Comments on: Leadership is an oxymoron

By: James Loperfido

James Loperfido — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:35:14 +0000

Andy, your article resembles “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. Strongly recommend it if you haven’t read it already.

By: Surrey Locksmith

Surrey Locksmith — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 03:42:14 +0000

Re #4 - I like to invest in the top performers. If I can make a 5% improvement in a top performer then I get more than if I make a 20% improvement in a poor performer.

By: Self Improvement Information » Successful Team – 5 Tips a Leader Must Know

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:28:49 +0000

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By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:52:38 +0000

I totally agree with these 4. I work in an industry where there are defined “leaders.” Quite often those “leaders” are not the actual team leaders. Instead the team members who show respect, humility, enthusiasm and an unqualified desire to resolve our cusotmers are often the real leaders.

One of my bosses recently said something to the effect of: You can tell who the leaders are based on foot traffic. True leaders are the people others go to when they have an issue or question, not the people who have leadership titles.

By: P Russell

P Russell — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:59:00 +0000

In my opinion the best way to learn how to do #2 is to be patient and ask a lot of questions you already know the answers to. Often times the best conclusion will surface through enough inquiry. Each situation is different and requires minor adjustments, but ultimately you have to let go and let the person draw their own conclusion lining up with yours. The cliche “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” has some truth to it. This process provides others a valuable learning experience and when a boss dictates (those who dictate are not leaders) the course of action, it robs the other person of that learning experience.

By: Cary Bergergon

Cary Bergergon — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:27:43 +0000

#4 is spot on.

No need to try an polish a turd!

By: Thos003

Thos003 — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:51:55 +0000

Sorry didn’t catch that as angel investing, but the analogy still works. So we will call it a happy accident.

By: Thos003

Thos003 — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:46:55 +0000

Was that intended to be “my personal angel”? That would actually be appropriate if you were subscribing to your own ideals and thus giving credit to a personal angel rather than a self thought up, personal angle. =)

Great observations. Effective leaders serve and thus through their genuine care and concern for others they are supported by those that know them. Making it easier for them to say, “follow me” and truly lead because they have those that willing follow.

By: Ben Greene

Ben Greene — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:01:45 +0000

@Dave Schappell - I think the key to learning how to bring others to your point of view, as opposed to dictating your decisions, is acknowledging to yourself that you have the responsibility to explain your actions and decisions to those you are leading. If you can acknowledge this, it becomes necessary to invite others to engage in the logical process that lead you to your decision, and the most effective way to do this is to lead others down the same logical path that you followed yourself. In this way you 1) lead people to see things as you do, 2) teach them how you approach decision-making, and 3) give yourself the opportunity to learn from your team and, if necessary, change your decision.

Great article, thanks for writing! –Ben Greene

By: John Kitover

John Kitover — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:03:47 +0000

I’m going to implement these changes this week! Thanks for the great advice as always Andy! - Regards, John