We continue on today with more tidbits of wisdom from each of the articles in the 2012 International Leadership Blogathon. This is meant to allow you quickly read some of the best parts.
As always though, reading the whole articles are is the best way to enhance your learning of leadership from the blogathon.
Article 13 – Sandro Da Silva from The Netherlands
Leadership: Do You Practice What You Preach?
“…influence is crucial in gaining your team’s willingness to coordinate their efforts towards organizational goals.”
“These days, your team has read the same books you’ve read (or even more!). Information has become more accessible, and workers more independent and emancipated. They know the “tricks” and don’t fall for them anymore.”
“Core Values are, in our ever changing and demanding times, a constant which you can use to guide you in your behavior, your choices and your decisions.”
“Core Values are the laws that rule every employee in the company, from the receptionist to the C-level executive…”
“Core Values are not something you set and achieve, they are something you practice.”
Article 14 – David Hain from The U.K.
Lessons on Leadership and Life from a Football Match
{Comment by Todd Nielsen} This is a great, heartfelt article that deserves a full read to take in the lessons. David wrote about 7 lessons about life and leadership. Click the link above to read the full article. It is worth the time. The lessons are:
- When you win, do it with class
- You can lose, and still win
- The team is the most powerful vehicle that we have as human beings
- We all need role models
- Moments of small, quiet heroism happen all the time
- It won’t take the recession to end to give people back their pride
- Disaster, like triumph, is an opportunity if we chose to see it that way
Article 15 – Kamal Hassan from The United Arab Emirates
Leading from the Driver’s Seat
“…it can be helpful to learn from the past, but this should not be the extent of an organization’s learning and planning efforts.”
“As the organizational leader, you are in the driver’s seat. You can think of everyone else in the organization as the vehicle that gets you there, but without your direction they won’t know where to go, how fast or when to change course.”
” …it is only by looking forward, sometimes far ahead, will they see not only obstacles but also opportunities that can lead to new value creation and innovation.”
“This ability to look forward and see opportunities is the process of strategic foresight.”
“Strategic foresight helps you identify the global drivers and industry trends that are driving change, as well as how customer behavior is changing.”
Article 16 – Sharon Malouf from The USA
Leadership Around the World Using Positive Power and Influence
“A leader needs to do two things: build or maintain relationships, and get things done.”
“Positive influence is about being genuine and authentic which builds trust, hence relationships.”
“…trust is built when [a] leader is consistent and therefore reliable.”
“…with each ascending role …internal relationships are critical in order to get things done.”
“Understanding that each person is a unique personality requires you to be flexible in your use of appropriate influence styles, which is critical to your success in building solid relationships.”
“Leaders have to stop focusing entirely on their own agenda and understand what matters to their direct reports regardless of culture.”
Article 17 – Kai Roer from Norway
Reflection as a Leaders Tool
“There are not many …that call themselves a leader, who do not agree that we need to focus more on retrospection and reflection.”
{Comment by Todd Nielsen} – Kai’s article is another in which the parts make more sense when read as a whole. He wonderfully talks about 3 aspects of reflection. Something that all leaders should do to improve their lives and companies. These aspects are: Time, Topic, & Impact. I highly recommend you click the link above and read the article in its entirety.
“By relearning how to use your reflecting skills as a tool in your leaders toolbox, you can increase your ability to see possible challenges early, and seek alternative solutions before you are forced into a corner.”
Article 18 – Dave Bradley from The U.K.
Leadership is About Achieving Results (Which are Beyond the Ordinary!)
“Leadership is about outcomes, not behaviors.”
“Leadership is a system that enables an organisation to achieve results beyond the ordinary.”
“Good managers are not necessarily going to be leaders.”
“Leadership should not be confused with Headship.”
“Leaders will have an unequivocal source of inspiration that underpins their actions.”
“Leaders have clarity of purpose that drives them to find ways of achieving results that are out of the ordinary.”
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Each of these writers would love to hear your comments and connect with you. You can do so on each of the pages above. Please share below any additional nuggets of wisdom that I might have overlooked.
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