Work

Whether I’m right or whether I’m wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am.
I asked, Jim Kouzes, bestselling author of, The Leadership Challenge, why he left the Tom Peter’s Company. He said, “I just wanted to be me.”
Connecting:
It was February of 1983 when Tom Peters, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner connected at a business conference. Peters spoke on excellent organizations. Kouzes and Posner spoke on excellent management. They began a relationship that led to Jim becoming the President, CEO, and Chairman of the Tom Peters Company (1988 to 1999).
Himself:
During our conversation, Kouzes recalled meeting Regis McKenna, first marketing consultant hired by Steve Jobs.
McKenna’s business card read, “Regis McKenna — Himself.” Jim said, “I want to be that.”
Jim Kouzes came to a place where he wanted to sing his own song.
Along with his inner search, life tipped in early 2000. Jim’s first wife died. “It was a time to ask what’s next.”
Progression:
Jim said, “When I was young, I wanted to change the world so I joined the Peace Corps. After two years, I realized it was too big a bite. I set out to change the country (USA). I joined the war on poverty. After a while, I realized that was too big a bite so I got into organizational development. But, that was too big, too. Eventually, I started working with leaders.”
“Ultimately, I decided to just be me and work on myself.” — Jim Kouzes.
I laughed at Jim’s narrowing progression and said, “It seems like you’re changing the world, now.”
“In the end we realized that leadership development is self-development.” — Kouzes and Posner.
*****
How can leaders help others become themselves?

Highlights from day one of The Global Leadership Summit:
Bill Hybels:                       

* The leaders most valuable asset isn’t time — its energy and the ability to energize others. Leaders manage energy.
* Arrange your schedule around six priorities that you’re shooting to accomplish in six weeks. (6X6)
* You’re not a leader to respond to stuff. You’re a leader to move stuff ahead.
* Create dissatisfaction first. Don’t paint a picture of “there” until you’ve made the case for why we can’t stay “here.” (My personal favorite.)
Jim Collins:

* Fanatic discipline is consistent, consecutive performance. Don’t save your best efforts for the best conditions. Reach your goal everyday regardless of conditions. “The 20-mile march.”
* “The signature of mediocrity is chronic inconsistency.”
* Fire bullets to calibrate a line of sight and then fire cannonballs.
* Creativity is natural, discipline is not.
* Greatest danger is not failure it is being successful without knowing why.
* Ask yourself, “What is the best way to leverage the unexpected.”
* Bad events are defining moments.
* “Greatness is not a matter of circumstances.”
* Determine your real purpose by asking, “Who would miss us if we were gone and why.”
* Organizations are not truly great if they can’t be great without you.
Condoleezza Rice:

* Optimism is the essential leadership quality.
* “No one wants to follow a sour puss.”
* Things that once seemed impossible become inevitable in retrospect.
Marc Keilburger: (Co-CEO, Me to We)

* Most senior leaders under-communicate mission and vision by a factor of ten.
* Impact in the world is the result of aligning your gift/ability/talent with an issue.
* Look for young people who have empathy.
* Show don’t tell.
* Embrace shameless idealism.
* Take people out of their comfort zone.