Stop Hiring Talent, And Start With People

Over the past fifteen years Chris has served as a principal in over a dozen companies providing various levels of leadership and support. His specializations include strategic engagement, change management, and process excellence. He continues to sharpen and demonstrate his uncanny ability to successfully grow businesses through the creation of loyal teams, fanatic culture, and personal growth of those around him.

If you’re in business management, somewhere along the way you learn what it takes to hire good talent. You write extensive job descriptions, you do an analysis on what skills this person needs to possess, and you might even go so far as to decide what type of person would fit your corporate culture. I am here to tell you now, you’re doing it wrong.

Being a leader means more than making the right decisions for your business. If you choose to make the people within your organization a priority, you can achieve greater results. I’m not talking about continued professional development; I am talking about the person, the human being, the individual who has chosen to work for and with you.

Every day I try to improve the life of someone who works with me. If I can make their life better, then I have succeeded. It could be a personal or business matter, it doesn't make a difference. If those around me are successful in their daily tasks, and happy doing it, that will only elevate me as a leader.

It starts at the first meeting, the interview. Instead of recruiting for skills or experience, try applying the person as a whole to the position. Will this person adapt to new environments? Will they take on new challenges? Will they thrive under pressure? Will they communicate effectively with other team members? Will they enjoy their job and the people they work with?

You can’t always hire for these “soft skills” alone, but I am advocating they take a priority over skills that can be more easily taught and learned. Somewhere along the way, hiring became impersonal, robotic. Stop hiring talent, and start with people. 

Today's post is the fifth of the SOS Leadership Men Who Lead Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of men who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

The Power of Learning

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”- Benjamin Franklin

Being only two short semesters away from graduating, I've learned over my past few years in college, how best I come to acquire knowledge; and not only acquire it, but keep it. I find that if I’m in a class where the professor engages his/her students in active discussion as well as have notes written on the board or on PowerPoint, that I will hold the information a lot longer than I would if a professor just stands up and lectures.

I believe that is the case for many people, granted there may be some people who can simply look at something or hear something and remember it for the rest of their lives. I find, however, that you will remember experiences associated with learning something which in turn will help you to remember what you were learning in the first place.

The first time I attended a Leading Ladies Power Hour, I didn't quite recall what the topic of discussion was about, (it was my first event as an intern and I was nervous). I did, however, recall the sense of togetherness and openness that I felt in that room when everyone was introducing themselves. It was incredibly eye opening to see these women so comfortable with each other, to the point where one even started crying.

Every workshop or event that I've been to since then I remember what I learned from recalling the feelings that I experienced. The interaction that I had with the speakers and with the other people that attended the event also helped me to remember what was being said, and I recall everything just being an overall great experience.

Attending these motivational workshops and events weren't just there for me to jot a few notes down on a piece of paper. They were there to help me better myself, learn more about myself, and help me grow to be the best person I could be. One can’t simply find who they are by sitting down and waiting for change to happen. One has to work to make change happen; one has to learn in order to grow. You do that by listening to yourself and others around you, and it is only then that you fully open yourself to new experiences will you really begin to excel.

Create your own great learning experience while bettering yourself by attending SOS's newest Leadership Training workshop, Answering the Call to Leadership. Register here for this insightful workshop, and get the chance to meet other Austin local's answering the call to leadership in their lives. Lunch, parking, coffee, snacks, and a free copy of Retreat to Success will be provided as well as an amazing location in the beautiful Frost Tower. You will also get a free copy of the lesson so you can continue to work on your leadership style, even after the workshop has ended. We hope to see you there!

Should I answer this call?

Ashley Schenk recently earned her M.B.A. in Project Management, Human Resources, and Public Relations from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia and has received much recognition in her career, including Austin Partners in Education Business Partner of the Year and CWS Outstanding Volunteer. She takes part in numerous leadership initiatives and is committed to learning and growth. As the Head B.R.I.D.G.E. Coach and Executive Coordinator for CWS Corporate Housing, she helps encourage leadership, innovation, and creative thinking by establishing organizational tools and communicating company goals, corporate recognition, and overseeing employee volunteerism. Her professional goal is to inspire corporations to recognize the importance of building strong corporate culture, teams, and individuals through leadership, community service, and employee engagement.

