Category Archives: Clarity

Lead with Your Eyes Wide Open…

10 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by in Actions, Clarity, Inspiration, Leader, Leadership, Observation, Purpose, Vision

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Have you ever tried walking a reasonable distance with your eyes closed? Obviously, you end up stumbling, but for some reason, you lower your head, thinking that you can “see” your steps and ways better.

Think for a moment with me on this… instead of thinking about walking with your eyes closed, how many leaders do you know who lead with their eyes closed? Just like walking, they lead with their head lowered, thinking they can “see.” Yes, they are short-sighted and closed-minded. Do not be this way.

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When you lead with your eyes closed, it is nothing more than dead leadership walking. Leaders who lead this way think they have the only option for whatever the issue is. They are unwilling to flip the switch and see what is going on around them.

We live a unique, ever-changing world. However, we can only define our leadership by knowing what the variables are and being able to see all around us. If we continue to lead small and narrow, we will always lead cramped up.

Knowing our surroundings, knowing the people around you enables you to lead more efficiently, and once you begin to lead that way, your leadership world, for some reason, begins to breathe. No more uptight, stuffy, cramped… I need a leadership humidifier.

Those who lead with their eyes closed, lead a lie only they believe. Closed-eyed leaders hide their faces, afraid to see past their eyelids and stay mentally locked up. Their leadership always cast a shadow, “throwing shade.” Please prove to others that there is more to you.

For those leaders who do lead with their eyes open, thank you. Your “openness” allows others to thrive and shine. Reality is no longer a wanting fantasy. Others become more than they are because you lead with your eyes wide open.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

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Please DO NOT Have Leadership Amnesia…

04 Friday Oct 2019

Posted by in Amnesia, Authentic, Balance, Clarity, Leader, Leadership, Relationships, Understanding, Value

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How many times do we come across those who are in leadership positions, and we ask the question, “Did they forget where they came from?”

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Well, many do, and it is unfortunate. Many leaders not only forget where they came from, but they also forget what it is like to follow.

With all of that said, how do we make sure we do not have leadership amnesia?

Leadership should be seen on both a horizontal and vertical plane. The horizontal plane represents the relationships with others, and the vertical plane represents where you are in your leadership life.

Key thoughts horizontally…

  • Horizontally is where we have the capability of wrapping our arms around others and including them.
  • When we keep our arms to our sides and hands in our pockets, others see you only vertically, not open to others.
  • Being able and wanting to include allows others to see that our leadership is more than about them.

Key thoughts vertically…

  • Wanting to move higher and being ambitious is not bad.
  • Always being vertical makes it about you. The higher you climb, the safer you feel?
  • Staying vertical for the wrong reasons allows others to believe you look down on them.
  • If we are always looking up, we forget to see where we came from. We should only look down to remember.

If we forget where we came from, or forget why we lead, I believe we will ultimately be forgotten ourselves. Each person you lead makes it possible for you to be in that leadership position. Think about your own leadership for a moment. How much time do you spend on each plane? The best way to fight amnesia is by remembering.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

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“Ride The Fence” Leadership

02 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in Actions, Authentic, Choice, Clarity, Consistency, Deciding, Decisions, Leader, Leadership, Purpose, Servant

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“I wish I knew what they were thinking.” “I wish they would make a decision.” “If they change their mind one more time…” Have you ever had these thoughts with the leadership in your organization? While these are common, the question that needs to be answered is why are leaders this way?

Why do they “ride the fence?”

The main reason I believe leaders ride the fence is for self-protection. They put their needs first, which are often in direct opposition to what is best for the people of the organization or the organization as a whole. While they feel like the “have to” make a decision at the end, it only protects themselves.  Most of the time it is to save face. I also believe insecurity is the underlying foundation to people who look to self-protect themselves first (I will write about insecure leadership in the future). Leaders with insecurity issues are only for themselves. They are desperate to keep their power and the appearance of control.

When a leader’s actions do not match their words; riding the fence occurs. No one likes “ride the fence” leaders, and it does not take long to figure out who rides and who does not. All you have to do is look at their butt (see last sentence in bold at end of blog). But who are these leaders and what are their characteristics?

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“Ride the fence” leaders have…

Inconsistency
One group hears this and another group hears that. This and that are not the same. What is said is what the leader thinks each group needs to hear.

Favoritism
Like it or not, it exists. The problem with this is leaders will go to their “favorite” people to get their input. Most of the time, they already think like the leader, or they would not be the favorite.

Indecisiveness
When a leader sits on the fence, it is because they do not want to be on one side or the other. They just sit there not deciding at all, hoping that “whatever” will work itself out.

I like to call these characteristics the “if-i” of riding the fence. When leaders ride the fence, their leadership is always “if-i” do this or “if-i” do that. While it is good to weigh options and gather facts to make a decision, nothing of value comes from being an “if-i” leader. Please get off the fence and be who you need to be for your people not for yourself.

One thing is for sure, when you ride the fence, you are going to get splinters.

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

©2018 J Clay Norton

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Price Check: Does Your Leadership Value Equal It’s Worth?

05 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by in Actions, Clarity, Consistency, Importance, Leader, Leadership, Servant, Understanding, Value

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The perspective of the value of leadership is based on actions and not words of the leader. How much value do you place on something? Better yet, let’s ask this question, “How much are you willing to spend on something?” Everything has a price, even leadership, yours and others.

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Let’s use a piece of art for example.  How much is it worth? What is it’s value? Who determines the value? You? Others? Now, let’s ask the same question when it comes to the value of leadership.

To understand the value of leadership; a few thoughts come to mind. While they sound natural, putting them into practice is a different concept. Value is a funny concept… something only has value if it means something to you. That is the way it is with most things we hold dear in our lives.

Leadership that has value…

has IMPORTANCE
We can all agree that leadership should be and is important. However, do we carry and lead like it is? Many leaders just show up and hope, whatever happens, happens, and it makes them look good. The importance of leadership is based on themselves, not the issue at hand or who is involved. Leadership importance for self carries no value for others; it is worthless.

is LIMITED
Many people want to lead, but… Leadership is limited. I genuinely believe just because you are in a leadership position does not mean you are a leader. Real leadership is limited to those who have that servant-based mentality for others. Others can only measure that value. While you may determine your own price and too many “leaders” do, value is usually priced on how many people want what you have.

has CONSISTENCY
Just like anything else that has value, consistency is the main ingredient. It stands the test of time. It feels the same. It tastes the same. If anything, its value actually increases over time. Can we agree that some things get better with time? How many leaders do you know who are inconsistent with their leadership? Something is always different, and it usually depends upon what kind of mood they are in. People want consistency, and they will pay for it. Why? The value it brings. We all know what “something” is supposed to be. Let your leadership be what it is supposed to be, consistent for the good of others.

The world is seeking leadership. You can go back to the beginning of time and see it throughout all of history. There is a great need for leadership with value. However, it needs to provide value for others, not our egos. A leader is who they are before others, and nothing more.

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

©2018 J Clay Norton

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