Category: Blog Posts

If you are the leader, “Take Charge” or someone else will.

It has been proven in many ways throughout history that if an organization does not have a leader, someone from within or outside will assume leadership. In military situations and in companies where leaders are not working appropriately to lead the way or are absent, someone will emerge  to direct and influence the people. Too many people who are promoted to positions of leadership responsibility do not understand that they must immediately  accept the responsibilities of their roles and be the leader.

While it is not always easy to begin leading a new team, it is the leader’s responsibility to lead. If a new leader hesitates and struggles to figure out what he/she is doing, strong individuals within the organization may influence others to do what they want due to the lack of effective leadership from the designated leader. For young, first-time supervisors or managers, understand that you are hired to take charge and make things happen. So, accept this responsibility, take ownership of your job and get to know your team so you can earn their trust and respect and thus effectively lead them.

Taking charge/ownership does not mean that you own the team and its members. It means that you, as the leader, own the responsibility of achieving the goals and leading the team to accomplishment of those goals. Be courageous and enthusiastically accept your role as leader. Your rewards will be an organization that performs in exceptional ways and respects your leadership.

LEAD with COURAGE has programs to help you learn how to lead effectively. 253 350-1503

What is the best reward for a difficult job well done?

Most managers struggle to figure out the best way to reward their team members when they have been given and accomplished a very difficult task or project. Should I give time off, a monetary bonus, a plaque, a promotion or something else? Maybe I don’t have the capability to promote or give monetary awards.  I know that each person in my team is unique and each is motivated by a different type of recognition  or award.

As a leader, have you explained fully the hopes and plans you have for each of your team members? If not, perhaps it would be a great idea to discuss  with each team member your expectations for the role he/she is tasked to perform. Your explanation that you want to give each person the opportunities to learn more, increase his capabilities, become more confident in the performance of new projects would be certain to “fire up” and inspire that person.

When your team members recognize that  you are preparing them for the future to be capable and ready to move up and assume greater responsibilities, the reward which they have been given will be obvious.

John Ruskin stated, “The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.” As a leader, think about the reasons for giving a team member a difficult task.  The reasons should be to prepare that person for greater things in the future. A reward such as that is worth much more than money. When a person gains confidence, competence and capability, his value is increased immeasurably and the entire organization is better because of it.

Give this type of reward a try and see your people “on fire” because you gave them hope and increased capability for the future.  How much better a reward is that than a letter of recognition or a plaque of some kind?

The Secret to Long-term, Loyal and Happy Employees.

Is Your Company Under-Performing?

Are you frustrated because your employee turnover is increasing? Do your employees hate to come to work? Is your company becoming less profitable because your workforce is becoming less productive?

The  Answer.

Changing the situation in your slumping company may be simpler than you think.

It has been proven that most people don’t quit their job; they quit their manager. Think about it…most people are working at a job because they like that type of work.  They may be very talented in that specific job or they have been trained to do the tasks which comprise their job; so they are working at something that suits them.

Why would they want to leave the job they chose?

They work for Managers who aren’t Leaders.

They most likely want out because their boss is not a leader.  Too many bosses are in positions as managers because they were good performers in their jobs, so they were promoted into management.  Unfortunately, excellent job performance does not guarantee success as a leader in a management position.  Leadership is absolutely critical to the accomplishment of sustained high levels of performance and goal achievement.

When the boss doesn’t care about anything but job completion and pleasing his/her boss, employees know something is wrong. When employees are not appreciated for their contributions to the team or they are not in the communication loop, why would they want to continue to  work in such an environment?

What Employees want from their Manager:

They want to be respected.

They want empathy. Theodore Roosevelt put it very well, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care(about them).”

They want to be trusted to do their jobs without being micro-managed.

They want to be recognized and appreciated for their contributions.

They want opportunity for development and growth in their careers.

When leaders are leading teams, their emotional intelligence is applied, and the resulting culture is one of positive, happy, loyal employees performing at their highest level.

Employees want leadership.

Leadership Development is the answer.