It was 5:30 PM in the afternoon, I had effectively conquered the work day and I was keeping my fingers crossed for a successful victory over the grueling battlefield of Austin traffic when my cell phone rings with an “UNKNOWN” number on my caller ID.  I immediately pressed DECLINE.

Normally, I would have continued on with my life without the slightest hesitation in pressing the decline button, but this was not a normal afternoon. I had just received my first lesson in my SOS Gr8 Women Leaders program and I was extremely eager to listen to it.

Lesson 1: Answering the Call to Leadership… as the man began to speak, I started thinking to myself, “There are so many things I don’t know about leadership, am I really ready to answer this call?”  

For as long as I can remember, when having to choose to face the unknown, I’ve always pressed decline… even in something so little as answering a call from an unknown number. You see, there is just something about the unknown that can be really intimidating and scary. As humans, we are conditioned to think that in order to move forward, we must be in control and know what is waiting for us. We often hold back in fear of failure, are opposed to change, and challenged with the insecurity of not knowing. I realized that I’ve developed a very natural habit of pressing the decline button when having to choose to face the unknown.

When I decided to join the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program, I became committed to pressing ACCEPT and answering the call. Luckily, eight other amazing women decided to answer the same call and chose to accept the journey of discovering how we can each uniquely lead. On my first day, I recognized that my fear of the unknown had stopped my progress of discovering and understanding new things about myself, developing a career path, and creating a route that would take me to the next step in my growth. It will be through this program and remarkable group of women that I will build trusting relationships, attain a greater knowledge of who I am, and discover my personal leadership style.

After the first class, I was reminded that leadership is simply the ability to influence. Leadership is for everyone. Leaders are made. Leaders are unique. Leaders are developed over time…. it’s my time to answer the call and I’ve decided to press ACCEPT.

I am confident this will be one of the best investments I have ever made.

Check back every month as Ashley continues her journey through the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program.

The SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program is a year-long leadership development program designed to empower and equip leaders to make a difference. Click here to learn more! Also, check out this short video!

Kid Confidence

I Rule.

"I'm going to have a powerful job...as a superhero. I'm going to save people and animals from the ocean."

~ Words of wisdom from my 4 year old niece, Anna

"I'm going to be a firefighter and a fixer when I grow up. I'm the best at fixing things."

~ Words of wisdom from my 3 year old son, Colin

One of the greatest advantages of spending a lot of time with young kiddos is experiencing the interesting and thought-provoking things they say.

In their innocence, kids often cause us to think more deeply, laugh more often, and pay attention to the little things. Many of the kids I know also have a confidence, a real self-assuredness that many adults don't have. There's a certain sweet spot (somewhere in the 3-5 age range for the most part) where kids seem to really believe in themselves. They think they're the best block-builders, princesses, superheroes, skippers, hoppers, or whatever else they attempt.

On the flip side, many adults struggle with belief in themselves. For some it's a matter of self-esteem, for others humility, and still others a combination of life experiences that have created self-doubt.

How do we change this cycle? How do we help kids to maintain that self-confidence and make it last through their teenage years and into adulthood? How do we rediscover our strengths and recognize the good within us?

Big questions, all without easy or one-size-fits-all answers.

So think about you. What is your level of belief in yourself? Do you feel like you can do anything you set your mind to? Or do you struggle with self-doubt? Do you decide not to do things because you don't think you can or because you're afraid to fail? What can you do to regain your Kid Confidence?

Know this, you CAN achieve your dreams. And I, for one, believe you will!

Leadership: If Not You Then Who, If Not Now, Then When?

