Leadership

by Tech Support | Jan 16, 2014 | Sales

On a Scale of 1-5, Rate Your Leadership Abilities

I’m confident that those of you who read our newsletter are high achievers. In most cases you supervise, manage, or lead a team.

With that in mind, I encourage you to read at least one leadership book this year…and if you don’t know which one to read then let me recommend:

John Maxwell’s
5 levels of leadership

I admire John Maxwell. If you don’t know who he is then today is a good day to do a simple search. One of his primary philosophies is “servant leadership”. That works in my brain because I have such a belief that we are all in service to each other.

At TrainerTainment, our job, our commitment, our orders of service are enmeshed in teaching others. Finding solutions and promoting others is the fastest and most rewarding path to success. When I started this company nearly nine years ago I could not have articulated why we do what we do as simply as I can now.

Keeping it simple is a gift. When it comes to leading others,John Maxwell gives a profoundly simple 5 step method of understanding who leaders are and how they are perceived. I think you should read the book but if you don’t have time, finish the newsletter and you’ll get the gist.

Step 1 – I do it (competence) Someone gets promoted because they are awesome at their job. This is the, “I’m the boss” step. Step 1 is a place that that leaders often get stuck. Because of the high level of competency it seems easier to just do the job rather than empower someone else.

Step 2 – I do it and you are with me (demonstration) There is real growth in this step. The leader begins to develop relationships with the team. Step 2 allows leaders to gain confidence in another. The team member also begins to develop.

Step 3 – You do it and I am with you (coaching) Now the team member understands that high performance is an expectation and the leader is with you. The leader is there for you. When your team gets it that you have their back, you count on them, and you trust that they can do the job at a high level, BIG things begin to happen.

Step 4 – You do it (empowerment)

Once great competency is achieved at level 4 then the growth can continue. The leader is now able to do so much more. When the team is empowered the leader can take the next step into the future.

Step 5 – You do it and someone is with you (reproduction)

If you own, manage, supervise or want to be in a leadership position, take this 5 step method to heart. It’s no fun to think you have to do all the work. A great leader is always trying to work themselves out of a job. Look at who you have today. Who do you really want to work with you?

I’m so excited by the simplicity of how to think of this process. I realize the doing it is more difficult than thinking about it.

I hope you take a minute today to consider where you are… what are you good at? What level are you operating at today, at this moment?

We would love to hear your stories on Facebook!

Start the New Year on a Kind Note

by Tech Support | Jan 6, 2014 | Sales

I was on a plane on my way to Dallas for our 2014 Planning Session recently and I decided to pick up the airline magazine for a quick peek before getting down to business. The magazine had asked readers the month before to share their answers to the question, “what’s the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?” I LOVE articles like this.  I love thinking about the nice that exists in the world and using these ideas to help me grow both personally and professionally.  My favorite response was from a couple who had been evacuating Houston during Hurricane Katrina. He and his family stopped at a coffee shop during their exhausting drive only to find it closed. They sat in the lot bemoaning their bad luck when the owner came out asked what he could get for them. When he came back, he gave them coffees for the adults and sodas and pastries for the kids. He wouldn’t even hear of taking a penny from the family. He wished them safe travels and went back inside the store. The writer said he and his wife sat in the car and cried for 20 minutes. Who would have thought such a small gesture could make such a big difference in the family’s day?

My personal ‘kind stranger’ story comes from when I was about 18 and newly living out on my own. I was poorer than poor and only had about $4.00 to put gas in my car to get home one night.  I carefully pumped down to the penny when a young guy at a nearby pump called out, “put $5 in there, I’ll give you the dollar.” I hesitated for a moment but then went ahead and did as he said.  Afterwards, he came over to me, pulled $10 out of his pocket, handed it to me, and wished me a good night. I stood there stunned for a moment before adding the additional gas, smiling the whole time. Such a small thing for someone to do, but I needed it and his kindness has stayed with me all these years.

These days it’s so easy to focus on the negative, and to work so hard keeping our heads above water that we forget about all the ‘nice’ that exists in the world. I would like to ask you, after you read this and before you get back down to business of planning your year, to take a moment to reflect on the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you.  We would love for you to share that with us on the blog or on Facebook and start the New Year off with a little kindness.

And while you’re at it, maybe do something nice for someone today. Imagine the difference a few thousand of us can make if we resolve to do something nice today. Or something nice every day. Now that’s a resolution every bit worth keeping.