It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
LEADERSHIP QUOTES
We're exploring some great quotes that will help us in our lives and leadership. If you'd like to share your favorite with me, please post on the comments section of the Blog. You can read these past posts HERE.
The format for this season is the following:
#1) LEADERSHIP QUOTE: I'm going to share a quote with you. I'd like to encourage you to think about it, respond to it, process it. You can stop here, or go to Section 2.
#2) A LITTLE BIT DEEPER: I'm going to share a couple of thoughts that come to my mind when I think about the quote. Just a short reaction from me. You can stop here, or go to Section 3.
#3) DEEPER STILL: I'm going to share something I've found from someone else: A quote, some tips, a challenge, a thought....
#4) RUSS' LIST: I'll continue to share some links, ideas, books or products that I think some of you might benefit from.
Russ
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
"Leaders don't inflict pain, they share pain."
Max De Pree
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
Max De Pree served as the CEO of Herman Miller, Inc. and while his work at this profitable company was significant, his value and engagement with his employees and team members set him apart as a visionary leader.
He modeled early on a commitment to putting people first.
When I saw the quote above and other statements from his book, Leadership Is An Art, I resonated with that thought and found myself questioning some of my past leadership decisions.
I have inflicted pain on people in the past, but what I want to do is to be able to share their pain, and not be the source. What a leadership shift!
Leadership is difficult, and sometimes tough decisions need to be made, however putting people first, actually caring about them and what they're going through will go a long way in creating a culture of compassion.
Do you inflict pain on people that are working for you? Can you identify ways that you are sharing in their pain?
DEEPER STILL:
Here's another quote from De Pree:
"Leadership is liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible."
I'm challenged today, and here's my pray:
"Lord, help me to not only see the pain that people are going through, but give me wisdom to not only see them, but to join them in their pain."
I don't know what this looks like, but it starts with me not having all the right things to say. It continues with me not trying to fix or solve their issues, and it ends with me simply being present.
In a couple of weeks I have the huge honor of leading a celebration of life service for a friend that passed away. While I want to be there to encourage, to celebrate and to give hope, I also want to simply sit in the pain of grief, in the questions of not understanding, and in the cloudiness of any signs of hope that this family is experiencing.
I can do better at this. I want to put people in front of my goals, my plans and my projects, and that starts with me seeing them clearly and all that they're going through. What about you?
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
2 great books by Max De Pree: Leadership is an Art and Leadership Jazz
I really enjoyed this Apple Playlist: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Essentials. Many great songs here.
I enjoy listening to podcasts that talk about companies or leaders that I subscribe to. How I Built This did a great story on Paul English and the launch of the travel company, KAYAK
I really enjoyed this podcast as well from Harbor Ministries, SPACE episode 55. A great tool to remind me to pause, listen and breathe. 15 minutes that will make a difference in your life! Thanks Tim & Brian.
OK Paul, thanks for the tip! I purchased this travel pillow with a gift card I had from Amazon, and used it this past weekend on a flight. Best travel pillow experience I've had! Cabeau Evolution S3