Artemio San Martin is a Board Member of Leadership Austin, and President Emeritus of the National Society of Hispanic MBA's Austin and Cleveland Chapters. He has held financial and business roles in global organizations in Mexico and the US, such as Siemens, Monsanto, US Dept. of State, and World Trade Center Cleveland. He is a certified Project Management Professional, and holds MBA and MS degrees from The University of Akron.  

“If not you then who, if not now than when?” - I first became acquainted with this quote attributed to Jewish scholar Hillel the Elder during a community event in Cleveland over a decade ago. I had relocated from Mexico City to the State of Ohio, pursuing my dream of graduate education at The University of Akron, and I was working for a global corporation at the time. In the hastiness of everyday activity, these inspiring words served as a reminder of the personal responsibility and transformational influence carried by the act of leading. 

Truly, there is no better time to lead than today. We might feel hesitant to take charge now instead of sometime in the future. Nevertheless, we can be certain that change will happen despite our degree of preparedness. People grow, things adjust, and situations evolve. The only decision we ought to make is how actively to engage in this perennial process: taking the lead and not waiting for permission, making our mark without regrets, seizing the day as if it was our last one to live.

For some people, the word “leadership” might appear to have a very formal connotation reserved for those remarkable men and women that have driven significant change throughout the course of history.  People like Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa, and Nelson Mandela would come to mind. In reality, we are all invited to answer the call of leadership within our own sphere of influence. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “you must be the change you wish to see in the world."

I have been privileged to lead in the corporate and non-profit sectors. In addition to my career in Business and Finance, I have served on the boards of great organizations, such as Leadership Austin, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, Cleveland Hispanic Round-table and University of Akron College of Business Alumni Association. I have also actively participated in Corporate Councils and Employee Resource Groups to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In all of these engagements, I have had the opportunity to make a difference and leave a legacy for the generations to come.

There are multiple causes and groups looking for inspiring and transformational leaders. Today, we have the responsibility to identify that “sweet spot” in which our talents and passion intersect with critical needs in the communities we live in, powering a relentless desire to lead and become agents of change.  Author and speaker Seth Godin says it really well in his book “Tribes”: “The secret of leadership is simple: Do what you believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there. People will follow." The time is now! Go on and lead! 

Today's post is the fourth of the SOS Leadership Men Who Lead Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of men who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

Ashley Moyer's Leadership Journey (The Concordia MBA Part 10)

I am in the final leg of the Concordia MBA program. I am only two semesters away from walking across the stage and adding three little letters to my business card. In past blogs, I have detailed overcoming struggles; I have talked about overcoming fears and accepting change. I’ve learned a lot through these struggles.

This semester has been my most challenging for many reasons. This semester I took two 15-week courses (Operations Management and Marketing, Economics and Competitive Strategy). The second year has really taken a shift from “learning” to “applying” as I was introduced to case studies in both classes. As we prepared case studies over organizations like Smucker’s, McDonald’s and Carnival Cruise Line, we applied principles from other classes such as Finance, Marketing and Organizational Change. In our papers and presentations, we acted as consultants communicating to these organizations board members. It took me a while to adapt to this style of learning but ultimately I know it has prepared me for my future career opportunities.

I have also been challenged through working with my teammates. The Concordia MBA strongly emphasizes teamwork, as many projects in “the real world” are done in collaboration. We are placed on assigned learning teams and this semester, the game was changed when we were assigned new teams. At first, I decided to take a backseat on the team to adapt to my new team members. After frantically preparing our first case study the night before, I decided the backseat was not the place for me.

I began emailing my teammates on Fridays (we have class Thursday), to outline any projects we had been assigned and to begin dialogue on deliverables. This worked well for us for many weeks. However, one week, I made the assumption that no response meant we were all in agreement. With that, I moved on with our assignment. A few days later, as I presented my research to the team, I was questioned on why I was making decisions for the team and was called a “dictator”. After we addressed the issue as a team, we came to a consensus on how we would handle the project.

