The Leader-Ship: Who's On Board?

The WOW! Factor

Let’s imagine that the Leader-Ship is a huge cruise ship. Why did you choose to be here? When you talk to people about your organization, do they get that WOW? WOW stems from passion and creates more passion. What’s the WOW factor that keeps people coming back each day?

“Be passionate about it or don’t do it.” –Rudnesky

According to urbandictionary.com The WOW factor is: “The distinctive appeal that an object, behavior or person has on others. An impressive display brought on by a certain object, behavior or person.”

When you walk into our building, we want you to get that WOW! Factor. We absolutely need that distinctive appeal that makes us different in a positive way. When you talk to someone about our organization, we want you to get that WOW! Factor. Some contemporary leadership literature documents that you don’t need enthusiasm to be an effective leader. I disagree. I see that enthusiasm carry over to all aspects of our organization. Enthusiasm generates enthusiasm.

I work in a school, and you may think some of the examples I use won’t work in your organization. Keep an open mind. I think these examples will work in any organization. We’ve had people from all over the world visit our organization from as far away as Japan. One of the common threads is happiness. We had a visitor a few weeks ago state that the first thing she noticed was smiles. WOW, got that one!

Another common thread is kindness. Granted, we certainly are not perfect at it, but we practice on a daily basis. Each year the New Jersey Department of Education requires all schools to have a Week of Respect. I think it’s lame because we should practice respect all year. So I asked the mayor of our town for a proclamation declaring the whole year, a “Year of Respect.” And that’s what he did. WOW!

“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." --Ralph Nader

Commitment

Commitment

I do not know where he got it or if it is his own, but a friend of mine always demonstrates three levels of commitment when he speaks to an audience about leadership.

Level One- Try

Level Two- Do my best.

Level Three – Whatever it takes

Use this analogy: Have ever flown on a plane? The pilot gets on the loud speaker, “Hi, I’m Pilot Bob. I’m going to try to get to your destination.”

Sorry, Bob. I want the pilot that’s actually going to get me to my destination. How about if your heart doctor told you, “Hey, I’m Dr. Pete, and I’m going to try and cure you.” No! I want the doctor that can actually cure me.

Level three commitment reminded of a Star Wars movie:

“Do or do not there is no try.” –Yoda

In the Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker is training with Master Yoda in a swamp on some planet I can’t recollect. Luke, through his new found Jedi powers, is trying to raise his ship out of the swamp. The ship starts to rise then Luke gives up. He says, “I can’t.”  Yoda replies with one of my favorite quotes listed above.

That quote is painted on the wall in our school. It reminds me every day of the third level of commitment. I secretly wanted to be a Jedi master but until they actually perfect an authentic light saber, I will not go through the training. I still partake in Jedi mind tricks once in a while but not in an official capacity.

If you self-communicate the concept of commitment through hard work and preparation, it becomes a mindset. Instead of making excuses, you find a way to make things happen in a positive way.

There will always be self-centered, hidden agendas from people trying to create more followers. When your goal is to create more leaders, the focus stays away from useless meetings, bureaucracy, and meaningless data. Find your passion. Self-communicate your goals, and change your environment in a positive way.

In addition to self-communication, self-reflection becomes a part of a quality process. In the foyer of our school, we have a sign that is twenty feet wide. We would have made it bigger but the wall was not any wider. I was facilitating a breakout session at a leadership conference last week and I asked the audience of adults if they noticed the sign. Not one did. The sign reads: LEADERSHIP. Conversely, I facilitated the same session to all students and asked the same question. Almost all of the students noticed the sign. Why?

As adults, we are already making our next move or talking without listening or not stopping to enjoy the moment. Carpe  Diem! Stop and reflect. Are you where you want to be? I hope so. If not, leave or change the environment. Create more leaders instead looking for more followers. It works. If you don’t believe me, ask a student. LEADERSHIP: it’s on a wall near you. Now take it down and seize the moment! Self-communicate. Our future depends on it.