Beliefs and Actions of a Great Leader

He remains consistent. She makes people her top priority. He asks for help.
She manages up. He encourages differing points of view.

She ensures a collaborative culture.

He clearly articulates vision. She understands internal customer service is directly related to external customer service. He owns setbacks and shares victories.

She doesn't need to always be right. He knows it's not a straight road.
He knows culture will build revenue. She doesn't need to have the final say.

He eliminates favoritism. She sets realistic boundaries. He explains the tough decisions.
She remains fair. He doesn't manage, he leads. She holds herself accountable.

He holds the team accountable. She can apologize.
She leads by example. He possesses vision for now and the future.

She believes clear communication is critical.

He gives at least a quarter of his time to helping his people.
She challenges comfort zone especially her own.

He accepts full responsibility.
She remains humble but confident.

He gives great internal customer service.

She stays focused on goals not emotions. He shares the victories and the challenges.
He asks for the same efforts he gives them. She never stops learning.
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Passion is not Ordinary

Synonyms include enthusiasm or obsession, zeal or excitement, fervor or infatuation but it can be crushed like a bug on a windshield in seconds. I see it in the enterprise, with clients, colleagues, friends and family. The work day is simply a “means to an end” which is a horrific way to spend a third of our life. Ideas are pushed down toward the lowest common denominator while good enough becomes the gold standard.

Leadership is crucial when passion is present because it must be mined and carefully protected. Passion is the reason a woman born of poverty in a shack in Kosciusko, Mississippi became one of the most successful television personalities of all time.

Airplanes and Light Bulbs

Obsession is what fuelled a man to try thousands of ideas until he found a way to harness light. Infatuation was the genesis of an idea by a man with dyslexia to create a global brand which features an airline, a media company and a private island.

It took zeal for the returning founder of a computer company to use innovation rather than budget cuts to help his creation realize the largest profits in its history.

Ladders and Climbing Gear

Passion isn’t about owning things or having money. It isn’t about beating someone or market share. It's about running toward your purpose. Look at your team, the people around you, those you connect in business and through the social web along with your family and your friends. Embrace and cherish their passion.

Corporate governance, strategic policy and revenue generation are all part of work life. But without passion, we would never had heard of Winfrey, Franklin, Branson or Jobs.
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Leading Innovation and Creativity

We see it everywhere. Many of us say it often. But how do we ensure innovation and creativity are given the time, space, and freedom to flourish?

Innovation is a necessary element of our existence. It’s not a new concept but we seem to be taking a closer look at it. Linda Hill from the Harvard Business School unearthed some fascinating elements of collective genius, teamwork, and the iterative nature of leadership and innovation.

__________________________________________________________________ Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit

Fueling the Passion

Synonyms include enthusiasm or obsession, zeal or excitement, fervor or infatuation but it can be crushed like a bug on a windshield in seconds. I see it in the enterprise, with clients, colleagues, friends and family. The work day is simply a “means to an end” which is a horrific way to spend a third of our life. Ideas are pushed down toward the lowest common denominator while good enough becomes the gold standard.

Leadership is crucial when passion is present because it must be mined and carefully protected. Passion is the reason a woman born of poverty in a shack in Kosciusko, Mississippi became one of the most successful television personalities of all time.

Airplanes and Light Bulbs

Obsession is what fuelled a man to try thousands of ideas until he found a way to harness light. Infatuation was the genesis of an idea by a man with dyslexia to create a global brand which features an airline, a media company and a private island.

It took zeal for the returning founder of a computer company to use innovation rather than budget cuts to help his creation realize the largest profits in its history.

Ladders and Climbing Gear

Passion isn’t about owning things or having money. It isn’t about beating someone or market share. It's about running toward your purpose. Look at your team, the people around you, those you connect in business and through the social web along with your family and your friends. Embrace and cherish their passion.

Corporate governance, strategic policy and revenue generation are all part of work life. But without passion, we would never had heard of Winfrey, Franklin, Branson or Jobs.

There's nothing ordinary about passion!
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | Leadership and Culture strategist, writer, speaker, executive coach engaging leaders, collaborative teams, and strong business results.

debwhite

Starting is Easy

You can feel the anticipation, the excitement, the yearning for possibilities. The idea is taking shape and being refined and advanced toward something real. What if, is moving rapidly to can when. Others are gathering around the idea with their own refinements and thoughts. Momentum and excitement build.

