Category: Accountability

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RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY & LEVELS OF SELF-RESPECT – A BELL CURVE

This week’s BELL CURVE focuses on RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY & LEVELS OF SELF-RESPECT

I have said it before and I will continue to say it, in any manner possible when it comes to holding yourself ACCOUNTABLE and RESPONSIBLE.

In this case, I am addressing YOUR level of SELF-RESPECT. Just like being transparent and forthcoming, the same applies when it comes to Accountability and Responsibility. The more you accept responsibility and hold yourself accountable for the actions you took, the actions you did not take, for the things you said, and for the things you did not say the more you will start to understand yourself.

When it comes to understanding yourself, your level of SELF-RESPECT increases.
Increasing your level of SELF-RESPECT will work towards becoming a better person, a better human being.

There are far too many individuals that maintain an average level of SELF-RESPECT in that at any moment, they could raise their level. Then again, they are more apt to lower that level for any number of reasons or for no reason at all, to include not knowing any better.

Lowering that level of SELF-RESPECT is easy when people are constantly and consistently NOT held accountable for their actions (either in words or deeds or both). Yet, by raising your level of SELF-RESPECT as with anything else that makes you feel good about yourself you will work hard to stay ABOVE AVERAGE.

But, saying to others that you are ABOVE AVERAGE is truthfully, below average speak. It is in your actions and doing that speak louder than words ever will. To make the process of being ABOVE AVERAGE easier and faster to achieve, certainly helps when you are actively and undeniably holding yourself ACCOUNTABLE & accepting RESPONSIBILITY for yourself, all the time and without fail.

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I am DAVID GUERRA and I said this.

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Accountability blog Change Ethics Inspiration Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor Motivation positive Work Ethic

Leading From The Front

When it comes to leadership in all its varying forms and style nothing and I do mean NOTHING will beat the penultimate leadership style of LEADING FROM THE FRONT.

Up until recently, there were very few real world examples of LEADING FROM THE FRONT.

The current and most relevant example is Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Yes, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the current situation with Russia invading Ukraine, the Zelenskyy is out there fighting to push back the invaders, he is also out there fighting on behalf of his country to more international support.

The Ukrainian President is out there, on the front lines, walking his talk. How many “leaders” do that on a daily basis. How many leaders, today, are willing to walk out there where the bullets are flying.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the definition of Leading From The Front. He is out there fighting for his country, his constituents, his family and for his life. He is the epitome of walking his talk. He could have opted to rule from behind a desk far from the fighting. Instead, he opts to walk out to where the bullets, mortars, missiles, and tank shells are flying.

Sure there are many politicians that “claim” they lead from the front. Without shame they claim that they are out there and “no one works harder for their constituents than they do”. Yet when the opportunity to go to the front comes, they go there in a chauffeured limo. Then the moment things look like they are going sideways these politicians duck back in, speed away. Soon they find comfort in their nice cozy, comfy office chairs as far away from the front-lines as they can get.

Then there are some political officials that will flat out ignore a direct order to go to the front-lines. When questioned about why they are not going to the front-lines, their only response is a dirty look and a “cackled” laugh. Next question, please.

So much for working hard or is it working hard at avoiding any hard work? I challenge anyone to prove me wrong or try to change my mind when it comes to those politicians.

But, this post is not only about politicians. It is also about business managers, military personnel and the countless others that want to be great leaders but do not want to put in the work. They may claim they are putting in the work but yet, they are continually found behind their desk managing by email or zoom or by text (this is the worst of all). Again, I ask how can you become great if you REFUSE to get your hands dirty.

Who does not want to be known as one of the great leaders of our time? I promise you this: The person is lying if they claim they do not want to be great.

Sure, some people may be satisfied with their life if they never are seen as great. Some may be perfectly fine if they can achieve some level of greatness. No matter if a little, some or none and sure as the sun rises, everyone wants to be great.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being great. As many have said (including myself) time and time again, to be great you have put in great work.

WORK! W-O-R-K!

There’s that nasty four-letter word. It will never go away especially when you want to do something and be something. You have to put in the work. THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO BEING GREAT.

However, you can move the process along by getting out there and Leading from the Front and by leading from the front means you are out there ACTIVELY participating.

You are out there NOT getting in the way. You are out there not for a photo-op but to actually do something that is helping. The following is what you can do to become a great leader:
• Stand Up
• Step Up
• Go To The Front-lines
• Dig Foxholes, Fill Sandbags, Chop Wood, Carry Water
• Stay Out of The Way

That is it. It does not get any clearer and better than that. Get To Work!

Thank you for your time and consideration,
David G. Guerra, MBA

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Accountability Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor

“Do As I Say, Not As I Do” aka Hypocrisy 101

“Do As I Say, Not As I Do” aka Hypocrisy 101

Why is this still a thing? For as long as I can remember, leading by example is the number one way for leaders to lead. Leading by Example, sets a standard that challenges followers to either match or exceed. Leading by Example is what all great leaders, either intentionally or unintentionally, do 100% of the time.

As unfortunate as it is to say, that even though it is 2022 there are still managers that believe that leading by example is not the way to lead. While, they may be aware that they cannot club someone/anyone over the head to get them to do something they want done. Those managers then resort to talking down to those they manage. They resort to threat. Worst of all, they resort to a tactic known as “Do as I say, not as I do” process.

A manager will set the expectation of the employees or staff or team members then almost immediately the manager does the opposite. For example, the manager demands all employees be at their desk and working by no later than 8:01am. Sounds plausible. Yet, the manager rolls in around five minutes to nine or sometimes around fifteen after 9:00am. Then when questioned by a team member the response from the manager is almost always “if they don’t like it, they can leave.” Now that’s hardly the sound of a genuine leader. That is the action of an authentic hypocrite.

That someone who engages in the “same behavior or activity for which one criticizes another or the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform”. Yes, that hypocrite.

That type of individual is not alone. they are not the anomaly, not the exception but they are, also, not the standard. Hypocrites are out there. How they are made can vary. Some say hypocrites are created when others they saw as mentors did to them that they now do to others. Sadly, those individuals grow to become managers (please note I never said they grow up to become leaders). They do so because they do not know any better.

The other train of thought when it comes to the birth of hypocrites, is that they have a deep-rooted sense of entitlement. Look at those individuals that obtain a degree and immediately that sense of “I know better than you do because I have a degree” comes into play. Sure enough, those individuals are truly believing that their degree trumps real world experience. As opposed to putting in the work and learning the right way, their mind is wrapped around the concept of that degree is the end all and be all.

Yet, there are “managers” that self-proclaim as leaders are out there behaving in a manner completely opposite of the “Lead by Example” mindset. Let me be the first to confirm what many are thinking when it comes hypocrites most will never change. That is why most will never understand why those they are supposed to be leading will never see them as leaders.

The ability of the manager to change for the better is there ONLY if they want to change. Only when they realize that as managers, they can be more to the people that report to them, can they begin to change.

Changing for the better is realizing that the dictatorial mindset that comes with the “do as I say, not as I do” attitude is not the way to lead. Every manager must strive to become a leader. Every leader must do what it takes to fully understand that Leading by Example will be easier to set any standard than it is to dictate or, heaven forbid, micro-manage.

Managers if you do not believe that those that follow you are NOT watching you but following your ONE-SIDED demands let me be the first to tell you: YOU ARE WRONG!

They are watching everything. They are watching everything YOU say. They are watching everything YOU do.

If you do not believe me then prepared for the end results that are sure to follow because of your naivete, your ignorance or your arrogance.