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Leadership
Over the past 10 years, I have been honored to explore and debate the essence of power with Dr. Tony Baron. Specifically, how power impacts leadership, how leadership impacts culture, and, ultimately, how culture impacts performance.
With a double doctorate in psychology and theology and decades of executive coaching experience with Fortune 100 companies, you can imagine the depth and breadth that Tony adds to the subject. We are currently co-authoring a book that combines Tony’s scholarship and my straight talk about the challenges faced by today’s leaders. Meanwhile, I will be sharing guest posts by Tony from time to time to give you a taste of what it’s like to have an amazing colleague and friend like Tony Baron. – Sheri Nasim
Fake news. Truthiness. Alternative facts. Terms like these are used daily on our 24-hour infotainment channels. With the veracity of news media, coupled with algorithms that determine what news spreads, and even the capability to create digital doppelgangers of politicians and celebrities, confidence in our ability to assess reality correctly has never been more shaken.
Yet, long before the 21st century, leaders have struggled with their ability to assess reality correctly. In his book, Tribes, Seth Godin explains that, for centuries, “[Kings have] traditionally surrounded themselves with a well-fed and well-paid court of supplicants, each of whom has a vested interest in keeping things as they are.” Today’s leaders don’t need supplicants, they need counselors.
Here are ten suggestions for how to assess reality correctly when you’re the leader:
1. Seek counsel from those who are directly involved with the presenting problem.
2. Seek counsel from those who have presented past decisions correctly.
3. Seek counsel from those who have nothing to gain personally from the decision.
4. Seek counsel from those who desire a balance between profit, people, and planet.
5. Seek counsel from those who respond and not react to the problem.
6. Gather as much information as possible from a wide variety of resources.
7. Ask yourself if the people who offer advice are giving you the pros and cons of the decision, or if they are minimizing the pros and cons.
8. Seek what is morally good in the decision process:
a. Look for the objective good
b. Look for the primary intention of doing the good
c. Does the decision benefit all the key stakeholders?
9. Determine if the decision calls for a command decision, consultation decision, or a consensus decision to be successful in seeking reality.
10. Don’t allow yourself to get caught up in the tyranny of the urgent. Pause and think through the unintended consequences of the decision.
Your team is looking to you as a model for assessing reality correctly. Practice getting counsel, rather than information, and focus on decision quality, rather than quantity.
Question: What are you doing to make sure your decisions are based in reality?
Dr. Tony Baron is Distinguished Scholar-In-Residence at Center for Executive Excellence and an internationally recognized speaker, writer, corporate consultant, professor and the San Diego Director of Azusa Pacific University Graduate School of Theology.
Dr. Baron is the author of six books, including The Art of Servant Leadership and a workbook manual co-written with noted author and business leader Ken Blanchard. Throughout his career, he has worked with hundreds of companies including Ford Motor Company, Coca Cola Company, Warner Brothers Studios, and Boeing, among many others.
Driven by the premise that excellence is the result of aligning people, purpose and performance, Center for Executive Excellence facilitates training in leading self, leading teams and leading organizations. To learn more, subscribe to receive CEE News!
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Leadership
It’s been quite a year and it’s hard to believe 2018 is almost over. But before we dive into 2019, we took a look back at which of this year’s posts got the most social media traffic – a combination of likes, comments and shares. The most popular posts covered how to lead yourself, either by communicating with curiosity or keeping your ego in check and being aware of your own triggers. Then there are the lists. Two out of the top ten are lists of leadership books (even one from children’s classics!) that we thought were worth the turn of the page.
Regardless of the nature of each post, we tried to find a lesson or two that you could take away in 750 words or less. Something you could apply at the office that day, or that might slightly sharpen your skills as a leader.
