Words for Leaders

"Don't ever be afraid to admit you were wrong. It's like saying you're wiser today than you were yesterday.--Robert Newell

No one, not even the best manager, is right 100% of the time. Trying to cover your mistakes, or worst, blaming them on someone else is the fastest way to lose the respect of your team as well as your credibility.

Make A Difference

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for Leaders

S.L.A. Marshall interviewed thousands of allied troops immediately after some of the largest battles of WWII. He produced one of the most comprehensive studies of leadership ever produced. Here is one of his conclusions:

"The art of leadership is the art of dealing with humanity, of working diligently on behalf of men, of being sympathetic with them, but equally, of insisting that they make a square facing toward their own problems."

This describes one of the keys of leadership--to hold people accountable for doing the job.

Make A Difference

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for leaders

"A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking." Harold Fricklestein

As leaders it is important that we don't pass judgement on anything until we've reviewed all of the available facts. If something goes wrong, we need to look at the facts before placing blame. I was working with a manager who was ranting and raving about our production department because they had "screwed up an ad." and he was going to give them a piece of his mind. I suggested we get the details first and upon examination found that his rep had submitted the wrong ad. Had he acted on his initial conclusion. This would have done irreparable harm to his relationship with the other department impacting the level ofsupport his team would receive in the future. Follow Davy Crockett's philosophy of life--Be sure your right then go ahead.

Make A Difference.

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for leaders

Theodore Roosevelt was one of the great leaders in American History. He lead the US to a place of world dominance in the early 20th century. Here is the cornerstone of his leadership philosophy:

"Example is the most potent of all things"

During the Spanish American War the Roosevelt's rough riders were pinned done by murderous rifle fire. When Roosevelt decided to take the hill held by the entrenched Spanish he did not order them forward, he led them. He not only took the lead in the advance up the hill but he went on horseback. As the only man on a horse he made himself a prominent target. He did this to encourage his men by showing them that he was not afraid. Throughout his career, Roosevelt made sure his image and actions were in perfect alignment with his words. You may not have to take a hill under fire, but you can show your people that you are willing to work hard and not let stress or negativity get to you.

Make A Difference

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for Leaders

"Leadership is an invisible strand as mysterious as it is powerful. It pulls and it bonds. The most precious and intangible quality of leadership is trust." IBM Publications

As managers and leaders it is vital that we consistent and honest with our teams. These are the building blocks of trust. Without trust your team can not function efficiently or smoothly. Trust must be built one interaction at a time. Before taking any action, take a moment to consider what effect it will have on the bond of trust between you and your team.

Make A Difference.

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for Leaders

Over the last 30 plus years I've read a lot of business books. Most I read and discard, but there are a handful of books that I have read and reread and frequently recommend and refer to. One of these books is "Up the Organization" by Robert Townsend. He offered some very interesting insights into both organizational and personal psychology. Here's a quote from Townsend that I like:

"If you don't do it excellently, don't do it at all. Because if it's not excellent, it won't be profitable or fun, and if you're not in business for fun or profit, what the hell are you doing there?"

This is a good question to ask yourself and your people. Excellence is simply holding yourself and your team to a higher standard.

Make a difference!

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for Leaders

Just to show I don't hold a grudge, here's a British quote in honor of
Independence Day:

"Leadership is about saying no, not yes. Saying yes is easy"
Tony Blair

As a leader we often have to tell people things they don't want to hear. Leaders have to stay focused on what is best for the group. They have to set limits and do what is best in the long run. Anyone can say yes every time, it takes a leader to say no when it is the right thing to say.

Make a difference.

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for Leaders

Here is a quote from Positioning by Al Ries and Jack Trout. This is a must read for anyone in the advertising business. This is quote is particularly pertinent to the art of management.

"What's called luck is usually an outgrowth of successful communication."

As managers and leaders we need to be constantly communicating our vision and intent to our teams. Unless you are able to recruit mind readers this is the only way you will accomplish your goals. Continually confirming that your team "gets it" is an important part of being an effective leader.

Make A Difference

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for Leaders

"Catch people doing something right"

This phrase, made popular by management guru Tom Peters, describes the attitude of a good leader. If you only notice your people when they are doing something wrong, after a while they will tune you out. You will be pegged as a constant complainer. You should always strive for a 3:1 ratio, making 3 positive comments for each negative one. In practice I far exceed this count. If people hear good things from you, they will pay close attention to your words.

Make A Difference

Thanks for reading, Jim Busch

Words for leaders

This is the motto of the United States Navy Construction Battalions the "Seabees":

"The difficult we do right away, the impossible takes a little longer."

I like this quote because of the attitude it promotes. It is up to us as managers to set the pace of the organization. We should always here a clock ticking in the back of our heads. We should always want to "get on with it" no matter how challenging the task before us. During WWII the Seabees built airstrips in record time in the middle of a jungle while under heavy attack. This makes getting a project done on deadline look pretty easy.

Make A Difference

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for Leaders

Here's some good advice from "25 Management Lessons From the Customer's Side of the Counter" by James H. Donnelly, Jr.

"Management and leadership are exercised outside the office, not inside the office."

I am a huge fan of Errol Flynn movies. These idealistic films portray the world as it should be, rather than how it is. There is a line from "They died with their boots on" that I love. As his regiment is about to go into battle Flynn's character is asked "Where will the General's headquarters be located sir?" to which Flynn replies "At the head of the attacking column!" Take Errol's advice, the best way to know what is going on and what your people need is to place yourself in the middle of the action.

Make A Difference

Thanks Jim Busch

Words for leaders

One of the best books on time management is Alan Lakein's "How to get control of your time and your life." Here is one of my favorite quotes from this outstanding work.

"Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now"

This quote expresses why I believe one of the most important activities of a manager is planning.

Make A Difference

Thanks Jim Busch

Leadership Thoughts

One of the first books I read after becoming a manger was "Managing" by Hal Geneen. Geneen was the chairman of the board of ITT. Each chapter started with a quote from Geneen. My favorite was:

"Managers Must Manage"

This might seem too simple to be worth remembering, but think about this statement. no matter what happens, bad economy, new competition whatever, we must manage. There is no sense complaining r offering excuses, we just need to get it done. We must manage!

Keep Smiling, Keep Leading!

Thanks Jim Busch

Leadership Thoughts

The older I get and the longer I am in business, the more I realize that how people feel is far more important than how they think. If you want to persuade people, you must engage their emotions. This is not a new idea as evidenced by this week's quote from President Theodore Roosevelt:

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

As leaders we must always consider the emotional as well as the economic consequences of everything we do.

Keep Smiling, Keep Leading!

Thanks Jim Busch

Leadership Thoughts

Those of you who know me know that I am a lover of words. To me, the power of words to carry an idea or a thought from one mind to another completely unimpeded by time or distance is pure magic. I especially love pithy quotations that speak great truths in a line or two. This is why I use quotes so freely in my writings and training sessions--I like to borrow ideas that emanate from much better brains than the one that calls my skull home. Each week I will share a quote with you that I fell has something to offer managers and leaders.

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."--John Quincy Adams

Keep smiling. Keep Leading!

Thanks Jim Busch