With each passing year, with each passing decade, new opportunities arise. But, moving from December 31 to January 1 is only a day. A single day! Not a year! It brings to mind a simple concept we all must grasp; make the most out of every minute we have. Great days begin this moment, not tomorrow or next week or next year! They begin now.
We’ve been given a finite number of days to live. None of us know how many days that will be. To put off till later what will make us better right now, is to gamble that we will have a future long enough to procrastinate without consequence. A spectacular 2021 begins now. A spectacular decade begins now. Some people were in a holding pattern for most of 2020 but some people used the challenge of 2020 to grow, develop and discover. Some people decided it was not ok to stay in a holding pattern. They kept moving forward.
If you want to have a great 2021, you cannot wait for all the stars to align. Take charge of your life and make the changes necessary to give you the greatest probability possible of being successful. No one else can do it for you. You must do it yourself. So, what will 2021 bring? I believe that is up to you! Make it a great one!
The other night I had a very vivid dream. I dreamed I was being pushed to the floor by an incredible weight. I couldn’t understand why I was being pushed down and being held there . I was frightened beyond all belief and in my despair I cried out, “why dear God? Why are you pushing me to this floor?” At the very moment I uttered these words, I felt an amazing lightness of being and realized God was not pushing me to the floor but was, instead, there to free me from my captivity.
I have read many similar stories in the Bible over my life. This was the first time I was an active participant in the story. As we approach this Christmas Day, I am reminded that God is my redeemer and salvation. My God does not want me to be trapped by the oppressors of this world. God wants to lift me up and set me free. But for me to fully take advantage of God’s Grace, I must be an Active Participant in my own release from captivity. What is holding you back from personally experiencing God’s Love and Grace. I now realize, because of this dream, that I have been the biggest obstacle to my own redemption.
In my ongoing effort to bring Legacy Leadership to the world, I have failed to understand one of the most powerful values I so dearly hold; my personal relationship with my savior. This is so important to me that it should color every action I take. If I do anything that is counter to that value, my entire existence is put into jeopardy. Each and every one of us needs to have that ONE BIG THING! That value that becomes the cornerstone of your life. It’s the one non-negotiable. One might compromise on other things but never on this! What is that for you? For me, this dream made it clear; my faith is the most important thing in the world to me! Find your ONE BIG THING! It will change your life.
We’ve all been there. Life happens and difficulties crop up and get in the way of doing what we need to do. If this happens in our world of work, our productivity will be influenced. The old way for bosses to deal with this is to tell employees to “get over it” or “don’t bring your personal life to the job!” That approach is not only cruel, it is also a big waste of money! By understanding the impact of emotions on profitability, a leader can make a huge impact on the company’s financial bottom line!
Some hard core “You Gotta Be Tough” bosses, don’t like this “New Approach” to management. But, they’ve got it all wrong. This idea is not new. It has been understood and applied very successfully for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Being harsh, uncaring, and following a money first philosophy may make a person very wealthy, but being gentle, kind, and people focused can actually be more fulfilling. And this is not just a social concept, it is a sound business concept as well.
Want proof that compassion is profitable? Here are 4 very established, very large companies that are living proof that compassion pays.
The Audi Veterans to Technicians Program is designed to bring veterans back into the workforce. Participants in the program receive individualized support, advice and assistance from a team of dedicated program staff.
Being a caregiver for a parent or relative is a tough job, but Prudential makes it easier by providing adult care in an employee or loved one’s home. In addition, the company provides geriatric care services (in-home care and facility assessments), elder law services and adult care-giving seminars.
Johnson & Johnson is a leader in understanding how employees’ movement while working affects physical health. They’ve built an ergonomic workplace and implemented strategies to improve productivity as well as long-term health and wellness.
Life happens. And when employees are going through a difficult time, Procter & Gamble offers a personal leave of absence. Employees can take up to three months off periodically without pay — but with continued benefits — allowing employees to take time for personal needs and the company to retain valuable talent.
