Computer Leadership

Yesterday we looked at cell phones and leadership. Today we are going to take the technology to something a little larger than the cell phone, the computer. Just like the cell phone computers have evolved over time. We will look at the desktop, the laptop and the tablet and compare this with leadership style.

What kind of computer leader are you?

• Desktop – If you are a desktop computer leader you like stability. You like things to be in one place and always be there when you need them. You are probably a leader who doesn’t travel very often if ever. You are a down to earth leader who also expects your followers to do things by tradition.
• Laptop – If you are a laptop computer leader you love the portability of your leadership. You can lead anywhere and are not afraid to open you leadership skills in other areas of your life. You like change and if you need to make a change you can adapt quickly. You expect your followers to be able to complete things quickly if you ask them to do so.
• Tablet – If you like to use a tablet for your computing then you are an innovative leader. You love the ability to have everything rolled into one item. While a laptop is portable a tablet becomes even more portable. As a leader your mobility is crucial to your role. That is why you like a tablet, it is everything you need to be a mobile leader and it is easy to carry. You expect mobility in your followers. You want them to be able to move from project to project very quickly.

Did you see yourself in one of the computer leadership style?

Cell Phone Leadership

Cell phones have become a way of life for many people. It wasn’t that long ago that the technology of cell phones didn’t exist or only existed in the imagination of some research and development department of some company. Cell phones have also evolved into more than just a phone. I remember my first cell phone was like a brick with an antenna. The battery was enormous and it made hauling the phone around almost inconvenient. Those old phones were strictly phones but now a smart phone is not just a phone but a mini computer. It is amazing what they can do.

Leaders need technology to continue to change and evolve as leaders. What I would like to do today is look at leadership through the technology of the cell phone. You can tell a lot about a person and their leadership style by the cell phone they use. There are three types of cell phones I would like to look at with perspective to your leadership style. Flip phone, Slide out keyboard, Smart phone are the three styles we will look at.

• Flip Phone – If you use a flip phone you are a no frills leader. You prefer the basics and aren’t into all the bells and whistles that go along with leadership. You are the type of leader who likes to role up their sleeves and get in the trenches and do some work.
• Slide Keyboard – If you use this type of phone you have some hidden talent as a leader. You also like to have a little pizzazz in your leadership style. You like conventionality and convenience. You also like texting as opposed to talking that is why you like the keyboard instead of the keypad.
• Smart Phone – No it doesn’t mean you are the smartest leader. It means you love to be on the cutting edge of technology and a leader among leaders. You love being in the limelight and you have to have all of your business with you all the time. No break for a smart phone leader.

Neither of these three are better than the any of the others it tends to be a personal preference. What kind of cell phone leader are you?

Technology Leadership

After a great three day weekend it is back to the leadership discussion.  Today and for the next several days I am going to look at leadership and technology. I will look at the relationship between leaders and the technology they use.

This is a world full of new technology, technology that just 10-20 years ago was non-existent. Some questions to ask as we look at leadership and technology. Are leaders better leaders with the new technology? Can leaders continue to adapt and progress quickly with the new technology? What technology can be used by leaders to make leading easier? Does the leadership style make a difference in the technology used?

As I progress through this leadership series I hope you will share with me your thoughts on technology and leadership. The late Steve Jobs a revolutionary leader in technology did such a good job at presenting that he could probably tell us a rock was the next big thing and people would buy it. I will also look at those leaders in the tech world and whether they are good or bad leaders. Does the leader selling or presenting the technology make a difference in the adaptation of technology?

Cell phones, Ipods, Ipads, Iphones, smartphones, Social media, laptops and tablets are just some of the many technology opportunities at a leaders disposal. I will look at these and possibly others to determine whether it makes a difference?

What devices do you use as a leader?

In Memory and Honor

Memorial Day is more than just the official kick off to summer. In fact it is the time to recognize those who served those who gave their life and those who fought for our freedom.

How many of you today will spend your time remembering a loved one who served and making sure you thank those who are still around for giving their time to serve our country.

My father served in World War II. He was fortunate to not have to serve in combat but instead served in northern Africa in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed at Khartoum Sudan and used to talk quite a bit about his time serving.  

Those who served away from the battle fray tend to talk more about their time in a positive light than those who were on the front lines.  Front lines or not we owe our freedom to all those who served.

My son-in-law is currently serving in the Army. He is currently located in Colorado and has in the past been deployed to Iran. I am very proud that he is working so hard to keep our country safe. All of our current service people deserve our gratitude. I know what a sacrifice it can be he has spent time away from my daughter (his wife) and put his life in danger during fire fights in Iran.

