Coach John Wooden won 10 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championships in his coaching career at UCLA. He is credited with the Wooden Pyramid of Success, his philosophy for developing a dynasty while developing young talent. His first lesson in leadership is Good Values Attract Good People and through my personal experience, I know this to be very true. For me, these words are not just a chapter title from a good book – they are words...
“I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me, and I didn't have the heart to let him down.” ~ Abraham Lincoln I had a professor, Dr. Ponder, who challenged me daily. Yes, he had exacting standards in the classroom, and he expected us all to know and execute what he taught. Dr. Ponder knew so much about his subject matter. He had worked in the industry as well as taught for many years....
In the realm of leadership, words are undoubtedly important at any level of the organization. They inspire, motivate, and guide teams towards their objectives. However, it's not just what leaders say that matters—it's what they do. Actions speak volumes, especially when they reflect the values they profess to uphold. Living your values will translate into your leadership style. When leaders consistently align their actions with their stated values, they foster an environment of trust and authenticity within...
Passion: a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doingsomething. Passion is the driving force behind remarkable achievements and fulfillment in the workplace.As Steve Jobs wisely said, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." Thissentiment echoes the belief that passion is not merely a desirable trait; it is the secret saucethat transforms routine tasks into extraordinary accomplishments. As Aristotle said, “Pleasurein the job puts perfection in the work.” Being...
"The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership." ~Harvey S. Firestone As a leader, growing and developing your front-line leaders is vital to you and your organization. Organizations now require leaders who not only have skills to do the work but bring with them the ability or the desire to learn how to teach the skill, give directions and lead the charge. And it all begins with communication. Communication is the cornerstone of leadership...
“The three most important ways to lead people are… by example, by example, by example.” ~ Albert Schweitzer Dr. Robert Khayat was the 15th Chancellor of Ole Miss. He was a strong leader who had a tremendous passion for excellence and caring for others. It was in Spring, 2000 when I walked the campus with him for the first time. I had heard the stories, so it came as no surprise to me that he was picking...
“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means.” ~Albert Einstein One of the foundations of leadership in any industry is modeling the behaviors you want to see more of in your organization. If you are in the service industry like me, then you know how important this principle is to the people who serve on the front lines. Frontline team members are often critically important to customer service and satisfaction....
A great leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. ~John Maxwell Once, I thought I was a really good leader. Then, unexpectedly I found myself having to layoff almost half of my department’s employees. That day, I decided to take control of my leadership skills, because knowing how to lead people keeps me and my staff working. It also keeps my customers happy. So, I tried being a better listener and...
The Atlanta Fulton County stadium, originally built in 1965, costing $18 million, took just under a year to build. And it took 27 seconds to bring it down with close to 1,250 pounds of dynamite and 350 pounds of charge. The explosives sent an estimated 140 million pounds of concrete and steel plummeting to the field the Atlanta Braves and Falcons once called home. The stadium was mighty in size and reputation, seating 60,000 people and...
Don't assume. One of the biggest mistakes I made was thinking our workforce thought of themselves as leaders. I assumed because I thought of everyone as leaders, so did they. When I ask our team to raise their hand if they felt like they were a leader, about half did and half did not. I needed to communicate more often and with greater clarity. Don’t blame your team. Once you blame others on your team, you lose...