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Five Landmarks of Leadership

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Five Landmarks of Leadership
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Featured article by Dave Ferguson in CEOWORLD magazine. Reprinted by permission.

Throughout history, landmarks have been used to mark important places and events. They represent boundaries, victories, memories, histories, and discoveries.

Landmarks help you know where you are and remind you of where you (or others) have been. They serve as guideposts for future generations.

Ancient wisdom admonishes us to “remove not the ancient landmarks.”

Why is this?

Because if we remove them, we remove those boundaries, victories, memories, histories, and discoveries that will protect us, guide us, and give us wisdom.

If you have been to a historic location, for example, you would never know that anything significant happened there if it were not marked. But because it is, you pause, reflect, and learn. This does not mean that all landmarks represent good memories or favorable histories. It means there is something to be remembered – a valuable lesson to be learned – from their presence.

Do you have these important landmarks in your leadership?

  1. Boundaries

An effective leader must have boundaries. What is your defined role? What are your values? What are your responsibilities? What are your goals?

Answering these questions helps you set the landmark of your boundaries.

Boundaries are important because they provide a perimeter of focus. They help you know where you “belong” and where you do not belong. They help you know when to say, “Yes” to an opportunity and when to say, “No.” They guard your character. They contain your energy, so you are operating at your best, with tight focus and high performance.

  1. Victories

Landmarks mark victories, and victories are born of challenge. Thus, landmarks are symbolic of overcoming a challenge.

Think back to the challenges you have faced in life and leadership. If you are like most, you will come to two conclusions: (1) They were some of the toughest times, and (2) They taught you some of your most important life and leadership lessons.

Mark those victories. Remember what you faced and how you overcame the obstacles. Remember who helped you during those times. Use this landmark to prepare you for future challenges. Develop your strategy and support team now before the next challenge comes. Looking back to the landmark of victory equips and encourages you for the next challenge you will face.

  1. Memories

What if you woke up tomorrow with no memory? That would be a tragic loss, to the level of losing your very identity.

Similarly, it is a tragic loss when you forget the important events, people, and experiences in your life that helped to make you who you are.

Take time to remember those who have made an impact on your life. If they are still alive, thank them. If not, share with someone a lesson you learned from that person. In doing so, you help carry their legacy forward.

Memories can be good or bad, but they all work together to make us who we are. They serve as guideposts for what to do and what not to do in life.

Take some time to write down the lessons you have learned from others and the experiences that have made you who you are. You are a unique collection of memories. Never forget. Always be thankful.

  1. Histories

History is essentially the story of civilization. Woven across centuries, it ties the past to the present and provides guidance for the future. History is the foundation of the future.

As a leader, it is good to reflect on the landmark of history.

What went right? What went wrong? And how can we make it better in the future?

The adage that “those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it” is true. You don’t have to make the mistakes of the past; but there is merit in learning from them. Before you move forward, check the historical landmark for perspective.

  1. Discoveries

Many of the world’s greatest leaders were “discoverers.” They had a natural propensity for learning and exploring, for finding new and better ways to solve a problem or meet a need.

Do you as a leader have landmarks of discovery?

What solutions have you developed? What problems have you solved? What new possibilities have you unearthed? Do you value activity over discovery?

Discovery is the creative and curious side of leadership, the landmark of significant growth and innovation. As a leader, and especially as a business leader, you cannot afford to lose this landmark.

Be a strong leader. Take time to visit these five landmarks regularly. Character, success, wisdom, identity, and innovation await you there.

Dave FergusonDave Ferguson is “The Leaders’ Coach”, an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, and author. Are you interested in talking to Dave about coaching or having Dave speak to inspire and motivate your team? “ASK COACH DAVE” at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com.

 

Good Growth, Bad Growth

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Good Growth, Bad Growth
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Featured article by Dave Ferguson in CEOWORLD magazine. Reprinted by permission.

Growth is a necessary part of life. It has been said that if you are not growing, you are dying.

We grow food. We invest money so it will grow. And we want our children to grow into driven, responsible, and successful adults.

Growth is a good thing.

Unless it is not.

Weeds also grow. Debt and deficits grow. And there are all kinds of bad health habits that result in growth as well.

Like anything in life, growth can be good or bad.

Now the good news is, to a large degree, you can usually determine the direction of growth by the actions you take.

There is wisdom in the adage, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” In this context, it is like training a small tree. When it starts out, it is weak, and even a light wind could knock it over. To prevent this, you plant it at a good depth, and you tie it to a stake to give it strength and support.

Often as adults, we forget that we should still be growing and training ourselves in the way we should go.

What stakes do you have in place to support your growth?

Here are some stakes that will help you continue to grow in the right direction.

