Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is still possible for you to do. – Pope John XXIII
One of the most important things you can do as a leader is to never give up on your hopes and dreams. They are the lifeblood of your heart and the passion that drives you. We’ve all faced setbacks and disappointments that have tried to discourage us and cause us to give up. It’s part of our learning and growth. But the challenge today is not to dwell on things of the past; especially the defeats and failures; they are but stepping stones on your success journey. Be encouraged today to embrace your hopes and dreams. Dare to believe that your best days are ahead of you and that all things are possible. Don’t allow fear, frustrations, or unfulfilled potential to hold you back. This is your day to embrace your possibilities and look to the future with hope and confidence.
The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. – Andy Rooney
Be nice. It’s a simple enough concept and is one that we were taught from an early age. The beauty of the idea is that once it’s developed it will serve you well in all areas of your life. Enter your role as a leader. Being nice as a leader does not mean that you have to be a pushover and not be firm. It doesn’t mean that you are naïve and are not business savvy. Being nice is a reflection of your character and how you treat people is important to you. Being nice is a matter of respect for those around you even if you don’t happen to like them. Let’s face it; some people are just jerks and being nice to them can be a challenge. But being nice is not about them – it’s about you. You can be better than average by being nicer than average. Give it a try!
If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner. – Tallulah Bankhead
Of the vast experiences you will have as a leader making mistakes will rank pretty high on the list. It’s what leaders do. Granted, the fewer the better, but it’s part of your growth process. Your growth and maturity as a leader comes from taking risks, not settling for average, and by believing that you can achieve your goals. By embracing this attitude you are setting yourself up to make mistakes. It happens. So what’s the payoff? The rewards come and satisfaction is found when you know how to turn those learning experiences into positives. Past mistakes are simply signposts on your success journey. Each experience is teaching you and sharpening your leadership skills. When you are not afraid to make mistakes the faster you will achieve your goals. The question is not will you make mistakes, but rather, what will you learn?
The word impossible is not in my dictionary. – Napoleon Bonaparte
Words are important. From them your belief systems are formed and realities are defined. As a leader you will inspire confidence and courage based upon your word selection. What message do you want to send? To be sure, you will face many obstacles and challenging circumstances will always be a companion on your journey to success. But when the word impossible enters your vocabulary you then marginalize your leadership and the chances of success for your team. When your words sow seeds of doubt about the obstacles before you then that doubt will serve to magnify the challenge. The challenge of your leadership is to sow seeds of faith and to instill confidence. This happens by the words you speak. It doesn’t make the challenge or obstacle any less real; it simply means that you choose to not be defined by them. The sooner you take the word impossible out of your vocabulary the better off you will be.
If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. – Proverbs 24:10 (The Message)
One of your tasks as a leader is to model confidence in times of adversity and crisis. It’s during these times that your team looks to you for leadership and direction and you’ve got to deliver. But if you are falling apart and are unsure of yourself then it can quickly become a crisis in leadership. Now the problem is compounded. However, when you have it together your team can come together because they have confidence in your leadership ability. Be assured; times of testing and crisis will come, but it doesn’t have to defeat you. Keeping it together is the result of fine-tuning the fundamentals of your leadership – strong people skills, strong organizational skills, being engaged in what is going on around you, and a commitment to personal growth and development. In times of crisis there’s no need to fall apart; it’s the time to step up and lead.
They do not love that do not show their love – William Shakespeare
Among the inductees in the NFL Hall of Fame Class of 2014 was the great Michael Strahan from the New York Giants. He joined fellow inductees Derrick Brooks, Ray Guy, Claude Humphrey, Walter Jones, Andre Red, and Aeneas Williams.
Strahan is the youngest of six kids and in his induction speech he said that he is absolutely an “improbable Hall of Famer,” and an “improbable football player.” The son of a career Army man, Strahan did not grow up playing football. He received a scholarship and attended Texas Southern University where he learned to play. Another “improbable” moment later came when he was drafted by the New York Giants.
Michael Strahan played defensive end for the Giants for 15 years. He set the NFL’s single-season record for the most sacks (22.5) in 2001. He played in 216 games for the Giants and had a career 141.5 sacks (5th all-time in the NFL). His final game for the Giants came in 2007 with a win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
In listening to his Hall of Fame induction speech you can’t help but hear the love not just for the game of football but for the people he credits for his success. From coaches and teammates that spanned the various generations of his illustrious career, Strahan took time to recognize them all. Here are three leadership take-aways from Michael Strahan that are worthy of a closer look.
It’s not when you begin but how
Strahan trained and conditioned in Germany. He didn’t take up the game of football until college – in Texas. By that time most of his peers had considerable experience that would seemingly put him at a disadvantage. But he worked hard and learned the game and had to be teachable.