As my instructor so brilliantly put it last week in class: “Beware of the Jesus Christ Syndrome.” By this he meant, the one to first speak their voice and step up as a leader is often torn down or crucified. As I learned this semester, answering the call to leadership is not always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes it’s just downright ugly. It takes courage (and thick skin!) to step up as a leader. But someone has to do it! Otherwise we’d be looking at policy makers drafting bills the night before or coaches developing a game strategy at kick-off. It takes courage and will to answer that call to leadership - and hey, maybe at times your leadership journey is in the backseat and not the driver’s seat. 

What Makes A Leader Great by the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders

We recently launched our fifth group of the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program with nine incredible women who are committed to developing their leadership skills and challenging themselves to learn, grow, network, and achieve at a higher level. This group of Gr8 Women Leaders are already amazing leaders, but they recognize that they can grow and become even better. They have a strong desire to learn, and they are willing to invest their valuable time, energy, and money to gain an edge and become the best version of themselves.

During our kick-off session, we had a thought-provoking discussion about what makes a leader great. Here's a list of qualities the SOS Gr8 Women came up with...

A Gr8 Leader...

• Is passionate 
• Recognizes the importance of listening
• Can be trusted
• Has vision
• Is optimistic
• Supports and encourages others
• Has integrity
• Empowers others
• Is flexible and adaptable
• Sees people as individuals
• Provides direction
• Is a teacher
• Shows gratitude
• Communicates well
• Develops others and encourages their growth
• Is a servant 
• Knows how to diffuse conflict
• Has a high level of self-awareness
• Sets good boundaries
• Is accountable and responsible
• Serves as a mentor and encourager of others
• Understands how to follow as well as lead
• Recognizes the value of connecting and networking
• Has the 3 As: authentic, attentive, and approachable
• Shows compassion
• Follows up
• Asserts herself, particularly in the face of injustice
• Is present and perceptive
• Makes a difference

This is a comprehensive list from a group of truly remarkable leaders. What else would you add to this list? Share your ideas in the comments below. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. 

One of the foundational beliefs that SOS Partner, Amber Fogarty, has about leadership is that there is no cookie cutter approach. One size doesn't fit all. Each and every one of us has our own unique leadership style; perhaps your style includes many of the qualities listed above, but maybe it doesn't. The important thing is to focus on understanding who you are, what leadership means to you, and how YOU want to lead. That's what the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program is all about. Our goal is to grow with you...we exist to empower and equip leaders (THAT'S YOU) to make a difference!

Check out this short video to learn more about the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program!

Questions for Final Four Months of 2013

There are only four more months left in 2013. Now is the time to get going! It's time to Go For It and to make this year the best ever! Here are some questions to ask yourself as you begin the final four months of the year:

1. What matters most? There's no right or wrong answer to this question. And really this is not a question, it should be a focus for your life. You should always ask yourself "what matters most" and if that is your focus you will never get off course. If 2013 is not what you wanted it to be, perhaps simply re-focusing on this question will help. 

2. What is one problem that I can turn into an opportunity? This is just a matter of how you think. Positive people think about problems as opportunities and negative people the opposite. Successful people are more positive. Think about past successes and figure out how to apply those skills to the issue at hand. You grow by building on strengths, not "fixing" weaknesses.

3. What new relationships will I pursue? New opportunities come from new relationships. Seek out opportunities where there is potential for mutual benefit, not just "what's in it for me?" Remember that even in these days of social media, significant relationships begin with real dialogue, not a tweet or a post.

4. How will I be more strategic? Planning isn't an event, it's a discipline. Get serious about setting a direction, always starting with a big picture view of the possibilities. Writing down goals for the rest of the year will also help with this. If your goals are not written you have no goals. Without goals you cannot be successful.

5. How can I make smart decisions? Do not over analyze. We waste too much time thinking when we should be acting. Slow down your thinking during the planning process so you can make faster and better decisions later.

