Leadership Freak

MARCH 5, 2012

I never appreciated Steve Jobs’ quote, “I want to put a ding in the universe,” until I talked with Gary Hamel, Wall Street Journal’s #1 most influential business thinker. I asked Gary what leadership behaviors have the most impact on organizations. Gary took a swing at the reason we don’t put a ding in the [.].

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Hamel Organization Leadership Company 212

Leadership Freak

MARCH 3, 2012

Dogs enjoy jumping through hoops, people don’t. Sluggish organizations require employees to jump through hoops before they act. Hoops represent frigid control. Passion is inversely proportional to the number of hoops required. Hoops are roadblocks masquerading as protection. Why it matters: Fewer hoops fuel passion. Dynamic organizations eliminate controlling hoops and develop energizing stepping stones that propel [.].

Development 198

Development Organization Motivation Team 198

Leadership Freak

MARCH 9, 2012

Organizations and individuals remain stuck because they don’t understand and/or can’t endure the disorienting unbalance “new” always creates. Wise leaders understand prepare for, accept, and work through the pains of disequilibrium. Unbalance always precedes balance. From the garage: The tires on your car are balanced on spin balance machines. Technicians spin the tires and add [.].

Leadership 197

Leadership Organization Goal Motivation 197

Leadership Freak

MARCH 7, 2012

** Uncertainty invites participation. Exploring ideas, finding solutions, and innovation demand vigorous participation from all players. The best teams win when players bring their best. Your attitude secretly signals participants to open up and bring their “A” game or clam up and play it safe. Uncertain leaders create safe playing fields where everyone participates.

Uncertainty 194

Uncertainty Participative Innovation Power 194

Leadership Freak

MARCH 8, 2012

** “Organizations create visions of their future and spend a lot of time crafting mission statements. While employees rarely write down their personal mission statements, they do envision successful futures for themselves.” John M. Bernard, Business at the Speed of Now. John’s illustration points to the power of vision overlap. You don’t manipulate natural engagement, [.].

Mission Statement 193

Mission Statement Power Organization Succession 193

Leadership Freak

MARCH 6, 2012

I never met a leader worth their salt that wasn’t angry about something. Anger is easy to feel but hard to express, usefully. Occasionally, great leaders blow up. It’s recorded that Jesus flew into a public rage twice. The good side of anger is it gets things done in a hurry. Public anger: Gives permission [.].

Motivation 192

Motivation Leadership Development Development Leadership 192

Leadership Freak

MARCH 4, 2012

November 20, 2011 hangs in the misty past as one of life’s turning points. It’s the day I was life flighted to a regional trauma center after a severe car accident that nearly took my life. Three and a half months later, I’m doing very well. Specifically: My broken right hip is responding well to [.].

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