Leadership Journey - Global Summit

I recently attended a powerpacked Global Leadership summit. It was both refreshing and rewarding experience.

Refreshing because you soon find out leaders all over have the same struggles, challenges and shortcomings. Rewarding because you realize that despite all these, the leadership journey never stops.

"Leadership is a journey, not a destination." remarked one anonymous cliche.

Thoughts?

Leadership - More Coach K Quote

I just can't help but quote some of Mike's words of wisdom as we explore leadership.


1. "Everybody wants to take responsibility when you win, but when you fail, all these fingers are pointing."

2. "I always won in my imagination. I always hit the game-winning shot, or I hit the free throw. Or if I missed, there was a lane violation, and I was given another one. "

3. " I have a rule on my team: when we talk to one another, we look each other right in the eye, because I think it's tough to lie to somebody. You give respect to somebody. "

4. " Imagination has a great deal to do with winning. "

5. " In high school, in sport, I had a coach who told me I was much better than I thought I was, and would make me do more in a positive sense. He was the first person who taught me not to be afraid of failure. "

6. " The life expectancy of a team is about eight months. Then the next year, it's a whole new team. "

7. " The thing I loved the most - and still love the most about teaching - is that you can connect with an individual or a group, and see that individual or group exceed their limits. "

8. "The truth is that many people set rules to keep from making decisions. "

9. " The person who has inspired me my whole life is my Mom, because she taught me commitment. She sacrificed. "

10. " To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless. "

MIKE KRZYZEWSKI and Leadership

I must admit. I am a basketball nut. And what better way to unleash this passion that to share you my recollection from MIKE KRZYZEWSKI - the winningest coach in America today.

What his recent accomplishment? Well, he just happen to be the coach of the 2008 Redeem team of USA basketball who won GOLD for the USA.

Here are some thought-provoking and wisdom-laden principles from Coach K!

1. ADJUST! - Yes. If you are coaching, adjust your style based on 'current situations, players and conditions'. Some leadership or business books label this as situational leadership.

2. MOTIVATE! The 4 most important WORDS according to him are - "I BELIEVE IN YOU".

3. DISCIPLINE and Trust: without which any team can falter. Like the proverbial cliche, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going!

And I would end by sharing this quote from Mike "A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That's how I want you to play. ".

Thoughts?

Art of Selling for Leaders

Great leaders are great salesmen!

What?? I can hear you exclaiming in disbelief! Yes. You heard me. And you would have probably dismissed this entry in the process. But hold on. I believe this is the case. Let me prove to you why by summarizing the 5 proven selling methods I heard one speaker said:

Great salesmen are loaded with:

1. A winning selling STRATEGY: Doing your homework etc.
2. CONNECTION and RAPPORT: Specially client/audience emotions. Likeability factor.
3. LISTENING SKILLS: Others focused. Them not I.
4. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Ability to improve current condition.
5. CLOSING and EXIT: Follow up and legacy build up.

Observe how our modern leaders behave, from the eco-political to the socio-religious, Gandhi, Mandela to JFK to Graham. They behave such that their lives are a living sacrifice. Specifically by selling the idea that what they stood for was worth dying for and as such made personal sacrifices in achieving that goal.

Second, their words and actions were consistent. Lastly, they were gifted with charisma and plenty of persuasion skills. To the point they can stir up emotions of their followers and elicit almost blind obedience.

Do you agree? Thoughts please..

Abandoned

"Where were you when I needed you most?".! Exclaimed my youngest boy to his mother.
Half frustrated and half scared, it was another jaw dropping, chin punching one liner from my boy!

On reflection, his remarks hit a raw nerve. Somehow this demonstrates what most of us feel when we are abandoned by our leaders, superiors, parents or even people we highly respect.

Have you felt abandoned before? On recollection, have you recovered?