In the "olden days" it was called "starting a business" now in some industries like high tech it's called a start-up. It sounds so perky and fun, doesn't it? I've been involved in start-ups and it can be frustrating and exciting, scary and fulfilling. They haven't all gone well but something keeps making you go back and try again.

After the Honeymoon

It’s six months in and the idea has morphed several times, there is yet to be any revenue and finances are dwindling. Long hours can no longer be fueled by espresso. Promises of stock options and some day aren't landing as strong on the team. This is not reserved for pesky start-ups. IBM, Xerox, Yahoo, Apple, Zappos, and thousands more have pivoted and changed direction. And it rarely (never) goes smoothly.

But we have the attention span of a three-year old. We meet the first challenge and we pull the pin. It’s much easier to think of a cool idea than see it through. And we're all guilty of leaving half-baked ideas in the oven because it got hard or we couldn't get others to help move them along. Money, time, excuses, we have them all at the ready.

Starting is easy, delivering is the tough part. 
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | Leadership and Culture strategist, writer, speaker, executive coach engaging leaders, collaborative teams, and strong business results.

horseracingnation

Customer Service in Two Steps

If you were to ask everyone you know if they enjoyed receiving great customer service, the suspicion is most (all) would say yes. If you asked them if they received great customer service 100% of the time, the suspicion is most (all) would say no.

If you asked them if they would enjoy working in a company which supports value-based collaborative culture, most (all) would say yes. Then ask how many have experienced or experience it in their career, and far too many would say no.

Add it up...

So if all of those facts were true, do the math, some of us are giving less than great customer service or failing to create strong company culture. So how do we fix that and work to toward what we say we want?

Here are two suggestions: 

Provide superior customer service to your customers, your partners, and your team through strong leadership, culture, and communication.

Then repeat daily.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | Leadership and Culture Strategist, Writer, Speaker, Executive Coach engaging leaders to build successful talent and profitable business.

wired

Decisions and Impatience

We live in an instant gratification world where quick wins are lauded and our impatience fills the zeitgeist. Get it now, fix it now, win it now, make that call, close that sale, launch that product, etc. I am working on a new venture and we want stuff done yesterday. In my quest to speed up the process, I often get in the way which is something we all need to keep in mind.

Managing our patience takes skill and dedication. When do you make a quick decision? When do you wait? When does it require more data? When are you getting lost in data and scope creep?

One of the biggest stories this week is the departure of JC Penny CEO Ron Johnson. Mitch Joel features the Johnson story in his new book Crtl Alt Delete and recently wrote about the swift departure, saying; “I hope 17 months doesn't become the norm.” 

Nimble is the norm and impatience is riding shotgun

In some cases, 17 months is too long, in others too short. I worked with a guy who proclaimed his mantra was - ready shoot aim. Make a decision, do it, deal with the consequences. I think some aiming is important but often we get stuck during the indecision stage, so balance is always the challenge. But waiting for the perfect time to move is a deadly pursuit.

Johnson was tasked with turning around an old brand in a very busy sector shrouded in churn and impatience. But Ron was fired and they're bringing back the CEO he replaced a year and a half ago hoping this time it'll work. Cue the Einstein quote.

Culture is king

Zappos is often used as an example where leadership, patience and culture merge into a cool place to work that makes healthy profit. Culture and revenue can live happily together if done right. The Zappos’ family values are; Deliver wow through service. Embrace and drive change. Create fun and a little weirdness. Be adventurous, creative, and open-minded. Pursue growth and learning. Build open and honest relationships with communication. Build a positive team and family spirit. Do more with less. Be passionate and determined. Be humble.

CEO Tony Hsieh admits both fast and slow decisions cost Zappos a lot of money while affecting their culture.


__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | Leadership and Culture Strategist, Writer, Speaker, Executive Coach engaging leaders to build successful talent and profitable business.

Flickr | Inc. | Tony Hsieh

Attributes of a Great Leader

He remains consistent. She makes people her top priority. He asks for help.
She manages up. He encourages differing points of view.

She ensures a collaborative culture.

She clearly articulates vision. He understands internal customer service is directly related to external customer service. She owns setbacks and shares victories.

He doesn't need to always be right. She knows it's not a straight road.

