Right Wisdom

Today we finish our look at Olympic leadership by claiming the gold medal of leadership and standing proud to say that we have reached the pinnacle of leadership. That doesn’t mean that once you are working at the gold standard of leadership that you sit back and don’t look to improve. Regardless of what level of leadership you are at you always want to look for ways to improve and make yourself even a better leader. What does it take to be a gold leader? Let me share an Olympic story. A few days ago the Men’s 400m race was run. The gold medal winner of that race was Kirani James from Grenada. It was the first medal won for the country of Grenada. It was what Kirani did during the semis that makes him a real gold medal winner. After he won his semi final race he went over to a South Africian runner, Oscar Pistorius. Kirani exchanged name tags with Oscar. It is my understanding that this is a sign of respect to the other athlete. You see, Pistorius is a double amputee and the first...

Today it is time to look at what it takes to be a silver medal leader. Yesterday I looked at bronze leadership tomorrow will be gold. As I had said in my previous two blogs being silver or bronze isn’t like losing it is just being at a different stage in your leadership journey. On the Olympics today a US track athlete (Lashinda Demas) was favored to win the Women’s 400 hurdles but ended up earning the silver. Afterward during an interview she said she wouldn’t stop until she earned the gold. She said she will be back in 4 years. That is one of the marks of a silver leader. A silver leader never gives up and continues to work hard toward the gold. What are some other marks of a silver leader? A silver leader is making some smart decisions. A silver leader has the respect of some top people within the organization. A silver leader has a vision and is working on gaining followers to accept and embrace the vision. Silver leadership is the next podium up from b...

What does it mean to be a bronze leader? As I said in yesterday’s blog I am going to add a little Olympic flair to the idea of leadership and look at what it takes to be a gold, silver and bronze leader. Today we are looking at the bronze leader. In the Olympics the difference between third and first can be a matter of hundredths of seconds or hundredths of points. Bronze leadership isn’t bad it represents an emerging leader a leader who might make some mistakes but a leader who is working hard to be a great leader. Bronze, silver and gold leadership all represent different levels of leadership. In some parts of leadership you might be a bronze leader but in others you could be a gold leader it all depends on your reaction to the situation and your ability to lead in those situations. What does it take to be a bronze leader? A bronze leader has definite leadership ability. A bronze leader makes mistakes but works hard at improving those mistakes. A bronze leader is gain...

If you have been watching the Olympics I hope you have been enjoying the competition. With each event they give away a bronze for third, silver for second and gold for first. Leadership is a lot like the Olympics. It isn’t about being first or competing with other leaders instead it is about working hard to do your best that you can do. Athletes in the Olympics have reached the height of their sport. They have worked endless hours and suffered injuries to reach this level of competition. Over the next several days I will look at the gold, silver and bronze level of leadership. It isn’t that one is better than the other but it is more like one is a step closer to the other. Sometimes in the Olympics the difference between first and third is a mere hundredths of seconds. One small error can move someone from the gold medal favorite to the silver medalist. You also well see athletes who four years ago came in third but worked hard over the four year period to reach gold. In the wo...