On July 23 of this year Winfried asked several questions that are, in my
opinion, important to people who wish to lead and be led. Winfried asked:
>How can I find my button?
This was a personal journey inward for me. I asked many questions of
myself but the key questions were few. What jobs did I like the most and
why? Which leaders got my best and why? The answers were, to this group
of people, almost trivial. The jobs I most enjoy are those in which a
group of people are trying to deliver value, above money, to society in
general. In working with a Department Of Transportation the goal was to
provide a transport system that served the needs of the state's people
safely, conveniently, and at least cost. Notice, the least cost is the
last objective.
I enjoy working with people who I help grow, that is, after working with
them they feel that they are more competent professionally and in the work
community than when we started. So when a team member comes to me as I am
leaving for the next client and thanks me for their improvement -- I feel
good.
I enjoy leaders who work with me to define the goals and establish the
values that are to guide the work and then say - go and act in the best
interest of (name the organization). I worked as the direct report of a
CEO who expected us to exercise his authority. On a field trip I made a
decision, which he explained the error of when I returned to headquarters.
But he wouldn't allow me to call and change the decision right away. He
said, "wait a few months. The situation will change and we can change the
decision. No-one will ever know that you made a mistake.
That kind of leadership pushes my button. The button is classical
leadership. Make the goals clear, give your people the authority they
need, get out of their way and clear obstacles from in front of them.
>Did anyone of you found your button?
Yes I know some of mine. See above.
>How did you find it?
Reflection. I now habitually review every engagement I do from the
perspective of what made it fun, what was dissatisfying?
>Where was it? Really inside of you -
I place mine inside me. I am sure my buttons are influenced by experience
of the world. To me the buttons are part of my mental model of my world
(reality), moreover, they are part of my altruistic model.
>We discussed about "personal mission statements" before - if you have one,
>do you experience your statement as a button for motivation?
The connection I draw between my mission and buttons is one of the mission
comes first. To reach my mission I must change my reality, in this change
I will probably get another button or two and perhaps have one or two of
the old buttons fade away.
Enough -- I could go on for pages. The really interesting questions are
those that deal with how to find these buttons in other people and
activating them. Good leaders do this consistently. Much of what they do
is establishing LO conditions.
Winfreid -- I enjoy your posts.
Best regards,
Bill
--"William J. Hobler, Jr" <bhobler@worldnet.att.net>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>