The Power of Delay
I love it when an event happens that gives me a great inspiration for blogging! Yesterday my flight home from Fort Lauderdale, Florida was delayed because of a sensor problem. Really, it turned in to more than a delay. Let me start with this, however, ATA handled the situation perfectly and were great! We were deplaned because it was going to take 45 minutes to do the repair and they had to shut everything off on the plane and they were afraid we would get to hot (it was 85 degrees out and today I am back home to ice and closed my school today!).
Then they had us get back on the plane, only to find out we were to get our luggage and get off the plane because they did not have the needed part to make the repair. Now, let me make this perfectly clear – I am happy to have my day interrupted for a delay of this nature! I am not ready to die yet, so I want everything possible done to avert a plane crash!
Let me tell you this caused quite a stir. The old man across the aisle from me yelled, and I quote, “This is f#@%in’ bulls#$t, ATA can’t get their act together!” I’m not sure what he was talking about because, again, I want to be safe. Also, I thought it was genius to put us back on the plane to get our carry-on baggage in an organized fashion. Now, I fly ATA to Florida twice a month and think they have their act together.
Anyway, as a guy who views every challenge as an opportunity I had fun with this whole ordeal by saying things like, “I’m cool with this because I think this plane crashing would cause a greater inconvenience to my evening than the delay.” Even though I am positive there are probably some out there who would have been cool with me going down with the plane.
Of course the guy on the aisle next to me said, “Obviously you have nothing going on, but I need to get home for a dinner with friends tonight.” I thought, “REALLY!” I have to change two interviews I had scheduled for the evening, I won’t get to go to our basketball team’s last game, or pick my son up from school!” NOPE, I’ve got nothing going on. BUT, I didn’t say anything!
In these situations I am reminded what an awesome God I serve. He could change or keep anything from happening, but he chooses to let life happen. This truly shows the extent of his power. Anyone else would want to take control, then there would be no need for faith.
Anyway, in continuing to make the best of the situation when we finally got to board our new plane that would take us all home, I began to visit with the flight attendant. She shared how bad everyone was treating her. I said, “It’s out of your control, but let’s have some fun!” Because I always pick the next to last row to sit, I said, “I’ll help you get the back rows in a good mood.”
People got on the plane, some complaining, and I told our back rows, “I have arranged for you all to get free drinks.” Of course I really did not need to arrange for that because the flight attendant can do this if there is a mechanical delay, but they did not know that – AND, of course the flight attendant took care of this! Needless to say, my new friends had a stress free flight home!
Here’s the best part of the story, though. I made a comment that I really didn’t even think about whether anybody even heard, or least of which paid attention to. Here’s what I said: “You know folks, here’s the deal: there will be a reason for each one of us as to why this plane was delayed for two and a half hours. It will be different for each one of us and we may never know the reason, there will be a reason!”
So, here’s the reason why it was delayed form me (I think): As I was leaving the airport the woman sitting in the row behind me approached me and told me she needed to tell me something. I thought, “Great, this woman’s going to tell me how annoying I was.” Because, really I was. No, not the case, however! She said, “I just want you to know that ‘YOU’ were the reason the plane was delayed for me.” She went on to say, “I always get very upset in these situations and you taught and modeled for me how to find the opportunity in the challenge and not worry about the things I cannot control.” She also saw that I had given the flight attendant an “I’m REMARKABLE” bracelet and told her how well she had handled the situation. I thanked her and also gave her an “I’m REMARKABLE” bracelet and explained that the bracelets are from my good friend Kevin Eikenberry of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. I told her that both he and I believe every person is REMARKABLE and must remember this every day and find ways to improve our own lives, and more importantly, the lives of those around us. This is my mission as a servant leader.
I bid the woman goodbye by telling her it was obvious that “SHE” was the reason the plane was delayed for me!
I wrote last year about traveling like Flat Stanley (click here to read the post). We must remember to travel like Flat Stanley and enjoy every moment, whatever happens!
Don’t forget- View every challenge, obstacle, or delay as an opportunity! And, always remember the words of my friend Kevin Eikenberry: “YOU ARE REMARKABLE”
President’s Day Rushmorean Leadership
All of us have either seen or at least seen pictures of the famous sculpture done between October 4, 1927, and October 31, 1941 by Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers. They sculpted the colossal 60 foot (18 m) high carvings of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to represent the first 150 years of American history. These presidents were selected by Borglum because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory.
Although faced with different challenges and employing different styles, they all had certain values that they never compromised or lost sight of-such as integrity, trust and respect for followers. They exemplify values-based leadership.
