Positive Leadership: The Power of Teamwork

Excerpted from The Power of Teamwork: Inspired by The Blue Angels

 ‘You stare through a gold tinted visor, as sweat stings your eyes and blurs your vision. Over the background engine and airflow noise, you hear through your headset, “Up we go, a little more pull!” as you ease back on the stick in the $30 million high performance jet fighter you’re flying.

Your eyes remain glued to the formation of five other aircrafts merely inches away; your ears are tuned in to every word and syllable spoken. Years of training and preparation have taught you to rely on all your senses to make continuous corrections and maintain control of the aircraft as it exceeds 400 miles per hour.

Your muscles become fatigued from fighting the 35 pounds of force you are countering on the stick, and the fluctuations of the g-force imposed on your body throughout the show. You cannot let up. You must burn through the ever present distractions and sensations.

The physical strain doesn’t compare to the mental exertion required. Your blue flight suit is soaked with perspiration from the intense focus required to perform and survive. The aerial manoeuvres you perform in a six-plane formation, wing-tip to wing-tip, exceed what other aerobatic pilots struggle to perform solo.

Most people think of the Blue Angels team as six shiny blue and gold F/A-18 Hornets that take to the skies, thrilling millions. But, like all successful organisations, what goes on behind the scenes is what drives the Blue Angels' success. The dedication of the support personnel and maintenance crew is what keeps these high performance machines in the air.

While I enjoyed the rewards that come with being a Blue Angel pilot, numerous other men and women with advanced skill sets sacrifice countless hours on the road, away from their families, to ensure the team’s success.

To see these dedicated professionals in action, day after day, represents the true power of teamwork.’

Positive Leadership: The Power of Teamwork

Positive Leadership: It's Culture That Drives Results

Stephen I. Sadove, chairman and chief executive of Saks Inc., explains that it is culture that drives results:

'It starts with leadership at the top, which drives a culture. Culture drives innovation and whatever else you’re trying to drive within a company — innovation, execution, whatever it’s going to be. And that then drives results.

When I talk to Wall Street, people really want to know your results, what are your strategies, what are the issues, what it is that you’re doing to drive your business. They’re focused on the bottom line. Never do you get people asking about the culture, about leadership, about the people in the organization. Yet, it’s the reverse, because it’s the people, the leadership, the culture and the ideas that are ultimately driving the numbers and the results.'

Positive Leadership: It's Culture That Drives Results

Positive Leadership: The Importance of Mental Toughness in Winning

Rugby is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. The world’s top players didn’t get to where they are today relying on talent alone. 

Success takes drive and dedication to both mental and physical training. 

Ever wondered why players at the end of their careers play consistently better than their younger counterparts? It all comes down to mental toughness.

International Rugby Academy (IRANZ) MD Murray Mexted recently wrote a column on The Roar extolling the virtues of making mental toughness a training priority. IRANZ places focus on developing mental toughness, defining it as “the ability to perform at your maximum every time you play.”

Peak Performance begins in the mind. While players naturally develop the mental skills and mind management techniques as they become more experienced, teaching them to a player (yes, it is teachable) at the start of their career will help them become more successful on and off the field.

Players need to realise everyone is motivated differently, find what works for them and develop it into a process. Meanwhile the coaches need to finely tune each player, working with them to turn what works for them from process to habit.

Rugby is all about the challenge, and mind management is the greatest one facing coaches in today’s game. The game is full of incredibly skilled players, but it’s up to the coaches to tap into their mind and find what motivates them. No easy task, but it’s what the great coaches in sport and in business are able to do.

For further information on how Positive Leadership can help you become mentally tougher, please contact: gavin.hastings@positiveleadership.co.uk

Positive Leadership: The Importance of Mental Toughness in Winning

Positive Leadership: 50,000 Page Views for the Positive Leadership Blog

Thanks to everyone who reads the Positive Leadership Blog for taking us over the 50,000 page views mark. We are delighted! We hope that you continue to find our leadership related posts interesting and stimulating.

Positive Leadership: 50,000 Page Views for the Positive Leadership Blog

Positive Leadership: How is Your Credibility?

Leaders and managers spend a lot of time and effort thinking about how to develop their people’s talent, shape their performance, and motivate them to improve.

But when was the last time you focused on yourself? Specifically, how’s your credibility? Does it need some attention? 

Here are 10 ways to boost your credibility with colleagues, customers, and everyone else within your sphere of influence:

1. Demonstrate ownership and a sense of urgency. Your colleagues and customers want a quick turnaround when they have a problem or concern. Show them they matter.