He knows culture will build revenue. She doesn't need to have the final say.
He eliminates favoritism. She sets realistic boundaries. He explains the tough decisions.

She remains fair. He doesn't manage, he leads. She holds herself accountable.
He holds the team accountable. She can apologize.

She leads by example. He possesses vision for now and the future.
She believes clear communication is critical.

He gives at least a quarter of his time to helping his people. She challenges comfort zone especially her own. He accepts full responsibility. She remains humble but confident. He gives great internal customer service.

She stays focused on goals not emotions. He shares the victories and the challenges.

He asks for the same efforts he gives them. She never stops learning.

Kneale Mann

vows

A Year From Now

Each morning on Twitter, I post a lyric, quote, saying, thought, quip, or idea.

Here’s the list from December 2012

We can't control others' perceptions. Make time for life time. You don't need eyes to see, you need vision (Maxi Jazz)

If you want expand your scope, meet a minimum of five new people this week. Shut out the naysayers, especially the ones in your head. If you can dream it, you can do it. (Walt Disney)

If you want to help others, discover what drives you. If you want to inspire others, let them in. One of the interesting things about success is that we think we know what it means. (Alain de Botton)

Focus on what you want, not what others think you should want. Are you telling your story or someone else's story?

Never underestimate the power of asking why. The things you are looking for will never be found inside the four walls of your comfort zone. (Mandy Hale) How can you improve your company's internal customer service?

Today is whatever I want it to mean. (Beth Orton) What's on your to-done list this week that will help you grow?

You don't want to be considered the best. Often our biggest obstacle is ourselves. You want to be considered the only one who does what you do. (Jerry Garcia)

Leadership is a verb.

Do something for someone today even if they don't know it was you.A year from now, you will wish you had started today. (Karen Lamb)

Follow your curiosity. (Einstein) Review what worked. Learn from what didn't. Bring forward what you want. Never underestimate the power of teamwork.

Find the quiet and you’ll find your voice.

Kneale Mann

espn

Passion Is No Ordinary Word

The title is borrowed from a musician named Graham Parker who released a song of the same name on an album entitled Squeezing Out Sparks in 1979.

Passion is not easily measured and often misread. Since I was a kid, I was always called hyper and only when I met someone who became a key mentor in my career did I find a better explanation and it was passion for the work and the people around me.

Defining Your Passion

Synonyms include enthusiasm or obsession, zeal or excitement, fervor or infatuation but it can be crushed like a bug on a windshield in seconds. I see it in the enterprise, with clients, colleagues, friends and family. The work day is simply a “means to an end” which is a horrific way to spend a third of our life. Ideas are pushed down toward the lowest common dominator while good enough becomes the gold standard.

Leadership is crucial when passion is present because it must be mined and carefully protected. Passion is the reason a woman born of poverty in a shack in Kosciusko, Mississippi became one of the most successful television personalities of all time.

Airplanes and Light Bulbs

Obsession is what fuelled a man to try thousands of ideas until he found a way to harness light. Infatuation was the genesis of an idea by a man with dyslexia to create a global brand which features an airline, a media company and a private island.

It took zeal for the returning founder of a computer company to use innovation rather than budget cuts to help his creation realize the largest profits in its history.

Ladders and Climbing Gear

Passion isn’t about owning things or having money. It isn’t about beating someone or market share. It's about running toward your purpose. Look at your team, the people around you, those you connect in business and through the social web along with your family and your friends. Embrace and cherish their passion.

Corporate governance, strategic policy and revenue generation are all part of work life. But without passion, we would never had heard of Winfrey, Franklin, Branson or Jobs.

There's nothing ordinary about passion!

Kneale Mann

image credit: caerberu

The Responsibility of Leadership

People are more easily led than driven. 
David Harold Fink

It’s easy to look at a company’s organizational chart, identify senior management and call that the leadership of the company. That can be flawed logic because leadership is not a title and if we wait to look for it when people become managers, it’s too late. And the biggest issue with corporate leadership is that companies expect you to do too many tasks which takes your time away from nurturing the strengths of your team.

Bosses say "Go!". Leaders say "Let's Go!" 
E.M. Kelly

If you are lucky to have a mentor, hang on to them with all you got. They are special people we need in order to move things along. If you’re lucky enough to be a mentor, take your role seriously. You are not only guiding a career, you are helping the hundreds they will touch throughout their career. Business is a team sport and if you choose the path of leadership, it can be a fulfilling decision.

