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 Mike Malinchok
S2K Consulting, LLC offers one-on-one executive coaching, team coaching, and leadership training. You can choose to follow the Energy Leadership Development System, a focused one-on-one coaching program that is customized based on your specific goals and objectives, or we can create a unique program designed for your specific goals.
The name of this newsletter 'The Second Cup' was originally based on my own morning routine that requires a second cup of coffee before the cognitive portion of my day begins.
Recently,though, a good friend told me about the ancient Himilayan customs around sharing of a special tea mixture known as paiyu cha. Tradition goes that the second cup of the mixture is reserved for sharing with an honored guest.....a good friend.
The first reason tells you something about me. And, the second one......is all about you, my good friend.
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Greetings!
Leading from a pedestal is not as effective as leading by example.
Agree or disagree? And, the logical next question is: where do you lead from....a pedestal or the 'trenches'?
Stepping back a bit, do you accept the premise that you are a leader? If you don't, my question to you would be....'why not'? If you do, my question would pose a challenge to you to rank how well you're doing as a leader.
Make no mistake, whether you are the CEO of a company, a junior sales associate, an hourly manual laborer or a stay-at-home parent.............you are the leader of your life. And, the sooner you embrace the role and all the rewards and opportunities it brings, the sooner you'll begin to realize your fullest potential.
Last month we began a discussion of the characteristics of anabolic and catabolic leaders, and how the anabolic leader "leads," while the catabolic leader "manages." Another distinction between catabolic and anabolic leaders is that catabolic leaders "delegate," while anabolic leaders "participate." (Notice I said participate and NOT micro-manage!)
Bear with me, on this, because upon first pass, this idea might go a little bit contrary to what is viewed as the traditional approach to leadership.
Most of us have been taught that delegating is something that we need to do in order to be effective leaders and to get things done. And in fact, that is true - but anabolic leaders take it a step further. When a catabolic leader delegates a task to someone else, that leader, in effect, wipes his or her hands of the task. When an anabolic leader participates in the task with another person, the other person knows that they are supported and valued while they are doing the work. Participating certainly doesn't mean that the leader needs to do all, most, or even any of the work - it implies being available to other people without hesitation. It means that employees know that the leader is willing to personally do anything that he or she asks them to do.
Let's take a look at an example of this. Imagine the following scenario. A small business owner is expanding from two retail locations to three. The owner of the company assigns tasks to the key staff. In Catabolic Company A, the owner gets occasional progress reports, but remains out of the picture until everything is done, at which point the staff is either praised or reprimanded based on what they've accomplished. In Anabolic Company B, the owner not only follows up frequently with the staff, but is also on hand to pitch in and work alongside them, letting everyone know that he is part of the team, and that he is willing to do whatever he asks them to do. The staff knows where they are at all stages of the project, because the leader has been "in the trenches" with them.
In which company are the workers more likely to be engaged and want to do a good job? Which leader is more likely to command respect and loyalty, and inspire greatness in others?
So think about this and try it out with two projects you might have on your plate right now. Lead from the pedestal on one project and open yourself up to lead 'by example' on the other. Be mindful of your own actions/thoughts/feelings and be as observant as you can about who you're working with on the projects, the results obtained, and the overall engagement by your staff or family members involved.
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SOMETHING TO CONSIDER:
Is your organization in the throws of a transition that is just not going smoothly? Is your leadership team not playing from the same 'song book'? Do you need to wake up your staff to the fact the 'old' ways are no longer working?
S2K has developed a dynamic 4 hour in person seminar entitled the 'Cycle of Change' designed to help companies recognize the unique dynamics typically at play in a changing environment that will impede progress. This seminar can be taylored for senior leadership or line management to most effectively help companies break through old patterns of doing business that are no longer working. Contact S2K to receive documentation on this timely and powerful seminar.
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FRONT PORCH READING:
Letters to My Son
A father's wisdom on manhood, women, life, and love by
Kent Nerburn
New World Library 1994
My will stipulates that my children must read this book before receiving any of my belongings...I feel that strongly about it. I recently lost my father, who mostly led from a pedestal as did most men raising children in the 60's and 70's. While I didn't always flourish under his leadership style, I always respected and am grateful that he accepted and stepped up to the role of leader of my family. His love and committment to our well being was never in question. Books like this help all of us who are leading our families today embrace a more anabolic style of parenting. I hope you get as much out of it as I have.
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Thanks for sharing your 'second cup' with me, my good friend and LEADER!
Looking forward to our next time,
Mike Malinchok, CPC
President S2K Consulting, LLC
www.s2konpurpose.com |
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