Here’s why I believe they were great choices:
George Washington
Washington was a skillful visionary leader. This type of leader is an expert in designing and creating an organizational culture which will make possible the attainment of the leader’s vision and ideas.
As a visionary leader Washington had a vision into the far future, could develop an effective organization and attracted others to strive for the attainment of his vision so that it became a shared vision and they all worked together in an organization that sustained the vision, its beliefs and its values.
Thomas Jefferson
I believe Jefferson was chosen for his role in authoring the Declaration of Independence, which today some might call an “action statement:” In that declaration Jefferson set out the long-term aspirations of a new nation, and in asserting a natural right to happiness Jefferson meant that all individuals are entitled to make all they can of their lives.
Additionally, with his vision for public education, he understood that all individuals need to learn about democracy. As the father of public education, he set up the avenue by which all young people can become all they can be! As an educational leader I believe it is crucial to be a steward of what Jefferson started!
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt is recognized as a transformational leader. He defined numerous aspects of leadership that we now take for granted in the presidency as well as in private life. His inspirational vision about the economy, industry, environmental protection, and the National Parks system is still influencing our great country to this day. He had a remarkable ability to communicate his vision, not only through his well-crafted words, but even more through his indelible example. Roosevelt’s well-publicized, courageous exploits in Cuba in the brief but deadly Spanish-American War of 1898—the fateful days he viewed as the linchpin of his life—are perhaps the most apt symbol of his leadership. Roosevelt, mounted on horseback in front of his troops, showed the way—asking others to “come” rather than saying “go” in the words of his friend Henry Cabot Lodge—putting himself at risk, making himself accountable, giving more of himself than he would ask of others. I have always said that we must walk arm in arm with others, even pulling them along at times, instead of pushing!
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln created a true learning organization where those in his administration were free to disagree without fear of retaliation. At the same time, he knew when to stop the discussion and after listening to the various opinions, make a final decision.
When there was success, Lincoln shared the credit with all of those involved. Conversely, when there was failure, Lincoln took all the blame. Lincoln did not fear failure and created an environment where those around could take risks and make decisions without risk or worry of failure.
Finally, the most important thing we can learn from these Presidents is: you don’t have to become someone else or become like someone else to be a leader, you have to just become yourself. Go be the leader you are!
Exodus 14 Leadership
You all have probably read the story of Exodus 14 where God directs the Israelites to Pihahiroth where they camp beside the Red Sea and Pharaoh pursues after them (Exodus 14: 1-9) Then the Israelites look back and their faith in moving forward wavered and Moses comforts them (Exodus 14: 10-14). God then instructs Moses to look forward and instruct the people that he will fight the fight for them. Also, the cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians (Exodus 14: 15-20) The Israelites pass through the Red Sea, which drowns the Egyptians. God reminds the Israelites there is no enemy that can defeat them as long as He is on their side (Exodus 14: 21-31).
This is such an incredible story on leadership. You may remember that Moses’ leadership got the people out of Egypt. But when the hardships of leading the people through a desert got tough the people began complaining and looking back to and yearning for the life they came from, even though it was a life of slavery. This challenged Moses to his limit. Moses, you remember, was familiar with life in the desert; he had been a shepherd in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years when he served his father-in-law, Jethro. But the people of Israel were used to an agrarian life in the well-watered Nile delta. The desert was new and terrifying to them.
Does this sound familiar, that we as leaders, must lead through events and processes that they are not comfortable with. Even with the Red Sea blocking them from safety, Moses kept looking forward and sought God’s help. If you read the passage you will notice what Moses did. He seeks the Lord, literally, he “cried out” to the Lord. As a leader we most times see ourselves as problem-solvers rather than pray-ers. We need to learn from Moses who called on God and God gave him the solution. Wow, makes sense doesn’t it.
Moses, as a leader, was dealing with complaining, quarreling, and fractious people who began to question Moses’ leadership abilities. While leading the Israelites Moses met many challenges, but perhaps the greater leadership crisis is the kind of rebellion that surfaces when people are afraid or frustrated. Does this sound familiar in your organization?
We must remember to lead like Moses and continuing to move forward and not look back and second guess our decisions. While the Israelites were looking back at Pharaoh’s chariots coming at them, Moses was working out a solution with God’s help! We can learn from this, that as leaders we must stay focused on the task at hand.
Probably the most powerful part of the story in Exodus 14 is in verse 14 when Moses said “God will fight the battle for you” (Exodus 14: 14). Remember, to be a great lead-er we need to be pray-ers as well!
