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Leadership, Communication, and Feedback by David Guerra

I was recently asked the following question, “What are the three most important things for any organization to succeed?”

For most people the obvious answers are money, product and customers. Great answers but not the answers I gave.

I answered, “Leadership, Communication, and Feedback.”

Leadership.

Great leadership at the begets Greater leadership at the mid-level and when that happens from the top down, the front-lines can only be a place where magic happens. I say this because if an organization has Great Leaders at the top, Greater Leaders at the mid-level then it should comes as no surprise that those on the front-line want to do better than those above them. That is because the corporate culture does not demand it, it inspires it.

Communication.

Communication is based on dialogue. Dialogue among all members of the organization. Monologue has a place in every organization yet in limited quantities. Communication is necessary when it comes to organizational success. The success occurs when the entire organization (top down) encourages and expects open communication. Failing to deliver that expectation then the organization gets what it deserves. What it gets is NOT a great organization. Avoiding this fate is easy, so long as everyone buys into wanting to and communicating to every stakeholder in and out of the organization. Yes, it is that simple.

Feedback.

Everyone in the organization must demand, expect, solicit, and most of all, ACCEPT feedback. A corporate culture that actually expects complete and honest feedback is one that values the input of everyone not just from those at the top. Unfortunately, for far too long the ONLY feedback available came in the form of the Annual Performance Review, a top down cluster of unwarranted, useless feel good words and a very INACCURATE picture of what was truly going on. The 360° degree Feedback has to come from ALL directions; top-down, bottom-up, sideways, laterally, inside-out, and outside-in. Seriously, for all this to work FEEDBACK must come from all directions and go in all directions.

Sure you can have all the financing you need, just the right product and all the customers you could ever want but without Leadership, Communication, and Feedback what do you have? You got nothing. If you think I am wrong then prove me wrong.

Thanks,
David Guerra, MBA

Do you agree or disagree with this list? Let me know either by
Twitter @daveguerra or by email dave@daveguerra.com or both.

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Journaling Your Leadership by David Guerra

When it comes to journaling and leadership the two have to go together like peanut butter and jelly. Writing down the actions of the day and recalling them at a later time is the main reason biographies of great military, political and business leaders are written. It is the exact same reason for you to journal your daily events.  Document activities as they happen. Obviously, there are times you cannot go into specifics (to protect the privacy of all parties) however you can present enough information that when you need it, there it is. However, all of this is not possible if you do not have the right materials to do the right job.

• Always have writing materials.

Any leader that has been a great follower knows to always carry something to write with and something to write on is vital to your existence. Typically, that means carrying paper and pen. Unless you like remembering names, dates, and other information it is best that you carry that paper and pen(s) at all times. However, I have recently seen a disturbing trend: People writing important (critical) information on the palm of their hand.

I cannot understand why people would take such a chance. Yet, they seem to have no problem writing names on the palm of their hand and hoping they don’t sweat it away. Folks, don’t take a chance and smudge a name or a word, don’t take a chance of misspelling a word or running out of room to write. Make it part of your everyday carry (EDC) kit, have paper (notepad, note cards, journal) and pen or pens or pencil.

Having this will allow you to keep important information handy and within arm’s reach.

• Document Everything especially names, times, places, and events.

Now that you have something to write with and something to write on what do you do? You start writing, of course. Now you ask, but what do you write? Great question. If you have never written in a journal you start slow.

At first, just give the highlights. However, the highlights should include names, times, places, and events. Then as you get more comfortable with your writing you start including things like time of day, weather, and actual dialogue.

As leader, now it becomes even more important to document, chronicle, or whatever you want to call it, all your daily interactions no matter how mundane or important. Treat every interaction as the same. As anyone who has spent anytime managing people you have to document or it didn’t happen.

The ability to efficiently and effectively document your day will increase as you do it every day. Once you are effective and efficient, you will be able to describe and document situations with the best of them.  That documentation will come in handy as you move along in your career or time as a leader.

• Refer to the past to create a new future.

Once you are well on your way to journaling or documenting your day-to-day adventures as a leader something unique starts to happen, you are building a library. A library of events, situations, and how you handled them. This library built from your daily journaling not only shows you what happened in the past but helps guide you in the present and the future.

When a situation arises and it is similar to something that happened in your past, you can quickly refer to your journal(s) and instantly you have a point of reference not only to help you figure out what to do but to ensure that as a manager you remain consistent.

Keep journaling, even when you think that life is boring. It is a great tool to show your kids or those you mentor that life is mostly boring but when it isn’t life can be a challenge. Future challenges will be in good company as you will have a resource, a recollection that allows you to use the past to address the present.

Keep writing.

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What did you think of this blog entry / post?
Let me know by email dave@daveguerra.com on on Twitter @daveguerra

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blog Followership Inspiration Leadership Motivation Tips Walking Leader

The Hustle. The Grind. And Words of Motivation by David Guerra

Hustle. Grind. Those two words have recently got so much play. So much play in that they are now common place.
 
It seems that Hustling and Grinding has become the norm. Everyone is saying it and everyone believes it. They not only believe it but they are living it, as well.
 
So what’s the problem?
 
The only problem I see is sooner rather than later, as is in most cases, words like Hustle and Grind will lose their punch. They will fade into the background and join the words and phrases like; “go for it”, “kick it up a notch”, “awesome” and so on.
 
Once they fade away, what will replace them? What will be the new “Hustle” and “Grind”? Does it matter?
 
Does it matter?
 
Of course, it matters. I need motivation, you need motivation, we all need motivation. So long as people need motivation, there will be words to motivate them. There will be people to say those words to motivate others (and themselves).
 
As leaders, we have to do and say what it takes to motivate those we are responsible for and lead. Those that follow need to feel inspired, especially from those that voluntarily follow. When those words of motivation start to become commonplace, leaders must remain vigilant to not become someone spouting words that have become tired and old. Any leader that values his followers will ensure that what he or she has to say is fresh and most of all; relevant.
 
After all, that’s all that followers want.
 
A leader that is not only motivated but relevant 100% of the time and that’s non-negotiable.

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What did you think of this blog entry / post?
Let me know by email dave@daveguerra.com on on Twitter @daveguerra