My brother-in-law (My sister’s husband) served in the Marines. My Father-in-law served during veitnam and I have many uncles who have also served.

Take time out today to thank a service man or woman for their sacrifice to our country. If you have loved ones who served who are passed away or died in battle spend some time remembering they put their life on the line for our freedom.

Thank you to all of you for serving!

In memory of my Father George Andersen, he didn’t die in battle but served nonetheless to help secure our freedom.

In honor of my son-in-law, Alan Guggisberg who is currently serving in the Army.

Paddle Away

Memorial Day, is the unofficial start of summer. School is almost out the weather is heating up and more and more people are looking for things to do outside. Families are looking for trips to take and things to do as a family.

As a leader looking for a way to relax on the weekend or during your vacation why not go canoeing. I really enjoy canoeing. When I worked as a counselor at a summer camp oh so many years ago I used to teach intermediate canoeing. Every Friday I would take the campers across the lake to the Sibley State Park building and they would buy candy. It was a fun treat and a fun time.

Canoeing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and the many streams and rivers that exist. One year when I taught 8^th graders we had an end of the year canoe trip and we would take the students down the St. Croix River.

I also remember when I was in 8^th grade going into 9^th grade my church took us on a canoe trip in the BWCA. This is the place you really get to experience canoeing. You get to experience the fun of a portage and the opportunity to canoe on crystal clear lakes along the Canadian border.

Find some time to take your family on a short day canoe trip or better yet spend a week in the BWCA experiencing the greatest canoeing experience ever.

I would love to hear your canoe stories.

Heart Rate

Being a leader can increase your heart rate during times of stress or excitement on the job. On the weekends the last thing you might want to do is increase your heart rate. A good workout is also a great way to relieve stress and get away from the leadership rat race.

Today I found a great way to build your cadio and you don't even have to leave your house. My eleven year old for her birthday bought a a dance game for the Wii and I had a chance to play it with her today and it was a real workout.

I love to play video games to relax and remove myself from the leadership world. This game "Just Dance 3" really got my heart pumping and I really got a good workout. I could see doing this on a regular basis just to increase my heart rate and get a good workout.

For all of you leaders out there looking to find a way to exercise on the weekends I suggest you get your heart pumping with a great cadio workout. Some video games continue to foster a sedentary life but "Just Dance 3" and many others will give you that necessary exercise you need. Don't sit back anymore, get up and get moving this weekend and start that cadio workout.

Left Out

As you compile your project team you need to be sure not to leave out any outfielders. They are an important part of the baseball team and they are also an important part of your project team. In baseball each of the outfielders has different skills that they use. We will look at all three outfielders during this one blog.

There are three outfield positions in baseball, left, center and right. What you want to do for your project team is find someone who has the important skills of all three positions.

• Centerfielder – Needs to be quick and be able to cover a lot of range. They act as the leader in the outfield. Having good leaping abilities help to steal homeruns from opposing batters.
• Leftfielder – Needs to be good at determining distance to avoid running into the wall when chasing foul balls.  They need to be able to handle strange caroms that get caught in the left field corner.
• Rightfielder – Besides the same skills as the leftfielder they also need to have a good arm. Rarely are they throwing to firstbase but they have to be able to have a strong and accurate throw to third and home.

For your project team outfielder the three skills you should look for are the following:

• Speed – Being able to work on tasks quickly to complete them in a timely fashion.
• Play caroms – Being able to handle those twists and curveballs that might come up when working on a project.
• Strong and accurate arm – They can also be one of your heavy lifters with the tasks. Because they work quickly on them they may be able to take on more task for the project.

There you have your ultimate project outfielder. Make sure they are not left out but instead become an integral part of your project team.

Hot Corner

Third base has always been my favorite position in baseball. I didn’t quite have the arm to make that throw across the diamond. That is a key to having a quality third baseman. He needs to have the arm to throw all the way across the diamond to first base.

Third base has always been called the “hot corner” because of the how fast the ball comes off the bat and gets to third. Your third baseman must have quick reflexes to be able to catch those hot smashes. The third baseman also needs to be able to anticipate the bunt.

As you form your project team you will need that third baseman. What will that project third baseman bring to the table?

• A strong arm – The third baseman on your project team will be the one who can do the heavy lifting for the team. They will be able to carry the group and do some of the tasks that require some heavy lifting (crunching numbers, preparing spreadsheets or doing some serious research). 
• Quick reflexes – The third baseman you choose needs to react quickly to change. They need to deliver information quickly and accurately to the group.
• Anticipate the bunt – They need to be able to recognize the small stuff. But they can’t just recognize it but they must react to it quickly. They can’t gloss over the small stuff on the project. You have to have that person who recognizes and reacts to the small but important aspects of the project.