6. What leadership skill should I get better at? Your personal effectiveness affects your success. Pick the leadership skill that most needs your attention. Whether is be listening, coaching, problem solving, etc. you must commit to improvement. Small changes can make a tremendous difference.

7. How will I recognize success? You won't know if you are on the right path if you haven't first determined the key indicators. Not all measures of success are quantitative, so also consider how you'll know when a result 'feels right.'

8. What is my biggest fear, and how will I face it? Name it and claim it. If you don't, it can be damaging to you. Own your fear before it owns you, and decide how you'll confront it.

Ask yourself the above questions as you prepare for the final four months of 2013. It is not too late to make this your best year ever. Do not be afraid to succeed. Do not make excuses. The only obstacle to your success is YOU! Now is the time to Go For It!

What Leaders Do

Thom Singer is a professional speaker, corporate trainer and author.  He regularly speaks to corporate and association audiences about the power of business relationships and his “Conference Catalyst” program transforms how people engage at conferences and other events. 

In a world that is crazy about social media, real leaders care more about people than they do about "likes", "links", "shares", or "follows".  It is easy to believe our tweets and other online posts are creating stronger connections, but after nearly a decade of active social media participation people often seem less connected.  Our online communities are hungry for more leadership instead of more pictures of food or grumpy cats.

I am often surprised how people create countless social media connections to people they have never met, and once they have the digital link they never have any other interaction.  LinkedIn, Facebook and other online tools can be great to grow and cultivate friendships, but the link alone is useless.  A network is more than a phone book.  If your connections are mostly strangers, then there is not much value.  You would not get the phone books from all the cities in Los Angeles County and claim to have 12 million people in your network. Relationships take a two-way commitment that goes beyond a click.

Most strangers are not collecting online links to serve their greater society, but instead they hope to find opportunities for themselves.  Showing a big number of "friends" leads people to think that opportunity is coming their way.  But Social Media can become a flooded pool of the self-serving, and in the end that delivers nothing. It is not always this way, but there can be lots of narcissism out there in the online world.

The best leaders find ways to serve others, in real life and online.  No matter what type of community you observe, the most admired leaders are helping those around them succeed.  If every post you have in social media is about your own activities, then you are missing out on an opportunity to be a leader.  

Take a few minutes to review your blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other posts.  Are they all about you or do you praise and promote others?  I suggest a split between self-promotion and propping up the people in your network. Highlighting the activities of celebrities or others in your industry that you hope will notice your mention of them is not the same as promoting the people whom you know personally.

When you give the attention to others you are leading.  Leaders are not always in the spotlight, but instead helping others achieve to their highest potential.  Social Media can change the world, but it will not happen by accident.  We need people who understand how to serve to raise to the highest levels.  The fact that Kim Kardashian has over 18 million Twitter followers speaks volumes to what is wrong in our online society (the Dalai Lama has only 7 million). 

It is hard to do this, as I find it easier to post links promoting my stuff. It takes a commitment and investment to make your online activities beneficial to others without a direct path to your own pay day. But that is what leaders do. 

Connect with Thom on his Twitter, Facebook, or website.

Today's post is the third of the SOS Leadership Men Who Lead Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of men who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

An Update of My Leadership Journey

It’s hard to believe that I've only been with SOS since January of this year, it seems like much longer. When I first applied for the opportunity to be SOS Leadership’s PR intern I honestly did not know what to expect. The only internship experience I had was with a start-up company that gave me a huge load of research work to do. While I was thankful for that experience, I wish I would have been given more responsibility, more guidance, especially being someone who wasn't sure about the field of communication at the time. Be that as it may, the start-up experience taught me how to be a self-starter and discipline myself. It also taught me that I was fully done with the medical field. (If you read my very first blog on leadership, I used to be a nursing major)

I could have allowed one bad internship experience to shape my whole life, but I pushed forward with my communication degree because it was something I was genuinely interested in. It was something that I actually enjoyed learning about and could use my natural talents in. At the end of my first semester at St. Edward’s I got a mass e-mail about an internship with SOS Leadership, and on a whim I applied for the position, not thinking anything of it. The decision to work with SOS Leadership has changed my life and changed my way of thinking for the better. I no longer kicked myself for not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, I no longer felt guilty about not deciding what I wanted to do career wise, earlier. It all fell into place, and now more than ever I can’t be more sure of the field I am going into. This is what I had been waiting for.

