February 2, 2010 Edition #5
Zig On…Leaders Are Communicators
By Zig Ziglar
There is an old saying, “That which can be misunderstood will be misunderstood.” This resolution, passed by the Board of Councilmen in Canton, Mississippi, in the mid-1800s brings that into focus. “Number one: Resolved by this Council that we build a new jail. Number two: Resolved that the new jail be built out of the materials of the old jail. Resolved that the old jail be used until the new jail is finished.”
In many ways, effective communication begins with mutual respect - communication which inspires, encourages or instructs the other person to do their best. When we respect someone, we will never be rude to them. Consequently, by treating that person with respect, we get cooperation, enthusiastically given instead of grudgingly given. Eisenhower said that leadership was the ability to persuade someone else to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. Giving respect to a person means you will treat them with courtesy and dignity. The respected individual is going to work harder to become a peak performer, wanting to do more and more.
If people like you, they will work harder for you. If they don’t like you, they might work to keep their job, but they won’t really be giving the effort they’re capable of giving. A person might perform to keep their job because duty and responsibility demand that they do it well. But love and encouragement enable us to do our work beautifully. When we communicate to people that we genuinely like and respect them, and follow that up with consistency of action, we establish a rapport and confidence in our people that will make a difference.
Communication is not necessarily an easy skill to learn, but it really begins with seriously listening to what the other person says. By listening with respect you will learn things that can make a difference. Consistency will be the result and consistent performance really is the key to excellence. Buy into and practice these concepts and I really will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator. He is the author of 29 books and numerous audio and video recordings. He brings his message of hope to thousands on the stages at the Get Motivated Seminars. See him in action!
Quote
Of all the “attitudes” we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life changing. Zig Ziglar
Welcome the Rise of PROGRESS Leadership
By Dean Lindsay
The business term “change management” has been around for a good long while. The term relates to “initiating significant change” within an organization’s processes. This change can include anything from altering work culture to embracing diversity to modifying an individual’s work tasks to increasing company morale and loyalty. The goal of “initiating significant change” is solid, but the focus of “change management” or “change agent” is backwards. In this challenging business climate, it takes more than the title of supervisor, manager, or “change agent” to truly lead people in the direction of progress.
I see an important connection between sales, motivation, solid customer care and leadership. All are achieved by effectively positioning ideas, recommendations, solutions, products, services - even ourselves - as Progress in the minds of those we wish to inspire to action. All must be positioned as Progress and NOT Change. It is natural to resist change, but we embrace Progress. All progress is change but not all change is Progress. The problem with the term “change management” is that no one really desires to change or plans to change. We desire and plan to progress. We do not want managers to manage our change. We want leaders to lead our progress.
Let’s move the focus of “initiating significant change” from “change management” to what it should be: Progress Leadership. Progress leadership means working to understand and communicate how a team member’s personal goals can dovetail with the organization’s goals and thus create true commitment that gets the team member to act – because he or she wants to, not because they have to. Progress Leadership means striving to help others find meaning in their work.
In a time of continual transformation, committed business leaders – Progress Agents – should focus on inspiring the progress, not apologizing for the change. Progress Agents don’t just TELL people what to do. Progress Agents include others in the progress as well as the process.
It is reasons that shape, nourish, and sustain the thoughts that create the actions necessary to reach desired results. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince wrote, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Companies are most successful at “initiating significant change” when the reasons to act connect personally with the individual employees making the alteration in behavior. If the reasons don’t connect with the individual, then the planned progress will be viewed as merely change and will be resisted or at least not acted on. Team members may still physically clock in but have often mentally checked out.
Dale Carnegie wrote his classic How to Win Friends and Influence People way back in 1936, and its wisdom is no less true and vibrantly powerful today. The book is packed with insight on leading and building strong relationships by lifting people up, making them feel good, and “spurring people on to success.” Wisely, the book is not called How to Lift People Up and Make Them Feel Good or How to Spur People on to Success. No, Carnegie’s classic is appropriately titled: How to Win Friends and Influence People. And who is doing the winning? It’s you and me, along with the person being lifted up, made to feel good, and spurred on to success (read: influenced and led).
In his book, Mr. Carnegie encourages us to, among other things: Talk in terms of the other person’s interests, respect others’ opinions, try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view, and try to make the other person happy about doing the things you suggest. In other words, genuinely care about people and their feelings.
But Mr. Carnegie’s classic does not only encourage us to take these actions for the benefit of the people we are respecting and “making happy.” The book doesn’t even make the argument that it is even morally right to care about people’s feelings (although I am sure Mr. Carnegie would agree that it is). No, the book simply makes the clear case that caring about others’ feelings is good for the person (or company) who cares.
Companies are formed by people (humans) partnering to get their wants and needs met by helping other people (humans) get their wants and needs met. Leaders who do not take the individual into account and do not plan for the human side of Progress often find themselves scratching their heads about where their plans went wrong. Welcome the rise of Progress Leadership!
Dean Lindsay is the author of The Progress Challenge: Working and Winning in a World of Change and Cracking the Networking CODE: 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships. Join Dean next week when he will be expanding on the Progress Challenge in a FREE webcast. Register now!
Free Webcast
The Progress Challenge
Working and Winning in a World of Change
February 9, 2010
Presented by Dean Lindsay
Watch Dean in action
Register now
Word of the Week
Afflatus
Noun
“uh FLAY tus”
1. Creative inspiration, usually thought of as divine
Zig Ziglar’s afflatus is apparent in all his writings and speeches.
Zingers
Arresting a drunken driver is like destroying the web and leaving the spider alive.
Glasses change your personality, especially if you empty them too often.
Alcohol is something that often puts the “wreck” in recreation.
The person who thinks won’t drink.
A good government cannot be preserved in alcohol.
This newsletter is published by Ziglar, Inc. Ziglar.com
Hello,
Showing respect, feeling the equal of another, it’s important to have it remembered. So true.
Being careful of one’s feelings, Listening without judging - It takes much practice. So rewarding.
Looking in the mirror, I admit I’m not doing any of the things right now, as I wish I would. Thanks for showing me the right track ZIG!
Thanks for sharing the good insights, as they are every week.
Regarding the “Zingers,” however, I am perplexed. Being an addict in recovery myself, such one-liners, while technically true, have not been helpful to my process, but only serve to fuel the fires of shame and hurt which drove me to use in the first place. Do other addicts out there find them helpful? If so, I’d like to understand their paradigm. I want to learn how to make the best use of these statements.
Embracing the Struggle myself,
G.B.
I to am recovering and far enough along that I see the folk wisdom in these zingers. I cannot change the past or the shame I too can sometimes feel however they are subtle reminders that I am on the right path and the truths that lie within these says are valid. By accepting the fact that I have addictions and deciding to face them I have been given a singular grace. Any shame these zingers may bring is far out weighed by the strength other addicts might find to make the choice we have made. The paradox of our recovery is by giving we recieve, even if sometimes it is our shame. Good luck on your journey “You are precious in MY eyes, your are honored, and I love you” Isaiah 43:$
@G.B. Koerner
I find the one liner’s helpful and inspirational. I was once a drunk but not any longer. I found Christ and allowed him to forgive the sins of my past, at that very point I gave away all of the shame and guilt I felt. God realized people are not perfect and that is why he gave his only son to us and Jesus hung on the cross for us that we may be saved. Maybe if you find God and truly allow Christ to forgive you, you will no longer feel shame or hurt, because what you have done wrong in the past has been wiped clean with the blood of Jesus if you ask him for forgiveness and accept it from him there is no reason to hold onto the baggage.
Good Luck.
As the father of a beautiful young man who demonstrated unyielding integrity and character throughout his young life and was a scholar and an athlete, he made the unfortunate decision to binge drink one night, and overdosed. Does the one who thinks not drink? It may be catchy, but I can assure all, that many who respect themselves and their bodies and are known for their intellect can easily do the unthinkable. It takes continuous vigilance to keep loved ones out of harm’s way, but that is no guarantee. Maybe the Zingers are simply good daily reminders to remain vigilant.
GREAT work
I really agree that leaders should be good communicators. Sometimes I’m also confused as department head of teachers. There are teachers who would really follow the work culture of the organization but there are few who would act like a foxes. They would appear as if they’re cooperating but they do the reverse. After reminding them of their negative attitudes they promise to change but only to go back after few days to their old selves.But there only few who when you offer your hand would also bite your arm. These are the opportunists in the organization who are not affective by any good communication.
Ultimately, effective communication is one of the first rules of leadership. We have mistaken charisma for leadership. However, I have seen many charismatic individuals that lack effective communication skills. I view leaders as vision casters. They have an uncanny ability to take words and ignite passion in all those that hear their words. They are motivators and passion releasers. When an effective communicator speaks, people leave with clarity, vision, purpose and greater buy-in. It’s important that leaders filter messages and simplify them so that listeners can comprehend what is being communicated. It’s not in the amount of words; it’s in the simplification of the message. Also, getting feedback from listeners will aid in ameliorating communication skills. Leaders must focus more on being understood than being heard.
I heard that change is inevitable and progress is a choice.
Boldly, I approach the throne of grace to receive mercy.
Many zingers are witty only in the absence of pain. For those in pain, they make matters worse. So…. are they worth the small ‘gain’ of amusement or pithy reminders when they can cause significant harm?
Besides, I’m guessing their authors like to be known as wordsmiths… hardly the actions of a person recovered or recovering.
Just a thought, that’s all.
The zingers are a wonderful addition to the newsletter. I look forward to them each week. If they discourage someone from hiding their problems in a bittle, they have done their work, and we who have been in that condition can always use a reminder to keep it clean.
I love the zingers, and look forward to them each week. If they keep someone from the bottle, they have done their work, and we who have been there can use a reminder of the problems that lifestyle caused us.
great post as usual!
Haha I’m honestly the only reply to this incredible writing!
Super awesome read. Honestly.