Leaders Are Readers

"Leaders are Readers" I don’t remember where or when I heard that statement. But I was very impressed and I believe it is mostly true. I say mostly because it does depend on what you read. I don’t think it was intended to mean leaders are people who read celebrity gossip. You know what I mean.

Today, while waiting for my office appointment I picked up a magazine to read. It was a financial magazine, of course. The magazine featured some of the best Financial Advisors in the Los Angeles area. These are professional people who are very successful and who do well for the clients. Each advisor was asked a few questions including what is the minimum investment amount required for new clients. I was immediately disqualified by their answers. Maybe you can qualify.

Nevertheless, I was intrigued with one other question asked of these advisors. The question was – What book are you now reading? That was it and I was fascinated to read their responses. Unfortunately I can’t recall all the names of the books they are reading. What I can tell you is they are reading books that were written to inspire and educate. Can you imagine? These are already successful people and they are feeding their minds with new ideas and helpful information. So there you have it. Leaders are indeed readers.

Here’s my question to you (Rhetorically). What book are you now reading? Let me suggest a couple for you. Both are very easy to read. "Go-Givers" and "Go-Givers Sell More"

No Standing Still

Spring is here! If you have been paying attention then you and your business are ready to bloom. It does not happen by accident. Of course, this you already know. It will happen because you were steadfast in your effort to create the results you want. Congratulations!

What next?

Stay tuned in. Review your goals and the actions you have taken up to this point. Be sure to tweak where needed. This is not time to rest. You are hopefully in momentum. That means you gave enough of a push to get your rocket off the launching pad. Keep an eye on your instrument panel. It will help you steer beyond the unexpected and any dangers. After all, you are now exploring a new world -- a world that is full of the unknown.

Strangely enough, the biggest unknown for most people is themselves. We typically look outside ourselves to determine what we should do next. My early reference to the instrument panel is about eyeing what’s inside of you. I am sure you understand. We must continue to develop ourselves. I heard it said that “we are either growing or we are dying.” There is no standing still. Which direction are you going?

You’re The Leader…. Or Are You?

Okay, you have a team or a group of people who work with or for you. Seems to me you either have an opportunity and/or a responsibility to be the leader. You decide which is more important to you. Personally I see it as an opportunity. But what’s really important is how you show up - If you show up at all. My point is you cannot lead if you are absent – perceived or real.

You may have a committed group of people who are very good at what they do, but they still depend on your presence. Think about it. What happens to a group that has no true leader?

The answer: A leader will emerge or the group members will seek new directions or new alliances. The result can be a fractured organization or team. That can have a negative effect on your organization’s overall productivity and profitability.

When I talk about presence, I am not necessarily talking about being physically present. That is not always possible. But what I am talking about is being in touch, consistent, reliable and forward thinking. If you are not doing these things at the very least, are you really a leader?

People are only followers if there is someone who leads. Imagine That!!

Our Human Capital

Times are tough. Everyone around you feels it. As the leader of a team or organization you need to be aware how these tough times affect your employees. This is especially true when it comes to their ability to perform on the job. You don’t want to ignore the concerns of your human capital. Now is not a time for guessing. There is much at stake - namely, the future of your business.

So, how can you learn what’s going on with your employees? The obvious answer is to ask. But you need to be prepared to offer a meaningful response. The message you deliver needs to be clear, relevant and truthful. You may not have all the answers but you are among other human beings. It is the common thread. The message you give needs to say “we are in this together.” These times will not last forever. Nothing ever does.

After setting the table, you will be better able to address areas for performance improvement. Here you can introduce the idea of subjective performance development assessments. This means you can help your employees to assess themselves to discover what and where support will be most helpful on the job. Remember “we are in this together.” Keep that intention in mind. You’ll be able to receive more cooperation and collaboration. And, the bottom line…, well let’s say it will be impacted. Imagine that!!

Being in the Dark

I am going to go out on a limb and make a guess that you enjoy the work you do. I certainly hope this is true. But I imagine there are times when you feel a little challenged doing all the things you must do to achieve a desired outcome. You are not alone.

Some of our days are better than others. You have a task and you get it down. But what about the other days…what could be going on? That is a question you may ask yourself. If fact, it is one of many questions you ask yourself each day and every time you do work. They are the same type of questions the people you work with ask themselves. If you are the boss, you may even be asking questions about your people. A question like – How can I get my people to be more productive?

The answer to many of your questions can be revealed with the Change Works System. Trust me, I know ignorance may be bliss, but it can also be costly. Can you afford it? Can your organization afford it?