Great Leaders STAY CONNECTED to their PEOPLE!!!

"We decided the only way we were going to get out of trouble was if we went back to the employees and reignited the spirit of Delta Airlines. Over 18 months, we brought all 50,000 employees through our headquarters to talk about the company. We told them the hard facts and accepted responsibility for our mistakes. The employees knew we didn’t have a lot of money to share and that they would have to make sacrifices. However, at the end of the day, they really wanted our time and attention, not our money. They wanted to connect with us to reignite a spirit that would lead the company back to greatness." - Ed Bastian, Delta Airlines 

LEADERSHIP VERSUS MANAGEMENT

"Management is about control. Leadership is about guidance. To run an organization effectively, you need to control operations and systems, and you need to provide guidance to people. Manage by holding administration tightly, but lead by holding the reins of leadership lightly. Management involves putting the right people into the right places with the right resources. Leadership is about turning those right people loose by setting high expectations, providing coaching and acknowledging achievement." - John Baldoni, author and thought leader

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM A FAMOUS BATTLEFIELD

"This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin’ with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. 'I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family.' You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don’t care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other. And maybe… I don’t know, just maybe we’ll learn to play this game like men." 

- Coach Boone [Denzel Washington], Movie:  Remember the Titans 

(Actually, it was 50K Casualties, not deaths at Gettysburg, but the leadership lesson that Coach Boone taught make the intended impact).

Winning!!!

Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision. 
        - Muhammad Ali
  

If I Had My Life to Live Over...

"If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner. There would have been more "I love you's".. More"I'm sorrys" ... But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back." - - Erma Bombeck

Top 20 Leadership Books for 2010

Leaders at all Levels by Ram Charan Crisis Leadership Now by Laurence Barton The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey Leading with Character by John Sosik Leading at a Higher Level by Ken Blanchard Know-How by Ram Charan The Leader of the Future 2 by Frances Hesselbein & Marshall Goldsmith A Leader's Legacy by Eric Abrahamson & Barry Posner The 360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell Why Great Leaders Don't Take Yes for an Answer by Michael Roberto Growing Your Company's Leaders by Robert Fulmer & Jay Conger True North by Bill George Leadershift by Emmanuel Gobillot Leaders Make the Future by Bob Johansen The Inspiring Leader by John Zenger, Joseph Folkman & Scott Edinger High Altitude Leadership by Don Schmincke & Chris Warner The Orange Code by Arkadi Kuhlmann & Bruce Philip The Accountable Leader by Brian Dive Transparency by Warren Bennis, Daniel Goleman & James O'Toole Leadership Gold by John Maxwell

Happiness

"The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it." - Eckhart Tolle

True Servant Leaders

The best leaders desire to serve others, not themselves. True Servant Leaders -

- Put others ahead of their own agenda.
- Possess the confidence to serve.
- Initiate service to others.
- Are not position-concious.
- Serve out of love.

(John Maxwell, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader)

Now...That's Leadership!!!

A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done,... they will say: "We did it ourselves.” -Lao Tzu

What Leaders Do - Taking Care of People!!!

Leaders who spend more time worrying about fulfilling their own desires than about meeting the needs of their constituents are almost destined to failure. People want to know that leaders have their best interest at heart and that leaders will create a work environment that is engaging, interesting and challenging.

High Flight!!!

May your day be filled with blessings, like the sun that lights the sky, and may you always have the courage to spread your WINGS and FLY!!!