They came, they competed, they departed…leaving behind echoes that will be repeated in other races. Can you envision the sounds of the track; the cars, the crowd, the “pop” of the beer can tabs (?)…the race announcers? Can you feel the energy; the excitement…the hum of anticipation? All participants have the intentions of acquiring the most points…of being the best…of becoming a part of Indy history. However, is intention enough to win…to be at their peak…to be at the best? And is it all about the driver…or are there other factors that need to be accounted for?

I wrestle with the good intention thing…I have a myriad of good intentions…all that seem to jockey for the first place slot on my priority list. However, my actions, my execution….well, let’s just be honest and admit that it falters…too many times. I can argue using the rationalized constraints of time, energy, other commitments, etc., but they are what they are…rational lies to myself and to others. How do I stay in that upper quadrant of conviction….going beyond the acceptable commitment plateau? Well, I believe that, for me, I need speed…or at least the feeling of speed. I like to get to where I am going….fast!! Yet, I am wise enough to know that it needs to be controlled speed! The kind where you know exactly what you are doing when you hit that apex…that exact center of the turn…that exact point when you know you can down shift, execute a slideways, and with down force and some drafting…you can be walkin the dog on to the finish! (And it does matter how you finish!)

However, personal experience has shown that it takes more than the good intentions…it takes more than a plan. You need to know what’s “good”…what’s important. And you need to know what actions are required to execute results that lead to faithful leadership. In addition, and this is the big component, you need community…you need stakeholders…you need a team. You need to determine the “race type” which determines the “car”, the “driver”, the “course design”, the “distance in laps”, and the “qualifying” pre-requisites. You need to identify your “promoters”, your “pit crew”, and the “spotters”. And then, what it boils down to is, how well will the driver handle the “aerodynamics” of the car; the focus, the discipline, and the skill required; the trust level with the pit crew, and the risks that are associated with the track that catalyze fears if not looked at, processed, and embraced.

So, what race type will I choose today? What will my car look like (hot!!)…and believe me…there is no question, “who will be the driver?”!  Who will be a part of this journey of leadership…of life…and what will be the ultimate impact I want to immortalize? I guess I need to really define that “what is important” question. I need to figure out how I’m going to handle the occasional “brain fade”; I need to make the time to dream…to write it down. It needs to be in black and white…imprinted on my sub-conscious…therefore, hopefully, harder to forget or deny.

Where do I go from here? Well, I’m not going to the track…the Indy 500 is over…but, I can look to the other “races” in the future, thereby determining what’s next…just like Patrick had to do when taken out of the race by Dixon. Sometimes we need to get over things and remember that there is a new day…a new beginning; life isn’t going to wait. Well, it’s time, the waiting is over, and the flags are out. My question, to be answered by you and by me is, “what, where and when is the next race”? Are your intentions to just circle the track…to just look like you’re trying to win…to just coast until the next pit stop…or are you out there for all 50 points?!! Ready….Set…Go!!!! The flag is dropped…. And don’t forget the concept of the faithful leader when you are checkered out…faithful leadership is recognizing and bringing along the others that help you get to the finish line! 

That’s the question I’m contemplating today. What is “good”…and what constitutes “good”? Is there enough in it for me? Will I “feel” good? Will it “fire me up” and will it give me the kind of motivation and passion to move forward? Will I have my share of fun in the “good”? And lastly, where will “good” take me and will it lead me to places I want to go? (I certainly don’t want the look or the behaviors of a blowfish!)

If I have enough of the extrinsic motivators (recognition, money, things) then I can define those as rewards of “good”; with those ‘carrots’ dangling I can do all the “good” you expect or require of me. However, what about the intrinsic motivators of doing what is “good”? What about the awareness…the knowledge…the courage…the presence…the synergy…and the ethic of right leadership. When I am in the “good”, then I will have what I truly want…what I am truly looking for…what I may feel should be attainable? Is this right? What is the “good” factor within faithful leadership?

A paralleled conversation that comes up consistently is in the defining of happiness vs. joy. I may not always be happy when in the “good”. The “good” may be painful and not so much fun…it may even feel obligatory, but you know that others are watching…accessing…critiquing you at every turn. Sometimes that pressure can create enough energy that I feel like I am ready to blow! That constant measurement is too much accountability. However, history has shown that I can experience joy when in the “good”. Joy that comes from doing what is right…joy that the consequences will be ones that I can look at…own as mine…make a difference with…and live with them into eternity.

