HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2008 TO YOU

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND  A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2008 TO YOU .

LET YOUR CHERISHED DREAMS AND GOALS BE ACHIEVED IN THIS YEAR WITH GRACE OF ALMIGHTY AND YOUR INTELLIGENT EFFORTS.

P K Kothari

 

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The Leader Formula: The 4 things that make a good leader.

Q: What makes a great leader?
A: My definition of leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.
Q: You often say that leadership is a choice not a position. Can you elaborate on this?
A: Because of the definition I use for leadership, the ability to become such a leader is a choice that any person can make; any parent or grandparent, any teacher, any coach, any co-worker, and friend. When I speak throughout the world, I often ask audiences,
"How many of you had someone in your life that communicated your worth and potential so clearly that it profoundly influenced your life?"
Inevitably over half the people raise their hands. I walk around the room and ask them to share their experience with how it happened, who did it, the impact that it had upon them, and if they, too, are making the choice to do the same with other people. People often become very emotional when they talk about the parent, the coach, the teacher, the formal leader, the friend, the neighbor, or the relative who really became very close to them and communicated to them their worth and potential. This is always an inspiring experience.
Q: Is there a formula for becoming such a leader?
A: I believe there is a formula. They are what we call the four imperatives of leadership.

1. The first is to inspire trust. You build relationships of trust through both your character and competence and you also extend trust to others. You show others that you believe in their capacity to live up to certain expectations, to deliver on promises, and to achieve clarity on key goals. You don't inspire trust by micromanaging and second guessing every step people make.
2. The second is to clarify purpose. Great leaders involve their people in the communication process to create the goals to be achieved. If people are involved in the process, they psychologically own it and you create a situation where people are on the same page about what is really important—mission, vision, values, and goals.
3. The third is to align systems. This means that you don't allow there to be conflict between what you say is important and what you measure. For instance, many times organizations claim that people are important but in fact the structures and systems, including accounting, make them an expense or cost center rather than an asset and the most significant resource.
4. The fourth is the fruit of the other three—unleashed talent. When you inspire trust and share a common purpose with aligned systems, you empower people. Their talent is unleashed so that their capacity, their intelligence, their creativity, and their resourcefulness is utilized.

I would add that these are based upon principles that build upon each other rather than techniques or steps that have to be taken independent of each other. These aren't "management tricks" but real principles that guide a true leaders character.
The world is vastly different today and ever-changing. If we can develop leaders who can withstand and embrace the changing times by deeply rooting themselves in these principles of great leadership, then we can develop great people, great teams and great results.

Attitude defines success

thoughts are reflected in your mood and your approach to problems. keep them positive

our universe has laws that apply equally to all of us. if we were to fall off a building along with someone like industrialist sunil bharti mittal, we'd hit the ground just as mittal would. like the law of gravity, there are other laws that apply equally to all of us. in her book the secret, rhonda byrne explains this. she talks of the law of attraction and says that what you think, you will achieve. thoughts are powerful. if you think positively, life will be happier, but if you think negatively, you will be surrounded by negativity. successful men have positive thoughts and therefore, they lead powerful, happy and successful lives. our feelings are a result of what we are thinking. we feel low when our thoughts are depressing. so when we are depressed, only happy thoughts can help us cheer up. many of us don't take into account all the good in our lives. we don't open our minds to the possibility that what's happening is actually wonderful. this way, we don't benefit from the daily experiences that benefit us. we exaggerate and add unnecessary importance to our weaknesses and others' strengths. this causes an inferiority complex and leads to more negativity. in his seminars, american motivational speaker zig ziglar narrates this story about a man who went fishing on the river bank. whenever he caught a big fish, he'd release it back into the river, but when he caught a smaller fish, he would keep it in his basket. a person nearby watched him repeat this a few times. intrigued, he approached the fisherman and asked him why he was releasing the big fish and keeping the small ones. the fisherman replied: "i only have a small frying pan at home, so i'm keeping the fish that i can fry in the pan." this story teaches us a lesson: in order to think big and attract more positivity into our lives, we need to change the way we look at things. hollywood films based on true stories can be very motivating and can empower our minds. for example, miracle, starring kurt russell, is a film that chronicles the victory of the us ice hockey team over the russians in the 1980 olympics. coach carter - starring samuel l jackson is a true story of how a coach turns a high school basketball team around, leading them to victory. in pursuit of happyness, starring will smith is the true story of a man, chris gardener, who manages to get successful even though the odds are against him. chris gardener's autobiography, also titled in pursuit of happyness, is an inspirational book. think about all the good things that happen to you every day and see yourself as an amazing person who has a unique set of abilities. focus on your strengths and make the most of them. empower yourself with positive and powerful thoughts.

