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Free E-Book “How To Motivate Next Generation-Leaders”
Leading Next-Generation leaders is a focused effort of every organization seeking to recruit, retain and development talent. Our friends at “Growing Leaders” recently published an E-Book that I wanted to make available to you.
I’ve utilized Tim Elmore’s “Habitudes” content for some of our Leadership Development programs for emerging leaders, with great success. Download your free E-Book with the link below. Merry Christmas!
Every Relationship Has a Breakpoint
Every Man Has His Limitations
-Dirty Harry
A few weeks ago I went to a hipster coffee shop.
I ordered one coffee and then proceeded to wait.
And wait.
And wait.
24 minutes later, they handed me my coffee.
I know what you’re thinking, “It was probably very complicated, requiring special beans shipped in by hand and a burro.”
It wasn’t, it was one small coffee.
I knew it took 24 minutes because my receipt had a timestamp.
The problem is that every relationship and business has a breakpoint, that moment where you forever lose a customer or a follower. If you’re a leader, that’s true of your team. The real challenge is that someone working for you won’t tell you that they are at their breaking point. They’ll just quit.
Will I go back to that coffee shop? Of course, but maybe another customer won’t. Maybe their breakpoint is minute 23.
Never take your teams, followers or customers to the breakpoint, that is the moment when you lose them.
It’s hard to get someone who WAS loyal back once you’ve broken the relationship.
The Next-Generation: Leaders or Loafers?
As “Generation iY” is entering the workforce and subsequent leadership roles, organizations are seeking to understand key values and engagement drivers of these next-generation leaders.
At the same time, seasoned leaders are observing a sense of entitlement in these young leaders. Over-protective parents have rescued their kids to quickly from tough situations rather than instilling perseverance and hard work. They are growing up being repeatedly told: “You’re Awesome!” “You’re Smart!” and “You’re Gifted!” which easily can lead to a self-centered view of the world and an unrealistic view of their place on a team.
Here’s the good news: I’ve met some fantastic young leaders who are going against the grain and ready to impact their world as servant-leaders. They are out there. But finding them demands focused attention on recruiting and training those who are a “diamond” in the rough.
In his book “Artificial Maturity”, Tim Elmore provides 7 Marks of Maturity which help us identify those next-generation team members who are Leaders vs. Loafers:
1. They prioritize others before themselves.
A wise man once said: A mature person is one whose agenda revolves around others, not self. Certainly this can go to an extreme and be unhealthy, but I believe a pathway out of childishness is getting past your own desires and beginning to live to meet the needs of others less fortunate.
2. They are able to keep long-term commitments.
One key signal of maturity is the ability to delay gratification. Part of this means a student is able to keep commitments even when they are no longer new or novel. They can commit to continue doing what is right even when they don’t feel like it.
3. They are unshaken by flattery or criticism.
As people mature, they sooner or later understand that nothing is as good as it seems and nothing is as bad as it seems. Mature people can receive compliments or criticism without letting it ruin them or sway them into a distorted view of themselves. They are secure in their identity.
4. They possess a spirit of humility.
Humility parallels maturity. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less. Mature people aren’t consumed with drawing attention to themselves. They see how others have contributed to their success and can sincerely give honor to their Creator who gave them the talent. This is the opposite of arrogance.
5. Their decisions are based on character not feelings.
Mature people—students or adults—live by values. They have principles that guide their decisions. They are able to progress beyond merely reacting to life’s options, and be proactive as they live their life. Their character is master over their emotions.
5. They express gratitude consistently.
I have found the more I mature, the more grateful I am, for both big and little things. Immature children presume they deserve everything good that happens to them. Mature people see the big picture and realize how good they have it, compared to most of the world’s population.
7. They seek wisdom before acting.
Finally, a mature person is teachable. They don’t’ presume they have all the answers. The wiser they get, the more they realize they need more wisdom. They’re not ashamed of seeking counsel from adults (teachers, parents, coaches) or from God, in prayer. Only the wise seek wisdom.
Such high-capacity “next generation” leaders aren’t en masse – you find them one at a time. Keep recruiting, keep developing and keep mentoring.
Because – no longer are they the “next” generation.
They are already here.
How Do You Know When a Conversation Turns “Crucial”?
I’ve met a ton of leaders. I know a ton of great leaders. And I read a lot from great leaders.
One observation is that all successful leaders do this one thing.
Their personalities may be different.
Their vision will be tailored to their industry.
Even values will be different.
But the key differentiator between good leaders and GREAT leaders is their ability to handle “Crucial Conversations”.
Many years ago, I was 28 and trying to prove himself. I confronted someone about a small thing. But I handled the conversation poorly. The small thing turned into a HUGE thing. I didn’t know how to use T.A.C.T. So this one area has been a massive growth area for me personally and professionally.
What are Crucial Conversations? You know when a conversation is turning “Crucial” when there are:
1. Opposing Opinions
2. Strong Emotions
3. High Stakes
So…how do you handle “Crucial Conversations”? That’s the key question. To answer, I am attempting to condense an entire book (called “Crucial Conversations”) into a few statements.
The best way to summarize is this: We must use T.A.C.T
Talk Facts. Share the facts, not your assumptions. Facts are least insulting and verifiable. Facts keep the conversation on the issue, not the person. Facts keep you focused and helps the other person keep focus also.
Avoid Assumptions. You and I typically know a narrow slice of facts, so our mind fills in the gaps with assumptions and “stories” about why the person did what they did or said what they said. We guess about their intentions. You and I will never handle conversations well if we speak from assumption rather than fact.
Collaborate. After finding out the facts, ask how you can help. Partner with them for performance. Rather than playing the role of an enemy in their eyes, you are offering to be their support, their friend, their advocate. This is servant leadership at it’s best – even when you’ve been wronged.
Talk Tentatively. If we address the conversation with a spirit of humility, our body language says “you can trust me.” However, if we come across direct and confrontative, we will shut them down before the conversation even starts.
Use T.A.C.T when conversations turn crucial. Use T.A.C.T to hunt the elephant in the room.
One thing about elephants in the room: if you don’t address them, they have a tendency to multiply.
Then you’re really screwed.
Mis-Communication Explained in Under Two Minutes
Video Posted on Updated on
I laughed out loud when I saw this. Communication is a huge challenge in all types of relationships. This video highlights some of those challenges…
What Happens To Others When You Speak
Mastering these six secrets gives you the ability to effectively connect with any group of people when sharing your expertise.
How to Control Your Control Freak
6 Ways to control your control freak:
- Authorize someone on your team to confront you when you’re controlling. Give them permission to point out controlling language, postures, and behaviors.
- Ask more; command less.
- Adapt to and align with others. Adapting is weakness and failure to control freaks. Everything’s a contest.
- Speak for yourself not others. Control freaks won’t speak from their hearts and won’t let others speak from theirs either. Say what you really think.
- Monitor and reject fear-based decisions. Control freaks are fearful. Fear is best for maintaining and protecting. Courage innovates.
- Go with new ideas. Control freaks default to “no,” unless it’s their idea.
- Connect. Close the distance. Embrace casual; reject corporate-speak.
- Correct or confront.
- Create.
- Collaborate. Plan with not for.
Defeating Mind Monsters
Utter these Four Words (If You Want to Kill Young a Leader’s Drive and Motivation)
*I am thankful to Julie Guilioni who stated these findings, and caused these thoughts to be noteworthy.
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