Wow…why can’t things just be like the popular cultural phrase, “it’s all good”? Because it’s not all good. You can find yourself momentarily happy because of the circumstances you believe are “good” and then be miserable forever for that experience…or you can experience joy because you were in the “good”…and that is a lot more palatable when you have to carry it around with you 24/7. Living within that kind of joy can illuminate our souls and inspire us toward greatness. It’s the joy expressed in right leadership that may be harder to do…but easier to live with.

Hence, the next question I ask is, “How do I recognize “good”, specific to me, and how do I sustain “good” in my life?” Now we are getting to the core…the core of truth, the core of epistemology, the core of love, and the core of ethic…the accountability factor…big time!! Now before I go on….I have to admit that I get tired at times when you fling that accountability word in my face. Why can’t I just ‘wing it’ and have fun…no harm done there, huh? Wrong.

Whenever we can ascertain what is “good” that we can enter into…that we can join…that we can become a “part of”…then we are using more than the good angel on the shoulder opposite of the guy in red on our other shoulder. You got it…we are using our micro-community. We are using the lens of affiliate relationships that can challenge as well as encourage. This community of ours won’t always be in agreement with us…they won’t always say how wonderful we are…they won’t accept the bad choices and behaviors that are less than what we can be. That’s why the micro-community is critical to our leadership…how we lead from the inside out and how “good” is going to be contextualized….because it will show up; sooner or later. How we live out our leadership is visible to all and will impact and influence those who are watching…for the positive or the negative. Therefore, who we choose as our micro-community is of extreme importance as they are the lens that we need in order to sustain what is deemed “good”.

So…where does that lead me today? What do I need to reflect on, become aware of, listen to, and design as my matrix of “good”? It begins with the questions of, ‘what is important’, ‘what do I do about it’, ‘who will help’, what is the plan’, ‘what needs to be developed’, and ‘how do I achieve sustainability of excellence…the “good” that will define who I am as a leader from the inside out.

What is “right”…”truthful”…”good” for you? Who can lead you to the mirror on the wall and steer you from self-deception? Who can love you enough to be truthful with a spirit of honesty that seeks to support rather than tear down? Who can walk beside you in a relationship of accountability that raises your game…ups your level of leadership…celebrates the joy of being in the “good” that defines the purpose and quality of your life?

Find those people…with all speed…with pugnacious intent…and with an openness of spirit. Find those people that will aid in your response to what is “good” for your life and will cheer you as you take the steps…the possible leaps of courage…whatever it takes to live the life of a faithful leader. Those relationships are the real rewards of a life lived as “good”. Remember, it’s always the people that matter in life…not the things.

The shield of Authenticity, Execution, Greater Good, Integrity, and Sustainability. 

You might be thinking that with the topic of today’s coaching notes, AEGIS, that there will be references to shields that have some ‘bounce’.  That might not have been a bad idea back when these shields were made and used.  I kinda like the idea of having the ability to repel those things that are harmful; it would also make for a good laugh just to see it in action.

And I can tell you that this week as I cut my finger and had to have stitches at the Holland Emergency room that I would have wished that the knife would have ‘bounced’ off my finger!!@!!  But, I guess I was getting a bit ‘cocky’ about not ever having stitches from an accident.  Hopefully, it will be my last time as I am not so tough when dealing with my own injury!  Anyway…back to Aegis…

When the fiends have come there is nowhere to hide

I must swing my axe, my brothers at my side

Feeding on our own fear, passions running high

Fleeing not a choice, better to fight and die

In the shield-wall we stand to defend our land

Holding till the end

Brace the storm and keep the shining blades at bay

Fight to let our kingdom live another day

Heed the old one’s cries, we mustn’t let them down

We will slaughter them to keep them from the crown

In the shield-wall we stand to defend our land

      Holding till the end 

–Battle hymn or paen–

Ahh…I love the historical movies that depict battle; the struggle, the sacrifice, and the heroism.  So when I watched the movie “300” I was locked-in to the characters and the sacrifices that were made during that final battle. Yet, what caught my passion were the concepts of the shield-wall and the formation of the phalanx.  My thoughts immediately started to blend this concept with the concept of leadership; the faithful leadership that puts others first.  This phalanx wasn’t designed to cover your own person, but to protect the person on your left.  You are only as strong as the person on your right…they are protecting you as you are using your own strength and skill to protect another.  Novel idea, huh?  You don’t find too much of that kind of leadership, especially in corporate business…unless maybe your reality is a battlefield.  (Maybe a battlefield is an accurate depiction of corporate?)

