LEADERSHIP MINTS

Being the Best Not the Biggest

Posted by The Leadership Mints Guy on December 20, 2013

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to focus on the best not the biggest. Reading time: 3:49

The soaring 257- foot Sequoia tree planted prominently in the CEO’s office seemed to scream to all visitors: “BEHOLD-All -Ye-Who-Enter. This is Command Central Of The Largest, The Biggest, The Tallest Company in the World in our Industry.”

sequoia1 But this CEO had another idea in mind when he showcased the BIGGEST photograph in the company, of the BIGGEST tree in the world, on the BIGGEST wall in his office.

That photograph became a meaningful and memorable teaching tool to REFOCUS the company’s leadership position as the BEST in the industry not merely the biggest.

The CEO argued his best vs. biggest case most significantly -and visually- whenever he met with a candidate for a leadership position in the company.

Invariably, the candidate would see that soaring Sequoia in the photograph and say something about the thrill of working for the biggest company in the industry. Then the CEO’s teaching moment was off and running. “Our focus is on being the best not the biggest,” the CEO would then intone. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attitude | Tagged: being the best, being the best not the biggest, being vulnerable, best vs. biggest, bigger is not better, bullying others because of your size, hiding behind your size, humility, Sequoia trees, striving to be the best, wood from Sequoia trees | Leave a Comment »

Unleashing Your Power of Analogy

Posted by The Leadership Mints Guy on December 17, 2013

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to help you conquer your fear in a challenging situation. Reading time: 3:56

You’re facing a high-pressure situation. Maybe it’s a critical sale. Or a crucial contract negotiation.

Jim O’Brien kicks Super Bowl winning field goal in 1971

You either win right now or you lose big time. Maybe you lose your big bonus or your big office or even your big job. Your leadership is on the line.

What do you do when your competitors have a commanding advantage in experience and proven expertise?

What do you do to counter their intimidating taunts? What do you do to calm your frayed nerves?

Unleash your Power of Analogy.

That’s what Baltimore Colt rookie field goal kicker Jim O’Brien did to win Super Bowl V against a seemingly insurmountable pro football Dallas Cowboys defense that had already:

1. Forced seven turnovers in the game,
2. Scored both of their touchdowns in the game and
3. Blocked O’Brien’s point-after-touchdown attempt earlier in the game.

Suffice to say O’Brien was having a bad day at the office on this Super Sunday yet he methodically kicked a perfect 32-yard field goal that gave the Baltimore Colts a come-from-behind 16-13 Super Bowl V victory over the Dallas Cowboys with five seconds remaining in the game. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Perception | Tagged: Billy Ray Smith, coping with pressure, coping with stress, kicking field goals under pressure, name calling and Billy Ray Smith, performing under pressure, the power of analogy | Leave a Comment »

Leaders Cope with Hope

Posted by The Leadership Mints Guy on December 13, 2013

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to maintain your hope in tough times. Reading time: 2:56

When he was 67, the life’s work of this famed scientist, inventor of the light bulb and 1200 other patents went up in flames. Seven of his light bulb factories burned down. He was under-insured.

20130412043138_Thomas-Edison-Quotes- But within 36 hours Tom Edison brought together a team of 1500 people who immediately began building even bigger and better factories.

“No one is ever too old to make a fresh start,” Edison said.

Thomas Alva Edison personified the essence of a leader: Hope.

With hope, there is always a place for us —somehow, someday, somewhere—as Tony and Maria sing in West Side Story.

Their hopeful voices focused on a greater sense of order, a more meaningful sense of purpose amid the inherent discrimination, murder, mayhem and the chaos of gangs. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attitude | Tagged: abandon hope, Dante, Dante's Gates of Hell, Edison and burned buildings, Edison and hardship, Edison and starting over, James MacGregor Burns, Maria and Tony West Side Story, Tony and Maria | Leave a Comment »

Brightening the Monday Morning Blues

Posted by The Leadership Mints Guy on December 10, 2013

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to more fully engage your staff. Reading time: 2:56

Singing the Monday Morning Blues. We’ve all been there. At least Ogden Nash unleashed his sense of poetic injustice when the comic poet and a Broadway lyricist observed:

garfield_monday_blues “Monday
is the day
when life becomes
grotesque again
because you have to
face your
desk again.”

The leader read that ditty in jest as if it were a Dilbert redux at one of his Monday morning staff meetings.

Everyone laughed. Then the leader paused and pensively challenged his staff:

What could they do
as leaders to convert
Mondays
from the grotesque
to something
out of burlesque?

burlesque2 Burlesque? Well at least work should fun, entertaining and even amusing if not challenging and rewarding.

Yet job satisfaction surveys consistently show most employees are disengaged, unsatisfied, unfulfilled in the 9-to-5 world.

So unfulfilled that job dissatisfaction today has become the prime predictor of heart attacks—more so than smoking, more so than high cholesterol and more so than a lack of exercise.

But wait. It gets worse: Monday morning is quite literally a killer. More people die on Monday mornings between 8 and 9 than any other time of the week. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attitude | Tagged: Dilbert, fountain of youth, Monday morning and Ogden Nash, Monday morning killers, On Human Work, the dignity of work | Leave a Comment »

Staying the Course 24/7

Posted by The Leadership Mints Guy on December 6, 2013

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to enhance your productivity. Reading time: 2:57

You’ve been hustling for the last 33 hours, chasing down one detail after another. You’re exhausted yet relieved.

success FINALLY! Your project is completed. On time and under budget. And you’re ready to celebrate.

Not so fast. There’s still work to do. At least to the most effective leaders.

They’re too busy planting more proverbial fruit for tomorrow while TODAY everyone else is enjoying the fruits of their labor.

At least that’s what Charles Lindbergh did when he completed his project –a grueling, history-making, solo trans-Atlantic flight in 33.5 hours. Lindbergh hadn’t slept in 61 hours. He hadn’t eaten in more than 30 hours.

Yet his first words upon landing in Paris wasn’t how thrilled he was or even where’s the bathroom. No, Charles Lindbergh, was still Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Conviction | Tagged: continuous improvement, details and writing, Lindbergh, Lindbergh's writing discipline, Lindbergh's writing style, Spirit of St. Louis, staying focused after the project is done, staying focused when the job is done, what did Lindbergh do as soon as he landed, writing the details | Leave a Comment »

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