I'm reading two books right now on leadership,  On is Onward by Howard Schultz in which he describes the circumstances which led him back to being the CEO at Starbucks.  So far (about 1/3 through) there have been some interesting lessons about customer service and and general leadership.  Probably what has stood out the most is his passion for the company.  Passion is a powerful force and it is obvious that Schultz is deeply committed to Starbucks.  This kind of passion is one of the marks of level 5 leaders and requires more than many will be able to "pay."  It requires commitment and belief to something greater than ourselves.  So far I have found the story interesting and Schultz's passion and attempts to be even handed in addressing poor decisions commendable.  I have been inspired but I have also wondered how thick this book would have actually been if the self-validating stories were cut out.  Don't get me wrong, this is worth reading and discussing.  I'll share more as I get deeper into the book.

This is also the case for Joseph Michelli in the New Gold Standard.  This book describes how the Ritz Carlton Hotel chain came to be a leader in customer service and "5 Leadership Principles for Creating a Legendary Customer Service Experience."  I'm about half way through this book and while parts of it delve into too much detail about issues that are too specific to the hotel business to be applicable, overall this is an must read for those truly interested in customer service.  Honestly, this is one of the areas, in my opinion, where leadership often falters.  The focus on the goal tends to neglect the ground gained and by so doing undercuts the ability to sustain long-term success.

Last week I had the chance to conduct a portion of the pre-conference for the annual conference of the Center for Research on Adult Learning (CRAL) as well as making a presentation in the conference itself.  I renewed friendships with colleagues I have met from other schools over the years and started some new friendships.  Probably the best part of the conference was the chance to spend significant time with Dave Phillips.  Dave is like my brother.  We met at a conference in Chicago several years ago and rarely see each other more than a few days once a year at conferences, yet there is always the sense that we have known each other forever.  Dave is a leader.  His contributions to NBC will be recorded in the history books as the prime factor in the longevity of that institution and it's impact upon the Nazarene denomination through online education.  He is a leader, yet he is quiet, unassuming and gracious.  He truly exemplifies the level 5 leader that Jim Collins talks about in Good to Great.  I know others who are touted as leaders who are pompous, obnoxious, and overbearing.  Their very demeanor is offensive and yet they are perceived as leaders because who else would have the audacity to give orders, make decisions, or make rude behavior their norm.  When will we say enough is enough?  The ends do NOT justify the means.

I have to say I'm pretty excited about the upcoming release of my book: Discipleship with James.  I've been working on this for at least 15 years and have finally gotten it all pulled together.  I am especially thankful to those who helped in the process.  In the early years it was Jennifer Epperhart and Lyndene Olson.  Here at the end is was Lynette Fagler and Renee Handy.  What a blessing each one has been

It never ceases to amaze me how interrelated the truths of scripture are with the practices of good leadership.  This is especially apparent in the book of James.  His practical approach to faith as it impacts the realities of every day living is something we need to be reminded of often. 

I have used the term "redemptive relationships" to describe this real-life faith.  I like the term because it focuses on the essence of life - relationships - and seeks to bring redemption into each relationship as we go throughout our day. 

If you would like to order a copy of this book, it will be available on Amazon sometime in July 2011.  The publisher, Tools to Lead, is also offering a pre-release price for orders received before July 15, 2011.

This week should see some comments to this post from the 2011 Leadership Academy class of Huntington County.  In our last session

• we went over the Unwritten Laws of Business, a short book which touches on the kind of things a mentor would have shared; the kind of things anyone in business needs to know, but probably doesn't.  
• We discussed the principles of life (touched on in earlier posts) and brainstormed some additional principles.  The importance of formulating your own personal set of core values is one of the most ignored pieces in becoming a true leader.  Too often we "do it all in our head," and in reality never hone these values to the place where they make a difference.  Taking the time to write them down, talk about them and refine them can unleash tremendous energy in an individual's career and personal life.  
• I asked the class to do a time study of their life for a week to understand where they are focusing the majority of their time and connect that to GMP (also discussed in an earlier post).  I'm looking forward to seeing what is being done AND what is the considered reward for that behavior.  Possibly some will be brave enough to discuss changes and rewards which will motivate that behavior.

I am in the middle of preparing for a presentation to be made to approximately 100 pastors and church leaders.  The title is Planning to Succeed and the goal is to provide the basics of strategic planning in a 3 hour window, while eating dinner.  I have been praying about this for a couple of months now because as you can imagine, there will be some there with absolutely no idea what strategic planning means and some who could probably make the presentation better than I will.