Here are the ten posts that we hope served that purpose:
10. Doing Well By Doing Good: 12 Companies that Got it Right in 2018
The best organizations today understand that culture is their strongest asset and can be the glue to retaining top talent. Whether you nurture it or not, you have a culture. It may be empowering or toxic. Either way, the results are showing up on your bottom line. Here are the 12 companies we featured in CEE News this year that show how doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive… [Read More]
9. 7 Leadership Books to Add to Your Holiday Wish List
The dizzying news cycles and political divisiveness of this year can be enough to leave the strongest among us searching for answers. Turning to a meaty book on leadership, culture, or how to maintain clarity in a world of toxicity can be an excellent way to recharge your leadership batteries. If you’re not sure which books to add to your holiday wish list this year, here are some fresh titles to consider… [Read More]
8. The Culture Equation: 3 Critical Factors You Can’t Ignore
Though many have tried, no one has ever landed on a fixed, universal definition for organizational culture. The subject has been vigorously debated from the pages of the Harvard Business Review to the halls of MIT Sloan. What is not debated is that culture is part of the DNA of every organization. Whether your organizational culture is empowering or toxic depends greatly on two factors: shared experience and modeled leadership. If the leaders of the organization are fixated on business development, channel expansion, and market domination, they are not likely spending any time intentionally trying to shape the culture. Unintentionally, however, they are sending very clear signals about what is important to them. They are the cultural architects of your organization and contribute these three very important things to the culture equation… [Read More]
7. 5 Takeaways After 5 Years as CEO of a Leadership Consulting Firm
Taking you from what is to what is possible. That has been our core purpose since Center for Executive Excellence was founded on this day in 2013. Since launching our firm five years ago, we have served more than 300 clients, built a social media following of over 20,400, posted 155 blogs, and published 30 articles in Forbes and Huffington Post. If you’ve been part of our journey over the years, thank you. We have been honored to provide you with information and insights along the way to help you grow yourself and your team. While our firm’s numbers are impressive, it’s the numbers that I have logged in the role as CEO of Center for Executive Excellence that I want to share. As I reflect over the past five years, here are some nuggets that I have collected in my role… [Read More]
6. Herstory: 4 Women Who Changed the World
Picture a leader. Do you see a woman? If not, you aren’t alone. A recent study published in the Academy of Management Journal confirms that getting recognized as a leader is more difficult for women than for men. Yet, history is filled with women who defied the norms, like the four women below who persisted in claiming their leadership role – though you may have never heard of them. 1. Eliza Scidmore, First Female Writer, Photographer and Editor of National Geographic. When she began her career as a journalist, Eliza Scidmore (pronounced “Sid-more”) submitted articles using only her initials to avoid the common bias of her day against female journalists. Her passion for travel took her to the Alaskan frontier in 1883… [Read More]
5. 6 Lessons From Children’s Books to File Under “Leadership”
Just because we get older doesn’t mean that the lessons from the pages of children’s books are any less relevant. In fact, re-reading some of those passages may prove more poignant and fitting in our adult years. Here are six children’s books worth turning back to for lasting lessons in leadership. 1. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. What it’s about: The Velveteen Rabbit, a newcomer to the nursery, begins his journey to become real – through the love of a child. The leadership gem: “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or who have to be carefully kept.”… [Read More]
4. Stone Brewing: A Case Study in Culture and Values Alignment
When organizations underperform, leaders often try to fix the problem by shuffling people around or investing in new technology. But when its culture and values are misaligned, no amount of shuffling or software will address the underlying problem. So, how do you create a set of core values that will help align your employees and drive performance? In 2015, Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, the Co-Founders of Stone Brewing, came to us after enjoying 20 straight years of success. After hearing us speak at a leadership event, they realized that they had been so focused on survival followed by scalable growth that they had neglected their culture. “We needed our inside to match our outside,” as Steve Wagner put it. Here’s how we worked with Stone Brewing to create a culture of performance… [Read More]
3. Triggered? Rewire Your Brain in 3 Easy Steps