We can do better! We can all care more! The Financial Bottom Line depends on the Human Bottom Line! Without people no business can prosper.
What purpose do you serve? Why did you arrive at this place, at this time? Have you asked yourself these questions? I have! But I have been amazed at the number of people who have not. There are millions of people roaming this earth without ever wondering “WHY?” Perhaps this explains why our world is in such a tumultuous state. I’m not posing this question from a religious point of view. I believe there are many apparently religious people who have never really considered the big “WHY!” I say this because their actions too often do not reflect the beliefs of the religion they profess. Too many people live their lives without aligning their actions to a set of values. These values give us our “WHY!”
It’s not that I am perfect or even that I expect others to be perfect. It’s simply that I believe each of us should decide what we value most and then make the conscious effort to align our behaviors with those values. We will all fall short of perfection but unless we clarify what we believe to be most important to us and consciously pattern our behaviors to align with those beliefs, we are like rudderless ships trying to traverse a great ocean. Our direction will depend on the currents and winds. If those currents and winds lead to destruction, that’s our fate. If they lead to success, that’s our luck. For most people, however, the outcome is mediocrity. Our world needs more excellence and that can only happen through purpose.
I challenge everyone reading this to do one simple thing. Right now, this very minute, write down the 10 most important things in the world to you. If you cannot think of 10, just write down as many as you can. Now, think of what you have done today. How has what you have done today supported and enhanced those things you’ve just said were important to you? Have you done anything that has harmed any of those things you “value?” How can you start to modify your actions to be more supportive of what is important to you? This is how we grow into people with purpose.
Here are my 10: Family, Community, Integrity, Kindness, Nature, People, Joy, Health, Peace, and Freedom. I could add more but maintaining focus gets too hard. With these 10 I can ask myself, “what have I done today that supports these things I value?” This gives me direction. I am a person who believes in a Creator, and I believe by valuing these things, I honor the Creator and the Creation. But, by doing this, whether you are a believer or not, you will become a contributor. You will help make the world a better place. And, in our world today, we can use all the purposeful people we can get!
What does it mean to collaborate? What does it mean to innovate? What does it mean to trust? In today’s world, the application of these three verbs, yes these are actions, is essential for leadership success! So understanding them is a necessity before we try to apply them.
To collaborate, the act of collaboration, means that a group of people work together to achieve a desired outcome. There is great strength in the collective energy and efforts of many people focused on the same outcome. When we collaborate, we put aside personal agendas and focus on the corporate agenda, and when I say corporate I mean: of or shared by a whole group and not just of a single member. (Cambridge Dictionary, on line) In too many “collaboration” efforts, management is just pulling people together to rubber stamp the process they want to use. Real collaboration requires no preconceived outcome from the efforts. Real collaboration expects innovation.
To innovate means to introduce new ideas and/or changes to what currently exists. It doesn’t mean to just repackage old ideas in new boxes. The content must be different than it was before. Too many managers really don’t want innovation. They see innovation as admitting that what they are currently doing is inadequate or wrong. We each must move from manager to leader. The entire concept of managing, exerting control over, should be applied to processes but never people, especially people that you hope will help you achieve your goals. Leading, on the other hand, suggests another approach to people all together. Leadership requires collaboration. Managing does not. Leadership expects innovation. Managing does not. True innovation is not an accident. It is the product of a process that relies on trust.
To trust means having a strong belief in the character, intentions, and integrity of others. Trust requires a level of vulnerability that many managers find too uncomfortable. But, real leaders understand that being vulnerable is a requirement of leadership. Despots and tyrants are not leaders. They erroneously believe that being vulnerable is an act of weakness. Quite to the contrary, vulnerability can only be displayed if you have the strength of character that allows people to trust you and follow you. Before those you hope to lead will trust you, you must first trust them.
Collaboration, Innovation, and Trust are essential for every Legacy Leader. You cannot be a Legacy Leader with out those three. you might find it difficult to take these actions but nothing worthwhile ever comes without significant effort. I challenge you to be open to collaboration, innovation, and trust. Your organization will remember you for those efforts.