I have thought about what is the "irreducible minimum;" the absolute "have tos" of strategic planning.  I have also been thinking alot about how to present the material in a way that it will be accepted by those who are in their 20s and others who are in their 60s and 70s; those who are in vibrant alive congregations and others in stagnant and dying congregations.

And then I watched this video of Jerry Porras on Leadership and it definitely got me thinking, reminding me of a book by Thom Rainer, Breakout Churches, which parallels Good to Great by Jim Collins but for the church world.  I'm still thinking but definitely getting some good ideas.  Watch the video, true it takes an hour, but it is an hour well spent.

Huntington County Leadership just finished the workshop I lead on teams.  I think teams can be one of the most challenging aspects of leadership regardless of your personality type or personal strengths, although the right mix of those can certainly help.  What makes it challenging is the necessity of constantly keeping in mind certain factors, while at the same time recognizing the diversity of personalities and strengths of others on the team. Factors which include:

• focus on the goal
• modeling collaborative behavior, including mining for conflict
• modeling accountability for yourself and others in the group
• keeping in mind the GMP  (see earlier posts for explanation) and it's impact on group effectiveness
• embracing diversity instead of squashing it

I think it helps to discuss these factors and others, reminding ourselves of what we already know.  As I've said before, humans leak.  Or, to put it another way, "use it or lose it."  If you want to get better at leading teams the best way is to lead a team while networking with other leaders and/or read good books on teamwork.   We are all definitely a work in progress.

Although it has a 2005 copyright, for some reason this book just recently came to my attention.  I regret that because the information in this book can have a powerful effect on how we operate in relationship to the world around us.  Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne is a well written book which challenges the reader to think about whether or not to continue to compete in what they call the "red ocean," presumably because of the blood inference of cut-throat competition, or to move into the blue ocean, where competition is irrelevant.  What I particularly liked about this book is the inclusion of many illustrations of companies which have moved into the blue ocean and some of the background as to how they made it happen.  The book also includes strategies which any company can employ in its strategy sessions to create their own blue ocean.  I will be drawing upon the content of this book for years to come and using it in my consulting business.

Rick
Upchurch Consulting Group

The Huntington County Leadership Academy at the January 19, 2001 session focused on personality and how understanding your personality, and the personality of those around you can make all the difference in one's ability to lead effectively.  This is an important aspect of emotional intelligence, which many say is a more significant indicator of success than mental intelligence.

We also discussed the first part of the The Greatest Management Principle in the World, by Michael LeBoeuf
The Magic Question:  What is being rewarded?  Why is that the magic question?  Because what is rewarded is generally what gets done. 

Leadership definitions from Huntington County Leadership Academy's newest class starting January, 2011

Leadership is defining a goal and guiding others to achieve that goal.  Team A

A leader is someone who recognizes what needs to be done, motivates others toward a common goal which may be something they would not have done otherwise.  Team B

Resilient Leadership:  Summary

Cashman writes, “Being resilient means we can recover our balance even in the midst of action” . . . “when we are resilient, we can shoulder more weight with less effort because we are strong at our very foundation.” (Leadership from the Inside Out, p. 133)   I’d like to share three things you can do to increase your resiliency:

1. Accept responsibility for yourself.  No matter how high you scored on this inventory, there are areas in your life that can be improved.  Examine yourself with brutal honesty and target the area or areas where you need to start work – if you don’t know, ask your spouse. 
2. Be proactive.  Once you have identified the area, don’t procrastinate.  Build a plan of action for improvement and get started.  Take a class (or classes), attend a seminar, read books.  Don’t just say, “that’s just who I am.”  Deal with your weak areas or learn to be satisfied when you hit the glass ceilings which are sure to close in around you. 
3. Finally, learn to laugh more and love unconditionally.

Resilient Leadership, Part 4

Those who know me know that I have five principles of life by which I guide my life choices.  The first of these is “All of life can be reduced to relationships.”  But this was not always the case.

I have a confession to make: here is my dirty little secret – my Myers Briggs score is ENTJ.  ENTJ’s, I am told, comprise about 2 – 5% of the population, which is probably a good thing.  My personality is highly goal oriented, HIGHLY goal oriented.  Early in my career, I focused on achieving these goals, often at the expense of people and relationships.  My wife has “lovingly” called me a “smiling steamroller,” meaning that I will smile as I roll over anything that stands in the way of reaching my goals. 