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12 Traits of a successful leader..

12 Traits of a successful leader..

 

 

Are leaders born or made? The jury is out on that one with modern theory suggesting a bit of both and certainly supporting the notion that any level of innate leadership can be nurtured and augmented with the right vision, tools and training. While not all people are born movers and shakers who can influence, motivate and inspire by pure gut instinct, everyone can be empowered to tap into their natural leadership abilities to succeed in business and in life. While each leader will have a unique style and roadmap to success, there are some common traits that the most successful leaders share. 1. Integrity

Honesty and integrity are the cornerstone of sustainable success. In order for people to want to follow their leader they must have complete trust in his honesty, his dedication, his commitment and his unshakeable ethics and high standards and values. Leaders who are open, truthful and consistent in their behaviors are more likely to inspire trust, loyalty and commitment in their teams.

2. Willingness to take Risk

Leaders are not afraid of taking risks or making mistakes. They take calculated as opposed to reckless risks and while they weigh their options and alternatives carefully they do not allow themselves to fall prey to the "analysis paralysis" syndrome. The best leaders learn from their mistakes and emerge from them resilient and ready to take on the next challenge.

3. Optimism and Enthusiasm

Leaders inspire others with the very infectiousness of their enthusiasm and their disarmingly genuine keenness, passion and zeal for what they do. Rather than dwelling on problems they are solution-oriented and focus on how to make things work and succeed. They are willing to see the silver lining in every cloud and have a 'can-do' optimistic attitude that leaves no place for negativity.

4. Commitment to Growth

Leaders recognize that learning is a life-long process and never stop doing what it takes to grow professionally and personally and maintain a grip with emerging trends and tools and business realities and technologies. The best leaders realize that to remain at the vanguard of their particular function or industry requires constant learning, enquiry, exploration and innovation as well as continuous self-scrutiny and analysis.

5. Vision

Leaders know precisely what they want and make clear detailed and achievable plans to get there. They are not vague or ambiguous in their goals nor do they leave anything to chance. Leaders are also able to articulate and communicate their vision clearly and in no uncertain terms and inspire and win others to their platform with their vision.

6. Pragmatism

While leaders may have lofty visions and ideals, they do not hide their heads in the clouds and are mindful of the hard facts and figures that surround them. They are very realistic when it comes to assessing the landscape they operate in and practical about the decisions they make.

7. Responsibility

Leaders can be depended on to take responsibility for their actions and to live up to their responsibilities completely. They stand firmly behind the commitments they make and do not let their teams down; nor do they assign or allocate blame to deflect from their own responsibilities. They do not have a victim mentality that holds others responsible for their poor choices and deficiencies but stare challenges in the face and confront them head-on.

8. Hard Work and Conscientiousness

Leaders work hard and accept no short cuts. The best leaders lead by their example demonstrating a stellar work ethic by being the first in the office, the last out and the most productive, persistent and dedicated while at work. They have a strong sense of duty and very high standards of excellence and they apply these rigorous standards to themselves first always seeking better, smarter, more effective ways of doing things.

9. Self-confidence

Leaders have no shortage of that essential commodity of self-assurance that enables them to risk giant strides, be bold and tough-minded and 'fall forward' in the rare instances when they do fall/fail. Leaders generally have little need for approval and are motivated by an inner strength, maturity and drive. Leaders are very cognizant of their inner strengths, weaknesses and the impact they have on others and knowledgeable of what they can and cannot realistically do/achieve/influenc e. They do not wallow in self-pity or guilt over past mistakes or doubt.

