Level up leadership

One day, as 10 boatmen were rowing a boat, the strain of every stroke showing on their faces, the first mate appeared on the deck.  “I’ve got good news and bad news,” he said.

“The good news is we see an island, so if you row two times faster we can get there before sunset and have a feast.”

The men whispered in happiness – all but one, who asked, “What is the bad news?”

“Well,” the first mate replied, “when we get to the island, you have to row for the captain.  He wants to go wakeboarding!”

Some bosses are just so cruel.  And the reality is that many bosses today do not have leadership skills, and this lack is costing their company big time!

Level Up Leadership is a souped-up leadership training program I have created for people who want to bring their leadership skills to the next level.

This is also designed to equip leaders with tools that allow them the opportunity to grow and keep moving forward.

Don’t blame your boss for his or her lack of leadership skills.  Sometimes companies do not want to invest in “soft skills,” because they think it is mushy, is not practical and does not bring back a good return for their investment.  Don’t blame the companies, too. There are “leadership seminars” being offered that are still based on last century thinking and experience, and are totally irrelevant, especially to the younger generation entering the work place.

I work with many of the top HR practitioners in the country.  I speak to younger leaders – younger meaning the generation of people who grew up in a high-speed broadband environment.  I hear and examine their situations.  I learn from them.

I devour books.  I attend seminars.  I invest in leadership classes with Boston’s most prestigious universities, and I connect with participants from different countries.  I listen to their stories.  I study their challenges.

Here is my conclusion: Times have changed, the crowd is different, and leadership skills need to be updated and upgraded. Talent acquisition and retention is a daunting challenge and in many cases, some of the most brilliant talents quit their organizations and join the competition not because they are offered better pay and benefits, but simply because they cannot stand their bosses.

You will know that your boss probably needs a leadership update when you hear him or her say these statements that still belong to the last century workplace.  And if you find yourself using the same phrases, then maybe this is the way you have been treated by your leaders and you are simply mirroring them.

1. “I don’t know and I don’t care how you do it.  Just do it!”

This sounds very condescending.  The responsibility of the leader is to show how to do it and enable his or her people to do it better.

2. “Nothing personal but….”

Leaders deal with people and people are persons (Duh!).  When leaders do not see their employees as real people, and when leaders do not show that they care, what they are projecting is that their people are merely cogs or objects that function as either stepping stones or stumbling blocks to their own personal objectives.

3. “Is that what they taught you in school?”

This is downright insulting.  Some bosses are so threatened with young entrants, especially those who come equipped with post-graduate degrees, so they ridicule the newbies for their lack of experience.

BUSINESS MATTERS… From B-2

4. “You’re lucky I didn’t fire you!”

I have met people who quit on the spot because they cannot take this kind of abuse.

This is the worst thing that bosses can do: make his or her people work and then grab the credit from them and parade it in front of his or her own bosses.

On the bright side of things, many forward-thinking companies have realized the importance of leadership training, and they are now investing in it!  (What other options do they have anyway?)

Do not let your organization or department go AWOL – meaning Absence Without Leadership.

Learn to develop the self first.  Then learn to lead others, and as you grow your leaders, they shall help you grow your business.

That is just the way it is.

(Spend two inspiring days learning leadership and life skills with Francis Kong as he presents Level Up Leadership this January 21-22 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel.  For further inquiries contact Inspire at 09158055910 or call 632-6310912 for details.)