Management is doing things right
Leadership is doing the right things. 
Peter Drucker

Leadership is a balance between the ego and grace. Well that’s until reality steps in. Quotas need to be met, revenue numbers hit, a competitor wins the contract and suddenly our flapless leader isn’t so helpful and nurturing.

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
Steve Jobs

In the corporate world, leadership roles are realized through myriad journeys. Some get the gig because they are the top sales person, others get it because someone left and they were the safe choice, the list goes on. Rarely does an organization choose its leaders purely from the perspective of leadership ability.

The only real training for leadership is leadership.
Antony Jay

If you’ve ever received a promotion within an organization you know that people start to look at you differently and you may feel a bit strange. That angry young person with all the bright ideas is in a position to act on some of them. It can be overwhelming. But that's what change and growth feels like.

It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling 
to do yourself. Eleanor Roosevelt

Leadership can be a lonely journey within a team environment but to the right person, the most rewarding career move of their lives. We all need to be leaders now and waiting for the corporate tap on the shoulder is not the time to begin the process.

How can you become a better leader?

Kneale Mann

image credit: istock | original: Oct 2010

Leadership Can Be Lonely

People are more easily led than driven.
David Harold Fink

If you are lucky to have a mentor, hang on to them with all you got. They are special people we need in order to move things along. If you’re lucky enough to be a mentor, take your role seriously.

You are not only guiding a career, you are helping the hundreds they will touch throughout their career.

Business is a team sport and if you choose the path of leadership, it can be a lonely road. But it can also be a fulfilling decision.

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
Peter Drucker

Leadership is a balance between the ego and grace. Well that’s until reality steps in. Quotas need to be met, revenue numbers hit, a competitor wins the contract and suddenly our flapless leader isn’t so helpful and nurturing.

In the corporate world, leadership roles are realized through myriad journeys. Some get the gig because they are the top sales person, others get it because someone left and they were the safe choice, the list goes on. Rarely does an organization choose its leaders purely from the perspective of leadership ability.

The only real training for leadership is leadership.
Antony Jay

If you’ve ever received a promotion within an organization you know that people start to look at you differently and you may feel a bit strange. Suddenly the angry young person with all the bright ideas is in a position to act on some of those ideas and it’s put up or shut up time.

It can be tempting - like many before you - to cover your butt, keep your head down and hang on to your gig verses making bold decisions.

Leadership is a lonely journey within a team environment but to the right person, the most rewarding career move of their lives.

And the twist - we all need to be leaders now and waiting for the corporate tap on the shoulder is not the time to begin the process.

What are your thoughts?

knealemann

image credit: livescience.

Can You Help Me?

Four Simple Words

Why do most of us have trouble saying them? Most people I know are good at offering a hand but tend to be more reluctant to ask.

This is about gaining a new perspective on a certain area of your business or career. You may need others to hit the restart for you and clear your vision.

Online Etiquette

We can get stuck in a world where we are supposed have our act together. If you travel in the social web, you know that you can't go online and complain about prospecting or revenue or being stuck. No one likes a whiner. Conversely, the fine line gets finer because few like anyone who brags about themselves all the time.

This is why a personal advocacy group is essential. Find five people who can give you real advice, clear direction and objective perspective. In return, offer that help back to others. This needs to be taken seriously and people's time must be respected.

This is not a dumping ground for grievances.

This week, I sent a note to seven people and simply asked for fifteen minutes of their time. All seven agreed. Thanks guys! The help has proved invaluable. It was tough to ask for help but as a friend of mine who is a psychologist reminds me - asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.

The little things become the big things and your advisers can help you keep them small and manageable. Suffering in silence or pretending you have it all covered will significantly affect your career and business in a negative way. It will also affect those around you. Been there, done that.

Where are you stuck? Who can you call? Who can you help?

@knealemann
Helping you integrate all you do with all you do.

photo credit: teacherinthemaking

Marketing: Budget Item or Necessity?

Underspend To Success

Few industries have been spared during the last 18 months. We’ve read about employee cuts and budget restrictions. As the cliché goes, the only way through it is through it. But how does that affect your business? If you are in a management position or you own the company you are well versed with budgets.

