Free Book Promo

My new book, Leadership Re:Vision will be in stores in January. 

If you'd like to preview the complete galley you can access the file here.

Feel free to FWD the link to anyone you think might appreciate it.

I prefer "Mr President"

We've been watching DVDs of The West Wing, starting with the first season and rolling through. 

I've been a huge fan for a couple of reasons:

1) It's just darn good TV - especially the first few seasons.

2) The story represents an ideal I know will never be reality, but one I nonetheless long for.

3) The show's liberal politics are right up my alley.

None of that has anything to do with something I learned during one of our recent weekend marathons.

The role of President Josh Bartlett is played by Martin Sheen, who does an excellent job adding dimension to the character. As you watch the interactivity of Bartlett with his staff you are struck by an odd mix of familiarity and formality.

The staff and the president talk personally and joke about many things, but no one EVER refers to the boss as anything other than Mr President. Not even his closest friends when they are in the President's private quarters.

At some point during the first season, the writers offer an explanation for this:

Sheen's character is met in the Oval Office by an old friend. It's obvious President Bartlett and this person go way back and that they're good friends.

During the conversation the friend turns to Bartlett and asks, "So, what do I call you here in this office?"

To which the president replies, "I prefer, Mr President. Not because I want the recognition but because I need the constant reminder that [all] this is not about me but about the office."

Question - Could we perhaps be too informal in our communication with colleagues and superiors in business?

Resting on one's title or position is a sure recipe for failure, but do we sometimes disrespect the office by being too informal? Hierarchy and org charts serve a purpose by letting people know where the buck stops and starts. 

On The West Wing, having no doubt who's in charge gives everyone a sense of security and confidence they wouldn't have otherwise.

 

I can't wait 'til Monday

I am going to the Post Office on Monday to ask them to explain a piece of mail I received today. 

The package was a cardboard mailing envelope, that had been sent to me by a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have no idea what was in the package when it was mailed from Grand Rapids, because when it arrived in my mailbox - it was affixed with a label which read:

RECEIVED IN DAMAGED CONDITION (without contents)

The envelope looks like it had been run over by something. Three of the four sides were torn completely apart - and there was nothing inside.

I have no idea who sent me the package, nor have I a clue as to what may have been inside. But I am nearly 100% certain the person mailing it took it to the Post Office in much better condition than what was delivered to me.

The sticker from the USPS sounds like they have no idea what happened to the package - but if it was given to them in one piece, shouldn't they be responsible for the damage? And for the lost content? 

You'd think they would at the very least send the mailer a check for the postage. The sender paid the USPS to deliver the contents of the package to me. The PO failed in this and the sender shouldn't have to pay for services not rendered.

Flying into a hurricane

I've used the term "into the eye of a hurricane" to metaphorically describe situations, but I can now say I've actually done it. 

We flew into Managua yesterday on the back-end of Hurricane Alma. The flight from Miami was delayed until the storm passed and we scooted in right at the tail end. The flight wasn't all that rough, despite the ominous clouds all around. Could have been the three Mimosa cocktails I had to calm my nerves.

I'm sure there's a lesson or two from all this and once my head gets used to being here I'll start to process them. Perhaps something about the prudence of waiting for storms to pass before moving ahead - but that goes against my nature so we'll just have to wait and see where this leads.

The value of feedback

I am working with two clients right now who desperately need and want to fire employees who are clearly not adding value to the equation.

Their dilemma is - they can't pull the trigger because they have failed to provide adequate feedback on the employee's performance.

It has been easier to ignore and "work around" issues but that expediency has led to situations where the employee will actually be shocked to hear they are being let go.

This is a far too common problem.

As difficult as regular performance reviews can be, they are certainly less painful than having to fire someone who does not see it coming.

If you are behind in your staff evaluations, stop what you are doing RIGHT NOW and schedule time to complete this critically important task.

Almost heaven

In Nashville this week for some Ideation with a client's board of directors. Took a wrong turn and had to double-back on the freeway. The route took me past a DRIVE-THRU BaskinsRobbins ice cream store.

Oh My Goodness - you CAN have your cake AND eat it, too. (Although in this case the cake is ice cream).

Now, if they would build a drive-thru cholesterol checking station, I'd never need to get out of my car.

Very glad this particular store is in Nashville, and that getting to it from my home requires a 4 hour flight. At least at home I have to get out of the car and WALK to the ice cream counter.

Conundrum

I position myself as a consultant who can help companies think differently. I write and speak about breaking molds, moving away from and beyond whatever status quo you find yourself in.

So - how does someone who preaches the gospel of change build his own brand? 

Brand building is all about consistency - how do I show consistency when I am all about change?

The minute I think I've arrived and begin to enjoy some awareness of my personal brand, I'm caught with the dilemma that I need to shake that box and move on to something else.

Amazing Story

Reading Amazing Grace, the story of William Wilberforce, written by Eric Metaxas.

Two comments:

1. Wilberforce was an incredible individual - if I could have only half of his passion and dedication to a cause - wow.
   
2. Metaxas has a refreshing voice. His sentence structure is intelligent and slightly "old school" yet not stuffy or out-of-touch.

Good read.

Having adequate resources

My daughter moved home from university yesterday.

Last time we did this was such a hassle because we had to cram everything into her car and mine. By the time we got the cars loaded, we were both exhausted and facing a 6 hour drive.

This year I found my brain and borrowed a pick-up truck from a friend.

What a difference it was to have the right capacity - we simply loaded the truck and took off.

How often do we try to get by with less than adequate resources? 

Postal Logic

Bought 100 "Forever Stamps" today - 

1. They don't come in rolls, only in sheets of 20. Why?
   
2. The clerk told me the reason they were offering them was to "reduce the number of one-cent stamps we need to sell every time the rates go up."
   
3. The person in line behind me wasn't sure it was a good idea to buy so many "Forever Stamps" because she "wouldn't use them all before the rates went up."
   
4. I wish they had a greater variety of designs from which to chose. Of course, offering no choice does tend to speed things up a bit at the counter.
   
5. Are there people buying mega-quantities of these and holding them until postal rates catch up to gasoline?
   

Pothole repair and resistance to change

There's a block long stretch of street near my house that has potholes large enough to have their own zip code. I drive the street 2 or 3 times a day and have learned to dodge the clunkers in a zig-zaggy way that reminds me of driving in Nicaragua.

Or I should say the street WAS pocked with potholes.

I noticed this afternoon that someone had filled in the craters with blacktop. The holes are gone and so is my need to weave between them while mentally composing a complaint letter to the City.

I actually miss the the stupid potholes. They had become such an integrated part of my life that I miss them now that they're gone. We are such creatures of habit that even when something we don't like is taken away, we long for its return.

Valiant Attempt Number Two (or Three)

My last post was nearly seven months ago - in the gap I have finished the manuscript for my second hardback (more in a later post), published a comprehensive update for my Guide to the Christian Market from EPM Communications and penned half a dozen magazine articles. 

With all that, the idea of writing a regular blog became less of a priority. I'm not sure if my abandonment of the blog was intentional, but I think my desire was to use the blog as a casual release for random thoughts and it was becoming more of a chore than a pleasure.

So, my renewed effort is going to be a lot less structured and predictable. I'll add a link here and there to connect readers with things they may find interesting but my intended audience for these entries is extremely narcissistic - I am writing this stuff for me.

If you happen along and enjoy reading over my shoulder, that's OK.