 

Can you guess which of these four areas required the most work for me?  The irony of this is that I crave approval, usually from the very people I’ve run over on my way to reaching a goal.  Somewhere along the way many years ago I ran into a mirror and didn’t like what I saw.  With God’s help, I began a serious effort to improve in this area.  I read books, attended seminars, prayed (a lot) and practiced my new skills constantly.  

I can tell you I am not the man I use to be, but I still have to work harder at relationships than most people.  My weakness in this area has made me appreciate the importance of this particular aspect of Resilient Leadership.  I may not ever confused with a teddy bear, but I’m definitely working on not being a steam roller.  I’m trying to find the right balance.

Saccone in his book: Relational Intelligence writes, “Relationships are the context from which we find meaning and discover what lasting contributions we can make in the lives of others.  Our day-to-day human interactions will determine the quality of our lives more than the task or work we do, whether it’s our careers, in leadership, or in any other arena of life.  We cannot overestimate the profound effect relationship have on our lives.”  (Relational Intelligence, p. 12)

I have a lecture I give in my class on Biblical Covenants.  It takes place early in the course and revolves around the story of God’s creation of Adam.  The gist of the lecture has to do with: “what does it mean to be created in the image of God.”  After exploring various options I postulate this:  That the nature of God is triune (i.e. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and that we are most “in the image of God” when we exist in harmonious, loving relationships with each other – and least when we have broken and fractured relationships.  I believe this; that God created us to be in relationship, and it is IN relationship we find God.  Relational Support draws upon the strength of our interactions with each other

3rd Component of Resilient Leadership:  Resourceful Problem Solving

People who are resourceful problem solvers have at least two things going for them: 

First is a belief that there is more than one way to do almost anything. 

 

I am a bit of a techno geek.  Put me in a basketball game and I have a little trouble running and dribbling at the same time.  Put me in the outfield in a softball game and don’t be surprised if the ball lands beside me, instead of my glove.  However, give me some new technology and I’m at home.  One thing I have learned from working with technology is something my mom tried to teach me when I was a boy, when hi-tech was the stereo phonograph. It is simply this:

“There is more than one way to skin a cat.”

 

People who are high in Resourceful Problem Solving don’t settle for failure.  They won’t accept the statement “we tried that once and it doesn’t work,”  they are able to think “out-of-the-box” and imagine alternate solutions.  Roger Firestien says “Successful, creative people grow through criticism and failure.  . . .  Many of the most creative and effective people of our time made some major blunders.  Give yourself permission to make a few mistakes.”  (Leading on the Creative Edge, p. 154,155)

That is the theme of an animated movie which reflects the personal philosophy of Walt Disney.  In “Meet the Robinsons” the central theme is: “keep moving forward,” along with the reality that failure is a normal and necessary step on the way to success.  Resilient Leaders who are strong in Resourceful Problem-Solving see their problems as opportunities waiting for a solution, and their failures as bricks in the path to that solution.

The second part of Resourceful Problem Solving is a discipline of constant personal improvement.  Here is an excerpt from Leading on the Creative Edge:

Several years ago, a study was done on the reading habits of scientists.  Researchers grouped the scientists into three categories.  The first group was labeled “innovative”; these scientists exhibited the highest creative productivity as measured by patents.  The second group was labeled “productive:’ these scientists were known for being technically proficient.  The third group was labeled  “slugs”; they were neither innovative nor productive.

The study found that “slugs” read almost nothing.  The “productive” scientists read almost exclusively in their field, while the “innovative” scientists (who were not always as technically up-to-date as their “productive” colleagues) read in a variety of fields.  In fact, a great deal of the latter group’s reading was outside of their area of expertise.  These scientists read everything from science fiction to technical journals, from Popular Mechanics to Psychology Today, and therefore enjoyed a much richer storehouse of information from which to generate new concepts. 

                                                     Leading from the Creative Edge, 28-29.

The lesson here for those with ears to hear is that Resourceful Problem Solving needs a wide variety of input, resulting from a discipline of personal growth and improvement.

