Leadership is not defined by roles, titles, longevity, or hash-marks on a sleeve. Leadership is recognizing, in a moment, that we can make a difference, and then stepping into leadership in that moment. We lead from any chair. We lead at home, at a market, at school, and in our morning commute. Moreover, of course, we lead in the boardroom.
Boardroom leadership is about mastering dialog. Conversations take up most of the time with boards and CEOs. After all, it is what boards and CEOs do – they discuss things. It is the foundation of the relationship.
Are the interactions between the board and CEO feeling typical, an all-too familiar pattern of conversation? Is information analyzed and are decisions made the same way? Do you find yourself seeing the same conversations working, but not well enough?
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Sitting around the dinner table in the evenings is a perfect time for practicing relationship and developing the art of conversation. My dad used to tell my siblings and I that dining is a place to have conversation while you just happen to be eating. He had a knack for making people feel special, that they made a difference and were important. So, last week, during dinner, I asked my dinner companions what they think is important in a leader, how they recognize leaders, and what they want to see in a leader if they decide to follow someone. Here are some of the conversation tidbits we discussed during dinner. It is amazing to me that several of them are the very same things we discussed at the dinner table years ago.
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This week, after I helped the kids on the school bus, the temperature already was 99 degrees at 8:12am. Yikes!, I knew the temperature would soar that day. Later, I found myself at the store in 116 degree, intense sun, weather, trolling the parking lot not for the closest spot, but a spot with any shade. I wanted to avoid the sun and the heat more than anything. I wonder how else we have, or create, hot days in leadership, encouraging people to duck from the sun rather than being able to consider other important things? How much energy do I put into finding the “shade” rather than working to affect positive change?
Mark
The temperature today was hot, 114 degrees, as I walked down the sidewalk to “Meet the Teacher.” School starts tomorrow and my six youngest head off to 4th and 5th grade tomorrow morning. Kids and parents talked with excitement, toddlers running ahead and the sound of the basketball in the court was awaking the school after a long hot summer.
The sidewalk seemed particularly long today, it seemed to go and on and I wondered if it would take me to the street on the other side of the playing field. Eventually, I reached the last building and the end of the sidewalk. In that moment my heart seemed to open and fill my chest with something quite unfamiliar . . . a fleeting of time, a blink of an eye . . . my twin daughters would enter secondary school next year. The thought simultaneously filled me with a sense of terror and a sense of pride. I knew in that moment that the next years would be full of change and the unfamiliar. My heart was both sad and happy. I opened the door and met the teacher.
Where does your sidewalk take you? Are you stopping at the last building? What is on the other side of the playing field?
Deedee
This blog post is part of the Next Top Credit Union Executive competition originally posted July 6, 2012.
Sitting around the dinner table in the evenings is a perfect time for practicing relationship and developing the art of conversation. My dad used to tell my siblings and I that dining is a place to have conversation while you just happen to be eating. He had a knack for making people feel special, that they made a difference and were important. So, last week, during dinner, I asked my dinner companions what they think is important in a leader, how they recognize leaders, and what they want to see in a leader if they decide to follow someone. Here are some of the conversation tidbits we discussed during dinner. It is amazing to me that several of them are the very same things we discussed at the dinner table years ago.
- Someone who makes and keeps commitments is trustworthy and reliable. No matter how small or large the commitments are, keep them with a positive attitude.
- Speak in such a way that others feel special and believe they make a difference. Ask questions, with authenticity, in the interests of others, and about what they enjoy and what is important. Understanding what is important to others is an important part of developing relationships.
- Make a difference and inspire others to make a difference. Believe in yourself and others will be inspired to believe in themselves.
- Extend beyond your inner circle. Develop projects that extend value beyond your own credit union and add value to the larger community of your region, the country, and globally.
- Look for opportunities to give yourself away. The work you do should be so enjoyable and meaningful that you would do it for free.
- Be a continuous learner. Leaders need to be continual learners; what is your ongoing learning plan.
- Express thanks and appreciation to your mentors and supporters. Keep them updated on your progress and ask for feedback.
- Start and end each day with a smile and gratitude and carry this attitude into your video and blog.
- Speak with the passion from your heart!
Your video needs to be you, your true self and a representation of your core belief system. Listen to how you speak and notice if your heart resonates with your words. If you do not feel your words evoking passion from your own heart then you need to start over and find a passion and purpose that is you. Once your words and passion connect, then your viewers will really hear you! This is true leadership.
Deedee
This blog post is part of the Next Top Credit Union Executive competition originally posted June 1, 2012.
Photo by Andre Nantel
Recognizing talent in credit unions is an easy thing to do. The CUES Next Top Credit Union Executive competition is a chance for every nominee, and their credit union, to be a winner. As a nominator, you have a valuable opportunity to make a difference in developing talent. Over the years, I have collected and formed ideas on how to spot good talent and want to share some with you. I hope these tidbits are helpful.
- Energy and confidence are so important; energy shows up in how a person walks, how they pace through projects and conversations, and how they stay connected in a conversation or meeting, especially a long one. For example, does your potential nominees ebb and flow in energy, or are they modulated and produce an assessment of continuity and consistency?
- Confidence and self-efficacy are key attributes to learning. As a nominator, what is your assessment about the talent’s ability to perceive and respond to situations and execute as the role or initiative requires? A person who constantly second guesses will make more mistakes and their second-guess energy may stifle others on the team.
- Viewing challenging problems as learning opportunities contribute to ongoing leadership growth. How does your talent perceive tough problems, obstacles, and resistance? Talent who can get out of the box and expand their peripheral vision to seek or create innovation solutions are worthy of attention.
- Individuals who ask for guidance from mentors and request support in learning opportunities have strong self-efficacy. Look for someone who asks for more assignments, even if the task or initiative is outside their immediate area of responsibility.
- Another important attribute for next best talent is they ask clarifying questions rather than jumping feet first without looking. And, they complete initiatives and projects on time and within expectations. Look for repetitive and consistent completion as a standard, rather than the exception.
- Inclusivity of others in learning and exploring opportunities is a leadership move. Does your potential nominee easily offer support, provide opportunities to others for learning, and speak praises and virtues of peers in public? Inclusion is indicative of a worldview that it takes a team to win, not an individual.
- The leadership attribute that makes a major difference is MOOD. It is a true skill of self-management and leadership when a person has a practice to minimize stress and elevate mood in times of difficulty or facing difficult tasks.
This is an exciting and valuable opportunity. Be open in conversation with your nominee, listen to what they want in their leadership development and use these tidbits as a guide in your conversation.
Do you have someone who comes to mind? Someone you feel could be the CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec? Why not take the time and nominate them right now?
Deedee
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