Category Archives: Leader

Squeezed? What comes out?

25 Thursday May 2017

Posted by in Integrity, Leader, Leadership

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“I’ve long believed the hardest part of leadership is self-leadership. If you and I can’t figure out how to do this well, leading others will be difficult at best, if not impossible.” – Mark Miller

Do you know what comes out of an orange when squeezed? The same can be said of us when we are squeezed. What is truly inside of our heart will come out.

newSqueezedOrange

One thing I truly believe… The heart of a leader is where their core values are held.

But… how do you know what these values are?

Well, let’s put a leader in a position to be squeezed and see what comes out?

Here’s the thing though…what comes out is usually a determined by what is put in.

So here is the question that must be asked, “What do we put into our hearts as leaders?” Is it humility or pride? Is is servant-minded or step-on minded? Is it give or take? The list can go on and on… but be sure of this, something is going into your heart.

Here is a great analogy: Let’s say you have an orange and it represents your heart. Squeeze it, and orange juice is supposed to come out. Now, instead of putting that juice back in, you decide to put black ink back in. Guess what comes out the next time you are squeezed? Black ink. Even though the orange is still there on the outside does not mean that orange juice is still on the inside.

That’s the way it is, and the cycle continues. Good in, good out, bad in, bad out.

As leaders, it is not a matter of if but when we will be squeezed. So, what is going to come out?

Orange juice is so good. It has lots of vitamins. The black ink really does nothing more than stains. Let’s make sure our leadership does not stain.

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP

© 2017  J Clay Norton

Follow me on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/thebookchamber

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Are You Ready?

19 Friday May 2017

Posted by in Humility, Leader, Leadership, Servant

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“Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.” – Andy Stanley

 

Are You Ready - 3D Words

Are you ready?

Ready for what?

Leadership.

I don’t know… What makes a leader?

I’m sure everyone can come up with his or her ideas for an answer to this question. But… are our ideas formed from what society thinks or from what you think? I believe that success can be equated with leadership but at what expense? Here is a thought, just because people follow you does not make you are a leader. A “leader” is so much more than directing where others should go and what they should do. Can we be a leader that puts off the “self” and puts on the “others” mentality? Leadership is sometimes hard to define but very easily recognized. The hardest question to answer is the one we have to ask ourselves, “Am I a good leader?” We can lie to ourselves but those who follow us know the truth.

As we continue to lead, the challenge is to have a more servant leader mindset. It must be about others. And at the end, everyone around will breathe a little easier.

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP

© 2017  J Clay Norton

Follow me on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/thebookchamber

Subscribe via email to my blog at the top of the page

Does Your LeaderSHIP Sail?

18 Thursday May 2017

Posted by in Leader, Leadership, Momentum

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“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find your why.” – Mark Twain

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For a boat/ship to sail, it must have a few necessary items: sail(s), mast(s), crew, oars, etc. The two things that it cannot go without are a rudder and a driver. Obviously, what you do not want to do is to just “float’. Now, there are those who float their way through life but most of us like a destination. Having a destination usually means taking the lead or being lead. Either way, a leader is involved.

Have you ever taken the time to self-diagnose your leadership? How would you say your leadership style is built? Most of the time our style comes through trial and error, being thrown in the fire, or depending upon whom we have worked for or under. I believe to be a leader you have to want to make decisions. Some decisions are easy; some are hard. We have to convince others to follow and have mutual trust. Most of all, we lead by setting an example and serving.

Here is a great example of this week’s thought your you. It is a video clip from the move U-571. Great dialogue between Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey about a Captain’s decision and his ability to make the difficult decisions needed to be a captain.

Remember…  THINK LEADERSHIP

© 2017  J Clay Norton

Follow me on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/thebookchamber

Subscribe via email to my blog at the top of the page

Let’s Do Uncommon Leadership

05 Friday May 2017

Posted by in Leader

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“Insecure leaders feel entitled and are always unhappy.  Sure leaders show up each day with gratitude, knowing they’re owed nothing.” – Kevin DeShazo 

Common = Average? If so, we should have no desire to be that way. We want to be exceptional in what we do. As leaders, we must. If we are not, then we are common. Uncommon Leadership is where we need to gravitate towards. Let’s be and do leadership differently. Let’s do and be uncommon. Everyone involved will thank you for it.

An area that I find thought-provoking of leadership focuses on perpetual “bad” leadership. We lead as we were or as we are now being led. That can be either good or bad. But if it is bad, then the cycle must be broken, and that is done through leading by example by caring. Wow! Do leaders need to care? You bet they do. When leaders care, like serving, it is about others. Too often, people take the title or position of leader and stop right there. They have what they want, and they might not ever admit to it, but they are common leaders. Leadership is not a noun; it is a verb. It is action and doing. Are you able to recognize the difference between common and uncommon leadership? If you are fortunate to have uncommon leadership where you are, then you have an awesome concept to model.

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

©2017 J Clay Norton

Follow me on Twitter at TheBookChamber

Subscribe via email to my blog at the top of the page