I’ll end this section with this thought:  “The only people who can change the world are people who want to.  And not everybody does.”  Hough MacLeod

Resilient Leadership, Part 2

One component of Resilient Leadership is:

Realistic Optimism
Nancy Ortberg writes, “I think the core of leadership is hope. Leadership is the hope that we can change the things that need to be changed and create what we cannot now imagine.” (Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands, p. 7)

There is a section in the chapter on “Confront the Brutal Facts,” in Jim Collins’ book Good to Great titled the Stockdale Paradox. In speaking of the companies that transitioned from good to great that were studied, Collins writes: “In every case, the management team responded with a powerful psychological duality. On the one hand, they stoically accepted the brutal facts of reality. On the other hand, they maintained an unwavering faith in the endgame, and a commitment to prevail as a great company despite the brutal facts.” (Good to Great, p. 83)

Named after Admiral Jim Stockdale who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam and who survived by facing the reality of the prison camp, and yet maintained a determination that one day he would be released. He said those least likely to make it out of the camps were the unrealistic optimists who refused to deal with the harsh realities of their captivity, and when their fantasies were not realized, they simply gave up.

I’m also reminded of the depth which our faith can play in providing this optimism. Some of you will know the story behind the great hymn “It is Well with My Soul.” Horatio G. Spafford, the author of the hymn, was a well known Chicago attorney in the mid-late 1800’s, but he did not write the hymn at the peak of his happiness. In 1872 his son died at age 4 from scarlet fever, and then a year later he lost all his holdings in the great Chicago fire. Planning to take his wife and four daughters to assist D.L. Moody in England, he was delayed at the last minute and his family went on ahead. Nine days later he received a telegram from his wife “Saved Alone.” The ship they were on collided with another ship and sunk in 12 minutes claiming the lives of 226 people, including Spafford’s four daughters and almost his wife. Spafford immediately boarded a ship to join his wife. One day the captain of the ship called him to the bridge and told him that as near as they could determine that where they were currently sailing was the approximate location of the wreck, in waters three miles deep. Spafford went to his cabin and penned the great words to this hymn:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Realistic Optimism comes naturally to some more than others, and should come easier for those with faith, but everyone can develop this perspective. “To lead well, we must possess the strong belief that our best days are ahead of us. Hope and leadership are inexorably linked.” (Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands, p. 8)

Resilient Leadership - part 1

Just a few months ago, Movie Gallery here in Huntington closed. Why do you think they closed? Yes, the proliferation of Redbox, mail in services like Net-flix and Blockbuster, and online media streaming like HuLu. Movie Gallery made the move from VCR to DVD and even Blue-ray, but couldn’t figure out how to navigate the current changes taking place.

Blockbuster finds itself in an similar situation. Although it has jumped into the mail-in service, unless it figures out how to do some kind of media streaming, it’s ability to survive is in question. My Netflix account not only has the benefit of mailing me an unlimited number of DVDs each month, but I can access most videos through a wireless device that I already own, such as a Wii.

There is a constant evolution taking place all around us. Being a leader today, perhaps more than at any other time in history, requires resiliency. Resilience is the ability to adapt, the capability to be proactive rather than reactive; and even in reactivity, to be flexible and transformational. Before we can be resilient in our corporate life, however, we have to learn the skills of resilience in our personal life. Kevin Cashman interviewed 62 CEO’s and presidents of corporations. Of those interviewed 75% cited Resonant Emotional Intelligence as the most relevant to their leadership effectiveness. However, according to Cashman, 92% indicated Resiliency in Leadership as the most personally challenging.

Reivich and Shatte` state, “Most of us at some point in our adult lives come up against a major set-back, a life-altering event that blows us off course. For some it’s a job loss or a divorce, for others, the death of a parent or child. . . . depending on our supplies of resilience, we will either become helpless and resigned, or we will bounce back and find a way to move forward.” (Resilience Factor, p.15)

For the presentation on Resilient Leadership, the participants were asked to complete a survey which allowed them to rank themselves on 4 aspects of Resilient Leadership.  They could then "text" their result to a polling site which would tabulate the responses.  If you attended this presentation and would like to see the scores FOR THE HIGHEST RANKED FACTOR

Try this audience polling system at Poll Everywhere

I am making a presentation today on Resilient Leadership in the face of Vicissitude.  I've included the presentation below.  As I have worked on this material I have been reminded of the crucial part that resiliency plays in our ability to function effectively in our world.  For centuries the rate of change was practically stagnant - for instance little advances were made over horse drawn wagons for hundreds of years.  In our personal lives, the impact of change requires new skills and abilities which support leadership skills.   Books such as "The Resilience Factor" and "Primal Leadership" help us understand these skill needs, which I think can be bracketed into four areas:

• Realistic Optimism
• Resonant Emotional Intelligence
• Resourceful Problem Solving 
• Relational Health

Check out the presentation and see if you can find the thread of resiliency within:

I requested the opportunity to review LogiPen's LogiNotes Digital Pen Input Device (http://www.LogiPen.com)  I received the LogiPen on July 12, 2010 Inside the box:
·    Pen
·    USB cord
·    LogiPen capture unit (1 1/2 x 3 3/8 x 3/8 inches) with a clip on back to secure to pages (called Base Unit in the Directions)
·    flat package including pen  and stylus refills, 2 batteries and an "extractor" for replacing the pen/stylus
·    directions
·    CD-ROM of Software for LogiManage
The Base Unit has to charge for up to 12 hours before the first use

Installing the batteries (SR41) was simple and the directions were straightforward.