Matthew 20:26 on Being A Servant Leader
During today’s personal devotion time I came across the Bible verse of Matthew 20:26. It reads, “Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.” Pretty good Bible leadership advice to a guy who believes in and strives to Walk the Talk on servant leadership. In fact I have written many posts on this blog on that very subject. It is mind boggling for me to think about all of the people who have been a servant to me during my life, sharing unselfishly of their time, treasures, talent, and wisdom (advice) to get me where I am today. This Bible verse reminded me of how important it is for me to be a true servant leader to those around me, and most importantly, to those I lead.
If you think about all the skills you have that have enabled you to be successful, you can probably point to someone who enabled you to hone those skills. Even though I am far from being a great father, I had a great father that modeled what great parenting was. From the kisses on the forehead to the long talks about never giving up or just being average; these are all things that are on my mind when I interact with my own son. My own experience of becoming a teacher and my commitment to students can all be traced back to a servant leader at Purdue University named Dr. Hobe Jones. You can read more by clicking here to read my post entitled “You Want Me To Do What? Teach? There is not enough internet space in the cloud to hold all the anecdotes of all those who have blessed me with their servant leadership but I must include one other.
My abilities as a teacher leader and now administrator were enabled by a man named Ralph Walker. He was my supervising teacher when I student taught, then became my principal, and ultimately became my Superintendent at the school he recruited me to start an agricultural science program. The rest is history, so to speak, but none of that history, nor the present would be possible without his having been a true servant to my leadership development needs. There are so many others that I could go on and on about here in this post like Kevin Eikenberry, who has always been there as a mentor, friend, and coach and has included me in many events of his leadership business that have helped me to grow as a leader. Or, Dr. Tony Bennett, and my Mom who taught me at a very young age that “God never shuts a door without opening a window somewhere!”
Think of all the skills needed in life to succeed. All of us are in need of leadership in our roles as spouses, teachers, administrators, business people, salesmen, CEO’s, and as friends and family members. In each of these fields, someone who is knowledgeable, whether a professional or a wise friend, is of great value to you as a servant leader. The exchange of wisdom between people is an incredible event. Good advice, the fruit of experience, is a sweet deal to those of us who hunger for wisdom.
We cannot forget, however, our obligation to become a servant to others to provide that same wisdom those we lead hunger for. Always remember the leadership lesson of Matthew: “Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.” That’s pretty good advice from the ultimate leadership manual – The Bible!
Preparation!
What makes a good student? What makes a good athlete? What makes a team better than others perceive it to be?
If you ask any educator the first question, you might get four or five quality answers. The same can be said if you ask five coaches, what makes for a successful team?
However, if you are looking for a one word answer, I would offer the word preparation. Students who prepare make better grades than those who don’t. Athletes who prepare put themselves and their teammates in a better position to be successful.
The next time you are looking for that quick fix, realize there isn’t one. However, if you are looking for one way to get started, focus more time and effort on preparation!
Content from Billy Shepherd Sports Inc.
Lead Like A MacBook Pro!
I have written many posts about collaboration, flattened hierarchy, and the learning organization, but I got to thinking this week about another component of my leadership style that fits in with these concepts. The ease of use of the Mac and integrated nature of the applications. When we developed the SWELL (Smart Worldwide Effective Learning Lab) at Lebanon High School we switched to an all Mac operating platform. We were able to get the Apple folks to let us demo a set of MacBook Pros to see if they were what we needed. My idea was to combine project-based learning with modern tools like the Mac to help students develop the high-level thinking and skills they would need in today’s world.
I remember when the Apple representative was setting up the demo machines he made a couple of comments that would forever change my view on technology and leadership. He said: “With a Mac what used to take three or four steps with a pc will only take a single step with the Mac!” And he asked: “Do you want to teach how to use the computer or be project-based?” Of course I did not want to teach computers and the thought of a single step process was incredible!
Since this post is not really about technology it will suffice for me just to say that he was right and I could concentrate on teaching content, not computer applications. I wanted to measure learning chiefly by the quality of work the students create.
Because the Mac is so easy to use, even students new to computers were able to create projects that demonstrated their learning. And because using the iLife and iWork suites is so intuitive — with skills transferring easily across applications — students were able to showcase their projects in professional Keynote, Pages, and iWeb presentations that integrated text, video, and sound; in sophisticated movies edited in iMovie and Final Cut Pro; and in engaging podcasts and soundtracks created using GarageBand. The fact that steps are eliminated because of the integration of programs made it all very easy for the students to learn.