10. Emotional Intelligence

Empathy, self-awareness, decisiveness, self-discipline, intuitiveness and social competence are all key to successful leadership and all are associated with high levels of emotional intelligence. Congeniality, the ability to put oneself in another's shoes and relate with others, the ability to read between the lines and analyze the pulse of a relationship or situation, the ability to focus on the positive and refrain from negative and self-defeating attitudes and behaviors, are all elements of emotional intelligence that contribute to leadership success.

11. Expertise in Industry

While there are many generalists in leadership positions the best leaders become generalists not by knowing a little about many fields but my being experts in a multitude of fields. Good leaders are characterized by a very high level of energy, conscientiousness and drive and spare no efforts to become experts in their field and harness all the information and knowledge and competence they need to maintain an edge over their competitors.

12. Ability to Engage Others

A key leadership trait is inspiring, motivating, engaging and bringing out the best in others. The best leaders encourage leadership in all around them and strive to develop and empower others to assume roles of leadership and responsibility. They are able to propel others to elevated levels of performance through their own energy and enthusiasm and insight and can maximize the strengths and capabilities of their team for the benefit of the whole organization.

The Simplest Leadership Practice

Elevate Others People crave recognition. Everyone needs to know that they are doing well, that they are appreciated, that what they do matters. It is hard-wired into us. Watch someone after they have received a compliment for their work. They shine. Yet we so rarely call a meeting to discuss what's going right in the organization and who's responsible. We think that its our job to solve problems, not hand out praise. Wrong. It's our job to act like a leader. And leaders make everyone around them better. More capable. More engaged. More positive. Giving honest praise is one of the most powerful leadership actions you can take. (And remember: if you consume oxygen you are a leader.) No matter where you are in the organization you can find someone doing something right and recognize them. Whether it's a vendor who is impeccably polite, a colleague who is outrageously punctual or a supervisor who listens deeply. Every one of them is a human being who deserves and craves recognition. And when you give them that recognition they will go out and make someone else's day better. What a powerful way to spread leadership. So think about your organization, your community or your family and try some of the following simple strategies for elevating others. Observe how people respond, the results will astound you. 1. Honest praise. Tell someone what you admire about their performance or their attitude. 2. Public praise. Share someone's victory with the rest of the team. 3. Thank you notes. A handwritten card thanking someone for their help will be the highlight of their day. 4. Support them. Say yes to a colleague's ideas. Find a way to incorporate their input into your plan.

 

The Leader Formula: The 4 things that make a good leader.

Each week we will be asking Dr. Covey to comment on common questions. This week we ask: what makes a great leader?

Q: What makes a great leader?
A: My definition of leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.
Q: You often say that leadership is a choice not a position. Can you elaborate on this?
A: Because of the definition I use for leadership, the ability to become such a leader is a choice that any person can make; any parent or grandparent, any teacher, any coach, any co-worker, and friend. When I speak throughout the world, I often ask audiences,
"How many of you had someone in your life that communicated your worth and potential so clearly that it profoundly influenced your life?"
Inevitably over half the people raise their hands. I walk around the room and ask them to share their experience with how it happened, who did it, the impact that it had upon them, and if they, too, are making the choice to do the same with other people. People often become very emotional when they talk about the parent, the coach, the teacher, the formal leader, the friend, the neighbor, or the relative who really became very close to them and communicated to them their worth and potential. This is always an inspiring experience.
Q: Is there a formula for becoming such a leader?
A: I believe there is a formula. They are what we call the four imperatives of leadership.

1. The first is to inspire trust. You build relationships of trust through both your character and competence and you also extend trust to others. You show others that you believe in their capacity to live up to certain expectations, to deliver on promises, and to achieve clarity on key goals. You don't inspire trust by micromanaging and second guessing every step people make.
2. The second is to clarify purpose. Great leaders involve their people in the communication process to create the goals to be achieved. If people are involved in the process, they psychologically own it and you create a situation where people are on the same page about what is really important—mission, vision, values, and goals.
3. The third is to align systems. This means that you don't allow there to be conflict between what you say is important and what you measure. For instance, many times organizations claim that people are important but in fact the structures and systems, including accounting, make them an expense or cost center rather than an asset and the most significant resource.
4. The fourth is the fruit of the other three—unleashed talent. When you inspire trust and share a common purpose with aligned systems, you empower people. Their talent is unleashed so that their capacity, their intelligence, their creativity, and their resourcefulness is utilized.

