Forethought

Great leaders are able to extricate themselves from the minutia and see the big picture. This isn’t big-picture only thinking. This is an important point to make note of. This does not mean to suggest a leader is a grand ideas, big thinker only. No, in fact it means quite the opposite. A great leader is able to synthesize their incredible world-changing ideas into meaningful steps and equate them with the minutely small day-to-day functions and tasks. In a sense they are able to hold this dichotomous view in their head where they see not just the daily grind but also the fully completed goal at the same time. There are other types of perspective a great leader maintains as well. Here’s a quick three.

- Great leaders see the large picture and the details simultaneously

- Great leaders are able to relate to the perspective of the customer

- Great leaders are able to communicate in the language of the employee

Great leaders ask questions. But not just any old question, great leaders ask thoughtful questions that require thoughtful answers. Usually this means staying away from yes/no answers. A great leader knows how to ask questions which will illicit the most honest response. That’s an interesting idea. Here’s what I mean:

Great leaders know when a question is difficult and phrases it in the way which encourages honesty by giving the person answering the easiest way to say the hard things (the thing they worry most won’t be the “right” answer).

Great leaders are also quick to understand how questions can empower others to take ownership and responsibility.

Great leaders recognize there’s no weakness in asking questions and understands that asking questions is a way to lead others to finding a similar solution (or exploring alternative thinking to their own).

Great leaders understand the importance of focus. The ability to set aside distractions and pursue a single goal. There’s a couple important side topics with this idea of focus. First, it doesn’t mean blindly following a vision with no listening to other’s or outside advice. Nor does it mean an unswerving approach to problem solving. There are always times when a zig here or a zag there becomes critical for success. Focus involves a concentrated effort to exert self-control and will-power over innate desires to wander or be distracted by flashy, momentary interests.

The Story of the Marshmallow Children.

Great leaders hold those around them to higher standards. Not only holding others to high standards but they also lead by example. Great leaders expect themselves to perform at peak performance as well. Sometimes this leads to burnout, sometimes this leads to breakdown. Strong leaders are able to handle

these self-imposed pressures and find ways to balance them in their own lives as well as in those who follow them. A good leader understands the values of holding high standards and implements them in life. A great leader makes them fun and an attainable, achievable goal which can be conquered daily for a greater sense of self fulfillment.

- Great leaders set high standards for themselves first and then for others who follow

- Great leaders recognizes by setting high standards they attract instead of detract the right people

- Great leaders make high standards achievable and repeatable

There are 4 important points regarding decision-making related to great leaders. Here’s a short list, before we focus in on the final and what I believe to be the most significant.

- Great leaders understand how to separate emotions from rational choice when making decisions.

- Great leaders know some decisions will be wrong

- Great leaders make challenging decisions

- Great leaders help others make decisions

Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, shares how he believes it signifies he’s doing a good job as a leader when others make the decisions.

The greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan once said,

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.”

This level of confidence is a requirement of a good leader. Even with a statement like the above we still see confidence exhibited in his attitude and his game play. Good confidence is not arrogance. Here are three defining qualities of confidence:

- Confidence acknowledges failures

- Confidence is persistent

- Confidence requires practice

“Passing the buck” originated from a ritual practiced during card games. Card players used to place a marker, called a “buck,” in front of the person who was the dealer. That marker was passed to the next player along with the responsibility of dealing. Eventually “passing the buck” became synonymous with passing on responsibility.

President Harry S. Truman had a sign on his desk that read: “The Buck Stops Here.” It meant he accepted accountability for all the decisions of his administration. Truman’s stand exists in organizations today but, unfortunately, as the exception rather than the rule.

Accountability means honesty

Accountability means saying you’re sorry

Accountability means seeking advice

Latest episode of Forethought

Latest episode of Forethought

Latest episode of Forethought