Power causes brain damage. If you’ve ever had a former friend get promoted then develop a case of colleague amnesia, you know this to be true. Or, if you saw the sorry, not sorry, congressional hearing of now-former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf for failing to stop some 5,000 employees from setting up phony accounts for customers, you’ve seen it in living color. At times like these, you may wonder, “What was going through their head?” Research suggests that the better question may be: What wasn’t going through it? Historian Henry Adams described power as “a sort of tumor that ends by killing the victim’s sympathies.” According to research by Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley, that’s not far from the truth… [Read More]
2. 3 Ways Humble Leaders Keep their Egos in Check
Today’s leaders face increasingly complex problems. No one person can have all of the answers. That’s why leaders of the 21st century must have the humility to encourage feedback. To step back and create space for others to show you your blind spots and help you make improvements that count. Harvard Business Review contributors John Dame and Jeffrey Gedmin called this intellectual humility. “Without humility,” the authors argue, “you’re not able to learn.” Here are three principles of humility that will help put you in a feedback frame of mind… [Read More]
1. 10 Ways to Talk to Someone You Disagree With
Unfriend anyone on Facebook lately? Avoiding someone because you’re afraid that the subject of politics, religion, or even the weather will come up? In a world that is growing more polarized by the day, there may be no more important skill than being able to hold a meaningful conversation with another human being. In order to free yourself from filter bubbles, radio host and TEDx speaker Celeste Headlee suggests ten ways to improve your conversation skills… [Read More]
It’s been an honor to share our thoughts with you this year. We truly appreciate your comments, your likes, and your shares. We look forward to continuing the conversation in 2019.
Question: What thought leaders did you follow most in 2018? Did you learn anything that helped you become a better leader?
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Leadership
Great leaders are in short supply. According to a global study conducted by Harvard Business Review, only 15% of companies in North America and Asia believe that they have enough qualified successors for key positions.
If your leadership bench needs filling, a San Diego-based nonprofit called The Honor Foundation (THF) may be your answer. According to Founder Joe Musselman, THF was created in 2013 to bridge the transition for retiring Navy SEALs and other members of the Special Ops forces.
Today, nearly 350 men and women from all branches of the Special Ops community have graduated from THF campuses in San Diego, Virginia Beach and Camp Lejeune. This world-class, 120-hour MBA-style program immerses participants in a wide range of subjects including Purpose, Emotional Intelligence, Leveraging Strengths, Challenging Communications, Resume Building, and Corporate Culture.
On December 7, 2018, THF graduated its 17th class. Men and women who have served our country with honor now have the tools they need to confidently enter the workforce with pride and a sure footing. Here are eight members of the graduating class to give you a sample of this elite talent pool.
1. Justin Acerboni, Leader, Problem Solver, Relationship Builder
What he brings to the team: I have spent the last 11 years challenging myself every day to perform at the highest level possible. I developed the skill to truly lead people. I have the ability to lead cross-functional teams built on trust and developed through meaningful relationships. I am a change agent, adept at identifying problems and implementing processes to swiftly overcome any obstacle.
What he’s looking for: A company and culture that embraces the same community and values I have grown accustomed to; diverse teams that perform under pressure and always accomplishing the job.
Education: Masters of Business Administration, Finance, University of Redlands
2. Nicholas Bellenbaum, Experienced Leader, Program Manager, Training/Talent Development
What he brings to the team: I have a passion for building relationships, developing talent, inspiring and helping others. I am an effective communicator who demonstrates strength in delivering clear program and training objectives and goals to cross-functional teams. Years of experience managing multi-million dollar, complex programs in evolving fast-paced environments.
What he’s looking for: I am looking forward to utilizing my vast global experience in managing multi-cultural programs.
Education: University of Maryland University College, Bachelor of Science, Criminology
3. Tom DeJarnette, Executive Organizational Leader, Cross-Functional Integrator, Change Manager, Team Builder, Performance Optimizer
What he brings to the team: I’m a proven leader, manager, problem solver, and relationship builder with over 20 years working in high stress/no fail environments. I’ve produced superior results in building teams, establishing new programs, managing multi-stakeholder projects, and ensuring healthy and resilient working environments throughout.
