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The Leadership Advisor
"Helping Leaders Develop Leaders"
July 2008 - Volume 3 Edition 6
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Football faith

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attemp to acquire it." ~ Albert Einstien

"Wisdom is applying my accumulated knowledge and experience effectively to situations." ~ Phil Eastman, Founder & President, Leadership Advisors Group

"Football is an honest game; it's true to life; it's a game about sharing. Football is a team game; so is life." ~ Joe Namath

"Most things in life break, including hearts. The lessons of life amount to wisdom and a few scars and calluses." ~ Unknown

"In football, the fundamentals never change. Just like God, He never changes." ~ Peter Oliver

Wisdom
By Phil Eastman

It would be a mistake to address the subject of wisdom without introducing the ancient Hebrew King, Solomon. Most are familiar with the story of two women going before the king, both claiming that an infant a child was their own. Long before DNA could have solved the challenge for Solomon, the king demonstrated his incomparable wisdom and offered to have the child cut in half thus providing equal portions of the child to each woman. This offer quickly elicited a response from the child's real mother who gladly gave up her claim to save the child's life. This stroke of wisdom saved the child's life and provided the rightful answer for Solomon.

The source of Solomon's wisdom is said to have come to him following a conversation with God in which God offers Solomon anything he desires. During that fateful conversation, the young king had the presence of mind to ask for wisdom above all else. (Obviously, he already possessed some wisdom because his choice alone was wise.)

What then makes wisdom so valuable? It is wisdom that allows you to apply your collective experience and the collective experience of others, to the most challenging leadership situations. For this reason, Solomon pursued the acquisition of wisdom as part of his character and we should do the same.

Because wisdom is so valuable to defining the character of the leader it is necessary to break wisdom into three components for study, understanding, and development. The three major components:
  • Self-awareness
  • Knowledge
  • Action

    • 1) Self-Awareness
    To have an intimate self-awareness means as a leader you need to spend time understanding your own nature, background and worldview. Each of these aspects has inevitably given rise to your leadership philosophy and the leadership style you display. This sort of introspection is necessary since most people don't really understand how they are wired or how their background and worldview play a role in the way their leadership is demonstrated. Becoming aware of how you gather, process and act on information is critical for gaining wisdom.

    To have a realistic self-awareness recognizes the obvious, each of us have strengths and weaknesses. From a leadership standpoint it is not whether you have strengths and weaknesses but rather, knowing what they are, emphasizing your strengths and compensating for your weaknesses. For many years leadership development advocated that we should attempt to teach leaders to overcome their weaknesses. Normal improvement not withstanding, to the extent these "weaknesses" are part of our nature, there is very little anyone can or should do to overcome them. Those shortcomings which can be attributed to the leader's background or worldview, can be changed if in fact they are inhibiting the growth of leadership.

    To make the point about self-awareness even more acutely let's explore a leadership condition which is the antithesis of self-awareness; narcissism. Fortunately we don't often encounter this condition in its full bloom in consulting engagements. However when we do, the effects of narcissism are tragically debilitating to the team and destructive to the organization.

    Narcissism is defined in the psychological world as, "an intense self regard or self love that manifests as an overwhelming desire to be the center of attention; the mistaken notion that one's answers are the best and that indeed they have all the answers." A narcissistic leader generally communicates a lack of respect for their team, and exhibits disingenuous behavior that undermines the expertise of the team's best people which ultimately leads to organizational mediocrity or destruction. The leader surrounds himself with only those willing to submit to his inflated view of his own skills and abilities.

    ~ The Charming Narcissist
    We have seen this leadership style only twice in ten years. Both times, the organizations had a clear vision, a compelling plan and a strong team. Both were led by charming narcissists who had to be involved in every decision, informed of every issue and who would eventually undermine the responsibility of their most capable team members. This form of leadership is a perverted way of demonstrating their self importance and illusion of superiority. What makes the charming narcissist so dangerous is not just their lack of self-awareness, but the illusion they project of actually being self-aware. They invite debate and discussion while all the time knowing deep down that they were going to pursue their own path anyway.

    These leaders would benefit from a quick reading of The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson. Remember the tale? A narcissistic king was convinced his new suit of clothes were the most wonderful in all the land because a conniving tailor had sewn the clothes from invisible thread. In fact there were no clothes at all and the King was wandering the streets completely naked. It took a small child to speak the truth to the King who was first aghast and then embarrassed by his gaff.

    ~ The Charismatic Narcissist
    The charismatic narcissist is similar to the charming narcissist but instead of listening to the little boy, they would have him sent to the tower for the rest of his life for his comments and then alternatively taken him out from time to time to be beaten for not telling the King soon enough about the predicament. This type of abusive leadership has never worked for any extended time throughout history, (i.e. Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, and Saddam Hussein), and will not work in the future, except for the leaders and followers caught in a web of self denial and deceit.