Secure a “hot corner” player and solidify your infield on your project team.

Tomorrow we will look at the outfield positions.

In the Middle

I have been blogging about baseball and building a quality project team. We are in the middle of the infield. The shortstop is a key player on the infield. They tend to be your leader, directing the location of the other fielders and shouting words of encouragement.

The shortstop also plays a similar role as the second baseman. They are part of the double play team and they also take relays from the outfield. The shortstop also must have good range and an accurate arm to make that throw to first base.

As you build your project team you will have to recruit your shortstop. Try not to just get a second baseman and think they can play short. They are similar but there are some differences. Besides the similarities to a second baseman here are the qualities to look for in your project team shortstop.

• Your shortstop must have leadership qualities – They would be the one you would look toward for running part of the project. They should have leader qualities.
• The shortstop must be vocal – You need someone who can encourage and who will stand up for the integrity of the project.
• The person must have good range – They are able to cover a lot of ground when it comes to the project. They can move quickly and do a good job at many of the roles in the project.
• They must have an accurate arm – They need to be accurate in what they do. Having range and doing a lot of different roles isn’t any good if you can’t do them well.

Look throughout your company for that shortstop who can be a key player on your project team. They say in baseball that the strength of a team is evident by the middle of the field. If you have a strong shortstop, second baseman and catcher your project team will find success.

Second Chance

Baseball is a great game. It is also my favorite game. From baseball we can learn a lot of life lessons. I have been comparing each position in baseball with that of a person you would need for a project team.

As a leader you have been given the task to compile a quality team to work on a project. That team should be well rounded and should represent all areas of the company. In baseball each position requires unique skills and those skills are used to create a great baseball team.  In my comparison I am not concerned with hitting that is over and above the fielding.

Today we are looking at your project team second baseman. A second baseman in baseball must be good at the following items to be a good fielding second baseman. They must be able to turn a double play, they must be able to handle the cutoff and get the ball back in quickly.  They also need to be able to apply a good tag on stolen bases.

How does this apply to you compiling a leadership team?

Your project second baseman must have the following qualities:

• Turn the double play – Your team player must be able to recognize 2 for 1s. Be able to negotiate those 2 for 1s and turn them quickly into wins for the project team.

• Handle the cutoff – The project second baseman must be able to handle questions from outside the group and relay them to the group quickly and accurately. You will need that liaison between the project group and the rest of the company.  The second baseman is your person for that role.
• Apply the tag – Your second baseman must be able to apply the tag. That means when situations get out of control they are able to stop problems from happening. They can apply a quick tag to the issue and be able to move on.

To date you should have a pitcher, catcher, first baseman and now a second baseman. Your project team is shaping up well no seconds in this group each one of them will bring quality skills to your team.

Birthday Bash

It has been a busy weekend. Today I spent time at my oldest daughter’s graduation ceremony from William Mitchell Law School. Yesterday we spent time celebrating another daughter’s 11^th birthday. Some weekends can be very busy but as long as it is activities that are different from the work week it can make for a relaxing and quick weekend.

Any time you spend time with family it is also a good time and being able to celebrate with family makes it even better. I know most of you don’t have a birthday to celebrate every weekend of the year. On those weekends when you do be sure to make them special for the person you are celebrating for.

In yesterday’s blog I gave you some tips on how to create a less stress in your planning and celebrating the graduation of a loved one. Today I want to give you some essentials to making sure the person has a happy birthday when you are celebrating their birthday.

·         Food – Tray to always serve a cake and meal that is the favorite of the birthday girl/boy. I remember growing up and my mom always made a cake shaped like an animal or something that was fun.

o   Doing this for the person no matter their age will go a long way in making them smile. I remember as an adult having special meals on my birthday. It makes the person feel special.

·         Atmosphere – Home is always the best option for celebrating birthdays. Make sure the house is neat, clean and if it is nice out that outdoor seating is available.

o   If the home is not available depending on whose birthday it is and if it is a special one find that perfect place that you know they will enjoy.

·         Gifts – Have the person give you a list and try to go off the list if you can. I always like a surprise, my wife has been very good about surprising me with items she knows I will like. If you have children have the children make something for that person. You could make something if you have the skills.

·         Guests – Family, always invite the immediate family. It is time to enjoy their company and spend some time getting caught up with them. If it is a child’s birthday you may have a family party and a kid party. If you throw a kid party, only invite the child’s closest friends, not everyone in the classroom.

This is a special day for that person make it special and let them know how special they are by throwing them a great birthday party.

