Category Archives: Consistency

Leaders who have truth-value or truth-claims… Who do you want to follow?

30 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Consistency, Decisions, Empower, Honest, Influence, Inspiration, Integrity, Intentional, Leader, Leadership, Learning, Loyalty, Respect, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Understanding, Useful, Value, Wisdom

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The leadership world as we know it is rapidly evolving, with everyone trying to come up with some new leadership tagline… I’m guilty as well. It’s all about trying to get the reader interested enough to read…

So… Is there a difference between truth-value leadership and truth-claims leaderhsip? Stay with me…

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The concept of truth-value leadership…

Truth-value leadership is of immense importance. Why would it not be? It’s more than leading with integrity (remember, if you have to ask someone if you have integrity, odds are you don’t); it’s embodying and living out the essence of integrity, honesty, transparency, authenticity (you can keep adding to the list)…

Truth-value in leadership has seeds planted and roots established in fostering trust, inspiring loyalty, and building relationships with a substance that lasts. It starts with self-awareness, prioritizing honesty within themselves before they can expect honesty from others. A stand-firmness characteristic that doesn’t shy away from difficult truths or uncomfortable situations. It is not passive or even passive-aggressive and sure doesn’t send someone else to “handle” issues. They deliver facts, stay away from public opinion, and just plain do right by people. When this happens, people engage in an encouraging environment, knowing leadership truth values are the guiding principles.

However, truth-claims leadership…

Have you ever seen a leader when it comes to truth, veer from reality? Many leaders assert and claim they embody truth leadership without aligning their actions with their words (This is where my daughter would say, “PERIOD!”). I call this a credibility gap; all it does is lead to skepticism among followers. Empty claims lead to hollow voices that can erode trust, often causing reputational harm to others in order to make truth claims leaders look all the better.

For all who chase leadership, truth-value leadership is profound. Leaders who live by their values and are accountable to truth, benefit everyone in trusting decision-making, and true loyalty follows. The tell-tale true test of a truth-value leader lies in their consistency—how often their claims match their actions. Truth-value leadership is, therefore, not just a moral or ethical stance; it is a strategic approach to sustainable success. Truth-value leadership offers a powerful path toward lasting influence and impact in a world craving authenticity.

Do you know those in leadership positions that can be characterized as one of the above? I bet you do…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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Gravitas… A Heavy Word For Leadership?

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Accountability, Actions, Appreciation, confidence, Consistency, Culture, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Grace, Gravitas, Honest, Influence, Inspiration, Integrity, Intentional, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Mixed Signals, Presence, Relationships, Resilience, Respect, Transformational, Transparent, Trust, Understanding, Value, Wisdom

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I like words. I like the etymology of words: where they come from, the primary source for why they mean what they do, etc. I especially like words that have flavor, and “gravitas” happens to fit that characteristic for me.

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The term gravitas comes from Latin, where it originally meant “heaviness” or “weight.” This literal sense of physical weight evolved into a metaphorical meaning, implying seriousness, dignity, or authority. The Latin word gravis, which means “heavy,” “serious,” or “important,” is the root of gravitas. The suffix “-tas” in Latin is used to form nouns that express a state or quality, so gravitas conveys the quality of being serious or important.

As I have been reading over the past summer, gravitas has been popping up more than usual. Depending upon what circle you run, gravitas does not appear to be a word that rolls freely off the tongue. While one might know what it means, how to use it could possibly cause a stumble.

Where and how does gravitas fit into leadership?

Gravitas is not merely about respect; a leader can command or demand that, often out of fear. Gravitas is about embodying a sense of purpose, wisdom, and emotional resilience that can inspire and guide others. A leader with gravitas has a presence that alone can calm and focus attention on its surroundings. This presence isn’t just about charisma; it’s about substance. That is something we definitely need more of; leaders with substance.

Leaders with gravitas simply don’t just speak; their words transcend meaning that touches their listeners with thoughtful feeling. The words carry weight and have a sense of purpose, enabling a depth of character to navigate leadership obstacles, never being unapproachable with their personality. Their demeanor helps others feel safe and motivated.  

Gravitas also fosters trust. Problems arise, difficult situations hit you head-on, uncertainty brings doubts… We need leaders who are confident and stable. Those who can create reassurance. Not because they can “flex” their leadership position but because they display authority in a society that has nothing but talking points and loud voices.

Gravitas… quiet strength and power with substance. Do you know a leader like this?

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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“Mixed Signals” A Leadership Wreck Waiting To Happen…

09 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Actions, Authentic, Clear, Consistency, Effective, Emotional Temperature, Essence, Intentional, Intentions, Kindness, Leader, Leadership, Mixed Signals, Relationships, Value, Vision

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Well, here we are… another school year. Another year to help society by leading, guiding, and educating the future. Also, another year of blogs to hopefully help trigger thoughts that will make us better leaders in all of our endeavors.

