Leaders Change the Climate (Ep. 31)

Episode 31: Leaders Change the Climate

 

“If given a choice between taking over for a good or bad outfit, I will choose the bad outfit every time. They will have nowhere to go but up.” Hal Moore

 

1. Leaders Don’t Wait for Permission

In the context of changing the climate of an organization, or team, the leader never waits for permission to do so.  

Leaders have to have a kind of self-confidence. They are looking for ways to push the team to higher limits, and risk breaking something in the process. 

When you look for somebody who is permission driven, you are going to find a person that ends up saying “NO” to some of the greatest ideas that could potentially change the direction of the team.

“It is easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.” In the context of leadership, this is actually a good trait to have.

If everybody already knew where they were going and how to get there, there would be no need for you. 

 

2. Leaders Don’t Put Themselves First

BOOK: Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek 

“Officers Eat Last” is a phrase used by the U.S. Marines that effectively means servant leadership. 

"The buck stops here" - a phrase that was popularized by U.S. President Harry S. Truman, refers to the notion that the President has to make the decisions and accept the ultimate responsibility for those decisions.

“Leaders eat last” and “the buck stops here” are two parts of the same principle, which is the responsibility of the leader. 

QUESTION: Are you making sure the people you lead have the things they need (time, resources, etc.) to get the job done?

Being a leader means serving more than others, and out-serving your people no matter what.

BOOK: Dare to Serve, Cheryl Bachelder 

 

3. Leaders Don’t Take Others for Granted

You have to get very familiar with, and live out the phrase “got your back.”  You always have to be looking out for your people.  

If you find yourself in a position where you are wondering why nobody has your back, the answer is, because you never truly had theirs.

If you want to climb in leadership, the higher you climb, the more you have to focus on others. 

Just because you are in the position, does not mean that you are a leader.  Positional leadership is the lowest form of leadership. 

BOOK: The 5 Levels of Leadership, John Maxwell

When you are brought on by a company, or put in place by an organization, there is an informal process that each leader undergoes.  Within the first several weeks, your people are going to judge you and decide whether or not you are worthy to be trusted, and worthy to be followed.  

You have to prove yourself by the way that you look, act, and make decisions.  You have to have all three.  

It’s not enough to keep the ship going, you have to make it better, faster, and more impactful. 

 

MO’s Final Thoughts

• Your least busy day on the job will be your first day.  
• You have to notice things that others do not, and you have to stay longer and later than anybody else on your team.  
• To get results, you have to put in the time.  
• Take initiative, and support your team and change the climate.  

Trust is never further away than the time you are willing to put into it.  Take the time to build relationships, and put in the hard work. 

 

Amazon Book Links:

Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek - https://amzn.to/36Nes7Q 

Dare to Serve, Cheryl Bacheldor - https://amzn.to/3oRfmpR 

The 5 Levels of Leadership, John Maxwell - https://amzn.to/2YMuoTs 

 

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