If you are having trouble providing your employees what they want and deserve, leadership development for your managers is the best answer.  Managers who practice leadership are focused on the value of the people in their organizations. No aspect of any business is more critically important to success than the people who comprise the organization. Therefore, it is very wise for all businesses to invest in leadership training for their potential and current managers to ensure that authentic leadership is always alive in the company.

How you can have the solution to your company’s leadership vacuum?

For exceptional, creative and tailored Leadership Development for your current and future managers/supervisors, call 253 350-1503 or email: paulr@leadwithcourage.com.

Your employees  will love you for providing them with authentic leadership!

 

Challenges…The greatest opportunities for success

Are you a new leader, supervisor or manager in your organization? Are you anxious and reluctant to move forward because there are obstacles in the way? Do you fear that the road to success may be full of challenges for you and your team? Does it seem like the harder you work towards a goal, the more difficult the challenges become?

FACT!! If you are a person with dreams, goals and a vision for what you want to accomplish individually or with your team, you WILL encounter obstacles, difficulties and challenges which must be overcome. If your dream or goal is easy to achieve, it may not be truly worthy. If every goal were easily accomplished, everyone would achieve his/her dreams and live happily ever after……. Whoa!

Are you telling me that the road to success and goal achievement is going to be difficult?

Yes, I am! Any goal that is worthy, valuable and meaningful will be challenging to accomplish. It most likely will stretch you and demand effort beyond your normal range as well.

The legendary coach of UCLA Basketball, John Wooden had these wise words to say about challenges:         “A man who is afraid to risk failure seldom has to face success.”  “Don’t permit the fear of failure to prevent effort. We are all imperfect and will fail on occasion; but fear of failure is the greatest failure of all.”

Rather than procrastinating, worrying about the tough times ahead or what might go wrong, choose the attitude which shouts, ” I am committed to achieve my goals. I am aware that there will be challenges along the way… “Bring Them On! so that I can overcome them and move closer to my goals!”

You should welcome the the challenges as opportunities to move closer to your goal. John Wooden also said, “It is puzzling why people are so afraid of challenges which may lead to failure, when they are the only way to success.”

This concept of positive, enthusiastic welcoming of challenges requires a unique perspective and a special attitude not normally considered by most people.  The embracing of challenges requires confidence, positive engagement and the investment of energy in appropriate measure to allow the leader to see challenges, not as daunting, impossible barriers, but, as  scenarios consisting of projects to be understood and accomplished. The overcoming of obstacles will result in lessons learned which will build confidence in the leader and the team. As more challenges are successfully overcome,  the competence of the leader and team members increases leading to greater capability for enhanced performance.  The process gives everyone involved a sense of well being, enthusiasm and the understanding that goals are achieved by working together no matter the challenge.

Even if every goal is not achieved, the result of overcoming countless challenges is a sense of well-being, and the knowledge that while life is constantly placing obstacles in the pathway, these are the opportunities for us to grasp and learn from as we move closer to our next goal. When you realize and accept that the quest for improvement and the willingness to accept challenges will enhance your life, you will be successful.  Be willing and enthusiastic to engage in the struggle; and if you do, you will be farther ahead and better than if you never take the first step toward your goal.

If you or your organization needs help in developing leaders with confidence, please contact LEAD with COURAGE, by calling 253 350-1503 or clicking on “Contact Us” on the LEAD with COURAGE website.

 

 

Preparation for Leadership……..An exercise in self-evaluation

 

PREPARATION FOR LEADERSHIP

The Task

The task of being a good leader may seem impossible. Effective leadership requires leaders to set the example, be absolutely self aware, accept the responsibilities inherent in the job, be self disciplined, balanced in all aspects of life and communicate effectively the values and the vision of the organization. To do this, a leader must be willing to actively engage with the people to accomplish the organization’s goals.  What is necessary to achieve this is more a process of preparation and self understanding for the leader than it is about learning to influence and manage others.

How to Do It

A leader must understand that the task is less about the team than it is about training, self-evaluation and self-preparation to be a capable leader.  He/she must ensure that he/she is willing and capable of assuming complete responsibility for all the team does or fails to do. A leader must also commit to learning about all members of the team, so they can be properly used in their specific roles. It is also about a willingness and capability to accept and overcome any and all challenges encountered by the team.