    In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins shares the findings of his research team about the type of leadership it takes to make the leap from a good company to a great company. His team discovered that the type of leadership that epitomized the CEO's of the companies they studied was a "mysterious mix of personal humility and professional will." In other words the CEO's challenged themselves and their teams to achieve but that drive was never centered in the CEO's desire for self aggrandizement.

    No matter the type of organization you lead, you will only find lasting results and satisfaction if you embrace the challenge of becoming intimately and realistically self- aware enough to develop a humble and driven approach to your character and thus your leadership. If you will admit your nakedness (which by the way, everyone around you already knows) before your people, they will embrace your honesty. For the record, as leaders, we are all naked.

    2) Knowledge
    The second component of wisdom is the willingness and ability of a leader to accumulate the knowledge that is critical to tackling the organization's most challenging situations. Leaders must be avid students of their environment, rather than mere commentators on the events in their organization; they must be curious observers of what works and what does not work. Accumulation of knowledge is a critical element in the development of wisdom and the character of leadership. This also means looking outside the organization and the leader's immediate experiences. The willingness to remain teachable allows for unrestrained leadership growth and team development. A teachable spirit lets the leader avoid what John Maxwell called, "the law of the lid," where a leader essentially caps off the team and the organization's growth by stagnating in their leadership.

    3) Action
    Leaders must be action oriented to effectively navigate the challenges that confront them and take advantage of the opportunities that emerge daily. From a wisdom perspective, merely having knowledge is not enough. The willingness to take risks, act independently and to make use of plans to align resources and activities is an essential portion of the triad of components of wisdom.

    . . .to read the remainer of this article, please click on the Wisdom icon. . .

    Phil Eastman is the founder and president of Leadership Advisors Group, a Boise-based consulting firm. Phil combines more than 25 years of leadership experience with his passion for consulting, coaching, and teaching to develop leaders, build teams, and improve performance. It is his desire to enhance leadership effectiveness for all of his clientele.

    Phil earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Management and Organization from Idaho State University. He is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington where he is also an instructor. Phil also holds a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies from Bethel Seminary.
    Peter Oliver
    By Lorene Rasmussen

    Sushi . . . most of us know it as "raw fish" but the literal Japanese meaning is, "it's sour!" Either way, that's exactly how today started out, "raw and sour." I missed the alarm, so I didn't get my run in; I went to my computer hoping to find an email from a dear friend that I had a grave misunderstanding with yesterday; and of all days to be stuck in the office working and the weather outside was picnic perfect! The only thing that I had to look forward to was a lunch appointment with this month's featured business leader, Peter Oliver.

    I've met Peter several times before, but I never had the opportunity to talk to him at length to get a feel for his conversational style. With all the morning's mishaps, it was my desire to put them behind me so I could be present with my new acquaintance. The 30 minute drive in the beautiful sunshine was my last chance to make sense of my notes and create some mental space before reaching the sushi restaurant where we agreed to meet. (I love my job!)

    I was standing in the restaurant near a water feature, watching goldfish swim and thinking absurd thoughts about growing my own sushi, when Peter walked in. Have you ever had that brief moment when you meet someone and you're not sure if you should shake their hand or give them hug? I had one of those moments. . . but I'm sure to Peter's relief, I shook his hand and our chatter commenced.

    As we sat looking over the menu, I asked Peter to begin telling his story. Like many others, he asked, "how far back do you want me to go?" Which I replied, "how much do you want to tell?"

    Peter started, "I was a Taos, New Mexico hippie kid that was adopted. At the age of 8 my adoptive father passed away and afterwards I had a couple step-dads that were very poor role models." (Ok, I was stunned to say the least. This wasn't quite the beginning I expected to hear but then again, it wouldn't be a story if it was predictable.)

    "So how does one get from Taos, New Mexico to Boise, Idaho?" I asked.

    At an early age, Peter found solace and role models within the Christian faith. When other little boys hated the very idea of "having to go to church," Peter would get himself ready and attend church by himself. The same faith that got him through life in Taos, is the same faith that brought him to Boise many years later.

    "Lorene, faith is central to everything I do." Peter said, as he took another bite of something raw. The Bible verse that Peter claims as his own comes from the writings of the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans, "And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God. . ."

    Another traveling partner from Peter's youth which provided him direction and role models was the game of football. "In football the fundamentals never change." Peter added, "Just like God, He never changes."

    "Hmmm. . . Faith, football and the fundamentals, now that preaches!" I thought to myself.

    Peter played offensive lineman in high school and then again in college. "I found that playing the offensive line position prepared me for life." He said. "You don't get a lot of kudos; you have to think on your feet; it's mentally tough; and you need to be self motivated."