I would add that these are based upon principles that build upon each other rather than techniques or steps that have to be taken independent of each other. These aren't "management tricks" but real principles that guide a true leaders character.
The world is vastly different today and ever-changing. If we can develop leaders who can withstand and embrace the changing times by deeply rooting themselves in these principles of great leadership, then we can develop great people, great teams and great results.

Prescription for a successful resume

1.     Don't be vague, and be sure to customise your resume for each employer. The inability to do this on-line accounts for some of the low return rate on-line applications. Anytime you try to do a "one size fits all" approach (by agency, computer, or just passing a resume around an organisation courtesy of a friend) you lose the all-important opportunity to craft the resume to fit a particular position.

2.     Don't be long-winded. Be pithy and keep it to one (preferably) or two pages unless you want a job in academia, research or the arts.

3.     Don't confuse a resume and a curriculum vitae. The latter is for employers who will want to know all about what you've studied, taught, written, researched, exhibited. Resume readers want a quick summary of what you've done with just enough detail to let them know the depth of your skills. The rest they'll find out in the interview. If you drown them in verbiage, you'll never get to the interview.

4.     Students and recent graduates: put your education up top and include relevant courses.

5.     Find out which skills the employer is seeking and be sure to showcase them. If you're short on actual job experience, include a HIGHLIGHTS or SKILLS SUMMARY section to "editorialise" about yourself a little.

6.     Be clear about what you want. If you intend to be both a full time student and a full-time employee, for instance, this might be a turnoff for some employers.

7.     Use verb phrases -- "conceived campaign for student elections", "created online student newspaper", "initiated weekly meetings for minority students", "lead charity drive" -- not sentences; this is not an essay or an obituary you're writing.

8.     Use dates to show when you did things, not just the vague "one year".

9.     NEVER overlook spelling errors or typos. That's a one-way trip to the circular file. Check and recheck. Typos and spelling errors usually occur when you try to do something at the last minute. So leave enough time!

10.  For new graduates without much work experience, have an "EXPERIENCE" section rather than one called "EMPLOYMENT," because you can include traineeships, class projects and independent study under the former, but not the latter.

11.  Tailor the objective to a given position or leave it out altogether. Objectives are helpful when you're trying to show the relationship between your skills and a particular position, but they merely annoy when they say inane things like "a challenging position suited to my education and skills." What position? What skills? Resume readers will give yours, on average, seven seconds; don't make them cranky with filler.

12.  We had an entry from a poet. Poets don't write resumes, they write and rewrite poems, enter contests, and try to sell them. Better to start there.

 

Resume faux pas

Typos and grammar slips

·  "Suspected to graduate early next year."

·  "Disposed of $2.5 billion in assets."

·  "Proven ability to track down and correct erors."

·  "Accomplishments: Oversight of entire department."

·  "Strengths: Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer."

·  "I am a rabid typist."

·  "Here are my qualifications for you to overlook."

·  "Work History: Performed brain wave tests, 1879-1981."

·  "After receiving advice from several different angels, I have decided to pursue a new line of work."

·  "Accounting cleric."

·  "As indicted, I have over five years of experience analysing investments."

·  "Am a perfectionist and rarely if ever forget details."

·  "Accomplishments: Completed 11 years of high school."

More resume blunders

·  "Fired because I fought for lower pay."

·  "Size of employer: Very tall, probably over 6'5"."

·  "Please disregard the enclosed resume - it is terribly out of date."

·  "Finished 8th in my high school graduating class of 10."

·  "Qualifications: No education or experience."

·  "I am relatively intelligent, obedient and loyal as a puppy."

·  "My compensation should be at least equal to my age."

·  "Reason for Leaving: It had to do with the Tax office, Police and Government."