Becoming a Legacy Leader is not a complicated matter, but it isn’t easy. The steps along the path are very visible but the road is narrow and steep. The further you travel, the narrower and steeper it gets. But, the destination is so worth the journey.
There are 3 absolutes in this Legacy Leadership journey. The first is you must be values driven. Everything you do must be generated from your core values and anything that distracts, obstructs, or diverts or you from those values must be discarded. So, this first absolute gives us a glimpse into why such a simple road can be so difficult to travel. If my core values include integrity, there are many things that will challenge my living that value on a daily basis. And that leads me to the second absolute, you must “talk your walk!”
We’ve all heard how we have to “walk our talk,” but I propose that it is just as important for us to “talk our walk!” Setting a values driven behavior example is very important, in fact, you cannot be a Legacy Leader without doing that. That is what the first absolute is all about. But, assuming that your people will magically absorb the value from observing your behavior is an expectation that has never been fully attainable. People need to know what the values are. They need to hear their leaders constantly and consistently talk about those values . Not as lectures or sermons but as explanations. Letting people know that I do this because this is a manifestation of our value, (insert the appropriate value here). Let me provide an example. Our company, Culture By Choice, has a set of values that creates an acronym; PAIL. We value People, Action, Integrity, and Love. We talk about filling the PAIL for each of our clients, every day. So, for our team and our clients, we describe what we do each day in terms of how what is being done is filling the PAIL. It’s intentional. We are “talking our walk!”
The third absolute is accountability. Legacy Leaders must hold themselves accountable for their actions and they must allow others to hold them accountable as well. Once you’ve done that, you can hold others accountable and this leads to the path that takes you towards a Legacy Culture. You cannot be a Legacy Leader without being accountable. You cannot have a Legacy Culture unless everyone is accountable. Once again, we see why this Legacy Leadership journey is so difficult. You can’t travel the road by yourself. Doing it all alone is impossible. The really good news is that having company on this journey is liberating and fulfilling. Having the support of others can make it easier.
I wish you success in your endeavors. I want to offer my help should you try to take this journey. Message me and let’s start a conversation. Together we can change “our world!”
To begin with, Legacy Cultures are never stagnant nor are they set in stone. They are dynamic and continuously growing and developing. One of the hallmarks of every Legacy Culture is it’s penchant for learning and ongoing development. But that does not mean that they cannot be defined. Transforming an organization’s culture into a Legacy Culture is a systematic process that can be planned out in advance. To do this requires understanding the five dimensions of a Legacy Culture.
The First Dimension is having An Integrated Vision and Set of Core Values. In my engagement with numerous organizations from many different industries and disciplines, I have been continuously amazed by how few have actually taken the time to clarify and codify their Vision and Core Values. A Vision that is brought to life from a solid set of Core Values becomes the Paper upon which the Organization’s “Blueprint for Success” is created. No paper! No Blueprint! Achieving lasting success without a Vision driven by Core Values is akin to hitting a home run while blind folded. That’s a matter of pure luck!
The Second Dimension is having Operational Systems that are Aligned with the Vision and Core Values. Every organization is a conglomerate of operational systems that hopefully work in concert with one another. Once again, leaving this to chance is playing a dangerous game with your organization’s culture. If we think of the overall function of the organization as if it was a jigsaw puzzle, each piece of the puzzle would be a separate function within the organization. If these functions operate independently from one another, the picture created when (and if) the puzzle is assembled may not look like anything recognizable. When every operational system and function is developed based on the Vision and Core Values, we have put the drawing onto the Blueprint Paper.
The Third Dimension is having Leadership that Holds the Vision and Core Values in the highest regard and in doing so, Promotes: a. Collaboration and Innovation, b. Community and Diversity, c. Responsibility and Accountability, and d. Inspiration and Positive Influence. Leaders throughout the organization possess the blueprint for organizational success. They apply this blueprint every day in everything they do. Furthermore, they encourage everyone they lead to do so as well and to become leaders themselves.
