‘Secrets of Great Leaders’ (V)
This week, we’ll continue with the remaining parts of ‘Secrets of Great Leaders’ by Carol O’ Connor.
36. Encourage debate: (Quotation) Nelson Mandelea: ‘A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial and uninformed.’
39. Set targets for personal growth: Here is a list to get you started for making learning a priority:
a) Decide on a topic that interests you.
b) Think about what you want to learn and estimate the time you need to make progress.
c) Collect all the learning materials you need together in one place.
d) Put time aside on a regular basis to learn your topic.
e) Keep going through the boring parts — — especially through the boring parts.
40. Ask for help when you need it: Whether help consisted of money, time, listening, advice or something else, ‘Thank you’ must be said.
Some people are always prepared to ask for help. If unchecked, these colleagues will sit idle while getting you to act for them. One way to check this behaviour is by identifying a few catchphrases to use when asked to run errands, do menial tasks, or act as an unpaid servant.
One example of a catchphrase: ‘I’d love to do you a favour, but I can’t today. Ask me another time, for sure.’
43. Choose a leadership style: Saying no is entirely legitimate and necessary when you believe it’s right and also you have overall responsibility for results.
This is autocratic behaviour and is only harmful as a style if you never confer with your colleagues, never listen and always insist that things be done your way.
The permissive style is necessary when working with highly creative and independent people. The idea is to allow them to get on with it until they produce what is needed, although this can be frustrating for leaders.
45. Share the glory: As a leader, make sure that any rivalry is healthy, with clear guidance about who gets what reward and for which work. Final achievements as well as supporting roles can be given credit as well.
If you have someone on the team who wants more than his or her fair share, then this needs careful management. Too often, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Colleagues who constantly ask for special assignments, promotion, salary increases or time off tend to get them just because they are so annoying.
Giving in to this kind of person too often demoralizes everyone else.
46. Make friends and form alliances: (Quotation) Jesse Jackson: ‘Leadership has a harder job to do than just choose sides. It must bring sides together.’
46. Be lucky: Everyone can improve their luck dramatically with discipline and hard work. Identify how lucky people behave when they:
a) are criticized or receive praise
b) win or lose
c) are surrounded by powerful people or by vulnerable ones
d) are given advice by an expert
e) spend time with family and friends
49. Have a big idea: Whenever top people in an organization are preoccupied with a single number for a single aspect of the business, this is a tiny idea — — not a big one.
50. Make people your main business: When leaders put their people at the centre of their decision-making, they take a step back in terms of taking action themselves.
Leaders who have felt valued for getting things done may need to make the transition from getting their own hands dirty to make things happen through others. Their role is now bigger. Once they reach the top, they encourage other people to get things done while their job becomes envisioning the future.
一. 有氧運動是輕鬆的持續運動, 如慢跑、健走、單車、跳繩和游泳等, 建議要在有空氣流通的地方, 才能達到效果。
二. 有氧運動區間是指在運動時有點喘, 但能和別人講話, 而且運動後不會太累。
三. 這類運動能紓緩心理壓力、增強免疫力、強化心肺功能等。
