“The leader must exhibit the principles, code of conduct and behavior he or she is asking others to emulate. -Bill Walsh
It starts with me. One of the most hypocritical things I see in the world is a person that holds the people around them to higher standards than they hold themselves. The leader must be the hardest working person in the group if lasting success is desired. The leader that starts acting like a boss or dictator and orders people to do things he wouldn’t do will not be a leader for long. The leader must set the bar and show the group the way things should be done. Leaders can’t be afraid to get their hands dirty in the field or make the coffee in the morning. Great leaders are the first to start working and the last to settle in for the day. This is hard and so is leading a team to successfully reach a worthwhile goal.
I often joke that everyone wants to be a leader until it’s time to lead. Everyone wants to be a champion, but only the few set and live by standards that allow them to achieve it. Most people want and wish, but do not sacrifice to get what they desire. The sacrifice to be great is living up to the standards of thought and performance necessary to reach the goal. This always starts with personal accountability. I have to be the hardest working person in the room and demand more from myself than I do from the rest of my team to be a leader and a success. We can’t lead from the back. We must be the example of the standards. The pace of the pack will match the pace of its leader. What we demand from ourselves will translate to the people around us.
When we hold ourselves accountable, we can and must hold everyone around us to the same standards. This is what great leaders and teams do. It is the only way to create a winning culture in your life and organization. Standards, rules and laws are put in place for a reason. To not live up to them is to accept less than what is needed for success. It is accepting failure. When we allow our team to slack, we become weaker and set the table for failure. We have to lead by word and deed to create a winning life and team.
Leading with PMA is always positive and constructive. It is not nice and comfortable. It is direct and to the point because we are in hot pursuit of goals. We have to set the standards of thought and action high and demand that these standards are met. This will most definitely call for times when leaders praise and encourage the team, but there are also times for constructive criticism. When our teammates are living up to the standards, it is our duty to praise and encourage them. When we receive encouragement, we have more energy and know we are on the right path. It is important to note that praise needs to be used as motivation to inspire people to get better. We always have to make sure that we don’t get complacent when we receive or give praise. Make sure that praise that we give and receive is warranted and not just a nicety given to be politically correct. Praise and encouragement need to be warranted to be effective. Every person getting a trophy for participating doesn’t allow for this and,while being a nice gesture, is dangerous because it is rewarding mere participation and not accomplishment.
*The leader is the hardest working person in the group regardless of title.
*Leaders set the bar!
-Get your hands dirty. / Make the coffee. / SERVE
*Leaders know the WHY! / Everything has a Reason (Standards, Rules and Laws)
*Leaders give Honest Evaluation – (Feedback demands Strong Relationships)
-Constructive Criticism – Criticize the performance not the performer!
-Celebrate Success and Build
Win with PMA 