The Fourth Dimension is having the Training System in place that Recognizes how important Dimensions 1 through 3 above are, and integrates them into every aspect of the organization along with the specific knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed for individual success which can then lead to organizational success. I am also sad to see that way too many organizations do not adequately train their people. There may be some job specific training, but this often dismal to worthless. But training with respect to Dimensions 1, 2, and 3? That is rare. When we see it, we know we’ve found an extraordinary organization. This Dimension is about making sure that every member of the organization can read the Blueprint and apply the Blueprint to their own piece of the organizational puzzle.
The Fifth Dimension is having Customer Service that Reflects every aspect of Dimensions 1through 4 above. In recent months, as we have worked with numerous companies, we have been impressed by the desire all of these organizations have to make sure that their customers receive the absolute best service possible. It would be so much easier if they were building that customer service based on the same Blueprint that should formulate every other activity within the organization.
In an ideal organizational culture, each of these 5 Dimensions will be optimized and that optimization will be verified in 3 ways: 1. Comparing actions to intentions, 2. Comparing stated importance to operational importance, and 3. Examining Operational Effectiveness. This is how we create operational accountability. Is what we say we are about (our vision and values), is that what people experience both inside and outside our organization? Do we behave in a way that reflects what we say is important? Do we apply our vision and values in a way that is generating our most desired outcomes? These are questions that must be answered regularly, not just yearly or quarterly. When all of this comes together, you have a Legacy Culture.
I have always considered myself to be somewhat of a “libertarian” and have always voted conservative. I have done this because I have strongly believed that people deserve to live free from excessive regulations from our government. At the same time, I have always believed that with our freedom comes an equal dose of responsibility. For every freedom we enjoy, there comes a level of responsibility that is equal to that freedom. During this pandemic, I have been saddened by the behavior of my fellow “conservative libertarians.” The ones getting all the attention are the ones who are refusing to accept the responsibility that comes with their freedom. The refusal to choose responsible behaviors in accordance with the freedoms we have, just baffles me.
Being free does not mean ignoring science. Being free does not mean ignoring the welfare of others. Being free does not mean that our actions do not have consequences. The biggest consequence of the collective irresponsibility of millions of liberty loving Americans just might become the loss of control of our government. You see, most people want a responsible government and over the last 9 months, most people just haven’t seen that! Not because our government has acted more irresponsibly than it normally does, but way too many citizens have forgotten that the freedom we have comes with an equal dose of responsibility. Our freedom is not a carte blanche approval for irresponsible behavior.
What does responsible behavior look like during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s very simple! Follow the protocols that have been suggested by the doctors and scientists. Wear a mask when in public. Stay away from large gatherings. Wash your hands frequently. If you are exposed to someone with the virus, quarantine yourself for 14 days or until you have tested negative using a reliable test. The old saying, “Freedom isn’t Free” has more meaning than the standard “Brave People died for Our Freedom.” It also means we do what it takes to maintain our freedom. And this doesn’t mean we kill those who would try to abridge our freedom. It means we accept the heavy dose of responsibility that goes hand-in-hand with our freedom.
It is probably too late to impact the 2020 election. But my hope for the future is that conservatives will learn from their mistakes. Unfettered freedom is not what we are about. We want the restraints we experience to be our own discipline not an externally imposed discipline. We want “Liberty and Justice for All!” Not Liberty without Responsibility!” Because of the mistakes we have made, there will be a price to pay. It will take us time to regain ground. I hope next time we don’t forget the Responsibility that goes with our Freedom!
It seems like everywhere I go I hear people say, “I don’t care!” This may be the most misused statement in the history of mankind. In almost every case, when I’ve heard someone say “I don’t care,” the truth has been they really do care. In fact, they have cared so much that they can’t stand it and therefore, they have chosen to express an “I don’t care” message. My experience is telling me that so many people really care so much that they become victims of those who will play on their caring nature and twist their caring hearts to their own advantage.
