Having been fortunate to meet some incredible leaders, I would like to share a few lessons I learned from each of them. Hopefully there will be some “take away” for you from the following.
- Share The Credit: Share the success. Dare and care to share! As a longtime consultant to The Coca-Cola Company (on continuous retainer for nearly 27 years), I learned a lot about Robert Woodruff, considered to be the modern-day founder of Coca-Cola. He served as president from 1938 to 1956. Clearly an innovator, visionary and leader, perhaps Woodruff’s most memorable advice on leadership is inscribed on the marble wall of Coca-Cola’s entrance lobby. “Man can accomplish great success if he doesn’t care who gets the credit.”
- Leaders Focus On “Team”: Leaders know the power of team, team spirit, and teamwork. The late longtime Dodger (player, coach, manager and front office executive) Tommy Lasorda, the “skipper,” once shared with me an important leadership trait when he talked about how most players proudly wear their own name on the back of their jerseys. He said, “Leaders understand that you play for the name on the front of the shirt… not the name on the back of shirt!”
- “Passion” Is an Important part Of Leading: Leaders are typically passionate people who love the life and mission they live. When I asked retired General and Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, why he didn’t choose to run for president, he responded “George W. is passionate about politics. Al Gore is passionate about politics. I’m not passionate about politics. I’m passionate about being a soldier.”
- Leaders Must Divorce Themselves From The Crowd, From Outside Criticism: Leadership can, at times, be a lonely endeavor. Years ago, when I was engaged in a project with Danny Thomas, a television star who co-founded St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, we were in a planning session at his home when I noticed a painting on his wall depicting an orchestra conductor leading some philharmonic. I asked him about it and he replied, “ love that painting. It clearly shows what leaders must do. To lead the band, the conductor must turn his back on the crowd.”
- To Succeed, Leaders Must Focus On ‘I Can’ and ‘We Will’: Positivism is a must! Iconic racing car driver, Mario Andretti was a guest on my radio talk show years ago. Before our interview, he was named “The Racing Car Driver of the Century.” When asked what attributed to his incredible success over three decades racing, he replied, “…constantly having an obsessively positive attitude.” I would never let negativism come into my life and my life’s work.”
- Leaders Never Compromise On Quality: Debbi Fields, a longtime friend famous for founding Mrs. Fields Cookies and building the brand into an iconic dynasty. When I asked Debbi about leadership, she responded, “Butter is better!” Debbi explained that she learned early in Mrs. Fields’ history that when she started using real butter (vs. margarine) and real chocolate (vs. imitation morsels) and real sugar in her recipes, the consumers went wild and her products were hugely successful. “Leadership is about a commitment to quality… good enough never is.”
- The Three Most Important Words Leaders Must Embrace Are Focus, Focus, Focus!: “Renaissance Man” Tom Sullivan is a singer, writer, actor, athlete, author, pianist, motivational speaker and more. His autobiography, “If You Can See What I Hear,” was made into a movie and his feats on the golf course, ski slopes and collegiate wrestling are legendary. Blind since birth, his view on “leadership” relates to his opinion that great leaders are “competitive always… and always highly focused” regardless of their disadvantages.
- Leaders Exhibit Strong, Solid Commitment For Their Causes In Life and Business: Senator Bob Dole once shared with me a commitment he made to lead the movement to honor American World War II veterans by establishing their own memorial in Washington, DC. Dole called the project “the unfinished business” and clearly demonstrated energy, spirit, passion and unbridled commitment to this purpose. Leaders without commitment can’t lead, inspire, motivate nor achieve.
- Leaders Understand What’s Important and What’s Not: They have a keen perspective, always focusing on what truly matters. Dr. Richard Carlson, author of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” convinced me successful leaders separate what’s important from what’s not. We all spend too much time and energy “sweating” the “small stuff” when true leadership is about separating the unimportant and focusing on what truly matters.
- Leaders Understand That “When You’re Through Learning, You’re Through”: Early in my career, I worked as a ghost writer for Zsa Zsa Gabor, a woman famous for her nine marriages and for her many other friendships and relationships with world leaders of business, art, science, theatre and more. Zsa Zsa told me that every leader she ever met had one thing in common: “They all understood clearly that when one is through learning, one is through!” Leadership is about “continuous learning and improvement.”
- Never, Never Quit!: Vince Lombardi, legendary football coach, once said, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” I once met a true winner and leader, Captain Scott O’Grady, the young man who made history as the U.S. Air Force pilot shot down in his jet in a “no fire zone” during a mission over Bosnia. His survival story made news worldwide. He evaded the enemy for six tortuous days in Bosnia and became a U.S. national hero. Nothing could stop his will to live and return to his home and family.
The eleven stories and points of view on success cited are ones to be read and re-read. Again, great leaders embrace continuing learning. Take some of the core competencies, embrace them and make them your own.
There has always been a connection between continuous learning and effective leadership. Great leaders are lifelong learnings who inspire others through their actions and vision.
Lead on!