·  "Reason for Leaving: My boss said the end of the world is near."

·  "Reason for Leaving: The owner gave new meaning to the word 'paranoia.' I prefer to elaborate privately."

Bad humour

·  "Title: Another resume from the 'Profiles in Excellence' series."

·  "Note: Keep this resume on top of the stack. Use all others to heat your house."

·  "Also known As: Mr. Productivity, Mr. Clever, Mr. Fix-it."

·  "Assisted in daily preparation of large quantities of consumable items in a fast-paced setting." (Translation: Short-order cook.)

·  "But wait...there's more. You get all this business knowledge plus a grasp of marketing that is second nature."

·  "I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse."

·  "My fortune cookie said, 'Your next interview will result in a job'- and I like your company in particular."

·  "Trustworthy references available upon request - if I give them a few bucks."

·  "Let's meet so you can 'ooh' and 'ahh' over my experience."

 

Ten resume don'ts

Resumes are a necessity for almost every job on the planet - accountant, teacher, CEO or municipal employee. But unless you carefully and objectively examine your resume before sending it out, recycling bins across Australia may be filling up with those ill-planned documents.

Before emailing or mailing out your next resume, check the ten resume "do nots" below:

1. Appearances count - Don't try to save money by printing your resume on cheap copy paper instead of good quality stock. Check for typos, grammatical errors and coffee stains. Use the spellcheck feature on your word processor and ask a friend to review the resume to find mistakes you might have missed.
2. Does size matter? - If your career warrants a two-page resume, then go ahead and create a document that reflects the full range of your experience and accomplishments. Don't reduce the type size to such a degree that your resume becomes difficult to read.
3. Truth or consequences - Don't fudge over dates or titles on your resume to hide the fact that you have been unemployed, that you switched jobs too frequently or that you held low-level positions. If a prospective employer conducts a background check and discovers that you lied, you can kiss the job good-bye.
4. State your case - If you are seeking a job in a field in which you have no prior experience, don't use the chronological format for your resume. By using a functional or skills-oriented format, you can present your relevant experience and skills up front.
5. Put your best foot forward - Don't simply copy the job description jargon from your company's HR manual. To show that you are more qualified than the competition for the positions you are seeking, you need to do more than simply list your job responsibilities. Present specific accomplishments and achievements: percentages increased, accounts expanded, awards won, etc.
6. No excuses - Don't include the reasons you are no longer working at each job listed on your resume. The phrases "Company sold," "Boss was an idiot" and "Left to make more money" have no place on your resume.
7. What have you done lately? - While it is certainly acceptable to have a two-page resume, don't list every single job you've ever held. Personnel managers are most interested in your experience from the last 10 years, so focus on your most recent and most relevant career experience.
8. Target your audience - Don't mail out your resume to every ad in the Saturday newspaper or on the Internet. If you are not even remotely qualified for a position, don't apply. Read the ads, determine if you have the right credentials and save the wear and tear on your printer.
9. No extra papers, please - When you send out your resume, don't include copies of transcripts, letters of recommendation or awards, unless you are specifically asked to do so. If you are called in for an interview, you may bring these extra materials along in your briefcase for show-and-tell.
10. Don't get personal - Personal information is not necessary. Don't include information on your marital status, age, race, family or hobbies.

 

Top ten dos and don'ts when applying for a job

Applying for a job properly and effectively is all about making sure your covering letter and resume are the best sales documents about you.

The following dos and don’ts will help you prepare your application:

Do follow all instructions
If the job advertisement says to send three copies of your resume, send three copies! It may seem puzzling but an employer has reasons for asking you to do this - they just haven’t said why in the advertisement.

Do make sure your application is received on time
Getting your application in before the closing date is essential. Many employers will refuse to look at any late applications, not interested in interviewing candidates with what they consider to be poor time management skills.

Do include all documents in the one application
If you are emailing your application, make it easy for the reader by including your covering letter, resume and any other relevant information in only one attachment. When posting your resume through the mail, secure all your pages together, so that one doesn’t accidentally get separated from the rest.

