Great Leaders Think and Act Like Great Communicators

In my first role at Walt Disney World, we had to learn a lot of lingo and codes: "Guests, Cast Members, On-Stage, Back-Stage, 101, 102, Signal 8". The choice of the lingo was designed to enhance and encourage our behavior, such as- thinking of visitors as guests we had invited into our homes... the codes were designed to communicate information that could disrupt or discourage our Guests- a 101 was a ride or attraction that was not operating.

Disney taught me to frame positive requests out of demands: "Sir, we'd like for you to finish your popcorn before you come inside."

There was a lot of communicating... to Guests, fellow Cast Members, Managers. We had weekly meetings that lasted about an hour. Efficient and yet pervasive communication.

Still, some of the most valuable communicating skills learned were

• the use of inclusive language- "we, our",

• listening without interrupting,

• asking questions to clarify and seek understanding.

Great Leaders are great communicators. We care about people. We know "HOW" we say something is often more important than what we say. We are students of people and communication. Think about a Leader in your own life who impacted you directly through communication. What was said or share? How was it delivered and received? Think about how constructive or positive that person was. Consider finding them this week and letting them know.

In one of our workshops, we hand out a compass to remind Leaders- "A Leader Always Knows Were We Are Headed (even IF it's only the next few steps). As followers of Christ we are to direct people to Him as the one Hope for our desperate world...and sometimes that means re-crafting or re-framing our words and listening with both our ears and our hearts.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."                       1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

A Leader's Heart Accepts Differences...

Last week, we said: "A Leader believes people are inherently good and want to do work that is good (accepting)" The use of the word accepting here is strategic in and of itself. When we accept a gift, it is received as a gift. Contrast that to building "tolerance" where it's as if we are enduring or putting up with something. When working with teams, one key strategy has always been to connect people to their purpose and each other. On one hand it's the six degrees of separation exercise... on the other it is purely aligned with first century Christianity- "Accept one another, then,  just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God". (Romans 15:7 NIV)

This leads accepting people and leading them to accept others. Most people when asked what they like most about work will answer "the people I work with". Yes, even though those same people get on our last nerve from time to time... Some will like specific tasks or the relational responsibilities of the role- either way, we as Leaders need to link the connections to build acceptance. As followers of Christ, we have been totally accepted. As Leaders, we have honor of growing people in their views of others, especially those who are different. Think about how the task people need the "people" people to interact with the customers... How the high speed people need the deliberate people to do their computer programming (and proof-reading)...

If we lean into people where they are, they are more willing to be led (or learn and grow) into an area where they are uncomfortable or unskilled. Think about someone who gave the gift of accepting to us along the way, leading us into the next step toward leadership and consider letting that person know the impact they had by believing and accepting...

Until next week, Pursue God...Lead Faithfully...Learn Continuously

LEADERS: BORN OR MADE...

Do we come hardwired for Leadership or are we crafted into it?

Probably a little of both... what I do know is that Leaders are pursuers:  Pursuers of excellence… pursuers of dreams… pursuers of people… pursuers of knowledge, whether born or made.

A leader is always looking for strategic insights that will shorten the learning curves and expedite the outcomes.

Leaders realize very early on that while they possess many competencies, at the end of the day- we are in the People business... and great Leaders become lifelong students of human behavior, communication and motivation. Great Leaders become energizers of people and teams.

Another thing- A leader cannot not lead.

Put a Leader in a group and they don't sit still or lay back for very long... Leaders lead.

There's something in a Leader that wants to make things Better, Faster, Smarter... something that wants to learn more and execute better than the others. It's a drive, almost a compulsion that keeps us going and because of that Leadership is the juice that keeps business and organizations moving forward.

There's a sense of purpose and responsibility. Maybe even a sense of Legacy, knowing that our work as a  Leader is to get things done through others and to prepare others to take the reins.

A a Leader, what do yo believe about your role? Take a second and jot down a few things that finish the sentence "A leader believes__________"

Here are just a few things a Leader believes- (We'll look at each one over the next few weeks)

• People are inherently good and want to do work that is good (accepting)

• In communicating well and often (communicator)

• In immersing themselves in lifelong learning (learner)

• In doing what they say they will (integrity)

• In building relationships, connected to a purpose (strategist)

• That people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care (investor)

There are of course, many other things a Leader is- that is the purpose of starting these Everyday Leadership conversations... exploring the strategies and tactics of great leadership.

One thought to leave you with today, from a well known ancient Chinese philosopher:

"When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves."

-Lao Tzu

What will our people say?

Until next week- Pursue God, Lead Faithfully, Learn Continuously.