First Forum Fantastic

Talent is overrated. The Millennium Generation is over analyzed. That’s my quick take on the recent research revealed by Kouzes and Posner at their first annual The Leadership Challenge Forum held in Denver August 7-9.

Attended by more than 200 leadership education focused professionals, the event was busy with learning opportunities from Kouzes and Posner as well as a distinguished list of experts in their field sharing their thoughts in a variety of roundtable discussions. They even allowed me to share an insight or two as well.

Roundtable discussions included topics such as: Measuring the Impact of Leadership Development; Higher Education and Leadership Development; Making Good Ideas Work; Leading Teams; Coaching; Transformative Change and Recovering from Leadership Missteps. Jim Kouzes was first out of the chute with a topic centered on “The Great Talent Myth.” I have been previously exposed to this issue, so nothing shocked me. However, for those of you who have found yourself sucked into this myth, let me share some of the highlights.

“Talent is highly overrated and does not equal expertise, according to Kouzes. “Even experience does not equal expertise. It takes practice and practice takes time.”

How much time does it take to become an expert at something? “Two hours per day if you want to stay the same. More if you want to get better,” Kouzes quoted Glenn Michibata, head coach of Princeton’s men’s tennis team.

With that in mind, most leaders are amateurs, according to Kouzes. Most people do not consciously practice leadership let alone more than two hours per day. Athletes practice. Soldiers practice. Even doctors “practice”. (I would submit that most people don’t even think about leadership for 20 minutes per day, let alone consciously practice. Please tell me I’m wrong here.)

To practice takes effort and support. Support from teachers/coaches (executive) and definitely from family. You must be intensive with your practice and understand that quality and quantity are essential. In other words, “to be a great leader is not for the fainthearted”, Kouzes says.

Kouzes wrapped up his talk by underscoring the fact that leadership is in the moment. “In each moment of each day, you have the opportunity (to practice) to make a positive difference in the lives of those around you, he says. “The secret to success is to love what you do so you make the effort to practice and love those you work with so you can help them develop into the leaders they wish to be.”

Since I am also researching the Millennium Generation for my next book, I was pleased to see the latest research from Barry Posner in regard to the myths of leadership surrounding our latest group to enter the workforce.

Posner’s premise is that “every generation has wondered and worried about whether or not the next generation will be ready and able to handle the demands, challenges and opportunities they will be leaving behind.” His research shows us not to be too concerned.

Posner’s theme centered around the question of whether or not the leadership behaviors of today’s generations compare favorably with the other generations such as Traditionalists (1900-1945), Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1980) and The Millennials (1981-1999).

The observations from the data showed that age doesn’t explain much about leadership practices/behaviors and it makes very little difference in assessing the impact of leadership. And most importantly underscores the facts that young people can learn to lead just like everyone else if they are given the correct coaching.

“So what does all this mean for leadership development and leaders,” Posner asked.

Millennials want what we all want, but were afraid to ask for. They prefer to work with positive people; they want to learn new skills; they expect flexibility in their schedules; they enjoy a friendly environment; and they learn best through teamwork, technology, structure and experiential learning.

Essentially, if you follow The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership as shared in The Leadership Challenge or The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable, you should be good to go with this group. They want you to Model, Inspire, Challenge, Enable and Encourage them.

Posner finished his conversation with us by sharing what leadership educators and leaders need to focus on when working with Millennials: focus on finding their voice; focus on the future; focus on relationships; focus on credibility and focus on learning. Sounds simple enough. Where do I sign up?

Pushing the Right Buttons

Although we have been swamped with campaign this and election that for more than a year now, the real election season is quickly approaching. No, I am not going to talk about “Obama the Orator” or “McCain the Man’s-Man” here. I’ll leave that topic to others more involved than myself and to those mind-numbing ads.

What I do want to talk about is change. You know, “flip-flopping”. I was first introduced to that word way back in the early 1990s when I was heavily involved in a local San Jose mayoral race. My guy was a “flip-flopper” said his opponent. The evidence? After receiving more in-depth information about a topic, he changed his position.

