Will Your Legacy Have an Asterisk?

Leading can be a fickle business. One moment, you’re on top of the world. The next, you’re a villain. No story more poignantly captures the essence of this problem than that of Joe Paterno.

The “face” of Penn State University for decades, Joe Paterno was a leader admired by many. He taught generations of young men the value of education and athletics, and many a Penn State alum can attest that “JoePa” cared about more than just those on his football team. His giving certainly reflects that – he and his family reportedly have donated more than $4 million to Penn State.

Unfortunately, for many others, those points of recognition forever faded after sexual abuse allegations were raised against Jerry Sandusky and many asked what JoePa knew and why he didn’t do more. The man who was carried on the shoulders of his players after winning national championships and becoming the coach with the most wins at the DI level was unceremoniously relieved of his coaching responsibilities in November by a Board of Trustees who thought he should have done more.

It’s a stark contrast – the man who was “legend” for his leadership is now “infamous” for his handling (or non-handling) of a sexual abuse allegation.

In my mind, the lesson for leaders is to watch every step you take. Your legacy will be defined by ALL of your actions.

Regardless of whether it’s fair, Joe Paterno’s legacy will carry an asterisk beside it, and he will never be mentioned for the good things he did without reference to the Sandusky allegations.

Will your legacy have an asterisk?
Becky

Tebow-Envy?

I intended to stay out of the fray that is “The Tim Tebow” show. I resisted the temptation to write about him in an effort to drive traffic to our blog. I thought enjoying the discussion as an amused spectator would be enough. Alas, I have to jump in to say…

I am baffled by all the Tim Tebow “hate.” Don’t get me wrong…I understand the fans of opposing teams who want to see Denver “go down in flames” when playing their team. As a life-long Miami Dolphins fan, I’m still a bit miffed at the Broncos for beating my team earlier this year. In fact, I’m a bit miffed at Tim Tebow in particular because he was a major factor in the Broncos win that day. But, I don’t understand the hate that seems to be leveled at Tim Tebow the man (and the Christian).

Let’s review his recent history (insert heavy sarcasm at the end of each bullet point):

• He is successful on the field and he gives thanks to God for blessing him with opportunity AND gives credit to his teammates. Pretty awful, huh?!?
• He has a rough day on the field and he takes the beating. What unmitigated gall?!?
• He prays and sings hymns before, during and after the game – regardless of whether the camera is on him if you believe his teammates and coaches. Has to be fake, doesn’t it?!?
• He has vowed to live up to his ideals and values (see his stance on pre-marital sex). Can’t we just find out he cusses like a sailor, beats up his girlfriend, and sells drugs to little kids?!?

Why are we so anxious to see Tim Tebow fail? Seems to me that he’s a guy who is thankful for his opportunity to be on a big stage and doing his best to be the man and the leader he was called to be in that setting. Yet, the “hate” continues. My Twitter Feed and Facebook Timeline are full of people who want Tebow to be “embarassed,” “humbled,” and “humiliated” and that’s not even in reference to football games.

In the world in which I live, Tim Tebow is the kind of leader we encourage. He gets there is a bigger picture than himself (i.e. God’s plan). He gives credit to teammates. He takes responsibility. He lives his values. And while I don’t necessarily like Tim Tebow the football player (because, well, I’m a Dolphins fan), I am rooting for Tim Tebow the man (and the Christian) and I won’t be disappointed if the Broncos continue to win because it’s an opportunity to talk about leadership (and Christianity) in today’s world via sports.

Three final observations. I am a realist, so:

• I expect the Patriots to whip the Broncos this weekend. And that’s okay.
• I also fully expect to find someday in the future that Tim Tebow has failed as a leader (and a Christian). And that will be okay too – we’ve all failed (and continue to fail), so why should he be any different? What won’t be okay is the glee that some take in that failure – the “see, I told you so” attitude.
• The only reason I can figure that Tim Tebow (the man and the Christian) rubs so many people the wrong way is that those people have “Tebow-Envy.” He has something they want, and not just the opportunity to make millions of dollars playing a game. He seems genuine. He seems comfortable in his own skin. He seems connected to his leadership potential (and his Christianity) in an empowering way. Maybe if we spent more time trying to figure out what he does “right” and less time hoping for him to fail, we’d be in a better position ourselves.

Rant over!
Becky

 

I resolve…

Ah, yes, January 1 has come and gone. It’s now January 2, and many “New Year’s Resolutions” have already been stretched, broken or down-right violated. I think a primary reason for those “failures” is that few understand what it means to “resolve.”

A quick search and tour of results on Google will explain that ”resolve” means “to come to a definite and earnest decision about something.”

We ”resolve” when we study something, pray on it, meditate over it, consider consequences of action (or inaction), and finally commit to the necessary steps that it will require to accomplish our chosen goal. It’s more than saying, “I want to lose weight” or “I want to be a better leader” or “I want to keep my office cleaned.” It’s a process that leads to execution of actions toward that goal, not just “fly-by-night” proclamations of intent.

So, what do you resolve to do this year? Be careful not to answer too quickly!

Becky

Merry Christmas!

Ethos Leadership Group extends a “Merry Christmas” to all of its readers, followers, and friends. We pray that God blesses you and yours during this holiday season. We also encourage you to take a “break” and re-charge your spirit, mind, and body for the challenges of 2012.

Lead on,
Becky

Rejected as a Leader?