Open House

It is that time of year when students in High School and College graduate. Many of you may have students who are graduating or know someone who has a child graduating. When those graduations occur you often spend weekends in May and June attending the ceremony and/or open houses.

Here we are, another leadership weekend when you want to relax to escape the rat race of leadership. One way you can do that is by watching the future leaders accomplish their first step toward success by graduating. You may also find yourself attending an open house or maybe you are hosting one.

Sometimes the hosting becomes more stressful than the leadership duties you face on a daily basis. I am spending part of tomorrow attending my oldest daughter’s graduation ceremony from William Mitchell Law School. Huge accomplishment for her and it will be wonderful to watch my daughter receive her diploma. Fortunately we do not have to throw her an open house. That usually occurs when someone graduates from High School.

Here are some pointers for you to help relieve the stress of throwing a graduation open house. Then you can enjoy and join in the celebration of the success of the future leaders.

·         Food – Don’t go overboard or elaborate on the food. Make it easy, like a taco bar or have close family members bring a dish to share.

·         Location – If you have it in your house then you will have to spend time cleaning. Otherwise you can have it in the yard, garage or even at another facility.

·         Guests – Immediate family and close friends. No need to invite everyone.

·         Gift – Be practical and not expensive. You don’t want to stress out over money during such a great occasion.

·         Helpers – Get help with set-up and clean-up. If you can maybe there is a neighbor who also is have a child graduate. Combine efforts and share the duties.

Celebrate that graduation but don’t stress out over it. Follow these five simple steps to a stress free open house.

Who's On First

One of the duties of a leader is to be able to formulate teams that will help you work on a project. One of the most difficult parts of formulating a team is getting the right people in the right roles for the team. Just like baseball you have to have the right people in the right positions to field a championship team.

I am giving you some ways you can field a championship project team by comparing each player on your project team with each position on a baseball team. I have looked at pitcher and catcher. Today we start our move around the diamond.

The old comedy team of Abbott and Costello used to do a famous bit called "Who's on First". It was a great routine which created confusion to the name of the person playing first base. As a leader you want to know the names of the members of your project team. Remembering the names are easy if you can get quality people on your team.

A first baseman has to be able to catch everything that is thrown to him/her. They must also be able to stretch and be able to dig out low throws. The first baseman also needs to be able to react quickly to plays.

Your project team needs a first baseman. Here are the requirements to look for in your first baseman.

• Should be able to handle any question or idea that is given during the team meetings.
• Should be able to stretch their thinking and be able to handle those difficult problems that can occur. Stretching their thinking will help your team grow because they will be the ones to think outside the box or champion those suggestions that are outside the box.
• Should be able to react quickly and make changes in the project, if necessary.

If you want a successful project team then remember who's on first.

Catching On

In baseball the pitcher, as we looked at yesterday may be the most important player on the team. However that pitcher couldn't do it without a battery mate. That battery mate is the catcher. A good catcher needs to be able to call a good game, know how to handle the pitchers and also be able to throw runners out.

We are comparing each position on a baseball team with compiling a quality project team. Yesterday we looked at the pitcher. Today of course it is the catcher. What exactly do the qualities of a catcher have to do with a person on your project team?

As the leader of the team you need someone who can call a good game. You need someone who can make the decisions and make the right decisions. That is one thing your project catcher needs to be able to do. Call the shots of the project and be the driver to make sure those delivering the information are delivering accurate information.

You also need to have someone on your team who can handle issues and problems that might arise. Just like a catcher handles pitchers and goes to the mound to give words of encouragement you need a project catcher who can deliver words of encouragement when the going gets tough.

The last role your project catcher should be able to do is to throw runners out. They should be able to make sure those who aren't performing in the project are removed from the project. Maybe they weren't a good fit for the project. Someone on your team needs to be able to identify those people and throw them out of the project.

Is your project team catching on? Start building a good team by have quality battery mates.

Quality Start

Possibly the most important player on a baseball team is the pitcher. The pitcher stands on the island (pitcher mound) throwing baseballs toward homeplate hoping to out smart the batter and get him/her out. There are three pitchers in baseball, starter, relief and closer. A closer is a relief pitcher but a specialist and within the area of relief pitching there are long relief and set-up.

How does this relate to leadership? As a leader you have to organize a group of people for a project. You need the best people for the project and people who can play specific roles. The pitcher on your team is an important player in that project. You need someone who is a good pitch person, someone who can deliver the information clearly and concisely. Someone who can give you a quality start to the project, or fill in if someone leaves the project. Maybe you need someone who can close the sale.

