Category Archives: Leadership

Status Quo Is Not An Option

The great thing about life is that each day provides us with an opportunity to improve. One time at work, my boss showed up when I was having some challenges and the group results were not as expected and most importantly, not as I had committed to earlier in the year. His simple message to me was “Status quo is not an option!” It also reminds me of the quote from Will Rogers, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” During our lives, we always come to the day where change is necessary. It can be results at work, a health issue or a relationship challenge.

The key is to set goals, chart progress and change before you need to.

Key Goals for Any Business

One day while my son was studying Economics he came home and dropped a question on me. At the time I was a senior executive at a company so I should have been ready. He asked me a simple question – “What are the key goals for any business?”. I couldn’t quickly and clearly summarize my thoughts so he bailed me out. He walked me through the points below.

Key Goals for Any Business

Simple and clear instructions for anyone in a leadership role and I have kept these on my dashboard ever since. I learned two leadership lessons that day – you learn lessons from all directions (in this case from my son) and to ensure all business plans, strategies and plans address these key areas.

Lead From The Front

“I’ll always be the the first person on the battlefield, my boots will be the first boots on it, and I’ll be the last person off. I’ll never leave a body.” Let. Gen. Harold G. Moore

You may have read the book or caught the movie starring Mel Gibson titled “We Were Soldiers”. They both tell the story of Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore. One of the great leadership lessons Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore had was to always lead from the front – you lead by example, you demonstrate passion for your job and most importantly never ask someone to do something that you would not do. Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore set an example for this team, leading his team onto the battlefield and ensuring he was the last one off.

As leaders we need to keep the same rule. Whether sacrificing work/life balance temporarily to meet a deadline, admitting that you made a mistake or having a difficult discussion with a team member, never ask someone to do something you would not do.

First you follow, then you lead

We all learn to follow before we learn to lead. I was blessed to be brought into a family with a mother, father, sisters and a brother to follow. I learned many lessons and as I grew older, venturing out out of my parents sight they constantly reminded me – Don’t be a follower! I learned to make my own decisions, choose my own paths and not to follow others by default. It wasn’t until later in life that I learned to lead. This photo is a gift from my daughter and reinforced the responsibility of all parents to lead their children.