Committed, engaged employees are one of the secrets I discuss in my book 4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations. Leadership is an important key to creating a committed and engaged workforce.
The other day, I came across a set of great questions to help anyone become a better leader. Not surprisingly, they are more common sense from Ken Blanchard (of One Minute Manager and a zillion other books fame). These questions can be found in Ken Blanchard’s book, Leading at a Higher Level.
Dr. Blanchard suggests that leaders need to find their “center” if they are to be effective. He offers the following seven questions for finding your leadership center.
- Who influences you – for good or bad? What have you learned from them about leading?
- What is your life purpose? Why are you here? What do you want to accomplish?
- What core values guide you as you live your purpose?
- Given your influences, purpose and values, what do you believe about leading people?
- What can people expect from you? Can they trust you?
- What do you expect from the people you lead?
- How will you set a good example?
These are simple common sense questions that should have straightforward answers. I'll post my answers to these questions tomorrow.
However, as with most common sense, you have to have the willingness and determination to put the answers into play if you’re going to succeed as a leader.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blogs: www.CareerSuperStar.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be; and www.CommonSenseDay.com to learn more about Use Your Common Sense Day -- November 4, and to read stories of common sense in action.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
I hope you will include info and ideas on how to find your life purpose / why are you here / what do you want to accomplish / what core values guide you as you live your purpose? - these are hard to figure out, but I expect they form the internal guidance system for how you lead people.
Posted by: steve | September 29, 2006 at 05:53 AM
Steve:
See my post on Friday, September 29.
When you ask for info and ideas on how to find your life purpose etc..., the best advice I can give is to do really hard thinking and reflecting.
If you want a resource, try Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" -- specifically the part on creating a personal mission statement.
Good luck.
BB
Posted by: Bud Bilanich | September 29, 2006 at 08:47 AM