Let's look specifically at each pitching role and compare it with what you need on your project team.

v  Starting pitcher - The good starting pitcher is someone who can give you some innings over the course of the season and who can give you quality starts day in and day out.

o   Your project starting pitcher is your ace of the project. They will log the hours to get the project completed and they will give you quality work day in and day out.

v  Relief pitcher – A good relief pitcher is one who can give it all they got for 1 or 2 innings to stop or prevent more runs from occurring.

o   Your project relief pitcher is someone who may spend a short time on the project but is able to prevent problems from occurring and is able to give it all they have during their time on the project.

v  Closer – A good closer is a pitcher who can shut the other team down for the last inning thus preserving the win. They usually have great stuff and they work well under pressure.

o   Your project closer is that person who works well under pressure and is able to close out the project for a win. You need to capture that win in your project you need the closer to preserve the win.

What type of pitcher so you want on your project team? Maybe you need one of each. You are the leader you decide how you want this project game played.
 
Start putting your project team together by getting a quality pitcher.

Building a Team

I would like to start a new series on leadership. This series will focus on building a team. Think for a moment that you are starting a business or need a project team. You will be the leader it is time to build your team.

If you have been following my blog you know I like to think of a creative way to present the topic. I am going to relate building a leadership team with baseball. Baseball is a team and requires many positions working in unison to be successful.

During this series you will be the coach and you have to build a team that consists of a Pitcher, Catcher, 1st Baseman, 2nd baseman, shortstop, 3rd baseman, and the three outfield positions. I will look at the qualities to be good at those particular positions and relate it to the type of worker and leader you need for your project.

I am looking forward to presenting this series. Tomorrow we will look at the pitcher role.

Play Ball!!

Mothers Day

It is this time of year, Mothers Day, when I find myself really missing my mom. She has been gone for over 14 years and no matter how old you get there is something about having your mom around for those words of comfort or that wonderful comfort food. Fortunately for me I have my Mother-In-Law and she is a real gem. She always provides those words of comfort and she provides that comfort food.

Take time today to think about your mom. It is Mothers Day and you should be kowtowing to your mom, giving her the credit she deserves. We should give moms credit everyday of the year for how hard they work to make us comfortable and instill the wisdom of the world in each of us.

Moms are true leaders. They are the ones who shape the future by raising children and many working to support their families. On this Mothers Day take time to relax with your mom and tell her how much she means to you. Do something for her. Let her relax from her leadership duties as a mom and you can have an opportunity to serve.

What do you plan to do today for your mom? How do you plan to show her how important she is?

Please share your thoughts about Mothers Day.

Fish Stories

All over the land of 10,000 lakes angles grabbed their fishing equipment and headed for their favorite fishing hole. Today was the 2012 fishing opener in Minnesota an annual right for all fisherman in the state. I am not a big fisherman although I have enjoyed time fishing and I do enjoy it but I am not a die hard who needs to go out on fishing opener.

You might be a leader who enjoys fishing. If that is the case I hope you are spending some relaxing hours on one of the 10,000 lakes we have in Minnesota. Today was an absolute gorgeous day. It may not have been ideal for fishing but it was ideal for relaxing in a boat and enjoying the blue sky and bright sunshine.

Fishing can be a great way to relax and get away from the weekly grind. It is even enjoyable if you don't even catch anything. I am guessing for each one of you who reads my blog you have a fish story to tell. Tell about the one that got away or the one that didn't. Did you mount it on your wall? I love eating fish and I really love eating walleye. Unfortunately I have never caught a walleye. I do have two fish stories to tell and neither involve fish.

When I used to fish on a regular basis my oldest daughter who is now 28 was about 3 and we had gone out on a pontoon. We were all fishing and involved in trying to catch some fish when we turned around and my daughter had two fistfuls of leeches squirming through her fingers. She had opened the leech pail and was enjoying herself as she played with the leeches.

My next story involves a trip to San Diego. I was there on business and we had a Saturday stay over to my boss and I decided to go deep sea fishing. We paid our money for a 9 hour venture on the pacific with many other people. Needless to say I never dropped a line in the water as I spent the better part of the 9 hours blowing chunks into the ocean. I told people I was chumming to attract the fish. I really wanted to catch a nice size tuna. My boss didn't catch anything but he also didn't get sick.

Leadership Friday

Friday, the end of the work week for many but not all of us. At some companies it is casual day a time to dresss down instead of business casual. Do you change the way you lead on Friday?

Today's blog is about your leadership perspective on Fridays. I am not advocating you change your leadership style or how you lead just because it it Friday. It is possible to take care of some things on Friday that you might not during the other days of the week. Make Friday your clean house day. Head into the weekend with some loose ends completed.

