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~ J Clay Norton, Ed.D.

The Book Chamber

Monthly Archives: November 2019

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22 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Thanksgiving

≈ 1 Comment

If you would like to download a printer friendly version of this with the above picture as a washout watermark, click here: HOME

HOME

Every home, unique on its own…
A place where you once were and are now.

Growing up, growing old…
Leaving and coming back.

Memory moments made to last…
Every moment of every day.

Small things that trigger the mind…
Moments of laughter and often a cry.

The past is remembered…
The future in the making.

Now is what you have.

Home is where we are alive…
Blood running through family veins.

Where hearts beat as one…
Why ask any more than that?

…Home…

A place of faith and gratitude.
Yes, it’s where you live.

More importantly…
It’s where you love.

Home… where is it for you?

…Happy Thanksgiving…

 

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

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The value of your standards…

15 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Character, Leader, Leadership, Standard

≈ 1 Comment

Inspect what you expect, but do not expect what you do not model.

We could probably just end today’s blog right here…

Little things… a small scrap of paper or candy wrapper on the floor, but you walk right past it. However, you say to others, keep your area clean. Little things, ignore them and they become big things.

standardsinuse

Your standards?

As leaders, we have many standards; spoken aloud, written on paper, advertised…

Your standards…

Ultimately, your standard is who you are. What others see is what we actually do. We say, “do this,” but we do not do it ourselves. How many times have you seen a leader tell everyone, “This is what the ‘rule’ is, and this is what we are going to do.” Only after a little while that same leader is not doing anything with regards to what they said, yet expects you to keep the “standard” that they put in place.

Our standards should be the mindset of wanting an identity – what we want others to believe about us, not think about us. Time is the accurate measure of what you say your standards are. Typically we all start out strong; committed to the cause, then time happens, and we become lackadaisical? Time measures the standard, creates the culture, which, in turn, determines the identity.

We all want high standards until it is time to meet them. Then… we want the standards to be lowered, for we do not want to be seen as not meeting them. Standards are always good for others, but when they become personal, the marker is moved.

Keeping the standard where it needs to be…

Why would you lower them? Well, it happens.

We lower standards when everyone is not held accountable for the exact same concept. When we let one “get away with something” and not another… others begin to notice. Two things usually happen here… 1) others start doing the same thing, 2) others call the leader on it, and the leader gets defensive. Nothing good comes from either point.

We lower standards when the expectations of others become the norm, and we decide this is where we need to be now and hereafter. Why should people care where the standard is and more than that, maintain the standard., if you are not?

But… what you accept will become the standard and the fact that others are willing to accept your standards determines it’s value and sometimes your value as well.

Be the standard-bearer of your standards. Time will have its say.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

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I am looking at me, so I cannot see you…

08 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Align, Choice, Leader, Leadership, Servant

≈ 1 Comment

global_mirror

I find it interesting that leadership is talked about much more than it is lived. Why are there so many leadership conferences, seminars, books, etc.? I suppose it is for the reason of my opening observation, and that just might be the reason we have such a leadership problem in society.

Everyone I know models their leadership from others. Most often, it is from our mentors who we have “latched” onto – some being good, some being bad… that tells more about you then the leader you emulate.

The more I see the effects of leadership, the more I realize that the excellent leaders are those who would not even think about taking the credit or seeking the limelight for themselves. Is it really that hard to put others first? Obviously so.

We live in an era where many leaders, influential leaders, are crumbling themselves and corrupting others, causing character flaws. We see it at all levels in our lives, everywhere we look. Our hearts become numb; when they should hurt or break over the leadership, which we see that is blatantly not for others. Yet these leaders are everywhere, promoting themselves instead of servanthood.

Good, quality leaders are sometimes hard to find. Is it because we do not know who they are? Probably not. They are hard to find because they are hiding in plain sight. When you do notice them, they are in the trenches with everyone else; boots on and sleeves rolled up, and they are not saying, “Look at me.”

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

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Resisting the pull of weak leadership…

01 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Agenda, Consistency, Deciding, Decisions, Humility, Leader, Leadership, Sincerity, Transformational, Understanding, Value

≈ 1 Comment

Gravity is a powerful force. It literally weighs people down…

Leadership, quality or not, has a gravitational pull on people. However, it seems that the draw of one over the other creates a lasting effect on who we say we are with our leadership.

leadership

Do you realize that we are one decision away from weak leadership? And that one decision creates a label that is very hard to remove. Leaders stand at a threshold every day and our decisions are capable of hurting hearts, betraying trust, or even damaging someone. Many leaders do not realize the depth their decisions have on others.

So… that one decision… how do we make sure we stay away from making it? A few thoughts…

First, we need to realize that everyone is watching. It is very easy to live our decisions with “I don’t care,” but when we lead like this, our value as a leader diminishes. I truly believe it is ok for others not to agree with some decisions we make. We cannot make everyone happy; however, our decisions have to show the consistency that we are doing the right thing by people.

Second, we cannot say we stand for something and then go and not do or support the same endeavor of someone else. We have to live the message we are leading. We must have honor in our leadership. We have to make sure our leadership is clean – no hidden agendas for ourselves to look better. A conscious awareness…

Third, we have to know what the leadership rules are. I guess you are probably thinking of a long list… No; rule number 1 – Do the right thing. Rule number 2 – Don’t forget rule number 1. I realize that leadership goes way beyond this, but having this concept can help simplify many of our decisions.

When leaders lead from a position of honor, for others, not themselves, they find the gravitational pull toward weak leadership does not really exist. It actually is more of a push against (rebound) which throws us immediately toward strong leadership, and that is where we should all strive to lead from with humility and sincerity.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

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