Most of us truly want the best in this world, but for whatever reason, we seek the best in different ways. Then we have some people who believe the only way they can achieve the best is by influencing others to take the dream away from others. The number of dream stealers has been increasing. Too many people have stopped caring about others and are only concerned about themselves. They tell others they care but actions speak louder than words. If I really only care about me and mine, it will show through my actions. If I truly care about others, those who live outside my world’s parameters, that too will show through my actions.
How do we see how much anyone cares? All you have to do is watch and listen. Don’t watch them when they know everyone is watching or listen when they know everyone is listening. True character is revealed when no one is watching or listening. The real message of how much someone cares happens when no one knows the act of caring happened.
I was told a story by a minor league club house manager in the New York Yankees farm system. After the major league team had won the World Series, the Yankees decided to share the success way down the line and even the minor league club house managers received a World Series Ring. During the season following that World Series Championship, my brother Mark was visiting each of the minor league teams and always talked to club house managers. When he chatted with this particular Club House Manager, Mark was told that someone had stolen his ring. Mark told him let me see what I can do, but if it doesn’t turn up, I will personally pay for you to get a new one. Further, Mark told him to keep this a secret, just between you and me, OK.
After Mark had passed away, this club house manager shared this story with me. He thought it would help others see how much Mark cared about people, not just the big names but everyone in the organization. If you are not sure what a minor league club house manager does, consider this job posting for one of those positions: General duties include: cleaning of the home clubhouse, weight room, trainer’s area, manager and coaches offices and conference room; preparing the dugouts for batting practice; providing pre- and post-game meals for the players and coaching staff; collecting of all dirty laundry and distribution of clean laundry to the players and coaching staff; and maintaining the inventory of bats, baseballs and team issued equipment.
It could be very easy for the Senior VP of Baseball Operations to simply ignore a person in that position but Mark knew that for the entire system to work, every person needed to do their job well. And that if he only cared about those people who could do something for him, the entire system could fall apart. He could never create a system that would be better than the least powerful and least influential person in the system. Every person needed to know that their life really mattered. This is Legacy Leadership at its best!
My brother often told me that it was better to work hard than to try hard. At first I didn’t understand what he meant. It took a while for me to realize that if we are trying really hard without having done the hard work of preparing for the task we are faced with, no matter how hard we try, our success will depend more on luck than our skill and talent. We need to understand that hard work is about preparation and that preparation is the key to success. There’s an old saying that says “failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” What this all means is that whatever we are tasked with, we must be diligent in our preparation, which means we must engage in deliberate practice of the skills required for success.
When you watch a great athlete, or musician, or actor perform, it seems like their performance is almost effortless. The talent seems to just flow like water down a gentle incline. The performance does not openly reveal the hours of hard work those performers put in long before the event we witness. They have worked hard at honing their talents and now they are trying easy to perform their best.
When an athlete like Derek Jeter, or Mariano Rivera, or Michael Jordan, or Patrick Mahomes seems to just float through a contest with grace and excellence, we often, quite erroneously, conclude that they are just naturally gifted. Reality tells us they have done the very hard work of preparation, and now they have allowed that preparation to guide them through the difficulties of competition. That preparation occurs on several dimensions. There are skills that must be developed and honed. There are strategies and tactics that must be developed and perfected. There are cognitive aspects of the context that the athlete must master and so much more.
All of this is true in every aspect of our lives. From our relationships to our work lives, our success is dependent upon our preparation. If you do not work on a relationship, it will not be all that it can be. If you do not work on your professional talents, skills, and abilities, you will not attain the success you desire. Tap into the power of deliberate, guided practice. Know the best mechanics, attitude, systems, information, and, connections that will lead to success. Be willing to adapt and improvise. Practice it all using hard work and tenacity. And then, when you apply it all, when it really counts, try easy!
Cheryl Lohner
drjbnewman
Newman’s Legacy Leadership Blog 