Leadership Ain’t About The Rah-Rah

Phil, thanks for the comment. I agree that handing out specific praise isn't always easy...our culture seems to encourage us to either cheerlead or bash, with little room to explore that soulful middle where the potential of our best interactions lie. Not always easy, but the good stuff rarely is.

Dave, welcome. I think I understand some of what you're saying. And you're right...there is no "right" answer. We're left with our experiences and values to guide us. I love the title of Jodee Bock's blog, You Already Know This Stuff. She's absolutely right. We have everything we truly need inside, we just need a little coaxing and coaching to get it out at times.

And just as a healthy workplace may not be a democracy, it's not exactly a dictatorship, either. Thank God we don't have to rely on a political model to get the best from our organizations. Else, they'd be even more dysfunctional than they already are.

If I could have been compensated by how many articles, books and/or speeches on leadership I have been exposed to over the course of the last 44 years, I wouldn't have to worry about what I am going to do with what is now my 201k.

Over the years I guess I have come to the point where I think that this is a subject where, as they say, "the answer is there is no answer." If there were, we would have stopped writing and reading all the articles and books and would no longer have the need to listen to the speeches at all the trade shows and conferences.

No one that I know of has ever been able to define what leadership is, much less effective leadership. Part of the reason for that, I think, is because; as Charlie Brown used to say "happiness is different things to different people." On the one hand, people respond differently to different styles, and to further complicate matters, different situations, as we all know, call for differing approaches by the leader.

In my own experience, I come out on the side of what the gurus call "situational leadership." Everybody likes to be liked, but no one ever said that the workplace is a democracy either.

I think most people who are in the role of leader have some sort of philosophy that they bring to that challenge, however acquired, that's what they bring. Along with the philosophy, most of us have some sort of a mantra that we try to keep in mind to help get us through the times when we push forward not really knowing what the outcome will be. For me, it is the well worn words of Lincoln:

"I do the best I know how, the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing it to the end.

If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything.

If the end brings we out all wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference."

Cheerleading may be an important component of the "right now" to help you get through the struggles you are, but long-term, authentic, specific praise is the way to go. "I think you're doing a great job" needs to be completed with a "because" clause so the associate knows what you value.

Do I always succeed at this? Heck no, but I sure try to be specific in my sharings with my associates on an individual level or at a full team meeting. It's tough, but it's worth it.

Jodee, even though I came down kinda hard on the Cheerleader, I can kind of sympathize with them because their heart is in the right place. And morale is such a fragile thing.

Garth, I loved your comment. Being a dad, it seems that we often read our kids a story and start recognizing people in the characters. I've definitely worked with my fair share of Rabbits and Poohs and Piglets. When they start to resemble The Grinch, it's time to move on :)

Okay this may be a little of a swerve from what you were talking about but have you ever imagined your coworkers as cartoon characters. Maybe its the fact that I have two daughters under the age of 4 and I read way too many bedtime stories but the characters of the 100 Acre Wood emerge in my workplace.

Yep I am the eternal optimist and admittedly high energy leader - I see myself (both by strength and weakness) to be T-I double GRR-Er - otherwise known as Tigger. I do have apologize a bit too often it seems for my pre-emptive strikes but at least things get done.

My best friend at work sees the dark lining in every cloud passing by - that's right classic Eeyore! What I love about him though is that although occasionally in the doldrums - he provides me with an opposite perspective on a given issue. Unfortunately though - Eeyore is on the edge of burnout and has taken a reduced role at work as of late.

Rabbit the cynic, the details person, occasionally a little crabby is perhaps more opposite than me than even Eeyore. We often are at opposing sides of an issue and have definitely butted heads.

Winnie the Pooh - I think he's our leader but often doesn't have a clue where we are going. His goal is finding the honey...I'll leave that one alone for now.

Hmmm...who else - I think you get the idea! What characters are living in your forest?

Forgive my wanderings,

G

At the risk of sounding like a cheerleader, RAH, RAH, RAH! I'm sure we all know what it's like to be in the presence of a fear-inducing autocratic dictator - you hear about those all the time. But just as damaging is the leader who is reduced by his/her own fear to a cheering Pollyanna.

It's funny how many leaders - or people thrust or clawed into that role - are clueless as to their impact on the teams they supposedly lead either because they are blinded by their own power or by their own fear.

Ben Zander has it so right - and so do you, Chris. Keep it up!