On Leading Well

Tag: serve

  • 2009 = Service and Innovation

    Here’s a prophetic word for 2009. Who will be the standout leaders in the coming year? Innovators who genuinely serve those entrusted to their care.

    Innovators who serve their clientele, their customers, their team, or their organizations will stand in stark contrast to the cancerous rash of self-serving kleptocracies we experienced in 2008. From Mugabe in Zimbabwe to the wizards of Wall Street, headlines have highlighted those who seek status and personal gain at the expense of those whom they lead.

    Air Canada Stands Out
    Last week I flew Air Canada from Orlando to Toronto to speak at a student conference. It’s a short flight, 2 hours and change. The equipment was a relatively small jet, definitely not one of the long-haul types I often fly. Here’s what stood out to me: each seat had its own USB charger and 120-volt AC outlet, along with a complimentary inflight entertainment suite.

    In a world where US-based airlines constantly teeter on the brink of bankruptcy, offer AC outlets only for their business passengers (United) and charge $2 – $6 for movies and TV shows (Delta), Air Canada is serving and innovating. Way to go, eh!

  • So What’s This Blog About Anyway?

    Great question. My heart’s desire is to serve and strengthen those who want to grow in their ability to lead others well.

    Leadership sells. Google lists 11,800,000 entries under a search for the word. Every bookseller has a prominent section of leadership books trying to point the way (Amazon.com lists 193,692 books under leadership). Today we have no shortage of resources, seminars, articles, or DVDs promoting the “17 Secrets” or “31 How-To’s” of Leadership. However… the world still seems to experience a dearth of good leaders. Go figure.

    So… do we really need another blog on Leadership?

    Good leadership is not rocket science. Yes, there are skills to be learned. But the deeper issue is one of the heart. Here’s what I’ve discovered in over 20 years of leading teams in various settings – usually the biggest problems in leadership begin with me. Overcoming poor leadership requires time and intentionality. My inadequate leadership can’t be solved over a weekend or through an online personality assessment. It’s not someone else’s fault. Look in the mirror. Good leadership begins with self-leadership.

    Message for growing leaders: All good leadership begins with self-leadership.

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