Lists and Leaders

I have often been known to hand down lists. The kind of list I'm referring to is a collection of actions to take; maybe even a check-list to accomplish. This works well with my kids. My daughter gets so overwhelmed at the thought of cleaning her room that a list of what steps to take -- and often in which order -- becomes very helpful to her. She has no vision for a clean room, only a mandate by me that she achieve one.

I make lists for myself because I forget things if I don't. I have no milk at the office kitchen currently because I haven't added it to a grocery list yet.

Unfortunately, as useful as lists are in many situations, they can be harmful if I use them in the wrong place. I have the luxury of serving with many leaders on the various teams I oversee. Leaders are people with vision for what is to be accomplished. Leaders want to accomplish what you want to accomplish as badly as you do. (re-read that... I swear it makes sense!) Leaders have to be treated differently than workers… not that they are any more important. They are just two different roles.

If I hand a leader a list of things to do, I’m removing the title of Leader and relabeling them a worker… someone who simply does tasks. Leaders don’t need lists to follow; they need to have the vision clarified and then be released to accomplish it. It’s fine to have expectations regarding the finished product. If you are a director over an area, the results need to meet with your expectations.

And actually, that’s the hardest part. Hashing out the vision for the finished product is hard work, but it’s the most important thing you can do for a leader. Make sure you’re clear on what you’re shooting for and then get out the way. Save your lists for your kids and for shopping trips.

I hope this is helpful,

Corbett

5 Minute Leadership Course

Here are some nice quick leadership lessons. I'll apologize in advance for number 2... it's the principle that is important!!

Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings.
The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.
When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor.
Before she says a word, Bob says, 'I'll give you $800 to drop that towel.'
After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.
The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, 'Who was that?'
'It was Bob the next door neighbour,' she replies.
'Great,' the husband says, 'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?'

Leadership Principle:
If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.


Lesson 2:
A priest offered a Nun a lift.
She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg.
The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.
The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'
The priest removed his hand but, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.
The nun once again said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'
The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.'

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.
On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, 'Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.'

Leadership Principle:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.


Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.
They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.'
'Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk. 'I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.'
Puff! She's gone.
'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.'
Puff! He's gone.
'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch.'

Leadership Principle:
Always let your boss have the first say.


Lesson 4
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, 'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?'
The eagle answered: 'Sure, why not..'
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Leadership Principle:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.


Lesson 5
A turkey was chatting with a bull. 'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't got the energy.'
'Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?' replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients.'
The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.
The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.
Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.
He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Leadership Principle:
BS might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there..


Lesson 6
A little bird was flying south for the winter.. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.
While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out!
He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Leadership Principle:
(1) Not everyone who dumps on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out is your friend.
(3) And when you're in deep, it's best to keep your mouth shut!


Consider yourselves trained! =)

Book Review: Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham

Bottom Line: I liked it and my wife liked it.

Important footnote to be placed somewhere above the bottom line: It may not be the revolutionary solution to all your problems as a wife and mother.

A few years back I picked up a copy of Marcus Buckingham's Now, Discover Your Strengths. Loved it. Took the Strenth Finders Online test and got a pretty good look at the themes in my life that are potential strengths.

So when Thomas Nelson contacted me about reviewing Find Your Strongest Life, I was definitely interested. I got the book in the mail and an odd thing happened. My wife Tricia picked up the book before I got a chance to, and read the intro and the first few chapters. She brought it to me, impressed by the info she gleaned just from those first few pages.

Buckingham's basic tenet is that women can draw enough strength from life to feel fulfilled, loved, successful, and in control. He states that the SIGNs of a strong life (mind the acrostic) are:

1. Successful
2. Instinctively looking forward to tomorrow
3. Growing and learning
4. Needs fulfilled

Here is Marcus Buckingham talking about the book:

Overall, Buckingham echoes the lesson learned in his previous books which is: Focus on your strengths -- the things you do well, easily and that make you glad you did them -- and you'll be happier and more successful. This makes an incredible amount of sense when we're talking about a work environment. I'm just not sure that it can always be that simple when speaking to the non-negotiable requirements of motherhood.

Still the principles are solid and will benefit the working wife and mother who can put them into play in her life. This book is definitely for the woman who is frustrated by her attempts to juggle career, family, marriage, and her other relationships and responsibilities. For the older CEO-type whose kids are already out of the nest... skip this and go read Now, Discover Your Strengths.

What does your marketing tell about you?

I don't really want to get into the argument about whether or not churches should be involved in marketing. For the purpose of this post, understand that I believe marketing is anything you do to affect the way others perceive you or your organization. For example, I don't want my neighbors to think I'm a lazy, bad person to live by, so I cut my grass, conduct general upkeep on the outside of the house and keep trash and toys picked up out of the yard. I don't want our friends to think we generally live in a pig sty, so I straighten the living room and close all other doors before someone comes over. It's all marketing -- affecting the way others perceive us.

So what it your organization communicating to others?

• If you're are a church, do you claim to be focused on impacting your community, but program exclusively for those who come through your doors?
  
• If you're a business, do you claim to be focused on customer service, but reward your employees for profit and not for how satisfied customers are?

By the way, I'm trying to sell my house...
Maybe you're like me and it's time to revisit what your marketing is really saying?

5 Reasons Why Consensus Sucks

I read this today from Tony Morgan's blog and thought it was definitely worthy of passing on. Enjoy!

I’m growing more and more convinced that the worst thing an organization can do is try to reach a consenus about something. Think government. Think church committee meetings. Think declining big business.