So, the summer gives us much time to reflect and think, and recently, I thought of how leadership does not work with those who send/give “mixed signals.”

First, let’s define what a mixed signal is… Mixed signals in leadership occur when actions contradict words or when priorities are not consistently communicated. Leaders should align their actions with the stated values of the vision and mission and ensure an understanding of its importance within the organization. This discrepancy can lead team members to question what is truly valued, causing uncertainty and disengagement.

But, there are also mixed signals at a personal level. A growing essence of “mixed signals” is when individuals feel they are not a priority. Here’s the question, “What do you do if someone gives you mixed signals?” Here is where I rationalize an answer… There are NO mixed signals.

For me, the phrase “mixed signals” is irrelevant and has no place in leadership. It’s just a bad phrase… It’s as if someone is “hot” and then “cold,” giving you “attention” and then going “silent.” That’s not “mixed signals,” it IS the signal. Hello!

It’s very clear the signal someone else is giving you, yet you wonder… It’s evident that one who portrays this is advertising that you are not a priority for them now. So, stop calling it mixed signals and start calling it what it is and accepting the truth that you are not a priority, and that is because of their behavior of inconsistency, which ultimately can become irrelevant. Also, stop chasing them down; stop trying harder on your end. It just leads to more stress, anxiety, emotional doubt, whatever… Stop making the relationship a priority on your end because they clearly do not reciprocate.

Leadership often raises its banner as the ability to inspire, guide, and influence others toward achieving a common goal. However, a frequently overlooked aspect of effective leadership is the clarity of communication, particularly in how leaders convey priorities. Mixed signals can erode trust, create confusion, and hinder progress within a team or organization. Effective leadership requires consistent and transparent communication.

When we lead with a servant-based leadership perspective, we never have to worry about the signals we send individually. The principle of valuing others and aligning our actions to help success demonstrates that we make every effort to be clear and consistent with our “signals.” Ensuring others feel valued and prioritized enhances our effectiveness as leaders and fosters a supportive reciprocating environment.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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Context in Leadership? It’s Needed!

27 Friday Oct 2023

Posted by in Actions, Andy Griffith, Consistency, Contentment, Context, Empower, Leader, Leadership

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Currently, I’m reading Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett. While it is a book on understanding the theology of the Trinity, it’s easy to find leadership in almost everything if you look.

Barrett’s statement in the book was a quote by D. A. Carson, “A text without context is a pretext for a prooftext.” I had to reread that statement about three times and even reread the section leading into it to wrap my thoughts together. Once I tied a knot around it, I wondered how often this happens with everyday leadership? How many times do leaders miss the context?

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I think there is profound significance in the statement. It underscores the importance of understanding that leadership is not just about following a set of rules or adhering to a fixed flow chart of “what happens when” but about comprehending the nuances in which leadership decisions are made. A situation taken out of context becomes a pretext that needs proof.

Every day, leaders wake up, get into their leadership vehicle, and ride the day’s journey. Very few times is the journey the same. When traveling, the scenery of the landscape always changes. Your really good leaders are those who can effectively navigate the road. With so many twists and turns, an awareness of context is required. What works once in a situation may not be appropriate in another; context is essential.

For my Andy Griffith Show fans, take this into context… 🙂

Deputy Barney Fife… We all know those in leadership positions who are rigid and only adhere to that flow chart of “what happens when” without ever considering the context. When this happens, they overlook that context is a dynamic and evolves. This is where the “pretext for a proof text” comes into play. Failing to acknowledge the context, leaders find themselves attempting to apply a “one-size-fits-all” solution, and we all know how that works out. They lead with a control mindset which is often out of fear. Leaders who believe they are truly in control only lead to poor decision making.

Sheriff Andy Taylor… Successful leaders recognize the ever-changing nature of leadership. They take the time to understand their context and adapt their approach accordingly. This adaptability is what sets them apart. It allows them to draw upon their knowledge and experience, much like a prooftext, to provide relevant and effective guidance.

Also, effective leaders understand that context ain’t (bad grammar to prove a point) solely about external factors. It also involves understanding the unique perspectives, strengths, and weaknesses of the individuals they lead. This seems to be a lost commodity in leadership everywhere right now. By not understanding, they will never be able to hone their leadership approach to motivating and empowering others. “A text without context is a pretext for a proof text” wraps up a critical truth in leadership. True leadership goes beyond a rule book. It involves the ability to interpret and respond to the journey. Effective leaders understand this. Knowing the context of a situation is like having a blank sheet of paper, where leaders can write their leadership with an awareness that sets them apart.

Basically, lead like Andy, not Barney…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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