The Leadership Challenge - Week 6 - Encourage the Heart

The fifth and final Practice of Exemplary Leadership from The Leadership Challenge is to encourage the heart. This is my personal favorite of the leadership practices outlined by Kouzes and Posner. Leaders have a special responsibility to those who follow them. The best leaders are those who genuinely care. They recognize the importance of motivating and supporting their people.

Kouzes and Posner remind us that, “Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow.” We can accomplish extraordinary things together; thus, being a successful leader depends on your “capacity to build and sustain…relationships.”

As part of encouraging the heart, the authors of The Leadership Challenge identify two commitments:

1. Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence.
2. Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community.

Think about a time when someone showed appreciation to you in a way that was meaningful. Regardless of whether it was a grand gesture or a simple handwritten thank you note, you were reminded that you matter. Good leaders personalize recognition rather than going with a one-size-fits-all approach. They take time to get to know folks personally and thus can be genuine in how they recognize accomplishments.

Leaders have a knack for bringing people together and fostering a sense of community. They realize the importance of creating teams with shared values and mutual respect. They check their egos at the door, and their motto is “if it is to be, it is up to we, not me.”

Challenge Questions for Today:

• How do I show gratitude to those who matter most to me?
• In what ways do I encourage my family, friends, and colleagues to be the best they can be?
• Do I show my passion and compassion in all that I say, think, and do?
• How do I create community, promote teamwork, and celebrate accomplishments with those I lead?

Thanks for journeying with me through The Leadership Challenge! This is definitely one of my favorite books about leadership. Make a commitment today to a be a leader that makes a difference! If SOS Leadership can be of assistance on your journey, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Source: Kouzes, J.M. and Posner, B.Z. (2002). The leadership challenge. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass.

My favorite Paul J. Meyer quotes

Last week I wrote about Paul J. Meyer, who was one of the greatest leaders I have ever met. Today, on October 26th, 2010, exactly one year since he passed, I wanted to continue to remember his legacy. Paul had a positive impact on so many people. I could go on and on about his impact on my life and my family's life. But today, I want to talk about some of my favorite Paul J. Meyer quotes (listed below). Below each quote is what I have taken from it.

"Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass."

I remember hearing this quote from an early age and it really taught me to dream and to always believe that I can do anything. This quote was one of the staples of Paul's legacy. I remember being at a national convention for one of Paul's companies, and a man turned this quote into a song. I think anytime something gets turned into a song, thats when you know it is truly important. To some this quote might seem wordy. Or maybe it seems soft. But to those who knew Paul or even knew of him, you know that he meant this quote. He believed in himself and he believed in people. He dared to dream and taught others to do just that.

"Success is the progressive realization of worthwhile pre-determined personal goals." 


This definition of success has stuck so much with me that I teach it to my own clients. Success is what so many people are striving for, but they are unsure how to achieve it. But really they don't know what success is. It is progressive, meaning that it is on-going. It is a journey. Success comes, not when you reach a goal, but when you begin working towards the goal. It is realization, meaning that you are actually accomplishing or realizing the goal. Your goal must be worthwhile, not just to you, but to others as well. Your goals must be pre-determined. You must develop a plan for achievement. They must be personal! They have to be your goals. And finally, success requires actually having goals and those goals must be WRITTEN!

Develop a dogged determination to follow through on your plan, regardless of obstacles, criticism, or circumstances ... or what other people say, think, or do."


This is the last step in Paul's "Million Dollar Success Plan" that he wrote at age 19. This step was actually added a few years later because Paul realized the importance of determination and not accepting failure because of other people. We must all develop that DOGGED determination. We must believe so much in ourselves and our abilities, that we tune out the yeabuts. There will always be people that don't believe, but we can never be those people to ourselves!

"If you are not making the progress you would like to make and are capable of making, it is simply because your goals are not clearly defined."


This quote has been my personal motto for the majority of my life. When I was younger, if I said I could not do something, my dad would say this quote to me. Anything is possible if you have a clearly defined goal that is written, has a target date, and has achievable action steps. At the start of a new year, so many people make new years resolutions. But those are not goals! They wonder why months later they have not lost the weight or have not gotten the promotion. It is simply because their goals were not clearly defined! If you want progress, if you want success, you must first write down your goal and develop a plan for its achievement.

Those are my favorite quotes from the great Paul J. Meyer. I remember him on this, the day of his passing, as I do everyday. He will always be an important part of my life, my family's life, and the life of my business. If you knew of Paul, what are some of your favorite quotes? Think about those today. How are you living out what he taught you? Are your goals clearly defined? Have you developed a dogged determination? Are you letting others get in the way of your success? Are you daring to dream? Spend today thinking about how you can work on those things and start being the best version of yourself!