Stake #1: Values

Values anchor you. When you must make a decision or are faced with a situation, solid values will keep you from becoming uprooted. Furthermore, they will give you a basis for how you design each day. Ask yourself at the end of each day, “Have I lived according to my values?” And as you plan for the next day, week, or month, “How will I live according to my values?”

For example, if good health is a value, what are you doing to promote that value…TODAY? Not next month or next year, but TODAY. If a profitable business is a value, what call or visit are you going to make today? If family is a value, look at your calendar. Is your family on the calendar today?

Stake #2: Habits

If an unsupported tree is battered daily from a strong northwest wind, the tree will be permanently bent. It will grow, but in the wrong direction.

This is why the stake of constant habits is important. This stake provides daily reinforcement against the winds of life. Good habits create a good life. Bad habits can destroy it. Make your habits good ones and apply them daily.

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”  –

Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stake #3: Goals

Instead of New Year resolutions, perhaps the question to ask is, “How can I grow this year?”

Consider each area of life: physical, mental, spiritual, vocational, relational, and financial. How can you grow in each area?

Setting these goals and aspirations gives life and work great purpose.

  • How will you grow?
  • How will your relationships grow?
  • How will your business grow?
  • How will your team grow?
  • How will your financial assets grow?

These are targeted questions great leaders ask themselves and others frequently.

The key with goals is to make them specific and measurable. “Someday” is not specific enough. “I should” is a pretty good guarantee that you never will. But if you say, “I will lose ten pounds this month, and here is how I am going to do it and why it is important to me,” your chances of reaching that goal are quite high.

Stake #4: Accountability

Leaders who grow value accountability. They know that being highly accountable to themselves and others increases the likelihood of them forming good habits, reaching goals, and living according to their values.

  • Do you have a solid framework of accountability in your life?
  • Do you have established boundaries that help you know when to say, “Yes,” and when to say, “No?”
  • Do you have a planning system and a way to stay accountable to it?
  • Do you have a trusted coach or mentor who will guide, encourage, and commit to helping you stay on track?
  • Do you have a board of advisors to whom you are accountable in business, even if you are the leader?

The choice is yours. You will grow. The question is, “Will you choose to drive these four stakes deep enough to help you grow in the right direction?”

Dave FergusonDave Ferguson is “The Leaders’ Coach”, an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, and author. Are you interested in talking to Dave about coaching or having Dave speak to inspire and motivate your team? “ASK COACH DAVE” at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com.

The Strong Leader’s Character Creed

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Five Ways To Never Compromise Your Character

dave-ferguson-forbes-article Featured article by Dave Ferguson in Forbes Coaches Council. Reprinted by permission.

Character in leadership is of utmost importance. It has the power to build your business, relationships and reputation. It sets the tone for your team and your business, and is the bedrock of trust.

Just as character can lift you up, a lack thereof can swiftly take you down. Sadly, it only takes one mistake in character to ruin a business, a relationship or a reputation.

Becoming a leader of strong character comes down to living true to your core beliefs and values. These values help you determine what’s right and wrong, and are key to making wise decisions. Since our success is a composition of good decisions, having the character to lead based on core beliefs and values cannot be overemphasized.

The Strong Leader’s Character Creed

Living by these 10 character traits will provide a solid foundation for you as a leader:

1. Be honest.

2. Demonstrate integrity.

3. Keep promises.

4. Be loyal.

5. Be conscientious.

6. Pursue excellence.

7. Be kind and caring.

8. Esteem all people.

9. Be fair.

10. Be a good citizen.

Every day, we face choices that test our character. Some decisions are subject to immediate review by those with whom we live and work. In most cases, we will take the easy way out by making a choice that is acceptable to the majority. Then we go on with our life. These account for about 10% of the decisions we make.

What about the other 90% — the ones we make behind closed doors? These decisions speak volumes about our character as a leader.

True character is not something for which you can take a class. It is who you are when people are looking, but more especially when they are not. Being congruent means you are the same person regardless of the circumstances or who is watching. I have met many bosses who have no understanding of this concept.

I used to think some people were strong in character and some were not, and that was just the way things were. But after dealing with issues of character in my work with leaders for several years, I have a new understanding. Character can be influenced by our surroundings, our experiences and those with whom we associate. And while good character cannot be taught, it is something you can practice and improve upon over time.

Becoming A Person Of Strong Character

These are some steps to follow:

1. Surround Yourself With People Of Strong Character

Bad company corrupts good character. Think about the five people in your life with whom you spend the most time. Are they people of strong character? Do they demonstrate the type of leadership you wish to emulate? If not, expand your circle to include people of this caliber. And if you can’t find those types of people, you can always read about them. There is power in the books you read.

2. Seek Truth And Favor Reason Over Emotional Impulses

It is easy to be biased or prejudiced by emotions. That is part of human nature. But don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed by fear or sadness. Learn to master your feelings, and avoid letting anything other than common sense and sound logic dictate the decisions you make.