What he’s looking for: My goal is to lead high-performance teams in ambiguous environments.
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Double Major, English/Economics, University of South Carolina-Columbia, UCMC Command of Staff, Masters of Military Science
4. Robert Hentzen, Senior Director, MSGL, SPHR, PgMP, PMP, ACP, Organizational & Talent Development, Risk Mitigation
What he brings to the team: Over 20 years’ experience leading and training cross-functional teams to achieve high-risk program/project objectives ranging in size from 2 to 1,300 employees and up to $150M. Active Clearance: TS/SCI Certified: SPHR, PgMP, PMP, ACP (Agile).
What he’s looking for: The ability to develop and enable selfless leaders that are driven to help others exceed their expectations.
Education: Master of Science, Business (Global Leadership), University of San Diego
5. Jerry Holmes, Executive Leadership, Team Building, Operations Management, Process Improvement
What he brings to the team: My proven global management and leadership experience will drive unsurpassed success at all levels within an organization as a result of effective team building and a focus on operational management.
What he’s looking for: My true passion is people and I am looking for a company that will challenge me as I develop future leaders, build high functioning teams, and create a culture that brings only the best to our front door.
Education: Executive Leadership Course, Senior Enlisted Academy, U.S. Naval War College
6. Steve Milgazo, Executive Experience, Strategic Thinker, Servant Leader
What he brings to the team: Driven by an intense desire to cut through inefficiencies and dysfunctional systems, I thrive in ambiguity, naturally parsing through clutter to develop vision and strategic outcomes for the development of optimal organizations.
What he’s looking for: I am mission driven, and my next mission is to help organizations build resiliency so they ride the wave of technology and not be buried under it. To do this we must optimize, strategize and adapt culture so organizations can adapt to rapid technological advancements, and create an environment for people to thrive as individuals. This is what preparing to win looks like.
Education: Master of Science, Information Systems & Operations, Naval Postgraduate School
7. Ryan Weitzel, Sr. Facilitator, Culture Driver, Organizational Developer, Team Builder, Student of Strategic and Servant Leadership
What he brings to the team: Polished leader, experienced at designing and facilitating courses for diverse, cross-functional teams in the United States and abroad.
What he’s looking for: Developing and working with high-functioning teams through servant leadership is my passion. I endeavor to utilize my leadership skills and unique experience to mentor leaders, positively impact organizational culture and deliver results by helping others thrive.
Education: Master of Science, Strategic Leadership, School of Business & Leadership, University of Charleston
8. Jason Witbeck, Team Builder, Mentor, Investor
What he brings to the team: Over ten years of leadership service with a proven track record of solving problems and building trust. Strong leader and effective communicator with demonstrated high performance in high stress environments.
What he’s looking for: Exploring a variety of fields and opportunities to contribute to a team that can take advantage of his skillset and experience. He has been interning in the fields of finance and commercial real estate, and is drawn to further explore a career in Private Equity.
Education: Masters Degree, Business Administration & Management, University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
If your organization could benefit from purpose-driven, flexible problem solvers, there is no more elite group of talent than the graduates of The Honor Foundation. Contact The Honor Foundation here to learn more about employing, mentoring, coaching and sponsorship opportunities for this world-class program.
Question: How could your team benefit by adding a member with Special Operations experience?
Driven by the premise that excellence is the result of aligning people, purpose and performance, Center for Executive Excellence facilitates training in leading self, leading teams and leading organizations. To learn more, subscribe to receive CEE News!
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Leadership, People
The best organizations today understand that culture is their strongest asset and can be the glue to retaining top talent. Whether you nurture it or not, you have a culture. It may be empowering or toxic. Either way, the results are showing up on your bottom line.
Here are the 12 companies we featured in CEE News this year that show how doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive.