It’s just like an environment where employees are empowered to create, collaborate, and do their jobs. They are able to showcase their abilities without the barriers of hierarchy. As a leader I prefer to organize the world in a lateral fashion, seeing people on an equal plane. This enables an integration of everyone just like that of the applications of the MacBook Pro. I believe in a lateral playing field where everyone leads from where they. This enables everyone to do their jobs effectively without added steps of approval, but with the collaboration of others. Just like when I drag a picture directly from iPhoto into Pages. Both are independent programs with different roles and responsibilities, but integrate easily when needed.
The flat organization supervises employees less while promoting their increased involvement in the decision-making process; Just like the MacBook Pro needs less computer application knowledge and allows the user to be creative. It also removes excess layers of managements improves the coordination and speed of communication between employees; Just like the Mac platform involves fewer steps, fewer levels of management encourage an easier decision-making process among employees.
So, next time you sit down to the computer think about your leadership style. Do you want your computer empowered to carry out many tasks in the least amount of steps or do you want lots of hoops to jump through. Use this lens to think about how to empower those you lead to be the most effective.
The Pawn & The King
This morning during my personal growth time I was on twitter studying the #leadership tweets. I came across a tweet of the Italian Proverb: “After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box.” Thanks @robertshemin for tweeting the proverb. I promptly retweeted and began thinking about how powerful the imagery of this was for a guy like me who firmly believes in a flattened hierarchy, leading from where you are, and the fact that it is not about me.
I must admit I know how to play chess, but I am not an avid player. Nor do I have any desire to become an avid player. In fact I really kind of find it a boring game, but that is beside the fact! I do know enough to know in a chess game, the king is the most valuable piece, pawn the least. That being said, i have played enough chess to know that if you do not have the pawns moving into the proper positions you cannot win. But once the game is over, both the king and pawns return to same box from which they were taken out.
So the first lesson I learn from this is confirmation on what I already believed to be true – successful organizations flatten the hierarchy. As Jim Collins stated in Good To Great, “When you have disciplined people you do not need hierarchy.”
Another lesson I draw from this proverb is that, in the end, all our achievements and rank should not be overvalued, since in the end, we all – go back in the same box. Even though we all hold different ranks, titles, and roles; in the end we are all the same. Therefore, I should never take advantage of my rank in terms of hierarchy at the expense of another, nor should I allow myself to be taken advantage of or undervalued by someone of higher stature. Because, as you have heard me say in many blog posts, I believe everyone has the responsibility to lead from where they are – regardless of hierarchy.
So as you start this last work week before Christmas, remember that every piece in your organization’s chess game is crucial to it’s success and at the end of the game they all go back in the same box!
Know When To Follow
I have always been a believer that we must lead from where we are. Everyone has a teachable point of view from which to contribute leadership to any opportunity. As a teacher, I always believed it was my responsibility to provide leadership for the school. For the last nine years of my teaching career I was blessed to have administrators who took my role as a teacher leader seriously. In turn, I took the role of providing street level situational awareness seriously.
Now, as a principal I realize that sometimes leading means following someone else’s lead and having others follow you down that path by supporting their efforts. It is about being in the middle of it, not directing, not dictating, and not doing it all. It is about creating leverage points, catapulting initiatives ahead and building people up in what they do and how they do it. It is about bringing people, actions, values, direction, and results all together to move forward! We must all get in the middle of the action when necessary to challenge, nudge, celebrate, and spur on teams and initiatives. It is not ceremonial lip service; it is real conversations, genuine acts.
One of my favorite things to say when making decisions in a collaborative environment is, “Tell me why I’m wrong?” And, if I am I want to know it! If we are to develop a functional learning organization it must be about facilitating open and honest discussions, putting reality on the table and actively working through it. We must all be about getting candid advice, absorbing it, and then acting on it. It is not malicious or spiteful, but it is spirited and critical to get the best information and counsel possible. I always want to know what our staff is thinking. They all come with tremendous teachable points of view.
Giving others the ability to lead from where they are is about giving people the freedom to innovate, create, and make things happen, aligned with the organization’s strategy, goals, objectives, and values. Along with the freedom to perform is the accountability to do the right things. It is not wishy-washy accountability; it is real, measurable accountability.
I strive to walk the talk by allowing our staff the ability to lead from within. I believe in having conversations with others – team members and mentors – to gain their perspectives, insights, and knowledge.
There is always room to grow and improve. The important thing is that we take the responsibility of leadership seriously. We must also remember to take this leadership role seriously no matter where we are in the organization. If you do, others will believe in you…that is the first step to creating the leadership rainbow others will follow to the pot of gold, which is a successful organization!
Notes On Servanthood
Yesterday I blogged a post entitled Rushmorean Servant Leadership Today during my study time I came across the notes I have pictured above. These notes were from John C. Maxwell’s The Maxwell Leadership Bible.