2. Be clear on when you will respond. When a problem or concern arises, quickly communicate details on how you will fix the issue, and ensure it doesn’t happen again.

3. Return calls and emails promptly. Don’t let emails sit in your inbox unanswered, and don’t hide behind your voicemail—especially if you’ve made a mistake. Be reachable.

4. Meet face-to-face when possible. Email is handy, but it isn’t the right mode of communication for resolving conflicts, having discussions, or expressing feelings.

5. Be open, candid, and transparent. Don’t withhold information that you should be sharing. Don’t force others to ask for the truth; volunteer it. Being open instils trust.

6. Earn trust—don’t ask for it. The worst thing a manager can say is “Trust me!” Build credibility with your actions and you’ll never have to ask for it.

7. Follow through with agreements. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Never make others beg for information that you said you would provide.

8. Admit your mistakes. Be accountable for your actions. Nothing destroys credibility more than blaming everyone else and refusing to point your finger at yourself.

9. Restate commitments. If a customer or colleague agrees to anything, restate back to them what they’ve just agreed to. That way there will be surprises—from you or from them.

10. Set a good example. If you blame others, worry, get hysterical, do things in a mediocre way, have disorganised methods, or fail to see others’ potential, so will your colleagues.

Positive Leadership: How is Your Credibility?

Positive Leadership: Ethical Leadership

Nobel Prize laureate Professor Amartya Sen, spoke on "David Hume and the Demands of Ethics" on Monday, July 18, 2011.

The Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University gave his lecture as part of Edinburgh University's celebration of philosopher David Hume's 300th birthday.

Positive Leadership: Ethical Leadership

Positive Leadership: The Role of Emotions in Decision Making

Do you know what drives your decisions or those of your organization?

Stanford Business School Professor Baba Shiv discusses emotions and decision-making in this hugely entertaining video.

Professor Shiv describes the neural underpinnings of the role emotion plays in the decision-making process and how ignoring emotion may lead to sub-optimal decisions.

Positive Leadership: The Role of Emotions in Decision Making

Positive Leadership: The Leadership Philosophy of Steve Jobs and Apple

Simpler is always better: Jobs’ advice: “One product, one box”.

Blunt communication works: Bluntness leaves no room for confusion, distraction or complexity.

Good leaders can compartmentalise: Jobs compartmentalised criticism so he could move towards his goals.

Small groups work better: Restrict meetings to people who would be discussing the topic at hand.

Keep things minimal and move quickly: Apple campaigns are put out within a month.

Simple names are superior: Apple does not hire naming experts; it relies on a small internal team and a group of advertising consultants.

Simplicity is human: Not a five-gigabyte drive on an iPod, but a “thousand songs in your pocket”.

Simplicity even works in retail: Focus on quality, uncluttered and inviting design and fantastic customer service.

Positive Leadership: The Leadership Philosophy of Steve Jobs and Apple

Positive Leadership: Is This You?

Positive Leadership: Is This You?

Positive Leadership: Tom Peters on Leadership

Tom Peters on the Definition of Leadership from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

Positive Leadership: Tom Peters on Leadership

Positive Leadership: Learning from Sacrifice and Mistakes

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps took home eight historic gold medals in Beijing. One of the reasons Phelps attracts such a large fan base is his likeable, down-to-earth approach to life. 

Here are three ways Phelps maintains a healthy life balance in spite of the rigours of being an international sports icon.

1. On Sacrifice

"Growing up in high school, I wasn't hanging out with friends every day or on the weekends. Doing normal high-school things was something I was willing to give up." Phelps stepped out and devoted himself to a seemingly unachievable goal. Hard work does in fact pay off, and by applying your talents and avoiding the temptation to divert along the way, you'll reach your own podium.

2. Learning from Mistakes

"Having my DUI happen was a learning experience. Being in a college environment, it's my job to try and help make sure people don't make the same mistake I made. I've learned so much, just from having an experience like that, and I think I've grown up more from that experience than from before.”

Much like your own, Phelps’ life isn't without setbacks, failings and challenges. Following his DUI arrest at 19, Phelps visited several elementary schools, warning children about the importance of making good choices. By accepting responsibility for his actions, Michael learned from his mistake and made the best of an unfortunate situation.

3. Learn to Love the Unknown

"[After swimming,] I don't know what I want to do. I definitely want to stay in sports, but I'm not sure what field I want to go into. And no, I'm not dreading it. There's going to be a time when I'm ready to retire—but definitely not yet. "

It's easy to get caught up thinking about, and planning for, the future. Realise that it's all right not to have every aspect of your life charted out—enjoy the present for what it is and approach it without fear. After all, what's the point of working hard to enjoy the future if you're a neurotic wreck when you get there? Exactly.