Wow, what a stunner! Sure, in politics, candidates can get shifty to get more votes. I’m not talking about lack of integrity. I’m talking about how we allow that simpleton “never change” framework to overcome our ability to get important things done…in our life?

Perhaps in our newly “twittered” world, being thoughtful about various topics should reclaim its rightful throne. We tend to buzz through our day, flitting here and there, but never really paying attention to what matters. Then, perhaps during the cocktail hour, we rewind and reflect on our wasted moments. Similar to Gwen in The Offsite, we think our family is at the top of our value system until we look at our “crackberry calendar” and note the lack of time spent with them.

So, how does one reclaim one’s mind? No, although it might feel liberating, you can’t just delete all of your email. First, you must focus on the person you see in the mirror each morning. You must change your ways. I’m sure you’ve heard the quote about insanity connected to Einstein: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity,” he was heard to mutter into a chalkboard or two.

How do you change your ways? Change the frequency in your mind. In a way, your mind is like a radio. There are many buttons to push that lead you to a variety of channels to listen to. Your internal antenna may receive a multitude of frequencies, but it is you and only you who control the buttons that are pushed.

Although it takes practice, you can become better at mastering your mind.

First, when you begin to pay attention to your thoughts, you will begin to note that you are thinking about something in particular in a certain way. When you notice you are thinking in a negative way, stop and ask yourself why you are creating this story. More often than not, I’d bet that it springs from your past when some old boss or family member told you over and over that you could not do this or that. Jettison the story; it’s not working for you.

Once you begin to listen more deeply to the positive frequencies that reinforce how you can do something, you will find that the negative stories become more obvious until eventually they drift away being replaced by new more positive stories that create a more uplifting life. This is another good example of what I call “Closing the Gap Between Your Beliefs and Your Behaviors.” What do you want to flip-flop in your life? What do you want to change or improve? You are free to choose. Let your leader out to play.

What I’m Reading

If you have read The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable or heard me at some offsite gathering in the past, then you are well aware that I feel leadership is a choice. We all have the potential inside. All we need to do is find what matters to us and choose to let our leader out to play.

Yet, many business books on the market today continue to echo that leadership is a simple technique, more or less a management manipulation tool. They use the word as if it is interchangeable with management. Nothing could be further from the truth.

So, it is always refreshing to come upon a book that not only shares my point of view on the matter, but also underscores it.

And that is what I found in “Remarkable Leadership” by new friend and colleague Kevin Eikenberry. If you recall from our last newsletter, Kevin and I met at the ASTD conference in San Diego earlier this year. Learn more about Kevin and his work.

Kevin’s book is a great companion to The Offsite. “Remarkable Leadership” weaves case studies, practical applications and key principles together, which if acted upon, can transform you one step at a time from mediocre manager to remarkable leader. Reading it, you imagine being on a staircase with each step taking you closer to the leader you know you can be.

From how we learn and the cycle of change to communicating powerfully, developing others as well as goal achievement, Kevin’s book leaves nothing off the table while offering practical solutions to your everyday leadership questions. Kevin has personal assessments logically placed throughout the book so you can enhance your learning in real time. And you can grab more relevant tips by clicking on a special Resources page on his website.

If you are looking for a practical, how-to, hands-on leadership resource, then go no further. Pick up a copy today wherever books are sold, or, better yet, click over to Kevin’s site and let him know I sent you.

LPI “Self” Test Drive Still Available

Speaking of practical and personal assessments, my publisher is still offering you the opportunity to get The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable and receive the Leadership Practices Inventory Self assessment at no additional cost. A $40 savings. The only hook is that you must order directly from them. Take the Test Drive for yourself or sign your team up today.

The Best Vision Story Challenge Continues

Begun last month, “The Best Vision Story Challenge” is still underway. Many of you have asked for more time to develop and then report back success of your Vision Story. Granted! Quality knows no speed. Check out the samples of past stories that are a part of the Challenge. You’ll also find some tips and techniques to ponder as well. And don’t forget Gwen’s story in The Offsite, it’s a great model to work from.