New Rules for New Leaders

"Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has turned on the "fasten seat belt" sign. Please return to your seats immediately! Make sure that your tray tables are in the upright and locked position, and please return your seat backs to their full, upright position. Now brace yourselves: We're headed for some turbulent times!"

Leadership matters as never before

It's no longer business as usual during these times of great uncertainty and also great opportunity. We're seeing leadership emerge as the most important element of business -- the attribute that is highest in demand and shortest in supply.

25 life savers and time savers

1. Shoot for respect not popularity, you can get both.

2. Keep in mind proper planning prevents poor performance.

3. Make heroes of other and they will then make a hero of you.

4. Understand, it's not the job you're doing; it's how you do the job.

5. Realize your most valuable ability is the ability to recognize ability.

6. Don't sweat the small stuff; focus on what's really important --- results.

7. Get regular feedback --- without it we make up our own version of reality.

8. Pay attention to small details, the big ones are obvious and get taken care of.

9. Praise what deserves praise. "A job well one." That's music to people's ears.

10. Get others to commit to deadlines by asking, "When can you have that for me?"

11. Know that ideas without action are like being all dressed up with no place to go.

12. Realize that employees are your biggest asset. Even the Loner Ranger had Tonto.

13. Make a major decision from both the top of your head and the bottom of your heart.

14. Organize, deputize, then supervise. You are not the only one who can do a job right.

15. Celebrate success --- large and small. Employees, who have a good time together, work better together.

16. Be flexible and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Remember it is results that count, not activities.

17. Manage by exception. When things are going well, leave them alone. When a problem occurs, then get involved.

18. Take the mirror test. Make sure every morning the person you see in the mirror is the kind of person you want to be.

19. Use two powerful words "thank you" over and over. It's a morale booster that costs you nothing, but goes a long way.

20. Encourage a verbal suggestion box. Ask everyone to come to the next staff meeting with two improvement ideas.

21. Give people the benefit of the doubt. They may not be the cause of a problem. The cause may be beyond their control.

22. Don't shoot the messenger. When things go wrong, resist the urge to throw a temper tantrum, point fingers or assign blame.

23. Speak teamese. Replace the word "I" with "we". Extraordinary things are accomplished as a result of group efforts, not just individual efforts.

24. DWYSYWD. Do what you say you will do. A key law of leadership is, if you don't believe in the messenger, you won't believe the message.

25. Realize on size doesn't fit all. Some people like their eggs poached, or scrambled or soft-boiled. Others prefer deviled eggs, an omelet or a quiche. Not everyone is motivated by the same thing.

Finally remember, the words of Colin Powell, Former U.S. Sec of State:
"Leadership is not the private reserve of a few charismatic men and women. It is a process ordinary people use when they are bringing forth the best from themselves and others."

Here are resources to help you build powerful leaders and powerful organizations / have powerful leaders at all levels: Coaching 4 Results, Planning 4 Change, Speaking 4 Impact, W.O.W.W. Tools.

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