The Leadership Challenge - Week 5 - Enable Others to Act

The fourth Practice of Exemplary Leadership from The Leadership Challenge is to enable others to act. Leaders cannot do it all alone. They must surround themselves with capable, trustworthy people who are working together toward a shared vision. The Leadership Challenge authors remind us that “collaboration is the master skill that enables teams, partnerships, and other alliances to function effectively” and that “collaboration can be sustained only when leaders promote a sense of mutual reliance – the feeling that we’re all in this together.”

Think about a time when you worked with a leader who really empowered you to be the best version of yourself. These transformational leaders help us to succeed at a higher level, building our belief in ourselves and our commitment to the goal we’re working to achieve.

As part of enabling others to act, the authors of The Leadership Challenge identify two commitments:

1. Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.
2. Strengthen others by sharing power and discretion.

It’s not always easy to trust other people. Trust isn’t typically given freely; it must be earned. Kouzes and Posner suggest that you can begin to build a climate of trust by being the first to trust. They remind us that trust is contagious and that “people must feel safe and secure to develop trust.”

As leaders, we can strengthen others by giving them opportunities to lead and make decisions. We can also strive to build confidence in those who look to us for leadership. When we believe in them, we inspire them to believe in themselves. The best leaders are coaches; they help others “learn how to use their skills and talents, as well as learn from their experiences.”

Challenge Questions for Today:

• How do you set your family, friends, and colleagues up to succeed?
• Are you trustworthy? Are you willing to be the first to trust?
• Am I a good coach? How do I empower others and create opportunities for them to lead?

Check back with us next Friday where we will explore the fifth and final Practice of Exemplary Leadership (and my personal favorite), Encourage the Heart. Enter this weekend with enthusiasm for what you will experience!

Source: Kouzes, J.M. and Posner, B.Z. (2002). The leadership challenge. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass.

Remembering a true leader who made a difference: Paul J. Meyer

Paul J. Meyer, New York
Times Best Selling Author.

Last Friday, I attended a leadership breakfast in Belton, Texas that was put on by the Central Texas Christian School. At the breakfast, The Paul J. Meyer Memorial Central Texas Christian Leadership Award was given to former Baylor head football coach and current executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, Grant Teaff. There to present the award was Jane Meyer (Paul J. Meyer's widow).

Seeing this got me to think back to last year around this time, when Paul J. Meyer was given the same award. At that time it was simply called, The Central Texas Christian Leadership Award. Paul was unable to accept the award because four days earlier, he lost his battle with cancer and died on October 26th, 2009 at the age of 81. At the leadership breakfast last year, which was held on the same day as Paul's funeral, Bill Moyer (my dad) accepted Paul's award on his behalf. This was appropriate because Paul was his mentor and friend.

Growing up, I was unbelievably lucky. I had a great family and I also had a dad who worked in the leadership development business. Because of this, I was able to develop my leadership skills at a young age. I learned how to set goals at the age of six. I was learning about living up to my potential and developing a winning attitude all throughout my younger years. This wasn't just because my dad was in the leadership development business. It was because he worked for and closely with, the pioneer of the industry. He worked with Paul. J. Meyer.

Paul J. Meyer founded Success Motivation Institute in 1960 and paved the way for people like Zig Ziglar, Ken Blanchard, Steven Covey, and John Maxwell. He also paved the way for my dad, who thankfully passed on everything he learned from Paul to me. I do what I do because of my dad. He does what he does because of Paul. Thank God for Paul J. Meyer!

Over the next few weeks, I will pay tribute to the great Paul J. Meyer by writing numerous blogs about him. I will talk about things I learned from him directly and things I learned from my dad through him. I will write about the positive impact that he made on me and my family. If you do not know about Paul J. Meyer, I encourage you to check out this blog over the next couple weeks. You will learn plenty! I also encourage you to read one of his many books! They will truly touch your life!

Today, and every day, I remember Paul J. Meyer. A pioneer. A giant among giants. The greatest sales person I have ever met. An entrepreneur. An author. A philanthropist. A mentor. A father, grandfather, and great grandfather. A husband. A Godly man. A leader who made a difference on everything and everyone he touched. A legend that will live on forever!

The Leadership Challenge - Week 4 - Challenge the Process

The third Practice of Exemplary Leadership from The Leadership Challenge is to challenge the process. Kouzes and Posner assert that “leaders search for opportunities to change the status quo. They look for innovative ways to improve the organization.” Within organizations, we often assume we have a “people problem” when what we really have is a “process problem.” Your organization might have fantastic people and terrible processes, which prevents your staff from achieving their full potential.

Strong leaders never accept the old excuse “that’s the way we’ve always done things around here.” They are constantly looking for a better process, a way to get the best from those they lead. Rather than accepting the status quo, good leaders challenge it with solutions that will improve attitudes, productivity, and results.