Do include a resume in your application
Employers do not always request a resume and unless stated to the contrary, attach it to your application. An application letter is simply not enough detail.

Do customise each job application
A new covering letter should be created and your resume reviewed each time you apply for a job. In your letter, focus on describing skills that are required for the particular role and tailor your resume to prominently display the most relevant skills required.

Don’t include written references in your application
Unless asked to do so, don’t attach any written or electronic references. Whoever is reading your application at this stage is only interested in seeing factual evidence that you have the skills and qualifications needed to perform the vacancy. If interested, a recruiter or employer will ask for these written references later.

Don’t assume your application has been received
Get confirmation from the employer or agency. Documents can be misplaced or not received at all, including electronic ones.

Don’t be daunted if you lack some of the skills asked for
A perfect candidate may not exist. If you have what is essential and most of what is required, it is worth applying.

Don’t apply without getting all the facts
Unless there are instructions not to, ring and ask for more details. Get as much information as you can and tailor you application accordingly. With a greater understanding of the role, you may even find it is not suitable and a waste of both your and the employers time.

Do find out why an application was unsuccessful
Learn from it – don’t let it be a waste of time. Knowing your weaknesses will help in the preparation of your next application.

 

What you should (and shouldn't) include in your resume

Your resume is an advertisement about the most important item that you will ever sell - YOU. Its purpose is to provide the reader - either an employer or recruitment consultant - with so much interesting and positive information about your skills and abilities that they feel they just have to meet you to find out more.

That means you resume should only contain information that will secure you an interview. Any other details are not only irrelevant but also risky - risky because such details take up valuable space and divert attention from what is important.

So what information should you and shouldn't you include?
There are basically four sections every resume must have - name and contact details (personal details), education, work history and details regarding references. Other information which should also be displayed if you have such skills or experience are additional training undertaken, computer skills, foreign languages spoken and professional associations you belong to. If you have been out of work recently, any voluntary work done during this time is also a good selling point.

Your resume should contain factual information on the details above. It should not contain your opinion on what you think you are good at. Whoever is reading your resume wants to see proof of these skills. So describe your skills by detailing your qualifications, responsibilities and achievements - that is what you have actually done and when you did it. You will be asked what you think your strengths are the interview stage.

Personal interests need not be included as these are mostly irrelevant to your tasks within the job and can also create an inaccurate impression of you.

The only exception would be if your personal interests suit the role that you are applying for. For example if you were applying for a position as a sales assistant in a sports store, your interest or involvement in playing or watching sport is a fact the reader would be interested to see.

In summary, stick to facts (not opinions) and think about what's relevant and what isn't for the job you're seeking.

 

How to write a career summary

Hiring managers are busy people. A single job posting might attract thousands of resumes. To get noticed, create a career summary statement. The goal of this section is to develop a hard-hitting introductory declaration packed with your most sought-after skills, abilities, accomplishments and attributes. On your Monster resume, use the "Objective" section to present your summary.

Take these six steps to create a winning career summary:

1.Conduct research on your ideal job
The more closely you can target your profile to the employer's needs, the better your results will be. Start by searching jobs for your ideal position. Compare the ads and write a list of common job requirements and preferred qualifications.

2. Assess your credentials
Based on your research, how do you measure up? How would you help potential employers meet their goals? Besides the qualifications described, do you offer any added bonus? If you are lacking in one area, do you make up for it with other credentials?

If you are having a hard time assessing your skills, get help. Ask your colleagues   what they see as your key qualifications. Review your performance evaluations. What do others say about the quality of your work? Then write a list of your top 10 marketable credentials.

3. Relay the value you bring to the table
The next step is to weave your top credentials into your summary. Keep in mind that the summary helps the hiring manager determine if you should be called for an interview. Include a synopsis of your career achievements to show that your dedication to results is transferable to your next employer. Explain how you would help solve their problems. Ask yourself, "How will the employer benefit from hiring me?"

4. Add a Resume title
A title to the resume hooks your readers and compels them to continue reading. The title should include your job target as well as the main benefit of hiring you.