Unless a leader is totally committed to being authentic, credible and dedicated to engaging in the process of effective communication and team building, the results of his/her leadership will be less than ideal.

What Teams Need

Teams require leadership that is ready, willing and capable of providing purpose, guidance, coordination, effective communication in a culture of learning and success. If a leader is less than totally prepared and committed to this challenge, how can he/she ever hope to influence others to be committed to perform at their best?

Personal Reflection

Leaders must search themselves and determine if they are willing to work to ensure their readiness for the challenges of leadership. Only then, should they enthusiastically begin the journey. This process requires an understanding of the core values that will be used to develop and define the leader’s relationships with the people in the team. These values will also shape the vision and culture of the team and will guide all of the leader’s actions and decisions.

Self Awareness

Setting the example as a leader means that you must be a role model of integrity, consistency, fairness and balance in all you do.  Make no mistake about it; you will be observed, analyzed, scrutinized and judged at all times by everyone in your team. Too many managers and supervisors focus on pleasing only their bosses. Instead they should earn the trust and support of the people who must be totally “sold on” them… all of the members of their team. “Without willing followers, you cannot be a leader”. Remember to be aware and look behind you to see if anyone is following you. Unless you “put your money where your mouth is”, “walk the walk and talk the talk” and “do what you say you will do”, you are not leading, but merely passing out information.

Accept the Challenge

Challenge yourself to prepare as a leader focused on the value and improvement of every person and the mastery of every challenge by authentic engagement with your team. This is the best way to build a successful, high performance team. Step forward boldly as a confident leader providing your team  what it needs to achieve its goals. Ensure that you have prepared yourself for the ultimate in personal accomplishment…leaving a legacy of your great leadership.

For Training and Coaching

For training and coaching in becoming a prepared, effective leader yourself or for someone in your organization, contact LEAD with COURAGE by calling or emailing us on the Contact Us page of the website.

An amazing leader and patriot lost

Just this week on the day after Veterans’ Day, I called to speak to an old friend of mine, Jim Hamilton, who was the First Sergeant of the Special Forces Company I commanded in VietNam. Jim and I had formed a life-long bond of friendship and respect. Our work together was never forgotten by either of us. Over the years we connected by phone and also had the opportunity to spend time together when Jim came out to WA for a few days. I was so happy to have him stay in my home and we shared what was going on in our lives.
This time, my conversation with Jim was not to be, as I was informed by Ruth, his wonderful wife of 68 years, that he had passed away after a short battle with cancer at the age of 89.
Our country has lost a truly remarkable leader whom I was honored to have known. Jim served in the US Navy as a young man and after his enlistment, he returned to Pennsylvania where he worked in the steel mills until he was stricken with polio at the age of 23. He was told by doctors that he likely would never walk again. Jim defied all of the odds and with his will and determination, won the battle and enlisted in the Army at the age of 32 and became an Airborne, Special Forces soldier, who was on his third tour of duty in VietNam when we met. He went on to serve until 1979, when he retired as a Sergeant Major. Jim’s motto for everyone was,“be a leader, not a follower.” He certainly lived that motto and set a standard that only a few can ever match. Jim, Thank you for all you have meant to me and the soldiers whose lives you influenced. You are an inspiration to me every day of my life. I love you and I will never forget you…you are the embodiment of LEAD with COURAGE.

There is more to Horse Racing than you think…

During the 2014 Thoroughbred Horse Racing season at Emerald Downs in Auburn, WA Paul Roggenkamp, LEAD with COURAGE, met Jeff Metz, the leading Trainer at Emerald Downs for the past two seasons. At their first meeting, it became evident that they both shared not only a love of horses and the athletic competition of training and preparing the equine athletes for racing competition, but also the passion of leadership and team building as a part of the responsibility of trainers at the track. Their interaction carried over into the 2015 season and continues to this day.

Race horse trainers are not only skilled at preparing the horses to compete, but must also be leaders of their teams consisting of: assistant trainers; grooms who care for, feed and prepare the horses daily; exercise riders who ride and guide the horses in preparation for racing; the jockeys who actually ride the horses in the races; owners who have hired the trainer to prepare and race the horses; veterinarians; farriers(horse-shoers); pony persons; and any number of other people involved in the operation of the racing industry. These people must work together efficiently and productively to produce the desired result of winning races with healthy, happy horses. Teamwork and enthusiasm must be a daily part of all that people bring to their jobs in order to achieve the goals of the team.