1. New Belgium Brewing, “Culture isn’t about what you say; it’s about what you do”
On December 29, 2012, employees at New Belgium Brewing started getting more than a paycheck. They got a 100% ownership stake in the company, and even more reason to be stewards in its success.
In an article for Outside Online, Simpson said, “New Belgium is the kind of place where you walk through the front door, high-five your co-workers all the way to your desk/lab/machine, and laugh out loud all throughout the day. At the same time, you’re working harder than you ever have at anything else, and it somehow means more. That’s a powerful alchemy.” [Read more]
2. Boxed, “Delivering joy across the country with every order”
In August 2013, an idea sprang to life in a 2-car garage that today is threatening to put Costco out of business. Chieh Huang founded Boxed (aka Costco for Millennials) when he realized that none of the big box warehouse titans offered home delivery of bulk-ordered items. Today, Boxed employs over 500 people in four state-of-the-art fulfillment centers from New Jersey to Las Vegas. Here are just a few ways that Boxed gives back to its employees:
- Unlimited, full-paid parental leave – Click here to check out why.
- Free college tuition – Learn more about why Boxed made education a priority here.
- Paid employee weddings [Read more]
3. Zillow Group, “Zillow Group is a team sport”
In case you have not been one of the website’s 188 million monthly visitors, Zillow is an online real estate database that allows users to search millions of for-sale and rental listings. What most people outside of the company don’t know about Zillow is that it has an impressive Glassdoor rating of 4.2 (out of 5), has made Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list on four occasions, and CEO Spencer Rascoff has made the highest ranking CEO list three times. Much of Zillow’s success can be credited to the corporate culture that helps motivate the organization’s more than 3,000 employees. [Read more]
4. Bumble Bee, “Leading a healthy lifestyle and preserving our precious resources”
Bumble Bee Seafoods traces its origins back to 1899 and a handful of fishermen in Astoria, Oregon. Today, this privately-owned company employees 1,500 people across the world from its headquarters in San Diego to fish suppliers in Southeast Asia.
While its 119-year history is impressive, the company’s commitment to social and environmental sustainability is even more impressive. In 2009, the company founded the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation. The Foundation is comprised of 75% of the world’s shelf-stable seafood corporations, and scientists with the World Wildlife Fund. In 2016, Bumble Bee Seafoods joined the Seafood Task Force, an organization focused on providing supply chain oversight, addressing social issues such as human trafficking and slavery, and environmental issues like overfishing. [Read more]
5. First GREEN Bank, “A local bank with a global mission”
Like most banks, First Green Bank (nka Seacoast Bank) provides basic financial services: checking and savings accounts, CDs, and commercial, residential, and consumer lending. Why did it make our Business in Focus? Its commitment to environmental and social impact.
Since 2009, Orlando-based First Green Bank has worked by the motto “to do the right thing” for the environment and the community. The company’s headquarters is in a LEED Platinum building with a living plant wall, koi pond, green roof, and a solar array. The condensation from the air-conditioning system is collected to flush toilets and provide irrigation. Nearby trails make running and biking on lunch breaks easy. The complimentary refreshment bar—stocked with local, fair trade, organic products—makes post-workout recovery even easier. [Read more]
6. sweetgreen, “Inspire healthier communities by connecting people to real food”
In 2007, three hungry Georgetown students were constantly on the search for food. But, for Nicolas Jammet, Jonathan Neman, and Nathaniel Ru, Taco Bell just wasn’t cutting it. They started talking about their post-graduation plans and decided to fix their own problem. And sweetgreen was born. Eleven years later, the founders of this hip and healthy farm-to-table salad chain are controlling one of America’s most successful startups. With over 70 locations and 3,500 employees, sweetgreen is putting the sexy in salad. The secret to their success? In a word – culture.