I guess I chose to write a leadership update because I’m about to enter my last year at St. Edward’s University, and it’s a bitter sweet feeling. So much has happened in a two year time span; getting engaged, getting accepted into St. Edward’s, the internship with SOS, getting married, and last but not least, finally graduating in May of 2014! The personal growth that I've had has been overwhelmingly wonderful, and it’s all because I accepted an offer at an internship. Leadership is such an important part of life, especially for self-development. I no longer feel like I have to please everyone, I know what I do is important, I know I do a lot, and I have the love and support of an amazing husband, friends, and family, that is all I could ask for.

When you hear the term leadership, it is often associated with leading others, but what most overlook is that leadership starts with you, and leading yourself to be the best you can be, in any aspect of life. I finally have that self-acceptance that I was searching for and striving to obtain for such a long time, and I can’t wait to see what the next few years will bring.

Start you own leadership journey by attending SOS's newest Leadership Training workshop, Answering the Call to Leadership. Register here for this insightful workshop, and get the chance to meet other Austin local's answering the call to leadership in their lives. Lunch, parking, coffee, snacks, and a free copy of Retreat to Success will be provided as well as an amazing location in the beautiful Frost Tower. You will also get a free copy of the lesson so you can continue to work on your leadership style, even after the workshop has ended. We hope to see you there!

Test

A Full Plate vs. A Full Life

"Having a full plate is good; having a full life is better." I heard these words of wisdom at the 2012 Texas Conference for Women, spoken by Cathie Black.

At least once a week someone says these words to me: "Your plate is really full." Sometimes the question is followed by: "How do you do it all?"

From time to time, this conversation is accompanied by judgment. It comes in the form of words and/or nonverbals that say, "Something in your life must be suffering. You are dropping the ball somewhere. You don't have it all together."

First and foremost, I don't "do it all." I do what I do, and it works for me. I am in the process of learning how to lead and learning how to live a life that is focused on what matters most to me. Am I dropping the ball sometimes? Absolutely. Do I have it all together? Heck no.

I know that I'm not Superwoman. In Retreat to Success, I wrote about my journey to learning that I don't need or want to be Superwoman. I want to live a life I love, NOT have it all, do it all, or be everything to everyone.

It's made me think about whether I want a full plate or a full life. And is it possible to have both. From the outside looking in, some might see a full plate. Others see a full life. It's all a matter of perspective. But does it matter what they see? No. It matters what I see. What God sees. What my husband sees. What my kids see. What those who matter most see. 

I've been asking myself this question a lot lately: How can I say YES to the things that make my life full and NO to the things that make my plate full?

As I've shared this question with other leaders, the answers have been fascinating. Why? Because it really is a matter of perspective. What looks and feels like a full plate to some appears to be a full life to others. And vice versa.

You have to define what you want for YOU. What does living a full life, a significant life, look like? And are you living it right now?

A Reflection Of My Leadership Journey

Originally from San Antonio, JC first came to Austin in 2002 for school and has never left. Since graduating he has worked for some best of breed in their industry; GSD&M, Wells Fargo Bank and Dell. Currently he is pursuing his MBA at Concordia University and devotes much of his spare time to making an impact in the community.

Looking back on my leadership journey, I am inclined to say that the turning point that made all the difference originated from a 7:00am call on Monday, August 2^nd 2004. I remember this call because I wondered who on Earth could be calling me at this hour after the week I just had. Just last week, I had a partial thyroidectomy, lost my father figure to widespread cancer and attended his funeral. To say I was depressed would have been an understatement, so a call this early was the last thing I wanted to do; But a voice from within said to answer it, so I did.