3. Be Content But Not Complacent

It is important to appreciate your own values and be happy with what you do have. It is good to focus on and be grateful for the positives in your life. However, that does not mean you can become stagnant. Laziness never achieves anything. Stay focused on the next high point and do the work to get there.

4. Exercise Your Empathy

Sometimes you have to engage in tough conversations. It is easy to try and sidestep them or put them off, but don’t. Instead, face these conversations with empathy and action. Don’t sympathize. That is an emotional but passive reaction. Instead, you need to extend yourself, engage as needed, and do something to resolve the issue.

5. Excel Wherever You Are

Confusion is a character killer. Set the standard. You can’t expect others to perform at a higher level than you are willing to provide. This does not mean you have to be an expert in everything. It just means you do your best, no matter the task.

These are the practices that will build strong character and give you the experience you need to be a great leader. Are you practicing the habits that will strengthen your character as a leader?

Dave Ferguson is “The Leaders’ Coach”, an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, and author. Are you interested in talking to Dave about coaching or having Dave speak to inspire and motivate your team? “ASK COACH DAVE” at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com.

The Two-Part Leadership Development Formula

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The Two-Part Leadership Development Formula

In any given company, few people are leaders; so it tends to reason that we are primarily a society of followers.

Why is this?

The simple answer is twofold: first, there is no such thing as a “natural born” leader, and secondly, leadership skills are rarely taught in our classrooms. Leadership, if offered, is an elective rather than a requirement.

As the leader of a company, you know your best path to success is not to create a team of followers. It is to create a team of leaders. And you also know that leaders don’t “just happen”.

This puts leadership development high on your list of priorities. But many corporate training programs address only half of the equation.

What is leadership, and why does it escape so many of us?

  • Leadership is the art of making possibilities a reality. This is accomplished via personal leadership, where you are leading in your field of expertise, and via team leadership, where you are tapping into the expanded expertise of each leader on your team. Leading a team of leaders compounds the results.
  • Leadership is also truth. You have to be true to the man or woman in the mirror before you can be true to your team.

The Two-Part Leadership Development Formula 

Your followers can become effective leaders with the right training and mindset.

  • Leadership Training

    The good news is, all the skills necessary to be a good leader are learnable. Initiative, vision, empowerment, attraction, modeling, and directing are skills that can be taught and applied systematically.

    But knowing how to lead is only half the battle.

  • Leadership Mindset

    Leadership development starts, not with training, but with mindset. You can offer your employees the best leadership training available. You can spend thousands of dollars sending them to seminars. And you could still end up with “followers” if you do not first address mindset.

    Even those who apply the training will hit a wall of ineffectiveness if mindset is not well established.

    The reality is, leadership is more of a mind game than a skill set.
    (Click to Tweet)

    As an executive coach, I see this every day at all levels of an organization – even amongst those at the top. Limiting beliefs are the traitorous betrayers of leadership.

The key is to know your own personal limiting beliefs and to develop tactics ahead of time to deal with them. Having a plan and an accountability partner will keep you on track when limiting beliefs attempt to derail you. And rest assured, they will.

To lead successfully, there are four critical elements of mindset that must be in place.

  • Character

    Character is what activates and empowers your leadership ability. There are no “gray areas” when it comes to character. Leaders cannot afford to cross the line between right and wrong. Many who do are overwhelmed by the stress of their success or actually on the brink of disaster. If this is you or someone on your team, don’t think unaddressed cracks in character will just go away. Get help!

  • Commitment

    Commitment inspires and attracts people to leaders because it shows they have conviction. While commitment means something different to each person, it almost always comes from the heart. And we all know that heart is what separates the good from the great. Unfortunately, most people set goals but quit when the going gets tough. To go from “dropout” to “all-out”, a business coach can help guide you.

  • Courage

    Courage is about taking risk, especially at challenging times. Courage is setting the ultimate example for your people. It means you’re willing to take a stand, or draw a line in the sand, and to encourage others to do the same. Courage comes down to one thing: principle, and whether you’re willing to stand up for it, or not. Do you stare fear down, or do you hide from it?

  • Passion

    Passion makes it possible for ordinary people to create extraordinary results. Passion is the fuel that increases willpower. You can never lead something you don’t feel passionate about. If you don’t have passion for what you’re doing, consider digging down deep and searching for what you’re truly passionate about, then bring that passion back into your work. Sometimes loss of passion is a symptom of burnout, in which case re-balancing the other areas of your life could result in renewed energy for your work.

Do you and your team have solid leadership skills? If so, you’re halfway there.

But don’t miss the second – and most important part – of the equation. Get the mindset right as well.

Dave Ferguson is “The Leaders’ Coach”, an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, and author. For help in creating a solid leadership mindset plan for yourself or your team, “ASK COACH DAVE” at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com.

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