Men wear their helmets and their breastplates for their own needs, but they carry shields for the men of the entire line.

—Plutarch, Moralia

Now, if you watched the movie, those guys were built…I mean “well-muscled”…all over!   Yes, I couldn’t help but notice…I’m married but not blind! But in the days of the Greeks, most of these men were approx. 150 lbs…carrying approx. 70 lbs. in armor!  Incredible strength and skill was necessary; and another component…resolve, a ferocious resolve!  And because of the shield-wall…no man was greater than any other…it was the combined strength, skill, and resolve that would define the outcome of the battle; victory or defeat, life or death.

Signs of courageous leadership came as the rows upon rows of men were arranged typically about eight ranks deep, and stretching for about a quarter of a mile or more.  The commanding general –the strategos—took position in the front rank, at the extreme right – the most exposed position in the entire army.  Generals typically had short careers (take note)!  As lines neared, both sides would break into a run.  The challenge for the general was to maintain cohesion (and the shield-wall) while still gaining enough momentum for the crash.  It took all the ranks to push and hack and spear and shatter the army in front of them.  Although gruesome to watch sometimes in the movie, the battle was very decisive; short with low casualties in comparison to modern combat.  Battles were kept short –even a single battle – so that people could get back to their lives. 

Aegis, in Greek mythology, was the shield made by Zeus from the head of the snake-headed Medusa.  Aegis, now in modern English, is to mean a shield, protection, or sponsorship.  The concept of doing something “under someone’s aegis” means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source.  Bottom line…its protection given by your “community” needed against strong forces.

As you all know by now, I love to create acronyms that have meaning toward leadership principles.  This is what I came up for ‘aegis’:

      A  -  Authenticity – what’s real and true

E  - Execution  -  action with decisive results

G  -  Greater Good – faithful leadership impacting others; putting

         aside ego

I  -   Integrity -  commitment towards honesty, right choices, and

follow-thru

S  -  Sustainability  -  strength to stand and run into fears with the

          shield-wall of core convictions.

You know, we all might be in situations that could be better.  They’re not ideal; they rarely follow the story I told last week.  But we do have choices in what we are going to decide; how we are going to live and lead.  There is meaning in truth and honesty, meaning to building trust in our relationships along with motivation to not just do better but be better, and meaning to foster micro-community relationships and to have a resiliency to get through what life throws at us!  But just think about the power of a group of leaders that can come together, with all of their differences (strengths and weaknesses), despite the silos that they have used to define and protect their boundaries, and become that shield-wall when ‘battle’ is necessary.  Remember, it’s not an everyday occurrence, because work and life need to continue, yet it gives me goose bumps to think of leaders (you) that see the bigger picture…they see it in big screen size…they get ‘it’; true and faithful leadership.  

My challenge, and yours, is to put aside the self-destructive habits of denial, arrogance, complacency, defensiveness, entitlement, and poor execution and find ourselves picking up our shields, falling into rank, and covering not just our own self but the ‘other’ on our left.  Build the relationships and develop the communication skills that enact great leadership principles.  Your team, your micro-community, your family…they are the ranks in your personal phalanx.  Learn to carry the shield, strengthen your core convictions, and be the faithful leader that runs forward with tough resolve and resiliency.

As you and I all encounter and face the challenges to be more than an effective leader, especially in work environments, let me say how much confidence I have in your ability to lead from within…from the convictions that have been stamped and approved by experience, reflection, accountability, wisdom of age, and the daily choice we all have of ‘right action’.  Don’t just settle…don’t just exist…don’t “fold”…there are others that are depending on the protection of our shields.

Relationship management is always a relevant topic, always evolving, and always an area of growth because of its impact. Human relations and communication competency are two primary areas for coaching and leadership development. And the hardest part, the real challenge, is to put other people first. In doing so, you show in your actions loyalty, commitment, and a desire to put people before profit; and that can mean personal profit as well as corporate profit!

I’m tired of reading or hearing about the boss, who looked out only for themselves, covered their own butt, bailed out and headed for early retirement in the Bahamas while leaving the company in a mess. Anyone can go into a company and drive up profits by relentlessly driving down his or her people. Soon though, the people will get tired and the equipment will break because neither has been cared for properly. (This same story can be related in a personal manner too.)