As the founders told Bloomberg in a 2015 interview, “We’re all the children of entrepreneurs, so the standard institutional options for where we might work really didn’t appeal to any of us. We didn’t want to create in an institutional environment. So, in many ways, the desire to build a business of our own, in our own sustainable way, plus the desire to find better food options in Georgetown, did it.” Some of the hallmarks of the sweetgreen culture are values, experience, and impact. [Read more]
7. Twinings, “Improving the quality of life in communities where we source our products”
Since opening its doors in 1717, Thomas Twinings’ Golden Lyon tea shop at 216 Strand has become a staple of London’s history. 300 years later, it’s the world’s oldest running dry tea and coffee shop. You may not find it surprising that Twinings has a storied history with British royalty, was fondly remembered by a young Jane Austen, or fortified Londoners’ spirits by continuously brewing and serving tea during the bombings of the city during World War II. You may be surprised to learn, however, that Twinings recently achieved Best Place to Work, U.K., recognition four years in a row. [Read more]
8. CORE Foods, “Empower people with fresh foods and honest resources”
What do the Disney movie Bambi and the BBC reality show Last Man Standing have in common? Corey Rennell, Founder of CORE Foods. The same week that Corey first watched Bambi at age 7, his father brought home a deer he’d shot on a hunting trip. By the time he was old enough to decide what food he would and would not eat, Rennell declared himself a vegan. While attending Harvard, Rennell was recruited as a contestant on Last Man Standing.
By 2015, Core Foods was declared the Bay Area’s 29th fastest-growing company. A successful $90,000 Kickstarter campaign helped Rennell and his team open Core Kitchen, the world’s first produce-only restaurant. Today, not only does Core Kitchen deliver fresh, healthy food to its customers, but much of its workforce is made up of formerly incarcerated men and women who needed someone to give them a second chance. [Read more]
9. Panasonic, “A better life, a better world”
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Panasonic? Speakers? Light bulbs? TV sets? These products and many more have been the hallmark of the Panasonic brand since its humble beginnings 100 years ago in Osaka, Japan. The Panasonic of today may not look like the one you grew up with. But, its founder, Konosuke Matsushita would take pride in the company’s continuous drive to design the future.
This year, the company made good on that commitment by winning the Milan Design Week award for technology with its installation called “Air Inventions”. The installation marks Panasonic’s transition from a consumer products behemoth to a solutions-based company focused on improving our environment. [Read more]
10. Buffer, “A team of real people, aligned in common values”
If your job includes posting updates on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, you’re probably familiar with Buffer. Why? Buffer lets you automatically post across multiple social media platforms according to when you want your target audience to see those posts.
Tools to optimize social media may not be in your job description, but if you’re a leader who values culture, Buffer is worth learning more about. In the eight years since its inception, Buffer has grown to more than 4.5 million users and over $16 million in annual revenue. In a recent Globoforce study about the effect of work relationships on culture and commitment, 93% of respondents said that it is important to have colleagues think highly of them. [Read more]
11. Rathbone Group, LLC, “Exceeding client expectations”
A law firm in Cleveland, Ohio, is probably not the first organization you think of when you imagine winners of awards for organizational culture. Yet, under the leadership of managing partner Joel Rathbone, the Rathbone Group has been recognized by The Cleveland Plain Dealer and organizers of the Smart Culture Awards for one of the city’s Top Workplaces awards. The secret to the firm’s culture success lies partially in its unique workweek structure, beginning with Management Monday. [Read more]
12. W.S. Badger, “Family-owned, family-run, and family-friendly”
Heading back to work after you’ve just bonded with your newborn can be agony. In 2006, a new mother at New Hampshire-based W.S. Badger was hoping to make the transition easier when she asked if she could bring her new baby back to work with her. That question launched an innovative family-friendly program at Badger where healthy body care products – from mustache wax to baby products – are packaged and sold online and at retailers including Whole Foods and Wegmans.
