Where should a leader's head be?

The sand or clouds: Which is the better location for a leader's head?

A head in the sand means the leader avoids facts which might be uncomfortable to face. Perhaps they don't want to admit a mistake, or own a bad decision, or have to deal with the same issue again. When leaders do not want to hear bad news, their people often alter reports to reflect the most positive facts possible.

Be wary when the only good news you're hearing is along the lines of "we spent 50% less on proposal printing last month," or "client meetings cost 25% less last quarter." It may be uncomfortable to learn the long-term client cut her budget by half or fewer sales reps made it through to the bid phase of the sales cycle, but the sooner you find out, the sooner you can act to change those results.

It is difficult to manage or motivate others while one's head is in the sand. You risk losing your leadership role, whether formally or informally, by avoiding facts and discomfort. So, it seems keeping one's head in the sand is not the best option.

A head in the clouds keeps leaders from acting to change results too.

Lofty, impossible goals work against most leaders. People like to be set up for success and they resent being held to impossible goals. For example, when a sales team hits its numbers for one year, and the numbers are doubled for year two, there's little chance of hitting year two's numbers. The sales reps will be de-motivated because of the silly objectives. While it's wise to have higher objectives to challenges the sales team, goals set without explanation other than one's head is in the clouds rarely are achieved.

The best place for a leader's head is firmly on her shoulders. Be informed of the facts, use a reliable process for decision making, be open to changing what does not work, and focus on progress.

Leaders should not avoid the truth about revenue, budget changes, or profit projections. They also should not expect ridiculous results and use group renditions of Kumbaya to achieve them. Leaders should not lose their heads in a crisis, blame others for failures, or panic about the future.

Burying one's head in the sand or keeping it in the clouds rarely inspires others or motivates them to be productive, innovative, or collaborative. But, the worst place for a leader's head is "where the sun don't shine." Keep your head firmly on your shoulders and you will be a more effective leader than many around.

Does being a team-player matter any more?

Being a team-player used to mean you put the team first--ahead of personal needs or goals. If a teammate needed extra time in the gym, you went with him. If he needed to kick 50 extra field goals after practice, you shagged balls. If she needed to work on serves, you shagged volleyballs for her. It didn't matter if you had already worked out, were the highly touted quarterback, or already had your scholarship in hand and didn't need to work on serving. Teammates put the team first.

When today's NFL players score touchdowns, they flip, pump their chests, and point at themselves. Twenty years ago, players "acted like they'd been in the end zone before," to quote Lou Holtz. Players did not need the individual recognition because they played for the team.

What mattered was the final score of the game, not one play. What mattered was being there when a teammate needed you. What mattered was the team.

Sports teams and corporate project teams have much in common. Do today's teams share diminished appreciation of the team-player?

Do today's teammates put themselves ahead of the team?

There is a lot of finger-pointing going on among teams today. The pointers don't realize when one finger is pointed out, three more are pointing back. People are eager to hold others accountable--what a buzzword that is! The subconscious mindset seems to be, "Everyone else should just do their jobs! Do them really well so I can turn in a mediocre performance after watching Jersey Shore."

Mediocre team performance is accepted today because people know someone else will compensate for weak performers. Today, when a group hears the phrase, "There's no 'I' in 'team," nearly everyone in the room responds with, "But there is a ME!" The prevailing attitude is "me first."

Perhaps if more teammates were team-players instead of me-players, the teams would experience more success. Being a team-player matters to winning teams. It's the losers who don't get it.


[What do you think? Do today's teams prefer team-players or me-players? Share your thoughts.]

Who would you rather be: Charlie Brown or Lucy?

The Peanuts comic strip was in the news for turning sixty years old recently, which prompts the question: who would you rather be: Charlie Brown or Lucy?

For sixty years, Lucy has been pulling the football out from Charlie Brown as he runs to kick it. She gets him to fall for the trick every time. Once he falls for the trick and winds up on his backside, Lucy mocks him for doing so. She mocks him for trusting her, for thinking they are friends, for believing in her one more time.

We are supposed to feel sorry for Charlie Brown, but isn't Lucy the more pitiful character?

Sure, Charlie Brown ends up on his backside, embarrassed.

But, Charlie Brown believes in people. He sees value and goodness in people, even when they don't deserve it.  He gives second chances. He roots for the underdog (or, under-tree--see the Christmas episode!). In the back of his mind, Charlie Brown must suspect that Lucy will disappoint him, but he continues to give her chances.

It is natural to feel sorry for Charlie Brown, but perhaps it is Lucy we should pity instead.

Is it better to be someone who roots for the underdog and gives people chances or someone who takes advantage of others and mocks them?

Would you rather be the one taking advantage of others or the one who believes in others? Who do you think would make the better leader in the long-term? Who do you think would make the better coworker? Who do you think will have the better impact on others?

Lucy might be the one pulling the football out from under Charlie Brown, but is Charlie Brown pulling off the bigger trick? Would you rather be like Lucy or Charlie Brown?

Are you on the band wagon?

 The Kansas City Chiefs are 3 and 0! Three weeks in to the new season, and the Chiefs have won as many games as they won the entire 2009 season. Every Friday is Red Friday, and this year, red is everywhere.

By the end of last year, there was very little red wore to celebrate the team each week.

As a casual observer but not rabid fan of the Chiefs, I've noticed the Chiefs' band wagon is pretty well occupied during the down times. There are thousands of loyal Chiefs fans, as evidenced by the vitriolic sentiments expressed after last year's horrible season. I've also noticed the band wagon is over-flowing since the 2010 season is off to a great start.

I'm an avid Notre Dame football fan. We are having the opposite problem this year: people jumping off the band wagon. People are jumping off ND's band wagon so fast, there's a national shortage of crutches from all the ankle injuries resulting from their leaps.

The Chiefs are having a great season, they don't need more fans this year. If you weren't a fan last year, don't come along now for the glory. If you weren't buying game tickets when they were as cheap as a date with Paris Hilton, don't bemoan their high cost this year.

You have to be there for the heartbreak to celebrate.

If you're jumping off the ND band wagon this year, or you jumped off during the three previous coaches, stay off. If you're not there to shed tears of anguish over losing, don't come back with eyes welled up in tears of joy when the team is winning. Be there now, or stay away.

You have to earn your spot on the band wagon, whether we're talking about the Chiefs or Fighting Irish.

The same is true in life.

What band wagons are you on? Who are you loyal to? Who is on your band wagon? Who is loyal to you?
Are you more loyal than some people deserve or reciprocate? Is it time to get off some band wagons?

You earn spots on band wagons by being there for others when times are tough. It's easy to support someone when they are successful and life is going smoothly, but true loyalty is shown during the tough times.

It is not fun and glamorous to be there for someone whose business is struggling, or someone with cancer, or someone who was laid off. But, that's when you are needed most.

Jump on the band wagon during the losing seasons so you can enjoy the sweetness of winning seasons.

Go Chiefs!
Go Irish!