It turned out to be my doctor’s office and within minutes I was up and getting dressed to head over. I rushed over in record time because I kept thinking to myself that this sort of thing just doesn't happen. Before I could finish signing in, I was escorted to a room where within minutes the doctor arrived. He quickly sat in front of me, swung his tie over his shoulder and leaned forward. After a brief moment, he calmly said “You have cancer.” It was at this moment; this inner voice of mine roared from within and instantly replied “What do we need to do?” He looked at me with astonishment because he must have expected a completely different reaction. After he got his bearings, he proceeded to lay out the plan to beat it as soon as possible.  

Within eight months I was cancer free and possessed a whole new outlook on life. If it was not for this experience, I would have never learned to back my inner voice with a can do attitude to achieve a desired goal. I learned that when an opportunity or challenge arises, we must have faith in what our inner voice tells us and the confidence to act on it.

As leaders we must remember that challenging times are meant to strengthen us and help us grow into bigger and better individuals. We must never forget this because as James Allen said: “Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him.” 

So the next time you are face to face with something in your way, ask yourself what is the goal, what can I do about it and are you willing to start immediately. 

Connect with JC via e-mail here.

Today's post is the second of the SOS Leadership Men Who Lead Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of men who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

Finding The Perfect Balance

"Balance is paying attention to the things that matter most at the time that they matter most."-Kollete Hall

Priorities are always going to be an issue with people in leadership positions. It is always going to be a juggling act in trying to find the perfect balance between your personal life and professional life. 

There will be some days when you feel your personal life needs more attention than your professional life and vice versa, but is there really an effective way to balance all of your priorities?

Everyone has heard the saying there is a time and place for everything, and that saying can’t be any truer, for adults and children. I remember my parents telling me this saying when I wouldn't be able to sit still during a one hour mass, but in all honesty, what child is? My Mother would tell me, ‘Jesus is watching you, Mari!’, and then for a brief second I would sit still because I was afraid I was going to get in trouble with Jesus. This was also the case when I would throw a fit in front of family and my Mother would say ‘Your cousin is looking at you’, or if I didn't go to bed on time, ‘The Cucuy (Latino equivalent to the boogeyman) is going to get you.” The point is these sayings got me to do what I was supposed to do or act how I was supposed to act at a certain time and place, and oddly enough that technique can be applied to any adult in their life, just with a few minor adjustments.

When I’m with my husband or family and we are enjoying a nice time together, I try not to be on my cell phone or computer that much because that takes precious time away from them. If I catch myself on my phone I remind myself, ‘Is this how I’m supposed to be acting when I’m spending quality time with my family?’ The same goes for work; work is supposed to be done during the day between work hours, and sometimes excessive amounts of watching YouTube videos can take place, but I just have to remind myself, ‘Should I be procrastinating at the work place when important things need to be finished and deadlines need to be met?’, no.

There is a balance that can be reached, and that is by having a schedule, sticking to it, and reminding yourself to not get off track because if you do your professional life can flow into your personal life which isn't what anyone wants to happen. Amber Fogarty constantly tells us in the Gr8 Women Leaders Program that ‘If it gets scheduled, it gets done’ and it is so incredibly true. 

Leadership: One Size Doesn't Fit All

We don't all lead the same way. Each of us is unique, and we are all called individually to answer the call to leadership in our lives in our own personal way. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to leadership.

Over the years I've come to believe that you can only lead in one way: Like You.

And guess what? YOU have to take ownership for discovering your leadership style and determining how best to put it into action so that you can be an effective leader using your unique gifts and skills.

Have you ever tried to emulate someone else's leadership? Perhaps you had a great mentor or an inspiring boss, and you wanted to lead like her. You try to follow in her footsteps. It reminds me of trying on someone else's clothes. Sometimes the clothes fit nicely, and you're excited to make the outfit your own. But other times, the clothes just don't fit quite right; they're uncomfortable, and you can't imagine wearing the outfit ever again.