Positive Leadership: Learning from Sacrifice and Mistakes

Positive Leadership: Attitude

Positive Leadership: Attitude

Positive Leadership: Our Vision

Clients often ask us how we wish to be perceived. 

Our vision for Positive Leadership is quite simple. 

We hope that:

• our published ideas set us apart as leading scholars. 
• our ability to radically transform organisations sets us apart as advisers. 
• our relentless drive to improve the lives of leaders and everyone around them sets us apart as people.

For further information, please contact: graham.watson@positiveleadership.co.uk

Positive Leadership: Our Vision

Positive Leadership: Preparing to Excel Under Pressure

How well do you prepare to excel under pressure?

The London Summer Olympics are nearly three months from now with the opening ceremony on July 27. However, the training several U.S. Olympians have done with the US Navy SEALs — 10 U.S. teams in Olympic sports have been through at least one session in recent years — is an arduous, indelible part of their preparation.

“I guess what I took away from that was the human body can always achieve more than we believe. And that's controlled purely by our minds." US Olympic gold medallist Garrett Weber-Gale 

The fatigue is so consuming the SEALs advise them at certain points to focus only on their next step — to ignore the discomfort of the elements, the aches shooting through their muscles, the doubts plaguing their minds, and to simply put one foot in front of the other.

"You can't buy what they're going to teach them in four hours," says Wendy Borlabi, a sport psychologist with the U.S. Olympic Committee, who adds the training is especially beneficial to athletes who compete in individual sports. "They're learning what they're doing is bigger than themselves," Borlabi says. "It's different than when they're training for the Olympics, which is all centred on them. "The growth, I think, is astronomical." 

For more, see: : http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/story/2012-04-16/navy-seals-olympics/54506732/1

Positive Leadership: Preparing to Excel Under Pressure

Positive Leadership: Inspired By Sport

David Beckham, Oscar Pistorius and sports stars from around the world tell us in this video how they've been inspired by sport.

This video celebrates the achievements of International Inspiration and marks the Inspired by Sport photography exhibition.

Positive Leadership: Inspired By Sport

Positive Leadership: Global Management Challenge Launching in Scotland

The Global Management Challenge is the largest Strategy and Management Competition for Students in the world. 

Positive Leadership is delighted to be involved with the forthcoming launch of the competition in Scotland. 

Over 40 countries around the world already take part in the annual competition and to date, over 480 000 university students and company managers have participated in the event.

For more information, please see: www.gmcscotland.co.uk

Positive Leadership: Global Management Challenge Launching in Scotland

Positive Leadership: How Healthy is your Organisation?

In this interview, author of The Advantage , Pat Lenconi shares great insight into helping you determine the health level of your organisation and provides some invaluable nuggets in how to move your organisation to the next level.



 

Positive Leadership: How Healthy is your Organisation?

Positive Leadership: Commitment

Commitment is a key to success whether it's in a business, a personal relationship, professional growth, or in sports.

What made Larry Bird one of the best players in basketball? He was considered slow, and many thought he could not jump. Sometimes it almost looked like he was playing in slow motion. But Larry Bird succeeded as a player because he was totally dedicated to success. He practiced more, played harder, and had more mental toughness than most of his competitors. He got more out of his talents than almost anyone did.

The same was true with Tom Watson, the great golfer. Tom was nothing special at Stanford, considered just another kid on the team. But his coach still talks about him, saying, "I never saw anyone practice more."

You see, the difference in physical skills between athletes doesn't tell you much. It's the quality of their commitment that separates the good players from the great. People who are committed to success are willing to do whatever it takes, as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. Everything they do reflects their commitment.

Ask yourself the following questions and think about your answers: "How strong is your commitment - to your career, your relationships, your personal growth? How much of your time and energy do you give these things? Do the results you get reflect your level of commitment?"

Positive Leadership: Commitment

Positive Leadership: Building a Winning Team

Looking to build a Winning Team?

Teams which work with Positive Leadership will be able to add that winning edge to their overall performance through;

Better communication

Stronger leadership

Improved team-working skills

Enhanced motivation, moral and pride

Agreeing and living their team charter

Having a better understanding of how they and others tick

Building the esprit de corps

An improved way of working when under pressure.