As a leader it isn’t about when you begin but how. If you work hard, are willing to learn and apply yourself, then there is no goal in your sights that you can’t reach. Your age or lack of experience is no match for a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
Improbable doesn’t mean impossible
By all accounts Strahan possessed every disadvantage imaginable when he started out. His lack of experience would surely put him at a disadvantage. Or would it? Learning and excelling at the game while in college and being drafted into the NFL was even more improbable. But he did it.
Strahan joins the company of many others who would have been labeled as “improbable” by any other standard or measurement. Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper for “lacking ideas”. Steven Spielberg dropped out of high school and applied to three film schools but was unsuccessful due to his “C” average. President Harry Truman was rejected by the U.S. Military & Naval Academies due to his poor eyesight. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. What does Michael Strahan share in common with all of these people? He refused to be labeled and refused to give up. All successful leaders do this.
Humility is refreshing
For all the success that Michael Strahan achieved in his NFL career there is something quite refreshing about not forgetting those who helped and sharing he credit. Strahan was remarkably generous in paying homage to those who helped him. Striking in his remarks was in how he acknowledged predecessors like Lawrence Taylor and Howie Long. What was honorable was the way in which he proclaimed his love for his parents and proudly admitted to being a “momma’s boy”.
The road to success is long and hard and the bonds you forge with those around you who share the journey make it all worthwhile. When you can remain enough humble to learn, at any age or at any stage in your career, it’s a leadership quality worthy of respect and emulation.
While Strahan’s journey was on a stage for the entire world to see and enjoy it’s not unlike countless others who can and will do the same. Likely far removed from the spotlight and fanfare of a Strahan-like career, you will serve with the same degree of passion and purpose.
It’s important to remember these three lessons: it’s never too late to reach for your dreams; improbable circumstances don’t define you – they only indicate your starting point; humility is never out of style and will always serve you well. Thank you, Michael Strahan, for reminding us.
Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue. – Dilbert
If you hang around in leadership long enough you will come to know this truth. It comes with the territory and it’s not always glamorous. Leadership is hard and is not for wimps. The action you take today will make some love you and some hate you. Your decisions tomorrow can turn the tables the other direction. As a leader you are an easy target- and some days, well, some days you are the statue. But your longevity as a leader will not defined by how well you played to the crowd and tried to be a people pleaser. What makes you a leader that lasts and stand the test of time is to stand strong during times of testing. What’s at stake is not about your popularity but your principles. If you sacrifice one for the other you will always be the statue. Come what may- good or bad, be a leader who stands tall and with honor for doing the right thing, the right way, at all times.
No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. – Alfred North Whitehead
As you look back over the span of your life as a leader I’m sure there are people along the way who made an impact. Do you remember them? They are the ones who befriended you in a new job. They helped you grow and develop your confidence. They stood by you and believed in you when no one else would. They gave you correction when you needed it and patiently gave of their time to help you grow and become the leader you are today. Expressions of your gratitude are in order. Why not reach out and reach back to say thank you to those who were kind enough to help you? Perhaps you can give them a call or send them a note expressing your gratitude. Life is too short and leadership too hard not to pause now and then to remember, reflect, and give thanks for where you are and for those who helped you. Who are you thankful for?
Blind spots: Every organization has them; only few are willing to point them out. – Scott Williams
One of the most important things you can do as a leader in your organization is to have honest dialogue about blind spots. Every organization has them as does every leader. A good exercise you can utilize in your organization is to bring your team together for some honest evaluation. Better yet, bring in trusted outsiders who can tell you what you need to hear and help you navigate your way forward. Blind spots are not weaknesses unless you avoid them. Dare to know and embrace the truth with the attitude of making corrections. If you bury your head in the sand regarding your blind spots your competitors will take advantage of you. The first step in the process is a willingness on your part as the leader to identify your own blind spots so you can lead with clarity and purpose. Your effectiveness as a leader depends on you seeing what others see. You don’t have to be blindsided by blind spots. Lead with your eyes open.
Every leader knows that change is hard. And, changing the things people say can’t be touched are the toughest changes. – Ron Edmondson
Navigating change as a leader is one of the toughest things you will do. People are creatures of comfort and routine and when you disturb either one you are asking for it. Before you set out on any course of change, especially when it involves touching the “sacred cows” – those long-standing traditions that everyone takes for granted, be sure you make the case for where you want to go and why. A few questions you will need to answer are: Is this the right change at the right time? If either one is in doubt, wait. Why change now and what happens if we wait? Have I made the case for change and are the key people on board with it? Change is inevitable if we want to grow. How you sell it makes the difference. Change happens best when others can shape it, take ownership of it, and at the end of the day wonder why it took you so long to make it.