Perspective is how you see things. Each leader may see things differently and may make certain tasks more important than other tasks. What I would like to give you in this blog are some things you can do on a Friday that will help make the rest of your leadership week easier.

• Clean up your email box – Delete unnecessary emails and answer those that need attention.
• Finish a project – Set your completion dates on projects for a Friday.
• Hold update meetings – Hold your update meetings for your employees so they can update you on the week and focus on the next week.
• To do list – Make a to-do list for the upcoming week. This way you can hit the ground running on Monday.
• Update your calendar – Look at your calendar for the next week and make sure ever thing is set. Follow-up – Follow-up with any one you have been working with on projects.

Do these things on a Friday and you will find you won’t be worried about work over the weekend. You will also be set for Monday.

Leadership Lapse

Have you ever went a head with a decision only to realize later that it was the wrong decision? Often times we as leaders or even people make decisions on a daily basis that are wrong or maybe not the best decision. We make right and wrong decisions everyday of our life.

Sometimes those decisions can be costly. They can cost you your job, they can cost you money or the company money they can even cost you a delay in finishing the project.

It is hard for leaders to make the wrong decision because it can affect so much around them. Leaders cannot have a lapse in judgement and decision making. They need to have a clear head and they need to think things through before jumping to conclusions.

How do you clear your head so your decisions will be the best decisions possible? It may require removing stress in your life. The daily leadership grind can be pretty stressful but if you following the following steps they will help minimize the stress and help clear your mind for the right decisions.

• Pray - Pray for the peace that passes all understanding.
• Read God's Word - God's Word can help you focus on the higher calling in your life. If reading the bible isn't your thing read something else that is motivational.
• Exercise - Get away from your desk and do some stretches or push ups.
• Take a walk - Take a walk outside or around the building but get away from your desk
• Work on something mindless like purging emails.
• Take a lunch - Drive to a nearby park or lake and just refresh during lunch.
• Listen to some music on your Ipod

If you can follow these stress reducers you will be on your way to having a clear mind. No more leadership lapses when you are making decisions.

Number 1

Looking out for numero uno! Sometimes this is the philosophy of many people. If you are a leader who has that mentality you may be doing yourself, your employees, and your company a big disservice. A leader really needs to have you first me second mentality. It really becomes an issue to make sure you are taking care of those around you before you take care of yourself. If you take care of those around you first you will actually be helping yourself. That may seem counter intuitive but it really works. When you only take care of yourself then people tend to resent you and not respect you. But if you are willing to help others you will find them helping you and doing what you ask this will in turn make you look better.

Here are some steps you can make to take care of number 1 by taking care of those around you first.

• Listen - Listen to the needs of employees and co-workers.
• Empower - Make sure your employees and co-workers have the ability to make decisions and follow through. Empower them with projects and tasks.
• Encourage - Encourage those around you to spread their creative wings. Get them to think outside the box. This can even work in a concrete department like accounting.
• Motivate - Give the words necessary to motivate those around you to reach beyond their goals, stretch their skills and get excited about what they do.
• Communicate - Talk to them. Don't isolate yourself. No one is better than the next person so don't lord your leadership over anyone.

Follow these steps to taking care of those you lead and they will end up taking care of number 1.

1990s Leadership

Today will mark the final segment of my series on decade leadership. I have really enjoyed presenting my idea on what kind of leadership style you are based upon the events of a decade. Today I am going to look at the 1990s or the nineties.

The Nineties was considered the true dawn of the information age. It wasn't because information technology was invented in the nineties, it was created well before that time. It is because this information technology became more accessible to the general public. Cell phones, world wide web, email, MP3 players, DVD players and portable CD players all became accessible to the public and less expensive.

The Nineties, like the seventies saw a President get impeached. This time however Clinton didn't resign like Nixon. He stayed in office and was acquitted by congress. He was impeached for perjury during his testimony in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The country was glued to the television as a white Ford Bronco cruised through the freeways of LA carrying OJ Simpson. He later went to trial for murder and was found not guilty, the trial gripped America. The Oklahoma City Federal building was bombed by Timothy McVeigh in 1995. He claimed it was retaliation for the Waco massacre that occurred in 1993.

The nineties also saw a devastating school shooting at Columbine High School that changed the way schools conducted security. A number of plane crashes occurred during the nineties, most notably Trans World flight 800, crashed in New York. America also became involved in the Gulf war to help Kuwait Iraq.