For more information, please contact graham.watson@positiveleadership.co.uk

Positive Leadership: Building a Winning Team

Positive Leadership: Mentoring Women in the Tech Sector

Women make up half of the U.S. workforce but represent only 25% of the technology industry. They lead only 8% of technology start-ups. So why aren't there more female leaders in the tech sector? One of the answers lies in the lack of mentorship - in the lack of both mentors and mentees.

If you look at the entrepreneurship landscape, you still see that it is dominated by men. But without women in high places, younger women lack the role models and mentors to help them succeed. Younger generations of women need to have someone to look up to, someone to show them the ropes and limitless possibilities, to help them believe. That is why it is increasingly crucial that women who have made it to the top of the organisation commit to guiding other women towards similar success, take a larger role and responsibility in 'raising' the next generation of female leaders. 

However, it is also the responsibility of women to ask for mentorship. Women need to actively seek mentorship, male or female. More often than not women in power cite their male mentors being crucial to their success.

A mentor is someone who:

•             Has faith in you, pushes you to be better, encourages you to keep moving forward when going gets tough

•             Is honest with you, even if truth hurts, and tells you to stop whining if necessary ("tough love")

•             Contributes to your knowledge base through sharing experiences and best-known practices

•             Opens up his/her rolodex to you and utilises his/her network to help you succeed

•             Helps you towards your own vision by helping align your actions with your goals

•             Is consistent and disciplined: puts in the time, gives you homework, sets benchmarks, holds you accountable every step of the way.

These are some other observations around mentoring:

•             Mentoring doesn't have to be an altruistic act; it is totally acceptable to have a mutual benefit in this relationship that would help motivate both parties. You can trade your services or help each other in different ways, but it is always best to ensure alignment of incentives.

•             Mentees have to know what they want -- that's half the battle.

•             It is impossible to meet with everyone who wants your time as a mentor. If you are in that position, create a barrier to entry to ensure your mentees are as dedicated as they expect you to be.

•             Don't make gender an issue, don't take it personally. People hang out in familiar circles because of the common interests; that's just how networks work. As a woman, you need to become a part of solution, not a part of the problem.

•             Ageism is often an issue professionally. So if you are a young woman, you can overcome it by sounding confident, being firm, looking others straight in the eye, and firmly shaking hands.

•             As a mentor you have to make a commitment and stick to it no matter what. Your role as a mentor is to push yourself out of the job by your mentee doing it well.

Positive Leadership: Mentoring Women in the Tech Sector

Positive Leadership: Why Some Companies Outperform

What is the secret of the success of the World’s Most Admired  Companies?  Four factors are essential according to the Hay Group | FORTUNE World's Most Admired Companies Report 2012 -

1. Strategic excellence

2. Structures and processes that sustain performance over time

3. Achieving success through people

4. Placing a high value on leadership and talent.

These companies also outperform (total shareholder return) industry peers and the market as a whole over 1, 3, 5 and 10 years.

Positive Leadership: Why Some Companies Outperform

Positive Leadership: The Role of Values in Decision Making

Values are now a permissible part of the decision making conversation in business. Even if it’s still lip service for too many companies, it is now legitimate for people to mention values and principles as factors in their decisions. For example, the idea of a noble purpose is increasingly considered essential to brands, and social contributions are part of the communication to consumers.

Positive Leadership: The Role of Values in Decision Making

Positive Leadership: A Leadership Prompt

CONNECTING RATHER THAN ISOLATING.

Positive Leadership: A Leadership Prompt

Positive Leadership: Motivating Your Team

Research shows us that there is a proven set of basic intrinsic needs employees have, which must be met in order for them to become highly motivated and passionate. These needs, much in the same way as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, are represented in a pyramid, where each level builds on the one before:

Level 1: To Be Respected – It’s almost as basic a human need as oxygen – all of us need to be respected by others, yet so many leaders unintentionally treat their team members with disrespect.

Level 2: To Learn and Grow – We are born with an innate curiosity that drives us to want to learn. It stays with us throughout our lives unless it has been extinguished by experiences or the influences of others.

Level 3: To Be An Insider – Insiders have a strong emotional connection to the organisation. They know they are part of the team and they feel valued and involved.

Level 4: To Do Meaningful Work – When employees understand the purpose of their work and how it makes a difference to others, they tend to be more motivated to do a great job.

Level 5: To Be on a Winning Team – When a team works together so well that they outperform even their own expectations of themselves, their motivation levels grow and grow.

For the vast majority of organisations, motivation is a process, not an event. It begins with leaders in the organisation developing an awareness of these needs that drive employees’ behaviour and motivation.

Positive Leadership: Motivating Your Team