The family-owned company created a family friendly program that includes an intake interview with the expectant parent (both mothers and fathers). Managers work with expectant parents to explore new roles within the company, shorten their work weeks or work remotely, bring babies under six months to the office, and more. Recently, a plant expansion led to discussions about whether the program was too costly. After reassessing the make-room-for-baby policy, managers decided to double down on the program by hiring fulltime daycare providers to make the program run more efficiently. [Learn more]
Kudos to all 12 of these amazing companies who understand the value of culture as a competitive advantage!
Driven by the premise that excellence is the result of aligning people, purpose and performance, Center for Executive Excellence facilitates training in leading self, leading teams and leading organizations. To learn more, subscribe to receive CEE News!
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Leadership
The dizzying news cycles and political divisiveness of this year can be enough to leave the strongest among us searching for answers. Turning to a meaty book on leadership, culture, or how to maintain clarity in a world of toxicity can be an excellent way to recharge your leadership batteries. If you’re not sure which books to add to your holiday wish list this year, here are some fresh titles to consider.
1. The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
What it’s about: Recommended by both organizational behavior expert Adam Grant and “The No A**hole Rule” author Robert Sutton, Coyle’s book examines how successful groups of people — from Navy SEAL Teams to the San Antonio Spurs — work together so well.
Why pick it up: For a fresh perspective to a topic that’s often overcomplicated: how humans can function in groups. Coyle explains why addressing our most basic psychological needs is key to a high-performing culture, and he does so with colorful examples from all walks of life.
2. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown
What it’s about: Researcher Brené Brown – a legend among TED Talk devotees – has devoted herself to covering the subject of brave leadership during a time of scarcity, fear, and uncertainty. Based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she’s crafted a practical playbook based on research with 150 global C-suite executives.
Why pick it up: To learn how to unlearn, choose courage over comfort, and not allow fear to keep you from stepping up.
3. Bring Your Human to Work:10 Surefire Ways to Design a Workplace That Is Good for People, Great for Business, and Just Might Change the World by Erica Keswin
What it’s about: Given the rise of digital interface and debates about the merits of open space in workplaces, Keswin offers savvy and timely strategies to craft vital and intentional work practices that account for the complexity of our employees’ real lives.
Why pick it up: To return to the basic rules of humanity during a time when we’re living in the Wild West and no sheriff is coming to town.
4. Superminds: The Surprising Power of People and Computers Thinking Together by Thomas Malone
What it’s about: From the father of collective intelligence, a refreshingly realistic view of how computers will help us tackle the most complex problems as artificial intelligence becomes less artificial.
Why pick it up: To put worries about AI into perspective and get fresh insight into age-old human dynamics while illuminating the incredible possibilities powered by the use of ever-accelerating computer technology.
5. The Challenge Culture: Why the Most Successful Organizations Run on Pushback by Nigel Travis
What it’s about: The executive chairman and former CEO of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins reflects on the discipline he’s developed to offer a blueprint for creating a culture where employees engage in healthy debate to solve critical issues.
Why pick it up: For road-tested truths about how to give your team members the freedom to speak up and question the status quo, to talk in a civil way about difficult issues, and to be encouraged to debate strategies and tactics in the spirit of shared purpose.
6. Keeping At It: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government by Paul Volcker
What it’s about: As Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979 to 1987, Paul Volcker served under six presidents. Told with wit and humor, Volcker shares enduring lessons about the critical importance of open, disciplined, and efficient leadership in government.
Why pick it up: With America’s constitutional system and political traditions undergoing a stress test, Volcker’s memoir provides an inspiring call for restoring public service and trust in government.
7. Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin
What it’s about: Goodwin draws upon the four presidents she has studied most closely — Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson — to explore their development, growth, and exercise of leadership.
Why pick it up: This seminal work provides an accessible and essential roadmap for both emerging and established leaders in every field. In today’s polarized world, these stories of authentic leadership in times of apprehension and fracture take on a singular urgency.