“Leaders add value by serving others” (p.814).
“Lead others by serving not bossing them” (p. 814).
“People don’t at first follow worthy causes; they follow worthy leaders who promote worthwhile causes. People buy in to the leader first, then the leader’s vision. Listeners filter every message through the messenger who delivers it. You cannot separate the leader from the cause he promotes” (p.286).
As leaders these are important points for us to reflect and act on!
References
Maxwell, J. C. (2007). The Maxwell leadership Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishing, Inc.
Rushmorean Servant Leadership
Christ’s Entry Into Brussels
James Ensor
I was prompted today to write about servant leadership; or really leading from where you are. Really I guess I am combining three important concepts to leadership here, but I believe they are not mutually exclusive. First, I believe leaders must be servants, not title holders. Second, I believe everyone must have the ability to lead from where they are, and finally, I believe we must use Christ’s model and lead from the middle.
Let’s explore my three thoughts. As leaders we lose the right to be selfish. Leadership is about serving others, not wielding power because of a title. Great leaders please others, not themselves. The great leaders I admire add value to others’ lives. We should also, as effective leaders, emulate Christ’s model. Finally, as a servant leader we must remain life-long learners and teachable. As the saying goes, “Leaders are Learners.”
Every day when I walk into school, I remind myself that it is not about me. It is about everyone else that I serve. My goal is to make myself the most dispensable person in the building. Imagine how effective our team will be if every person is empowered and has been given the personal, professional growth to lead, educate, and operationalize everything in our high school.
Additionally, I believe we must lead from where we are. I am a card-carrying believer that every person in our high school is a leader – from the person who empties the trash to the students, the teachers, and right to me. I learn from someone in those groups each and every day. Wheatley (2007) promoted a more unstructured style of leadership, which promotes self-organization. She contended that most leaders use control and imposition rather than a self-organizing process (Wheatley, 2007). I believe the more control is imposed on people and situations the more they are made uncontrollable. Wheatley (2007) considered self-organizing systems to have the capacity to create for themselves the aspects of organizations that we thought authoritarian leaders had to provide. Therefore, it is important for leaders to create a culture where individuals are free and the need to create is met (Wheatley, 1992, 2007).
We really need to move from leader-centered organizations to leadership-centered organizations. There must, in my opinion, be a sharing of leadership responsibilities. Schultz (2011) asserted that by flattening the hierarchy and moving toward a shared leadership model, positive outcomes result from a reciprocal influence between leaders and followers. This is the concept I mentioned as my third concept of Christ’s model of leading from the middle. Schultz (2011) recommended sharing leadership with others. This is really important on two fronts – 1. I want everyone in our organization to be empowered to provide leadership anytime they see a need; and, 2. I want to be leading from within right along side everyone, not out in front where I can’t see what is going on. From the middle I can help pull people along and can also help push. Effective leaders are hands-on and operational giving them the situational awareness necessary to be curious, learn, and take action.
I included the image of my favorite painting in this post – Christ’s Entry Into Brussels, by James Ensor. I was first introduced to this painting when I read Leading Change: Overcoming the Ideology of Comfort and the Tyranny of Custom by James O’Toole (1995). This book is displayed in my office as one of the top five literary influences on my life. In this book O’Toole introduces the idea of values-based leadership that he calls, Rushmorean Leadership. Based off of the leaders chiseled into Mount Rushmore. As O’Toole said: “I prefer to think of the four as the best representatives of a school of values-based leadership dedicated to democratic change” (O’Toole, 1995, p.21). It is important to think about how all four Presidents led: they listened to others, encouraged dissenting opinion, empowered authority to their subordinates, and led by example instead of power, title, manipulation, or coercion.
Now, back to the painting by Ensor. If you enlarge it you will find Christ in the middle where we always find Christ, among us. Look close at the painting and you will find him in the middle of chaos, just like most of us lead in every day. Remember, he led by becoming one of us and teaching us among us. He would not have had to do this, but it was the only way. He led by example, he listens, and he empowers us each and every day to be the best we can be to serve. Take a moment and reflect on your role as a servant leader. Would O’Toole call you Rushmorean? Are you leading from the middle like Christ?
References
O’Toole, J. (1995). Leading change: Overcoming the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom. San Fransisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Schultz, D. (2011). Sharing leadership. Leadership Excellence, 28(2), 16-17.
Wheatley, M.J. (1992). Leadership and the new science: Learning about organization from an orderly universe. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
Wheatley, M.J. (2007). Finding our way: Leadership for an uncertain time. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
Byron's Babbles 
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