I think this week I want to talk a little bit about Leadership since it has been a recurring topic in my life this past week.

Let me start by saying that I have always been a leader taking charge of a given task and inspiring others to achieve greater results.  I am committed to helping people reach their full potential and even when people decide they do not want success, it never discourages me.

I am returning to school in this unemployment stint to get a head start on my Bachelor’s while looking for another job.  One the classes I am taking, is Leadership Theory and Development.  So when I had the opportunity to go to a North American Power event for Leadership training I had to go.

I watched the top sales people, receive recognition and saw how they spoke and conducted themselves.  One of the stories floating around was about a gentleman, Mr. Helig, who came into the business to get a few referrals and as a leader was able to self produce enough accounts to achieve a high honored level in the company that offers a $1,000 monthly bonus on top of all the commissions.  This guy also gave up some of his self produced business to set his parents up to receive a substantial income.  He is now working on setting up his sister with a monthly income.  That was a story of selflessness that had me really look and examine this guy’s story.  He leads by example and selflessness.  He isn’t asking anyone to do anything he would not do himself.  The sacrifice I see and you may see, in his eyes, is not a sacrifice because he is providing for his families security.  You can see this guy in action www.snipr.com/bobvideo.  

I had only planned to stay until dinner time on Saturday, but was blown away by Mr. Costino and wound up staying the entire 13 hours Saturday and going back for the 9 hour session on Sunday.  He spoke of leadership in a very different sense and how you need to inspire people to reach your level or let them go and move on. 

Some people are always going to be looking for the short cut and looking to do the minimum required.  I saw it at my last job with a woman who received the reputation of jumping in at the eleventh hour to try to take credit for a project others had been running for months.  Whether it was by blind luck or a natural tendency to stay in the circle with “like minded” people, I was nice to the person but avoided any situation that would require I work with them.  I did not want them skate by with the minimum and make me look bad.  The woman wanted a raise a promotion but was not truly committed to do the work required and get the education necessary.

I see it in my own back yard with some of the volunteer work I do with the unemployed, many cannot be bothered to show up to improve themselves and make themselves more marketable.  Of those that show up, only a small percentage actually implement what they learn because they are not committed to implementing the lessons.  They come up with some rather creative excuses but the bottom line is that they are not committed to making themselves stand out.  Next session, I am going to have a good time challenging that lack of commitment similar to the way Mr. Costino taught.

Mr. Costino used to be a Personal Trainer and he used the analogy of how he would interview potential clients for their reason why.  He would ask people why they wanted a trainer.  If the reason was for a wedding, or reunion or some other “event” he would tell them to go to another trainer because the commitment for long term health benefits was not there.  He said he did not want his reputation as a trainer marred after that event took place and the client went back to old habits.  He reasoning is that this would affect his future business prospects because they would look at his old client and see they are not in great shape and that would reflect on him and his abilities.

This is true throughout leadership.  If you want to succeed, you need to bring people up to your level of commitment and if they do not want to do it … let them go.  Success is easy, but laziness is just slightly easier.

  

Questions and Comments Welcome!