Jeff and Paul meet and discuss on a regular basis the importance of balance and consistency in interpersonal relationships with the team as well as in life and the other aspects of the business; incentives, inspirational and emotional connections necessary to produce winning horses. The two have become friends as a result of their professional interests and mutual passions.

Following one Thursday evening dinner at Paul’s farm, Jeff Metz raced horses in six races on Friday and won each one…a fete which had not been accomplished before at Emerald Downs. Jokingly, they decided that Thursday evening dinners should probably be scheduled every week of the racing season to continue that level of performance. In the 2015 season Jeff Metz Racing achieved a record tying 66 wins and a third consecutive Leading Trainer Title. The Metz Team is back in action shooting for another trainer title for the 2016 season at Emerald Downs beginning with a horse running in post position number 1 in the first race on opening day.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski Presentation at JBLM May 9, 2013

Lt. General Bob Brown, Commanding General of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was a cadet member of the US Military Academy basketball team coached by Mike Krzyzewski (Legendary coach of the Duke Blue Devils to 4 NCAA Championships amd more victories than any college coach in history), while he coached at West Point prior to his hire by Duke University. Lt. General Brown invited Coach K to come to Ft Lewis and speak to all of the officers and senior non-commissioned officers of I Corps and Ft Lewis. Members of the West Point Society of Puget Sound were also invited. Paul H. Roggenkamp, Founder and Principal of LEAD with COURAGE, was an enthusiastic attendee.

Coach K’s presentation was entitled “Building a Team” based upon his experiences coaching the 2012 US Olympic Basketball Team to the championship and the winning of the Gold Medal. The team included such superstars as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Love, Deron Williams, Andre Iguodala, Tyson Chandler, and Anthony Davis. Coach K referred to these players as “individual international corporations” because of their reputations, statures in the professional arena and world-wide recognition of their basketball talents.

So how does a coach take such a group of individuals and mold them into a successful, undefeated team which wins the Olympic Gold Medal?  In the coach’s own words, initially this group is merely a collection of individuals, which must be developed into a team.

Rather than a political approach including diplomatic, sensitive, complex dealings with the team, Coach K’s approach was to meet individually with each player and come to an understanding of how players should function within the team. In the one-on-one meetings Coach K clearly explained five points to each player. The first: We are going to communicate with each other and our teammates. We will not be communicating by text, email, twitter, or cell phone, but when we communicate, we are going to talk to each other, face-to-face, looking into each others’ eyes.   Second: When we communicate with each other, we are going to tell the truth all of the time. Third: We are going to take responsibility for ourselves and all of our actions and hold ourselves and our teammates accountable for all we are required to do. Fourth: We are going to care for each other and cover each others’ backs. Fifth: we are going to take pride on all we do, and do the very best at all that we do.  This is the approach of a real leader at person-to-person level with his team. It is fundamental and reaches the heart of the individual.

The next step of the team building was to meet as a team and discuss such how the team will focus on the goal. Coach K asked the players who among them knew their school fight song. Naturally, some of the players had some idea of their fight songs either from high school or college, but questioning looks were prevalent. So Coach K asked, “OK, what is our fight song?” After some discussion, it was decided that the Star Bangled Banner( a Marvin Gaye version of one of the lesser known verses was chosen to be the team fight song) should be the fight song of the US Olympic Basketball Team. This upbeat song was played during practices and whenever the team was focusing on an upcoming game and it served as inspiration for all the players.