What kind of leader are you if you are a 1990s leader? You are the type of leader who takes old innovations and is able to refine and make them better. You are the type of leader who can take ideas and help make them reality for everyone. You are a brash leader, someone who stands their ground despite others wanting to get rid of you. You have a flair for the dramatic and what you do seems to capture the imagination of others. You are imaginative and are able to create despite danger at every turn. It is almost as if you work better under pressure.

Be a leader under pressure, innovate and captivate, be a 1990s leader.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the photo and the decade information.

1980s Leadership

The Eighties! The decade of MTV, big hair, leg warmers, Rubik's cube and Pac Man. It was a decade that saw great prosperity after the energy crisis of the late seventies. It also saw a time of change in the world of business. Many companies went multinational and started to relocate or open new facilities in China, Malaysia, Mexico and South Korea, to name a few. It also brought us an actor turned President, Ronald Reagan who coined a famous quote "Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this wall". That quote was given at the Brandenberg gate in 1987. In November of 1989 the Belin Wall fell and East Germany was now free from Communism.

The Eighties was not without trouble. This was the decade that saw the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that sent a panic of nuclear proportions throughout the globe. This decade also saw the space shuttle challenger blow up shortly after lift off. Shutting down the space program during the investigation. However, the space shuttle program didn't end, America forged ahead with space exploration. The Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska during 1989. Mount St. Helens erupted and there was a major earthquake in California putting a stop the the World Series for a number of days.

So what kind of leader are you if you are a 1980s leader?

You are the type of leader that is an agent of change. You embrace change and you encourage change. You also do not let trouble get in your way of success. You find ways to forge ahead even when the going seems tough.

You also are the type of leader who is willing to speak out against ideas that are archaic, old fashion and outdated. You are also the type of leader who embraces the latest fads, fashions and ideas. You realize these are necessary if the change is to be successful. You see opportunities and you find ways to turn them into profit.

Embrace change, be an eighties leader.


Photo and information about the eighties courtesy of Wikipedia.

Horsing Around

Saturday saw the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. While I am not a huge horse racing fan I do love the excitement and elegance of the Kentucky Derby.  One of my daughters also is into horseback riding and takes lessons every week so I have a little more interest in it then I ever did before. Unfortunately I missed the race on Saturday but did see the final leg on the sports and it looked like a great finish for I'll Have Another.

If you are a leader looking for something to do on the weekend that will take you away from the stress filled world of leadership try horsing around. Maybe you spent the day at the horse track betting on your favorite horses, drinking mint juleps and watching elegant equine run around the track. Other items you can do is ride a horse yourself. Take the family on a trail ride and enjoy the outdoors. I am sure you won't have to go as fast at the horses in the Kentucky Derby did but you can enjoy a leisurely walk on the trail.

My daughter with the horse she rides

Horses aren't only for racing. My daughter is learning the equestrian style of competition and hopefully we will get an opportunity to watch her compete soon. There are also those who love a great western and what better way to enjoy the west then to take in a rodeo.

If you like horses there are many things that you can do that are horse related. Take some time one of these weekends to enjoy the finer side of horsing around and take in a race, or jumping, riding, roping or just watching.

Community Center

Trying to relax on the weekend can become a challenge because you have to fit everything in that you can't get done during the week and you still want to spend time with your family. Today I had to get up early and my son and I had to attend Little League Opening day. Then after the parade we had to play a game. It was a pretty busy morning. After this one of my daughters had to be run to her grandmas house with a friend so they could go to the mall. The other daughter was having a party at the Maple Grove Community Center. I ran there with my son to spend the last hour at the center.

Courtesy Maple Grove Community Center

The place was a buzz with activity. As the rain poured down outside the young the old and the families were spending time swimming, spending time in the indoor playground or in the gymnasium. There is a lot to do at these community centers and communities all over are spending money to build these commmunity centers.

They are a great place to have parties, many have party rooms that you can rent, then spend time using the facilities. You can purchase yearly memberships that allow you access to the facilities. These community centers are great places to take your family. Many have pools some with water slides. The maple Grove community center has a concession stand and an indoor ice rink.

A community center is a place you can take your family and spend the whole day and never get bored. If you are looking for a great way to relax from the stress filled week of leadership then spend a day with your family at a community center near you. You might come away thinking "that wasn't relaxing", that is because kids will be yelling and enjoying themselves. Don't stress out over it but sit back and enjoy the sounds of joy and fun from your family. Don't just sit back, get involved and have some fun yourself, afterall you deserve it.

What is your favorite thing to do at a community center?

For more information on the Maple Grove Community Center please follow this link.

Decade Leadership Again

I hope you have been enjoying my series on decade leadership. I have been enjoying writing it. We are coming to the weekend and I will resume the Decade Leadership series again on Monday. I am still looking for comments and suggestions for other leadership concepts and ideas you would like me to address.