    "But do you get hurt? That's what I want to know. I hate getting hurt!" I wondered quietly. "But wait, getting hurt is also a part of life, yet it doesn't stop me from remaining in the game."

    By the time high school graduation rolled around, Peter already knew he wanted to pursue the real estate industry but he hadn't made a decision on college. He remembers a buddy calling from a beach in San Diego inviting him to the University of San Diego. Apparently the school had a floundering football team needing an offensive lineman. The catch? No scholarships!

    Peter joined his buddy in San Diego and walked on as a freshman player. The first year was dismal, 1 win, 8 losses, and 1 tie. His sophomore year saw some improvement, 5 and 5. By the time Peter graduated, the team was 7 and 3, and savoring the most success the team had experienced in years. Peter and 20 other guys that built the team from floundering to fantastic are still friends today, including coach.

    After graduating from college with a B.S. degree in Business Economics, Peter joined CB Richard Ellis firm in San Diego. He sharpen his real estate skills under the mentoring of Brett White, now President and CEO of CB Richard Ellis. In 1991, Peter was named Rookie of the Region, while he continued to focus on office and flex brokerage specialties.

    Peter was a young, successful business man and married to a California native. When it was time for them to start a family, they began looking for places to raise children. The criteria was simple, a good quality of life, outdoor experiences, and a place that was conducive to raising children.

    Peter had never visited Boise but heard of it's reputation for being a great place to live. Of course, anybody that has ever been to Idaho, knows "this is the land of milk & honey . . .and potato chips . . .and micro chips . . .and cow chips and. . ."

    With only signed papers for a partnership in a brand new real estate brokerage firm, Peter and his wife Julie packed up and moved to Boise, making this their home since 1992. Peter was so serious about the change, he promised Julie he'd flip hamburgers if he needed to in order for them to live in Boise.

    Peter has been dubbed as, "a tireless visionary." When I asked him about it, his reply was modest yet truthful. "Yes, I could work around the clock but I don't. I have four boys at home that need my time and attention way more than my work does."

    Work/life balance is not only one of Peter's personal values; it is a value at Brighton Corporation where he is currently a partner. As a sought-after real estate professional, Peter's goal within Brighton is to expand the office, industrial, and flex portfolio. A mentor of Peter's once told him, "Being a developer is the real test of your stomach lining."

    At the age of 26, Peter, along with Tim Thornton and Mike Keller, co-founded Idaho's largest commercial real estate brokerage and management companies known as, ThorntonOliverKeller. Four years ago this August, Peter sold his share to join the Brighton Corporation. I asked Peter if it was strange to sell his name. He said, "No. From the conception of TOK, we envisioned a company that would create opportunities for others that would remain long after the three of us were gone."

    Earlier I asked, "so how does one get from Taos, New Mexico to Boise, Idaho?" Well, for Peter Oliver he relied on prayer, his personal faith, a strong stomach lining, and five fundamentals:
  • Show up
  • Show up on time
  • Show up prepared
  • Do what you said you would do
  • Do what you said you would do and for the price you said you would do it

    • Peter's personal mantra is, "to serve at the feet of people." One can easily see the Biblical picture of The Lord's Last Supper where Jesus honors His disciples by humbly washing their feet. Whether in business or personal relationships, that level of humble, honoring service is seldom exhibited.

    Everybody has "raw and sour" days but it doesn't mean we quit the game. Like Peter Oliver, I too accept the words from the apostle Paul, "And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God. . ." Even though I can't name ALL the things that are being worked out in my life, I want to join Peter and ". . . serve at the feet of people."

    Epilogue: The time with Peter helped change my perspective. Today ended much better than it started, despite the fact I never heard from my friend . . . perhaps tomorrow.

    Peter, thank you for not only sharing your story, but how you live your life!

    Faith, Football, and The Fundamentals is #6 in a series of interviews with local leaders, business owners, and personal heroes.

    Lorene Rasmussen is the Partner for Business Operations which guides and supports the daily and strategic operations of Leadership Advisors Group. She combines a unique sense of fun and organization to insure operations run smoothly and that clients receive the highest quality service possible.

    Lorene earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in marketing from Boise State University and is a certified Life Coach through Genesis Enterprises in Seattle, Washington.
    Leadership Advisors Group helps clients achieve success through:
    • Competency based and character driven leadership development.
    • Comprehensive, flexible, and focused strategic plans.
    • Results oriented change management.

    You are receiving this email from Leadership Advisors Group because you are a valued client, have requested information regarding our services, or you are part of a highly respected organization. To ensure that you continue to receive emails from us, please add phil@leadershipadvisors.com to your address book.

    "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day." ~ Abraham Lincoln

     Abe Lincoln
    Phil Eastman & Lorene Rasmussen
    Leadership Advisors Group

    phone: (208) 344-0471
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