It takes a huge amount of commitment to time and the expenditure of energy when dealing with relationships. You can’t be like the sprinter in a marathon where you go for broke the first mile or two, and in doing so, have nothing left for the rest of the race. It takes conditioning, practice, and grace for the “missed it” times. You have to be disciplined and focused on the method…not just on the goal.

Listening well to spouses, children, extended family, friends and co-workers is one of the first building blocks of a strong relationship. When we talk, when we share, when we extend a part of ourselves in vulnerability, we want the listener to just be quiet, to suspend judgments, and to hold all opinions or words of advice. We just want to be heard, accepted, and unconditionally supported even if we don’t have understanding and support for what we are saying. In going the extra mile and listening well in our relationships, we show that we are giving our best efforts, we are building trust, and we are committing ourselves to the process. If you deeply listen to people, you can capture their hearts…and you can capture their trust. Listening well is the deepest compliment you can give someone, especially if you are listening to understand and not just interject your own ideas, opinions, or bit of wisdom.

What are some relationship, trust, and listening items that need to be on our leadership checklist that sound simple but seem to be so difficult to do?

Listen with your mouth closed until it is appropriate to speak; and don’t “shut down” after hearing the first couple of sentences from the communicator. Show respect for their thoughts and ideas.

Establish and keep eye contact; focus on them individually not generically. It might be a conversation you have heard hundreds of times before, but each person has a different perspective that is unique. Listening to others’ ideas can produce creativity not previously possible but for their shared insights.

Ask open-ended questions to elicit understanding and clarification; not validation for your own viewpoint. You will invoke increased motivation and desire from those you influence and lead if they feel like you care.

Don’t let your mind drift; we have the ability to listen to 500 words a minute, yet we speak at a much lower rate of 100 to 125 words per minute. Allow time for them to think through as they talk out their words. The best communicators are not the ones who speak the most…they speak less and listen more!

Show them you can be trusted and keep promises; don’t just say words. If I tell someone that I am available to meet with them, yet, when someone actually has a problem or something they wish to discuss with me, I avoid it by finding a convenient way to get out of the meeting…well, that’s breaking a promise and undermining my leadership impact. Every promise you break, no matter how small or inconsequential, will steadily chip away at your character. Each time you don’t honor a commitment you erode the bonds between you and the people you lead. Every time you avoid doing what’s right, you fuel the habit of doing wrong.

Summarize, paraphrase, and give examples when explaining ideas and concepts. Fear paralyzes when we aren’t sure of the risk or the level of courage we need to enact what is being asked of us.

Don’t hoard; share ideas, share feelings, and share power. Don’t demand, you may not always be right, and people get tired of dealing with those who can’t “give” back.

When you witness acts of courage, cheer and extend the hand of humanity. It’s better than retrieving the machete from the closet. 

Finally, today I have learned of a leader who is leaving a corporation and moving on to other opportunities; but with integrity, honor, and great execution of leadership. They have led with such character and commitment to what is right that they have the support of those employees that would do almost anything not to let that person down. They have modeled discipline, work ethic, trust, motivation, and loyalty so that it will be an ongoing expectation affecting the culture of that company. Faithful leadership executed relentlessly; in the midst of pain, the allure of pleasure, the encouragement to do acts that would make them belong, balancing the conditions that constitute fairness, and the most courageous execution; that of “doing what’s right”; not just the easy or the popular.

We are pleased to announce the hire of Thomas McGough as Senior Manager, Strategy & Development.

Tom brings to CLI 10 years of professional consulting experience across the public & private sectors. He has demonstrated deep expertise in solving complex qualitative & quantitative problems, utilizing current processes and industry best standards, and identifying strategic organizational opportunities to achieve optimal organizational success.

In his new role Tom will oversee product and course development and consult with clients. Tom comes to Courageous Leadership from Booz Allen Hamilton in New York.

He lives in Holland, MI with his wife and daughter. Interests include reading, traveling, spending time outdoors, and the occasional marathon.

Of all of the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to life in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this – that you are the master of your thought, the molder of your character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny. - James Allen

When most people hear the word leadership, they think of it only in the business context. But leadership is broader than that; leadership is really a philosophy of life. Knowledge and courage; head and heart. Core convictions and leading from the inside out; why is this necessary to quality of life?

CEO’s and managers, teachers and coaches, and even compassionate mothers are leaders. It all begins from within, by having the self-discipline to lead and know yourself; to understand that the essence of life lies in leadership. As Robert Louis Stevenson once said, “To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.”

