recognizes that it is an opportunity to serve.

Great Leaders look at each individual team member and learn what is important to each; their goals, their aspirations, their motivations. The Great Leader recognizes that an opportunity exists to help each team member reach their goals and serves each by opening doors that will lead to the attainment of those goals. They help their team members grow professionally and as people.
Great Leaders offer help when it is needed. They know that there are times when the team member is very capable of performing unassisted and are wise enough to stand back and watch. But, when help is needed, the Great Leader serves the team member by providing guidance and instruction in such a way as to empower the team member to learn by doing. They help the team members gain the knowledge and experience that enables them be more self-sufficient and more autonomous.
Great Leaders provide team members with opportunities to serve others and become servant leaders.

The Great Leader does not seek nor take credit for these things, choosing instead to recognize the accomplishments of the team member and giving credit to that individual. Those who would choose to become a Great Leader will see that in serving others, he/she is building a solid foundation upon which the team, the business, and the community can grow and thrive.

Have you had the privilege of serving others; of working with someone who served you? Click “Comment” to share your experience and what you learned from it.

Great Leaders Take the Time to Know Their Team Members

September 20, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

Walking the battlefield at The Cowpens in South Carolina, I was reminded of General Daniel Morgan’s use and handling of the militia at that battle. The night before the battle, Morgan moved from campfire to campfire, speaking with small groups of men at each, encouraging them and telling them what he wanted them to do. He spoke their language, the plain talk of the Wagoner he had been before the war.

He did not ask the militiamen who would be in the first line of colonial forces to stand and face the feared British bayonet charges. Knowing and understanding these citizen-soldiers, he knew that was something they would not do. Rather, he asked them to stand and fire two (some reports say it was three) well aimed shots before retreating to the second line held by the Continental soldiers.

When, after firing their shots, the militiamen began running back to the second line, the Redcoats began chasing what they saw as a defeated army running away only to find that they were running directly into the trap set by Daniel Morgan. This led to a crucial victory for the Continental Army.

As I thought about General Morgan’s campfire instructions to his troops, I realized that he had carefully crafted his message to each audience he was facing; and, isn’t this what Great Leaders do when leading their teams? They recognize that each team member has his/her own communication style (based on personality type) and each has his/her own goals and desired outcomes. Great Leaders craft communications to their intended audiences and assign roles based on the strengths of each team member.

Have you had the privilege of working with a Great Leader who knew how to work with and communicate with you in a manner that was conducive to clear communications? Click “Comment” and share that experience.

Filed Under: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, How personality type impacts leadership, Lead by Example, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, dynamic leadership, lead by example, lead from strength, Leadership

Together, We Can Do So Much More!

September 7, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

I recently had the pleasure of attending an Eagle Court of Honor for not one Eagle Scout but for seven Eagle Scouts who entered Scouting as members of two separate patrols. It was fun looking back at the history these seven young men had built together. I was an adult leader in the troop when they joined and could recall many of the incidents that they described in talking about their journey to Scouting’s highest rank. Here are a few of the things they talked about collectively.

They did not like one another when they joined the troop. All seven talked at various times about the friction and animosity between the two patrols; how they harassed one another and bickered. As they talked, they recounted things that they had done to one another and how childish their behavior had been.
They came to the realization that they had to work together. Through a natural attrition process, the two patrols shrank to the point where it was necessary to merge them into one patrol. Neither patrol had sufficient membership to undertake high adventure outings on their own. As they began working as one group, they learned that they could get more done, more efficiently and more effectively, if they stopped working at cross-purposes and began working together.
They had the times of their lives as they first went sailing at Sea Base in the Florida Keys; then, went canoeing at the Northern Tier High Adventure Base in Northern Minnesota and Southern Canada. On both trips, they found that they could do more and see more the more they worked together as a team.
They became not just teammates but the very best of friends. When the first young man attained the rank of Eagle Scout, he refused to schedule a Court of Honor, telling the others that he wanted all of them on the stage and receiving their Eagles at the same time. He nudged and cajoled the others to get busy, that he wanted them at his side. As each successive young man earned the Eagle Scout rank, he joined with those who were encouraging the other patrol members to finish the journey to Eagle. Finally, all seven had earned the rank. Then, and only then, was a Court of Honor scheduled, one that would recognize the success and accomplishments of all of the patrol members.

Statistically, if 100 boys join Boy Scouts, fewer than 5 will earn the rank of Eagle Scout. In this group of seven, all seven made it to the top because, in my opinion, at one time or another, each young man stepped into a leadership role and helped the others succeed. Yes, they had a strong adult leader, an Assistant Scoutmaster, who worked with them and helped them through difficult times. But, that Assistant Scoutmaster was wise enough to let the boys work things out for themselves and learn from both their mistakes and their successes. Together, these young men learned that, together, they could do so much more than they could ever do alone.

Have you had the experience of accomplishing more through teamwork than you could have accomplished alone? Click “Comment” and share that experience, please.

Filed Under: Dynamic Leadership, Great Leaders, Lead from strength, Leadership, Leadership Qualities, What characterizes good leaders Tagged With: Attitude of Leadership, dynamic leadership, lead from strength, Leadership

Is This a Great Leader in the Making?

August 2, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

I recently had the honor and privilege of serving on an Eagle Scout Board of Review for a young man about to enter college. As part of the application process, the young man had written his “Life Ambition Statement” in which he stated that, after finishing college, he wanted to form his own company. One of the reasons that he stated for wanting to do so caught my attention. He wrote,

“As the head of my own company, I see it as my responsibility to inspire others as others have inspired me.”

One of the characteristics of a Great Leader is an ability to inspire. Recall, if you will, the Eagle Candidate who stated that a leader is someone “who inspires you to accomplish things you never thought you were capable of doing.” In both of these examples, these young men have focused on the critical element of inspiration.

Great Leaders see not only the current state of affairs. They also have a vision of what can be. They believe in this vision so strongly that they are able to inspire others to share the vision; and then, having shared the vision, they identify those who have the capability to help turn that vision into a reality and inspire them to join in a common effort to do so. They turn the vision of one individual into the vision of many. When many share a vision of the future, there is no limit to the power of that group to change the world.

Working with bright and talented individuals who have great dreams for the future, the vision to see them, and the will to make those dreams come true gives me great hope for the future. These are the leaders of the future and those of us who have been given the privilege of working with them today have been given the honor of helping create the Great Leaders of the future. We must do our very best. We dare not fail them.

Do you have ideas that will help develop the Great Leaders of the future? Click “Comment” and share them here.

Saying Goodbye to a Good Friend and Great Leader

June 7, 2015 By Soaring_Eagle_One

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: Attitude of Leadership, Building a Legacy, Character, dynamic leadership, Ethical Leadership, Integrity, lead by example, lead from strength, Lead with Integrity, Leadership, Moral Leadership