If you want to review the Decade Leadership series go ahead and re-read some of the articles. I also did a fun article that compared leadership with certain superheroes. You can review those again.

In the meantime return to my blog often and review many of the articles. Also this weekend enjoy my ongoing series that looks at leisureship. This series looks at ways leaders can relax on the weekend.

That is what I will be looking at tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

1970s Leadership

After a break yesterday I am going to get back to my series on decade leadership. Today we are going to look at the glorious seventies. I spent my formative years in the seventies and enjoyed that decade. The 1970s became known as the "Me Decade" not because I spent my teenage years in the seventies but because more people moved away from the idea of community and more to the individual.

The Vietnam war ended in the seventies and so did the hippie movement. We saw the resignation of President Nixon under the turmoil of the Watergate cover up. We saw two peaks in a decade long energy crisis which lead to stagflation and the worst economic times since the great depression. We also saw the rise to power of women in certain countries throughout the globe. The Cold War also continued during the seventies.

The seventies also saw the rise of some great innovations. Pocket calculators, the first rudimentary personal computer, video games, the Sony Walkman and the VCR were all part of the innovations of the seventies. Think of how each of these items helped pave the way for more efficient and better products. These were the innovation building blocks for many things we use today.

Let's not forget that during the latter part of the seventies Disco music became popular. In response to this Rock and Roll became a little harder and edgier.

So what are the traits of a 1970s Leader?

A seventies leader is someone who is an innovator. Someone who is on the cutting edge of technology. Someone who leads their company or the world in great ideas and they are able to turn those ideas into product.

A seventies leader is also someone who is concerned more about himself than about others. They are willing to do what it takes to be successful even if it might cost them their leadership. The seventies leader also is able to react to tough times they are able to compensate for an economic downturn by creating cutting edge technology.

Are you a seventies leader? Do you have what it takes to disco your way to the top? Be a seventies leader and start turning your ideas into building blocks for future technology giants.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the picture and the information about the seventies.

Short Break

I have been blogging a series on decade leadership but today I am taking a one day break to write about something else. It is still leadership in nature. One thing I would like to address first is you my audience. I appreciate you taking the time to read my blogs. I would love for each of you to follow my blog and to leave me comments if anything strikes your fancy.

Leadership is a role we all take on at some time in our life. You may not be a leader of a major corporation but you might be a leader at your church, in a club you joined or just at home as you mentor and lead your family.

Do you find yourself thinking that when you are in that leadership role that your ideas are always right? Do you find yourself forging ahead without consulting or talking to others? If so it is time to step back and take a break. One of the most important aspects of being a leader is listening. Listen to the needs of those around you. You don't have to do everything they suggest but you should at least listen.

Instead of making those decisions on your own. Listen to those around you their ideas my be great and you don't want to miss a great idea.

That is what my short break is about. It is about my readers. I want to hear from you. I want to hear what types of leadership topics do you want me to write about. Let me know. Who knows you might soon see your suggestion in writing.

1960s Leadership

The Sixties!

One of the most controversial decades and one that also changed the face of life as we knew it. It was the decade of free love, hippies, drugs, assasinations, space, war, civil rights, and anti-establishment. Quite a bit happened in the sixties that shaped the way society and the world thought. No longer were we in the picturesque America of the 1950s.

Civil rights became a prominent feature during the sixties and it helped pave the way for equal rights for minorities and women. Great leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. were able to rally thousands of people to follow their dream of freedom and equality. MLK's life was cut short in an assassination but the work he did for civil rights paved the way for history some 40 years later when America voted in the first African American President.

There were anti-war demonstrations, feminism demonstrations and civil rights marches, all in the name of Freedom. Everyone had a cause that they wanted to stand up for and believe in. People were no longer going to accept life as it was, they wanted change.

If you are a sixties leader, what kind of leader are you? A sixites leader is an agent of change. They are someone who doesn't want to stay with the status quo. They want change and they are willing to lead and inspire groups of people to follow their dream. The sixties leader is also very innovative and is on the cutting edge of greatness. In the early sixties JFK said we would land a man on the moon and in 1969 America landed the first man on the moon. True innovation is being able to deliver when and what you say you will deliver.

The sixties leader is also controversial. They aren't going with the norm and thus can tend to make waves and cause a lot of eyebrows to be raised. The sixties leader with their power can capture the imagination of a company and ride the enthusiasm to greatness.

The sixties leader is charismatic. Do you have the charisma to be a sixties leader? Peace, love and lead.

Thanks to Wikipedia as a reference for the picture and the sixties content.