Truly wise people aim, not only for leadership in their businesses, but also within their personal lives. It is the courage to lead and live with great character that sets the task manager separate from the faithful leader. A great task leader embraces the “get it done” motto, the great people leader embraces the “people are more than just objects” motto, and the great faithful leader embraces the “making worthy contributions to others” motto. But the leader of life embraces the “the quality of my character and convictions and how I execute them will impact everything and everyone that I touch” motto. Wow! That brings immediate clarification as to why we need to lead from the inside out. And that takes an abundance of courage and humility: two great leadership qualities.

When I attempt to coach a client, the objective is for them to see life in a whole new perspective and truly liberate the fullness of their personal potential. Inner leadership proceeds outer leadership. Remember that we define growth and development from the spiritual center first? Before you can understand the dynamics to lead others, you must first learn to lead yourself.

Woodrow Wilson was quoted as saying, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget that errand.”

A client recently shared, “No one really ever took me aside and taught me to lead people. No one showed me what to do to deeply motivate my team or communicate more effectively. No one explained how I could boost productivity through the enhancement of employee motivation and commitment. And what about the art of managing my time and getting things done? I always seem to have far too much to do and too little time. Everyone expects me to have all the answers to all their questions. I’m constantly under stress and take out my frustrations on my people, or my family, which only make things worse. As for a sense of balance between my professional and personal life, it’s just a dream. I say to myself, ‘Next year will be the year I get back into shape or start spending more time with the family.’ But things never seem to slow down.”

My personal belief is that all failure, whether in the business world or in one’s personal life, can be tracked to a failure in leadership. Companies don’t perform at their peak when their leaders are unskilled and unwise. People don’t perform at their best when they have no leadership and accountability over their lives. And when the best employees are jumping ship, when morale is destroyed, when no one trusts management, and when teamwork is a thing of the past, then there is a failure somewhere with leadership.

Today’s industries demand relentless innovation, yet most seem to have lost their creative fire. And all the change that they are being forced to deal with is crippling. Technology is changing, the industry is changing, and customers’ expectations are changing. On top of all of that, corporations can’t seem to figure out the direction in which they need to move. So what is the solution?

We need to take ourselves out of our comfort areas and literally, empty the cup. Whatever we have in it. Even if we are afraid of loosing the “valuable contents”. We are full to the brim. We have filled our minds so full of our opinions, ideas, and biases that nothing new can get in. And in our rapidly changing world, where leaders must constantly be learning new concepts and equipping themselves with new skills, that’s a deadly character flaw. So what to do? As I said this past week, “you take the next step…whatever that may be.” This coach realizes that we must constantly be receptive to new knowledge. We must always view ourselves as lifelong students, no matter how many initials and titles follow our names on our upscale business cards. We must grow humble. And yeah…sometimes I have a problem with that too! Haha I definitely have inherited an opinionated and independent spirit! hahaha

Leadership is about focused action in the direction of a worthy purpose. Leadership is about realizing that the impossible is generally the untried. Leadership isn’t about position…it’s about action! CEO’s, GM’s, managers, programmers, controllers, engineers, and even the shop foreman can be a great leader. To lead is to inspire, energize, and influence. Leadership isn’t about managing things but about developing people; and that begins with you! The true assets of a company are the people that enter the door and exit the door every day. Quite simply, leadership is about helping people to liberate the fullness of their talents while they pursue a vision that they have understood as worthy and meaningful. You can do this guys! Managers can do this. Even your frontline workers can show leadership in the work that they do.

And the truly faithful leaders…not just the effective task leaders…go beyond improving the current operations, by enhancing quality, by streamlining systems, and raising customer-care standards. Although those are important tasks for the success of the corporation…the ultimate leader tries to improve their life score of executing “right” action. Going beyond what is expected, what might be easy, what might be painful, what might feel good or initiate membership into a group. Faithful, visionary leaders take in the humanness that is within all of us. Sort of like the newest Geico commercial where in the end the therapist says, “ human beings behaving humanly. Brilliant!” ha

True leadership is hard. It takes a lot of effort, commitment, and discipline. It takes exposure of who you are and challenges your edges. Remember, I alluded to standing at the edge…the exhilaration and the fear…the rush courage can bring if executed well.

A couple of my clients (former and current) had the courage to question and challenge me this past week. Kudos to both of them; because now…they get my passion…they get my commitment. Sometimes we need to question and push back. It’s all a part of that accountability thing.