On the surface, reaching a consensus seems like a positive thing because it means people have agreed to move in the same direction. That’s a good thing isn’t it?

Actually, I’m not convinced that’s the case. For example, here are:

5 Reasons Why Consensus Sucks

1. It embraces the status quo. Change, whether positive or not, is not human nature. We would prefer for things to remain the way they are today. So, when people get together to discuss the possibility of doing something a little different in the future, it’s normal for the majority to avoid making changes.
2. It gives the malcontents an equal voice in your decision. Reaching consensus gives everyone a voice at the table. When that happens, even the negative, bitter folks that don’t really embrace the vision have the opportunity to pull the rest of the group away from what could really be the most desirable outcome.
3. It short circuits the radical ideas that lead to the biggest breakthroughs. The big, bold ideas won’t see the light of day. Yet those are the ideas that could potentially lead to the best innovations. Consensus brings people back to the middle where the majority approves but mediocrity reigns.
4. It leaves unresolved conflict on the table. At the opposite ends of a decision are distinct opinions which, if left unresolved, could potentially lead to division. Consensus prevents tough conversations from happening. It gives people the freedom to jump to compromise without engaging a healthy debate.
5. It discourages people from dreaming big dreams. Want to neuter the creative-thinkers and entrepreneurs and visionaries in your organization? Force them to reach consensus with the rest of the crowd. These are the people that make you uncomfortable. They can drive you crazy. That’s OK. They’ll just go work someplace else if you keep forcing them to compromise their dreams.

What do you think? Do you agree? Or, have you actually seen consensus work? What would you add or delete from the list?

Let’s try to reach a consensus on whether or not consensus sucks.

Again, that was from tonymorganlive.com. If you don't subscribe to his blog, you probably should.

Peace,
Corbett

Whose Fault is this Banking Crisis?

The following post is copied entirely from Tim Stevens blog - Leading Smart. Very interesting info for right now... check out Tim's blog...very good stuff!

Corbett

*********

Everyone wants to pin blame for the huge banking crisis--and thus economic slowdown--that we are experiencing right now. Whose fault is it?

I have no idea. I'm not smart enough to understand all the issues.

But I did find this article very interesting. It was printed in the New York Times nine years ago. Portions below, read the original article here. Emphasis by me.

Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending

By STEVEN A. HOLMES

Published: September 30, 1999

In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.

The action, which will begin as a pilot program involving 24 banks in 15 markets -- including the New York metropolitan region -- will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans. Fannie Mae officials say they hope to make it a nationwide program by next spring.

Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.

In addition, banks, thrift institutions and mortgage companies have been pressing Fannie Mae to help them make more loans to so-called subprime borrowers. These borrowers whose incomes, credit ratings and savings are not good enough to qualify for conventional loans, can only get loans from finance companies that charge much higher interest rates -- anywhere from three to four percentage points higher than conventional loans.

''Fannie Mae has expanded home ownership for millions of families in the 1990's by reducing down payment requirements,'' said Franklin D. Raines, Fannie Mae's chairman and chief executive officer. ''Yet there remain too many borrowers whose credit is just a notch below what our underwriting has required who have been relegated to paying significantly higher mortgage rates in the so-called subprime market.''

Demographic information on these borrowers is sketchy. But at least one study indicates that 18 percent of the loans in the subprime market went to black borrowers, compared to 5 per cent of loans in the conventional loan market.

In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.

''From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''

(Continue reading here...)

It's possible Peter Wallison was a prophet. Or, perhaps, just a smart economist who knew that if you loan money to a bunch of people who can't afford to pay you back--it might just come back to bite you some day.

It's okay, though, because there are no consequences. We, the taxpayers of these United States, will bail out the lenders and the borrowers. In fact, we'll bail out anyone. Even the Red Cross continues to spend money it doesn't have, and this week asked the government for a $150 million bail out.

Again, I'm not smart enough to figure it all out. But I've decided I'll continue to only spend money that I have. And I'll save a little, cause when the government raises my taxes to pay for this mess, I'll need to be ready.

****************

Amen, brutha!

Feeling powerless

We live in a culture of "I can get it done." We have tools and networks, resources that allow us to accomplish pretty much whatever we set our mind to. The web has definitely been an empowerment tool for most of us who've not been to afraid (or lazy) to engage. It's amazing what I can get done sitting at my kitchen table using my laptop and a little broadband.

Realizing this, the last thing I would ever want to do as a company or organization is to make a client/customer (especially a potential client/customer) feel powerless... unable to accomplish what he/she is accustomed.

I need a new spray hose thingy for my kitchen sink. It is under warranty. I have been calling the company since June. I've yet to speak to a real person or even been able to leave a voicemail. I've received messages that the offices are closed; please call back within business hours DURING their posted business hours. I've received messages that the call log is too heavy; please try back at a later time. Currently, I've been on hold for 22 minutes and counting. My hope is to be able to order the replacement part that I need -- hopefully covered by their stated warranty -- and do a simple fix to my kitchen faucet. If that doesn't happen soon, I'll have to replace the whole faucet and I promise I will never again use a product by this company.

I will however be glad to tell everyone about my frustration with this company (in appropriate situations of course).

The things I will be glad to share are exactly the kinds of things that no company or organization wants to be said about them. GRRRRRRRRR!!!!


Faucet update: After 52 minutes on hold, I spoke to a human and the good news is, I had a solution in about 5 minutes... not necessarily the solution I was hoping for (they're sending a replacement, but a different model) but a solution, nonetheless. Surely there's a better way to handle these things.