History is filled with great leaders who were avid readers and writers (Winston Churchill won his Nobel prize in Literature, not Peace). Make time this holiday season to give yourself the gift of deep, broad reading to cultivate the information and insight you need to give your team the leader they deserve.
Question: What books have had the most impact on you as a leader?
Download our 7 Leadership Books for Your Holiday Wish List infographic and start shopping!
Driven by the premise that excellence is the result of aligning people, purpose and performance, Center for Executive Excellence facilitates training in leading self, leading teams and leading organizations. To learn more, subscribe to receive CEE News!
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Leadership
Over the past 10 years, I have been honored to explore and debate the essence of power with Dr. Tony Baron. Specifically, how power impacts leadership, how leadership impacts culture, and, ultimately, how culture impacts performance. With a double doctorate in psychology and theology and decades of executive coaching experience with Fortune 100 companies, you can imagine the depth and breadth that Tony adds to the subject.
By: Dr. Tony Baron
Nobody likes to be labeled. And nobody likes to be misunderstood. Given the context of our national dialogue recently, this may be a good time to talk about how to respond, instead of react, when we are misunderstood.
I am not talking about times when there is a lack of clarity in communication. I am talking about when others judge you based on misinformation they have received (or conceived) that results in them questioning your character.
The injustice hurts deeply. But, as leaders, our ultimate responsibility is to not to react, but to respond by modeling the behavior we would like to see in others. It is a true test of how we use power. Will we use our position to force others to bend to our will? Or, will we use our position to practice the discipline of transformative leadership?
Here are four ways that you can practice transformative leadership and respond, rather than react, when others attack your character:
1. Practice the Discipline of Not Having the Last Word
A transformative leader influences others by modeling appropriate behavior not only in positive situations but also in periods of criticism. When people attack your character, they often want to engage you in a verbal volley. Don’t do it. Transformative leaders have the discipline to not have the last word.
2. Practice the Discipline of Humility
An attack on your character may immediately send you into defense mode. If you have power, you may be tempted to use that power to punish the person who is attacking you. However, a transformative leader must refrain from presuming you can silence another person, and refrain from letting others know how wronged you feel. Humility comes from the word “grounded.” A grounded person reflects deeply to see what truth may be in the midst of falsehoods, what path may be used for reconciliation, and what direction you need to follow.
3. Practice the Discipline of Civility
A transformative leader understands that people who attack their character often betray their own fears and anxieties in the process. When people spew words at you in anger, recognize the pain or anxiety behind their words. Pause to reflect before you engage, then practice the discipline of civility. In Reclaiming Civility in the Public Square, civility is defined as “claiming and caring for one’s identity, needs, and beliefs without degrading someone else’s in the process.”
4. Practice the Discipline of Wisdom
Knowledge is a compilation of things true, maybe true, and definitely not true. Knowledge can lead to pride and a sense of superiority over others. Wisdom, on the other hand, is insight into reality. Reality is the only thing a transformative leader can count on. People of wisdom seek reality – not illusions, innuendos, or ill feelings.
So, to those who feel you have been misunderstood, take courage in the midst of adversity. Seek reconciliation. Practice the discipline of not having the last word, humility, civility, and wisdom.
Question: Have you felt misunderstood recently? Which of these practices might help you respond instead of react?
Dr. Tony Baron is Distinguished Scholar-In-Residence at Center for Executive Excellence and an internationally recognized speaker, writer, corporate consultant, professor and the San Diego Director of Azusa Pacific University Graduate School of Theology.
Dr. Baron is the author of six books, including The Art of Servant Leadership and a workbook manual co-written with noted author and business leader Ken Blanchard. Throughout his career, he has worked with hundreds of companies including Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola Company, Warner Brothers Studios, and Boeing, among many others.
Driven by the premise that excellence is the result of aligning people, purpose and performance, Center for Executive Excellence facilitates training in leading self, leading teams and leading organizations. To learn more, visit us today at www.executiveexcellence.com or subscribe to receive CEE News!