5. Focus on your goal
The most effective summaries are targeted on one career goal. If you have more than one possible objective, consider drafting different versions. Fill your summary with key words related to your career field. Your profile can also be supplemented with a bulleted "Key Skills" section, which provides an easy-to-read listing of your core capabilities.

6. Proofread, refine and perfect
First impressions are lasting impressions. Is your summary persuasive and free of errors? Is your tone appropriate for you career field? Avoid empty, generalised statements such as "excellent communication skills."

The finished product
Here is an example of an effective career summary:

Business Development Manager
Increasing bottom-Line profitability through aggressive acquisition of business

Professional Profile

Accomplished executive with a proven ability to drive new business that support the financial objectives. Generated business worth INR 3 million in the territory that was generating less than 20% of the above. Have led key initiatives that helped identify new business territories that added to the bottom-line and turned around company's overall performance.

Areas of Expertise
High-Volume, high-value negotiations
Strategic/Tactical Planning
Analytical and Financial Skills
Management Reporting
Relationship Management
Partnership Deals
Acquisitions

 

Leading the Pack from the Back

I'll never forget this... It's March of 2007 and I'm attending my first Toastmasters speech contest. I don't know a single soul. I arrive at the building and there's this casually dressed guy, clean-cut, a huge smile, semi-nasally voice with thin-rimmed eyeglasses directing traffic. "It's not this building. It's two buildings that-a-way," he instructed. "Okay chief," I complied. As I'm parking the car, I'm thinking Mr. Traffic Cop must not be that important. He's only directing traffic. He can't be one of those higher-ups in the organization. If he were he'd be inside: busy facilitating the contest. To my surprise, Mr. Traffic Cop spoke that evening. He gave a humorous speech about his latest adventure visiting a new dentist. He stole the show. His calm Clark Kent exterior hid the Super Comedy Man interior. He had the audience rolling on the floor, holding their sides, in the fetal position laughing hysterically. He wasn't only good—he was "The Bomb." I couldn't picture this earlier when I pulled up on the driveway. I thought he was someone low on the totem pole. Speaking contestants weren't supposed to be performing menial jobs. They're supposed to dress sharp and receive lavish accolades. My bad... I found out Super Comedy Man has filled so many roles in his home club that he is now its current president. He also leads three other clubs as their area governor. He possesses a strong resolve to pull off everything he's involved with. Do you know what I learned from him that March evening? True leaders do deeds... That meet all needs... So everyone succeeds. What is the secret to his success? What makes him such a good leader? What does he do that gains him so much respect? Super Comedy Man's three assets that can make you an invaluable leader: 1) Putting others first. In Star Trek II, gasping his last few breaths Mr. Spock said, "The needs of the many outweigh the need of the one." He had given his life to save the Enterprise. It was the most touching and unforgettable scene in the entire series. This flies in the face of today's Me First Society. From early school age, children are programmed to get the best grades, land the best jobs and live in the best neighborhoods. Unfortunately, they never really stand out among the pack. Then you hear about someone like Sister Teresa. She didn't own much, but what she had she gave away. She made the honor roll by putting others' needs first. 2) Giving from within. In the Middle East there's a body of water called the Dead Sea. Nothing lives in it because water flows in, but cannot flow out. It's stagnant. In nature there's no stagnation. Everything that lives... gives. The seed gives fruit, the sun gives life, and the clouds give rain. It's the same for human beings. Those who give with integrity usually get back much more than they invested. Yet can you believe there are people who never share their abundance, talents or knowledge? Hoarding leads to stagnancy. 3) Being a team player. It's no mystery that five mediocre team players can usually beat five lone ranger all-stars in almost any sport. Their secret is teamwork. The power of a united group poses too mighty a force for most opponents. Part of participating in a winning team involves filling other roles when needed. That may include doing tasks that might be a little beneath you. Your teammates will respect you even more for taking odd jobs when needed. You may also have to share, or step backward from the limelight. Doing so helps keep your team strong and balanced while achieving a common goal. It's called an "assist" in basketball. One player alley oops while the other gets the slam dunk. If you are a leader or want to become one—people will watch, model and even quote you. Especially if they admire you. Put on a smile and show them you can lead from any position.