The directions said to push the pen insert in gently until it is lodged securely - it actually felt more like passing over a bump, but it did insert OK.  The ink quality is only average - but that is to be expected since the focus is not on the writing but the capture.

--
It is now September 9, 2010.  I have had the LogiPen for nearly two months now. I’ve. taken it with me to conferences and used it in meetings. Here are some of the concisions I have reached:

1.    The pen itself is comfortable to hold and use.  The ink supplied flows well. I’ve not tried to find a refill so I don't know how difficult it would be to secure, The batteries in the pen have lasted a long time.

2.    The receiver unit, which sets at the top of the page, records all the pen strokes accurately giving a good reproduction of both writing and drawing.   Its connection with the computer is easy and the transfer of information is quick and accurate.  The accompanying software tracks the information into folders based on the date of connection and download, so, for instance, you may have a dozen pages in one folder and only a couple in the next. That is not a problem and the actual pages can be easily renamed and even moved from folder to folder.  I do wish that there was an easier way to send a page (.jpg) to Microsoft One Note, and that the battery in the recording unit lasted longer.

3.    I uploaded some notes I took with the LogiPen with no problems, simply connect to the computer with the included USB cable and select "Upload Notes" from the Logi Manage program.  I have to say how pleased I am with the easy transition from the device to the LogiManage program.  Even without checking the directions too much, it is pretty easy to navigate.  However, when trying to open in MS Word, the LogiManage states that no handwriting was detected and further research on the website shows that getting this to work in anything other than Windows 7 is complicated.  On the plus side, the company provides on the same installation disk as the LogiManage, a handwriting recognition package named: MyScript.  This did a pretty reasonable job in translating my handwriting (which is not too good) into text, as long as I paid careful attention to my writing.  I like that the LogiPen clearly captures all my notes, drawings, etc. exactly as I made them.  So far I haven't found any easier way to move stuff to MS OneNote, which I think would be a real plus for this company.  What I have had to do is not too complicated (simple cut and paste) but it is an additional step which could be avoided.

4.    Practically, the use of the recording unit and pen is a learned discipline.  I have to make sure the unit is affixed to the page and turned on; that there is sufficient charge in the unit (which means keeping it connected to the charger between uses – on more thing to remember); and to push the next page button after repositioning the unit on a new page.  I have to remember that every pen stroke is recorded – even those on on the page of notes, so that if I reach over and make a mark, etc., on another document, it will likely show up as a stray mark in my notes.  This means swapping pens occasionally – if I remember.

5.    I initially requested the pen because I was thinking of a broad application to incoming freshmen at College.  After my trial I would have to say that is NOT a good solution.  Freshmen are typically NOT known for their organizational skills. So, while there would be some expections, I would not recommend the logi pen for a general college distribution.

6.    I do think the logi pen is an excellent tool for those who are relatively well organized.  I would recommed it for administrators, managers, and administrative assistants, particularly those who have to attend multiple meetings and need to keep track of their notes.  I have found it to be useful in this capacity and will continue to use it for these meetings.

7.    I think it would also be useful for those who write papers/reports by hand as opposed to typing.  I suspect that there are fewer and fewer who do this, but it does work well for that purpose, with one potential difficulty mentioned in the next point.

8.    If you have poor handwriting, the LogiPen is probably not a good investment for you, unless you are happy with the .jpg images.  I admit since getting the LogiPen I have been more conscious of my writing and have attempted to improve; but I’m also facing years of poor writing habits and, honestly, the bad habits are winning.  This means that the software’s ability to translate my scratches into meaningful typewritten text is fairly low, requiring nearly as much or more time to fix than the typing would have taken.

Conclusion.

I think the LogiPen has limited applications for most people.  Probably the ones who would receive the most benefit would be those who are extremely well organized, take copious notes at meetings or in classes and have fairly good handwriting.  Also, possibly, for those who do highly visual and do a lot of sketching of ideas.  For most of the rest of us, it is a cool toy.