We all go through this process as we learn how to lead. We try a variety of approaches. Some work; others don't. We keep trying to figure it out. Ultimately, we're searching for the "sweet spot" where we discover the leadership style that works and allows us to thrive as leaders.

Every leader is on a journey to learn how to lead. From the inspiring boss you respect to the person in your office who you think is beyond hope...one size doesn't fit all, but right now all of us are learning how to lead. What does it mean to Lead Like You?

Men Who Lead, Know How To Follow

Nathan Green is co-founder and President of campus2careers as well as a board member of the Austin Young Chamber Commerce.

As the founder of my company, it’s easy to think I know the right answer because I have been around the longest. While that may be true in some situations, it can’t be true if you want to grow your company beyond yourself.  In fact, knowing when to follow instead of lead is one of the most important traits of a leader.  

Just over a year ago I had the opportunity to hear Lee Scott, CEO of Walmart from 2000-2009 (which were 4 of the 5 years they were the largest company in the world), talk about his success and rise in the company. What was most remarkable about Mr. Scott was how unremarkable he was.  He did not come across particularly bright, charismatic, or even ambitious; instead I would describe him as humble and curious. He summed up his career by saying he was always the least knowledgeable person in the room and so, relied on other people to help him make the decisions. This comment and practice is why Mr. Scott is not only a great leader, but someone I admire and look to emulate. 

At 30 I became a General Manager (GM) of a multi-million dollar business unit at Harcourt, which was soon after acquired by Pearson, the largest publisher in the world.  While I never shared my age with my employees/team, I was actually one of the youngest and least educated (almost everyone had a Master’s degree or higher) in the dept.  I was also in way over my head and had to quickly learn what a P&L was, for example (I was a tech and strategy consultant before taking this position). In this case ignorance was bliss, as I relied on my team (instead of myself) to make decisions. This brought increased comradery, accountability, and action.

This also establishes a new, and in my opinion, more effective form of leadership.  Instead of a leader who makes the decisions that others follow and enforce, the leader’s role is to remove the organizational barriers and roadblocks so each employee can be more successful at their job. In fact, I would tell people that my job as GM was to make their job easier, and when you accept that your job as a leader is to follow as well as to lead, your job will get easier too.

Today's post is the first of the SOS Leadership Men Who Lead Blog Series. The purpose of this blog series is to share the stories and insights of men who are answering the call to leadership in their lives. Come back each Friday to read more!

The Strength To Lead

As leaders, the number one most important thing in leading effectively is to make sure we have ourselves taken care of. If we can’t take care of ourselves then how are we able to guide others on their leadership journeys? If we lose the ability to lead ourselves we lose the ability to effectively lead others.

How do we find a balance to make sure if we are in a position of power that we never lose our ability to lead?

Make sure that you are taken care of physically and mentally. As a leader, if you begin to let your own health deteriorate while in the process of leading others, you are losing the very thing that got you to your leadership position in the first place, your strength. Strength can also be applied to your mental health. It is extremely important for people in positions of power to take extra care of themselves, almost on a daily basis.

We may judge celebrities and their lavish lifestyles; getting beach side massages, taking a vacation every few weeks to some amazing sea side resort. In a way, although we may not agree with how many celebrities are, they are leaders in the public eye, to many different people, and are constantly being scrutinized and judged for their career. Wouldn't you need a vacation to get away from it all? Wouldn't you need a weekly massage to take away all the stress if you had people watching every move?

Leaders and celebrities are one in the same; your loyal followers want your constant knowledge on how to become better until they themselves find the inner strength to become their own leader and journey on their own. Take care of yourself and treat yourself to a mini vacation regularly. Keep your strength intact; you shouldn't be ashamed to say that you need a break. It took so much ambition, hard work, and sacrifice to get where you are that you should put that much effort into maintaining yourself and what you've put together. To take care of yourself is to take care of the foundation that you've built your empire on.

“Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.”-Albert Einstein