Have you ever been rejected as a leader? Perhaps you turned around and realized no one was following you. Perhaps you have been removed from a position. Perhaps you have been fired. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s never comfortable to be rejected. It leaves us feeling ineffective, unappreciated, and unprepared to move to our next role.

While I believe we should reflect on how we can improve for our next role as a leader, I think we have to embrace the fact that the new role will come. I have seen many leaders who were effective in certain settings, but failed in others. Does that mean the person is no longer a leader? No, it means he/she is not the right leader for that particular situation or circumstance.

If you’ve been rejected in one setting, don’t assume that means you don’t have leader material. Find the place you can lead effectively and get to it!

Lead on,
Becky

Hope Became Reality

I don’t typically use this space to write about personal matters. In fact, I very rarely write about personal matters at all – some of my Facebook friends actually chide me for failing to write “anything personal” on my status updates. Well, today, I am via this blog entry.

Since July, I have been wearing a “HOPE” bracelet in honor of my mom who has been battling breast cancer. From the time my mom called to tell me about the original diagnosis, I began praying for a miracle. And, I don’t mean the run-of-the-mill guide the doctors to treat her and help her kind of miracle – I mean a full-blown God do something that demonstrates His power of creation & resurrection kind of miracle. I wore my bracelet every day – even when I had to meet with clients, speak at retreats, and conduct coaching sessions. I wore it as a reminder to me of my hope for a miracle and as a way to remind God that I was serious about my request.

Today, my hope became reality. My mom completed her radiation and is cancer-free. I don’t know how God did it. And, to be honest, I don’t care. All I know is that I will share many more phone calls and texts with her, will see more plays with her, will have more shopping expeditions with her, and will watch her beam like a little girl when she opens her Christmas presents next month.

As I reflect on this gift, I also know that if the battle had turned the other way my hope still would have become reality. Because my larger hope is tied to Whom my mom belongs and the fact that He would have taken her to heaven should she have lost the fight. I am thankful that she did not, but I am equally thankful THAT hope can become reality too.

Here’s to “HOPE” and the One who makes it reality.

Giving thanks,
Becky

Penn State and Questions of Leadership

The saga unfolding at Penn State University is deeply disturbing on many levels:

• If the charges (or any part of them) leveled against Jerry Sandusky are true, there are several men dealing with the aftermath of significant sexual abuse that occurred in their youth
• If the “I reported up” explanations demonstrate the level of responsibility that many took in this situation, there are several “leaders” who failed those kids
• If the apparent concern for the state of the football program impacted whether those leaders took the proper steps, there is a sad and sickening mix-up of priorities at the university

Leaders don’t take advantage of their followers. Leaders don’t ignore blatant abuses of power. Leaders don’t “pass the buck” to others. Leaders don’t elevate activities beyond their proper status.

I pray the allegations we have heard are false, but regardless, the responses (or lack thereof) of the “leaders” in this situation should serve to remind us what happens when real leaders don’t step up.

If you are a leader, take responsibility.

Becky

 

Farewell to One of My Favorite Leaders

On Friday night, I sat in a hotel room in NJ anxiously awaiting watching the final outs of Game 7 of the World Series. I was jubilant after the St. Louis Cardinals won. My excitement turned to a bit of sorrow today as I learned of Tony LaRussa’s retirement. I have been a fan of the Cardinals for many years – and I became a fan of Tony LaRussa when he joined the Cardinals in 1996.

I could extol Tony’s virtues as a leader with many words – pages even. I suggest, instead, you read the “take” of the professionals found at these links:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7173381/tony-la-russa-st-louis-cardinals-says-retiring

http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/olney_buster/id/7173677/tony-la-russa-retires-master-sticking-one-task-time-mlb

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7174263/tony-la-russa-glorious-career-ends-top-st-louis-cardinals

Tony LaRussa wasn’t a perfect leader – on or off the field. One need only reference a drunk-driving charge and several on-field altercations to find the flaws. But for each of those imperfections, LaRussa offered numerous qualities that made him a phenomenal leader – visionary, motivator, strategist to name a few – and he never allowed his mistakes to determine his future as a leader.

We all have “flaws” but that doesn’t negate our ability to lead. Tony taught me that, and I challenge you to follow his example.

Becky

14 Functions of a Leader

Gary Yukl did an empirical study in 1998, and identified the following as the 14 functions of a leader:

1. Networking

2. Supporting

3. Managing conflict and team building

4. Motivating

5. Recognizing

6. Rewarding

7. Planning and organizing

8. Problem solving

9. Consulting

10. Delegating

11. Monitoring

12. Informing

13. Clarifying

14. Developing & mentoring

Are you functioning as a leader?

Becky

Just Be You

First, I want to apologize about the delay in between blog posts. It’s been a busy month for Ethos, and I just haven’t made writing this blog a priority. No excuses, just facts!

Second, I want to challenge you to just be you. Over the past few weeks, I have encountered too many leaders who just don’t believe in themselves. They have followers, but they are constantly questioning whether their basic skills and even their core personality traits are suited to leadership. Do you ever find yourself questioning whether you have “what it takes” to be a good leader?  If you have followers, the answer is “YES!”

There is no “magic formula” for leadership. The key is being the best you that you can be. You are who you are – if you spend too much time focused on trying to change yourself into someone else, your will lose your followers during your identity crisis. At Ethos, we follow a simple rule – spend at least 70% of your time strengthening your strengths and the rest neutralizing your weaknesses. Note, the key (and the majority of your time) should be in strengthening the core of who you are – the rough edges will start to smooth if you keep that focus.

Try just being you this week, and let me know how it works!

Becky