As part of challenging the process, the authors of The Leadership Challenge identify two commitments:

1. Search for opportunities by seizing the initiative and by looking outward for innovative ways to improve.
2. Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from experience.

Leaders don’t wait for others to bring them ideas or complain about existing process problems. They take initiative and seek information to improve processes. They start by improving themselves because good leaders work on themselves first and their people second. They recognize that learning is a lifelong process and that every person and process has areas that can be improved.

The best leaders create wins along the way because they recognize the role that small successes play in individual and organizational morale. They also understand that everyone makes mistakes from time to time; thus, they admit to their own failures and accept them as learning opportunities, and they graciously forgive the mistakes of others.

Challenge Questions for Today:

• Do you accept the status quo? When was the last time you challenged a process?
• Are you willing to take risks?
• Are you looking for innovative ways to improve yourself and/or your organization?

Check back with us next Friday where we will explore the fourth Practice of Exemplary Leadership, Enable Others to Act. Have a fabulous weekend! Spend some time reflecting on how you can be the leader you’re called to be.

Source: Kouzes, J.M. and Posner, B.Z. (2002). The leadership challenge. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass.

The Leadership Challenge - Week 3 - Inspire a Shared Vision

The second Practice of Exemplary Leadership from The Leadership Challenge is to inspire a shared vision. Think about a time in your life when you were truly inspired, when you were on fire about something that mattered to you. In that circumstance, chances are you were part of something bigger than yourself, and there was a leader who brought people together for a common purpose. The best leaders can rally those around them, stirring people to action.

Kouzes and Posner assert that the “most important role of visions in organizational life is to give focus to human energy.” I couldn’t agree more. All of us are searching for our purpose. We long to understand who we are called to be and how we can make a real and lasting impact during our lifetime. When we clearly recognize and embrace the vision for our lives, we can focus our energy on achieving what matters most to us.

As part of inspiring a shared vision, the authors of The Leadership Challenge identify two commitments:

1. Envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities.
2. Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations.

As leaders, we are called to look toward the future with hope, to imagine what could be rather than being constrained by reality. As George Bernard Shaw so eloquently stated, “Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.”

Have you ever met someone whose zest for life was infectious? As a leader, your passion and commitment must be contagious; that’s what really inspires people. Transformational leaders unite people. They create community and sustain it. They bring a vision for a better future to life.

Challenge Questions for Today:

• Who inspires you?
• What is your vision for the future? Are you filled with hope when you imagine the possibilities?
• How are you creating a shared vision for your family, your coworkers, and others who follow you?

Check back with us next Friday where we will explore the third Practice of Exemplary Leadership, Challenge the Process. Have an amazing weekend! Spend it with those who matter most to you.

Source: Kouzes, J.M. and Posner, B.Z. (2002). The leadership challenge. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass.

The Leadership Challenge - Week 2 - Model the Way

In The Leadership Challenge, the first Practice of Exemplary Leadership is to Model the Way. We have all known leaders who employed a “do as I say, not as I do” approach, and we’ve seen how ineffective and demoralizing such an attitude can be. Leaders who truly inspire and make a difference lead by example. They are who they say they are.

My father, Bill Moyer, tells a story about a man approaching him after he delivered a powerful keynote address and saying to him, “I believe that you believe what you believe.” What an awesome compliment! As leaders, we should want people to believe that we believe what we believe. It means our passion isn’t just there; it means it is flowing from us in a way that is real and genuine.

We’ve become so cynical, always waiting for our leaders to fail with a 24-hour news feed prepared to eat them alive and analyze every aspect of their failure. Rather than exploiting failure, why aren’t we celebrating and honoring those leaders who truly model the way? That’s one of the goals of this blog, to recognize leaders who are making a difference. We launched our Leadership That Makes a Difference series a few weeks ago with a profile about Laurie Loew of GiveRealty who was recently honored with a 2010 Ethics in Business Award.

As part of modeling the way, the authors of The Leadership Challenge identify two commitments:

1. Find your voice by clarifying your personal values.
2. Set the example by aligning actions with shared values.

In order to successfully model the way, we must first find our own voice. We must know and understand our values. It is essential that we can clearly articulate what we stand for and what matters most in our lives.

Once we’ve found our voice, we need to put our values into practice every day, every minute, every second. True leaders practice what they preach.

Challenge Questions for Today:

• How are you modeling the way at home, at work, and in the community?
• Are you who you say you are? Do you walk the talk?
• How do your actions align with your values?

Look for another post next Friday where we will explore the second Practice of Exemplary Leadership, Inspire a Shared Vision. Have a tremendous weekend!

Source: Kouzes, J.M. and Posner, B.Z. (2002). The leadership challenge. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass.