LEED for Life!

Well...I did it! After months of studying (well...really two pretty intense weeks of cramming!), I took and passed my exam to become a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional. It was a lot of work and I wasn't ever totally sure I was going to pass. My hand was shaking as I clicked "Finish" and got my score. I passed!!! Sweet.

Why LEED? Here are my thoughts:

-- I like the first word -- Leadership.
-- We have to keep challenging ourselves. I enjoyed the battle! I was totally out of my element, yet appreciated the chance to push myself.
-- We never stop learning. I learned a ton about something that was completely foreign to me but increasingly relevant to all of us. So much of new construction (and all new construction in the military) is being done to new, "Green" standards. It was good to stretch. I first told you about this test in the concept of "Stretching" after watching how hard my daughter was working on her college prep work. She definitely inspired me. Right now, I'm a little tired from the workout but know I am stronger for it!
-- I like that once you are an Accredited Professional in LEED -- you are LEED for life. Like being an Airborne Ranger. They can't take it away from me! Hooah!

I have fallen behind on a lot of stuff. Time to get caught up there. But for now, I am going to take a minute and enjoy the feeling of competing...and winning!

What about you? What challenges are you taking on in you life? What new projects and big hairy goals are you striving for? That's what leaders do. And that's Leader Business!

Know your enemy

Sun Tzu, a Chinese general whose words of wisdom still serve as guiding lights for military leaders, challenged us to "know our enemy:"

So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will fight without danger in battles.

If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.

If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.

I was reminded of this when I came across a blog post from author/blogger Thom Singer. He has some interesting thoughts in, Warning: Your Competition is Calling Your Clients:

"But with the focus on new relationships it is imperative that your company not forget your existing customers. While your sales team is hitting the street chasing new business, you must remember that those prospects are you competitions current clients. While you pounce on their customers and referral sources, do not forget that they are doing the same thing. The difference is that their prospects are YOUR customers. All customers are going to be interested in listening to any vendor who can save them money in this environment, so be clear that they are inviting your competitors into their offices to hear their proposals right this very moment."

Know your enemy. Know their strengths and weaknesses. Understand their strategic plans and how it will affect you and your business. Know what products they have now and those they are pursuing in the future. And as Thom has pointed out above, know your competition's customers while recognizing that they are coming after yours.

When we don't do this, we run the risk of irrelevancy. We can find our products don't matter, our services are not valued, and our customers have moved somewhere else.

So who does this sort of analysis in your outfit? Army units have an intelligence officer whose mission in life is to think like the enemy. They are tasked with providing updates to the commander on emerging capabilities and vulnerabilities. They role play as the enemy in wargames and try to point out how they might take advantage of our perceived weaknesses. They are constantly studying enemy tactics and trends to help the commander understand current and future threats and how they might be defeated.

Maybe it is time to dedicate some time and resources to the study of your opposition. You better believe...he is studying you! That...is Leader Business!

It's about TEAM!

I just looked at today's baseball standings. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have the best record in all of baseball. They win at home and on the road. They lead their division by 15.5 games and are the leading contender to win the World Series.

But here's the amazing thing. There is not a single Angel in the top 10 of any individual offensive category. From top to bottom in their lineup, no one player is having an outstanding year. They are in the middle of the pack in batting, pitching, and fielding -- statistically. A couple of guys are having very good years but overall, there is nothing to get excited about in looking at their numbers.

Except one -- 75-44. The best record in Major League Baseball. You see, by themselves they are average. As a TEAM, they are amazing. Isn't it interesting what can happen when people don't care about themselves as much as they do for each other? Isn't it encouraging to watch the results of a group who thinks less about individual stats and more about TEAM goals?

Since my team is out of it already (yes, another bad year for the Orioles), I'm rooting for the Angels. I like their style. I like their attitude. I love their results.

It's about TEAM! That's Leader Business.

Be Your Best

This is the 4th in a series addressing the key elements of a leadership philosophy. I call them the “7 BEs of a Leader.” Before assuming a new leadership position, Army pre-command training includes time to create one’s personal leadership philosophy. This is a great exercise, one that I have done deliberately many times. I have found that articulating my beliefs, my core values, and what exactly makes me tick are critical elements to share with my subordinates. Doing so, from the beginning, eliminates uncertainty – with subordinates and those whom I serve (customers, stakeholders, etc.) - and helps define the culture and leadership climate that I seek to create. It, like me, is a work in progress. So let me know what you think.

Be Your Best.

The world is full of “good enough” leaders. In “Good to Great,” author Jim Collins states that “good is the enemy of great.” Just being good enough is a business killer and a broken rung on the career ladder. Are you having a hard time getting up out of bed and getting inspired about work? Dare to be great. Be your best.

Even in high performing organizations, like the Army, I am continually amazed at the number of people who settle for mediocrity. They wake up, drag themselves off to work, do their jobs, and head back home. No passion. No energy. No desire to kick the crap out of the competition and win. That is why I picked out this picture of this wounded warrior. Be sure...this guy is not interested in just getting by. He's not lacking for passion. He's a warrior...interested in nothing less than doing his best.

Leaders must be focused on execution, on being the best. To do so means having hopes and dreams and daily taking steps to achieve them. Your best requires follow through and the drive and determination to make your good ideas a reality. It means volunteering for the project that no one else will touch. Those are the roads paved with high risk – and great reward. It means continually seeking opportunities for personal and professional development. It means taking chances – and taking charge.

One of my bosses would counsel his subordinates quarterly and focus the discussion on “above the line” activities. Everything in the standard performance objectives was “below the line” and he had no doubt they would be completed. He wanted to talk about the big goals, the new initiatives, and the wild ideas that would transform the organization. Being the best requires “above the line” effort - from the entire team. Our job as leaders is to get the best from each of them.

Competition is a good thing. Find creative ways to raise the bar for subordinates and the teams they lead – without putting them down. Look at those areas that are most important to the organization, those metrics that are central to the success of the company, and be the champion. Comparisons in functional areas such as profit, efficiency, customer feedback, overhead, and growth are what drive organizations and their leaders to greatness. Celebrate successes, and then raise the bar higher. Get out of bed with hunger and passion for making a difference. Be your best.

That’s Leader Business.