LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“Great vision without great people is irrelevant." Jim Collins

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This is the last quote I'll share from Jim Collins.

This is tied mostly to this "Bus Theory" from Good to Great.

Collins shares: "First, get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats, and then figure out where to drive."

It's a concept I've used in many different ways over the years, and if just makes sense when it's simplified to "get the right people in the right seat on the right bus."

We need great people to help us pursue and fulfill our vision, and this is often one of the most difficult parts of being a leader:

• Who do I choose?

• How do I lead and manage them?

• What do I do when it's not working?

• How do I get them to leave on their own?

• Can I trust them? Do they trust me?

• I don't know why it's not working

Do any of those things sound familiar?

When I see Collin's words here, I'm reminded of the importance of finding the right people to come and join me in the vision I have before me.

How are you doing? Do you have the right people? Do you have ONE person? How do you do leading others?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“The difference between a good leader and a great leader is humility." Jim Collins

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I'm going to share 2 more quotes from Jim Collins.

Think about the quote above: What is humility in leadership?

While Jim Collins makes this statement, Jesus tells us exactly what it means. In Mathew 23 Jesus says:

"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty." (MSG)

"The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (ESV)

We all know people who are humble leaders. We're drawn to them, we learn from them, we follow them and we want to be like them.

Are you a humble leader? What does that look like in your life and leadership?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“Bad decisions made with good intentions are still bad decisions." Jim Collins

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I want to continue to share some quotes from Jim Collins. As I've followed him and read a number of his books, he has said some things either in his writing or in interviews that have challenged me in profound ways.

The quote above is one of those.

As a leader, isn't this one of our biggest challenges?

We want to serve people, lead our team, make an impact, be a catalyst for growth and drive growth and success, yet when you take that all away it just comes down to the decisions we make.

If you're like me, sometimes I can spend more time justifying a bad decision than actually making the decision.

This quote reminds me and challenges me to THINK before making any decision and to not rush the decision making process.

What do you do in your decision making process to ensure that it's a GOOD Decision?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“If you have more than three priorities, you don't have any." Jim Collins

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This month let's spend some time with Jim Collins. Collins has spent years researching what has made companies GREAT and many of us have been introduced to him through his book, Good to Great.

I remember reading this book back in 2001, and I remember trying to do everything that I read! After going through the book and the principles more slowly, I realized that there were cultural aspects to every organization, and they couldn't be FIXED quickly, but needed to be embedded into the fabric of the organization.

I'm going to take this month to explore more of Jim Collins, but we'll just scratch the surface.

His quote above defines much of what he presents in his research. Organizations that last know what they need to do and they do it. Pretty basic right?

When I saw this quote last week, I was reminded that if I'm going to last long-term, it's not a quick fix, but a slow and steady race.

When you read Collins' quote above, what does that stir in you?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“Servant leadership is all about making the goals clear and then rolling your sleeves up and doing whatever it takes to help people win. In that situation, they don't work for you, you work for them." Ken Blanchard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This is the last of Ken Blanchards quotes that I'll share this month, but I encourage you to read some of his work. It's filled with valuable help for everyone in any kind of leadership!

Servant Leadership can be defined as: "A leadership philosophy built on the belief that the most effective leaders strive to serve others, rather than accrue power or take control."

That's one of the technical definitions, but Blanchard said it much simpler: "...rolling your sleeves up and doing whatever it takes to help people win."

Others First. That's Servant Leadership.

And then, did you see his last comment? "...they don't work for you, you work for them." Talk about a paradigm shift! My job as a leader is to serve those that I'm leading. That's it.

Blanchard teaches so much about Servant Leadership. What does this mean to you? How do you live this out in your leadership?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“None of us is as smart as all of us." Ken Blanchard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I'm sharing 2 more of Ken Blanchards quotes this month, and I coudn't ignore this classic.

He says this so simply, but the meaning is profound:

We are better when we are connected to others and each bring our own gifts, strengths, talents, experience and passion to the table.

The multiplier on this can't really be measured.

We're better TOGETHER than on our OWN.

The wisdom from Ecclesiastes 4 backs up Blanchards quote:

"It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, but if there's no one to help, tough! Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped." (MSG)

Do you have people that come around you that make you better? Are you trying to figure things out on your own?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“Feedback is the breakfast of champions."Ken Blanchard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I'm sharing a few of Ken Blanchards quotes this month, and when I saw the quote above, it jumped off the page at me.

We all value feedback. It might scare us a little bit, but we want to know how people are going to respond to something we said or did.

It's just natural.

When I finish speaking, teaching or training, I often will look to my wife for some quick feedback. It might be a simple praise, it might be a question, or it might just be a squeeze of my hand. I want that feedback. I need that feedback.

Think of the people around you, especially those that you lead: Are you giving them feedback? Are you proactively letting them know how they're doing, how they're performing, or something you saw in them?

The reality is that most of us are so desperate for feedback that we don't even care if it's negative or positive, we just want to know that someone is there!

Think about the way you offer feedback to those around you. Are you consistent? Are you proactive? Are you honest? Are you communicating well? Think about what you value when it comes to feedback then offer that to those who are with you.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“The best minute I spend is the one I invest in people."Ken Blanchard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson wrote the short book, The One Minute Manager in 1982 and it went on to become a best seller.

The premise is simple:

To be an effective manager, you need to create with each employee:

• One Minute Goals

Clarity about what you're working on

• One Minute Praisings

Affirm, encourage, praise and celebrate

• One Minute Redirects or Reprimands

Correct, critique and hold people accountable

Blanchard has written many books on management and leadership, but he always comes back to that idea of a "leadership investment", which is where this quote comes from.

Spending a minute investing in someones life and leadership is a great way to spend your time and use your influence.

How are you doing in this area?

• Do you choose TASKS over PEOPLE?

• Do you position and make yourself AVAILABLE to others?

• Do you see people as a BURDEN or as a VALUE?

This week, why don't you INVEST in some people by simply spending time with them: Take initiative, listen to them, be approachable.