The “icing on the cake” to bind the team together and focus the players’ hearts and minds was an activity at Arlington National Cemetery coordinated by Coach K and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Martin Dempsey. The activity included a day at the national cemetery, featuring a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, exchanges of war experiences and basketball experiences between the 12 players and 12 military veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The culmination of the emotional and inspirational day was a simple ceremony involving the basketball players and the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. The 2 groups lined up facing each other – one player facing one military member. The military members wear an American flag on the right shoulder of  their uniforms fastened by Velcro.  As the final act of binding the US Olympic team together and focusing them on the reason for which they are playing, was for each soldier to remove the flag from the right shoulder and present it to the player opposite him/her. WOW!! How can anyone not give their very best following that amazing display of why and for whom the team is playing in the Olympics? In Coach K’s own words, everyone was crying like babies with the emotion of the monment.

Naturally, the team went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal and hear the refrain of the team’s fight song, the National Anthem, played immediately after the gold medals had been placed around the players’ necks. There are many lessons to be learned from this story, but the most important lesson I took from it is that even at the highest levels of a profession involving the most accomplished participants and leaders in their field, the teamwork, commitment and inspiration is gained by an engaged leader reaching into the heart of each team member and inspiring him to achieve more than he could do by himself for the goal of the team…in this case, The USA.

I will write about many other gems of wisdom and valuable lessons from this amazing presentation by Coach Mike Krzyzewski in later blog postings.

Can anyone be a leader?

Can anyone be a leader? The answer is, “No.” Not everyone can be a leader, either because not everyone has the capabilities required to lead, or everyone does not have the opportunity to be in a leadership position…..even simpler, every team, organization or business needs followers for the leaders to lead. In fact, our world is comprised of more followers than leaders.

That answer may seem very simplistic or insensitive.  However, anyone who has the desire, motivation and opportunity can learn about leadership principles; everyone can study and understand the application of leadership. Each of us, including all who are not in leadership positions, should learn, practice and apply all that we can learn about leadership. Earning trust and respect, setting goals and mapping a course of action to accomplish the goals, building relationships, conflict resolution, motivation, accountability, discipline, and authentic communications should be high priorities for all of us to make part of who we are and how we operate in work and in life. Preparing to be a leader will make a person more successful and capable at the time when an opportunity to lead is presented.

As part of a team, as an employee in a business, as a member of a class in school, we all should strive to be the best team member we can be and practice the good principles of leadership at our level in the organization, so that our contribution to the team’s success will be maximized. By doing this we will prepare ourselves to be a leader when the opportunity comes our way. Prepare to lead with courage!

Why do we need leadership in today’s high tech, cyber-world ?

Is leadership still necessary in today’s high tech, cyber-world of instant multimedia global communication, social networks, texts, email, Skype, etc. and in exceptionally flat corporate management structures where unstructured collaborative groups seem more important than organized departments?

YES!!! is the very emphatic answer. Our working world is starving for true leadership. Many managers and persons in upper and higher level positions of responsibility do not have specific training or background in leadership, and therefore tend to confuse the use of IT and application of metrics for the application of true leadership. Too many upper level managers believe that their positions or titles give them complete control of the team members or employees under their management and that they are obligated to serve the leader’s needs and desires.

Every organization, team or group of people which is formed to accomplish some goals or to participate with success in business, sport, education, and daily life must have a clear leader to guide, support, influence, motivate the team to achieve the goals. People look to leaders for direction, support and encouragement as they do their best to do their part of the team’s work. Unfortunately, the very technological capabilities which have allowed us to communicate with others world wide instantly have also caused inordinate, unexpected, unproductive stress in our working lives. This ease of communication has resulted in unrealistic expectations of instant response to the each email message. Years ago, I personally managed a large portfolio for a company that unrealistically required its managers to respond to every email within two hours. The result of that directive was paralysis and loss of productivity, because the sheer volume of email messages caused managers to spend most of their time reading and responding to emails rather than actually doing the many real requirements of their jobs.  Leaders understand that it is their responsibility to create and maintain an environment in which their teams can perform at their very best without unnecessary outside influences or frustrating roadblocks to project accomplishment.

Leadership is personal, involved, dynamic and practical. It is consistently applied to all areas of team interaction and effort to clarify and communicate the vision and to illuminate the pathway to accomplishment of the goals and support and reinforce the efforts of the team. Leadership is a continuous process which requires commitment and involvement of the leaders in the activities and well-being of the team.

Lead with COURAGE!!

reviews from our clients

This is what our clients have to say about us when asked about their experience

view all