Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Rowing in the Same Direction
A friend recently loaned me a book titled, “Get Everyone in Your Boat Rowing in the Same Direction: 5 Leadership Principles to Follow so Others Will Follow You” by Bob Boylan. I’m going to shamelessly promote a few of the author’s ideas over the next couple of blogs.
The first principle to resonant with me is: DECIDE “What’s Important Around Here?” This is foundational work which some leaders have called setting ground rules or expectations. In other words, defining what is important to the team and living by those guidelines.
Boylan, however, emphasizes taking an introspective approach before addressing your team. You’ve got to know who you are as a leader first—what are your “hot buttons,” your core values, your vision? He identifies the following areas to consider:
* Personal integrity - Doing what you believe in, care about, and feel is ethical
* Personal growth - Becoming steadily wiser and connected with other people
* Self-determination - Being able to choose what you do and how and when you do it
* Serenity - Feeling alert, yet at peace
* Time - Spending it with family, friends, personal interests, and/or your own thoughts
* Joy - Feeling effective, energized, and a dynamic part of the universe
If you haven’t yet voiced your own values, it’s time to let your team know and move forward into the future together.
Until next time...live like you mean it!
Marjorie