Budgets are delightful things that can consume you. They can reduce your hopes and dreams, your hard work and creative plans to a list of numbers and codes on a spread sheet.

Beans and Pennies

If you work for or own a large enough company, you may even have someone who sits in their office staring at said spread sheets with alarming regularity. If you or your boss is someone others call a “bottom liner” then those spread sheets can be the only focus. Lower the numbers at the bottom of the screen and everyone is happy, right?

In some companies, short-term thinking and this-quarter-only mentality is rewarded. What’s even scarier, some people are given additional financial compensation for making the line at the bottom as small as possible.

Where is Marketing on the list?

If the directive is to cut costs, which items go first? Do you cancel phone service? Do you stop paying the mortgage or rent? What about computers and utilities? It couldn’t be salaries and marketing budgets, could it?

The first stop seems to be items on the general ledger that are perceived to not be spent yet. After all, you can squeeze through a couple of quarters without letting customers and potential customers know about your offering, right?

Strategy Strategy Strategy

Think long and hard before you interpret that marketing and people are expendable because they are the only reason your company is different than others. Marketing is not advertising, it is not a campaign, it is a fully integrated part of your company.

Marketing is just as crucial as the phone system. In fact, stop your marketing efforts and you may notice the phone is ringing a lot less than usual.

Road Maps not Blindfolds

Your marketing efforts must be carefully planned. Simply carrying out activities that seem to look and smell like marketing is not enough, you must know the reason for this action.

We all must be fiscally responsible. Spending must be done wisely, but simply getting out the hatchet and calling that a "revised business plan" can be dangerous and potentially suicidal.

You must understand the potential results of each effort and manage your expectations behind them. If you have a strong strategic plan, marketing will quickly become as big a priority as keeping the lights on.

What are your thoughts?

@knealemann
Let's create experiences, not campaigns

image credit: dallasobserver.com

Don't Let Anything Stand In Your Way

At some point every day, I do something under the umbrella of “motivation”. That may be reading a few more pages of that book I’ve been trying to finish for months, listening to a podcast or read a blog, crank some music, or anything that gets the blood flowing in the right direction again.

Last week, I put on a podcast with Jack Canfield. In the interview, he is promoting his book The Success Principles.

There is some riveting stuff and great reminders here:

Turn your inner-critic in to an inner-coach
To often, we summarize a project or a meeting by what we did wrong or what we missed. That event is done, over, everyone else has moved on. The best idea is to decipher what went well and what you want to improve next time.

List what you want to accomplish in your life
This could include visiting the Sistine Chapel, writing a book, driving a race car, or starting your own company. None of us know how much time we will be granted, and nothing magical is going to help around the corner unless we create it.

Don’t share your dreams with negative people
How many times have you heard the phrase “that won’t work” or “that’s a dumb idea”? It may be true but if you feel in your gut that you have something worth pursuing, then pursue it alone or with people who share your vision. Life is too short to let others live it for you. Share your dreams with positive people or keep them to yourself until you can find them.

Drop out of the “ain’t it awful” club
We all know them - those among us who will find bad things with every idea or situation. There is some strange trait among us humans where we find comfort in knocking things down. Perhaps it’s laziness? Perhaps it’s fear?

Life is supposed to be fun
We are drowning in news about the economy these days. Get over it. It sucks. People are nervous and scared and cautious. This isn’t to suggest we take the “la la la, I can’t hear you” approach, but if we continue to wallow then we will get what we wish for – more wallowing.

Be a persistent. Be a visionary
If you surround yourself with positive people, stop sharing your dreams and ideas with negative people, and keep at it, exciting things will happen. Yes, easier said than done but it has been proven time and time again.

We can all waste more time preparing to discuss the preparation.

I am attending an event tomorrow night with Jeff Parks, Kristina Mausser, and Jay West. It’s a chance for us to share a little Holiday cheer but it is also a chance for us to discuss an adventurous idea we have been talking about.

Jeff has had an idea to change the Meet Up concept for years and has slowly surrounded himself with positive people who share the vision. There has been no shortage of naysayers but his idea has only gained strength.

On a personal note: 2009 will be the year where I realize a dream I have had for decades – to work with smart people on fun projects.

Do you think it will work?

km