Don't Get Bit by Your Own Rattlesnake

Honest negative feedback is difficult to accept. It takes tremendous courage. I learned that twenty years ago. I thought I knew just about everything there was to know about running a company let alone a smaller $100 million dollar division. I had owned and sold several successful businesses and that success certainly enlarged my ego even though I didn’t realize it at the time. I was a little too self-indulged and my self confidence bordered on arrogance and stupidity. I even had a rattlesnake sitting on my desk with a statement that can’t be printed exactly as it appeared, due to censorship.
It read……………..
“You’d rather kiss a rattlesnake than _ _ _ _ with me.”

Now, that’s not exactly a good example of the kind of leadership that I try to promote today. So, if we are going to improve as leaders, we must have the courage to recognize and admit how stupid we can act at times. Courage is one character trait that is a mainstay of every successful leader. Every successful leader I have ever met demonstrated courage and a willingness to accept their own fallacies. They seemed to have a unique ability to honestly listen to negative feedback.

That’s easy to say but during the time I boldly displayed my rattlesnake, I didn’t have that kind of courage. I had no concept of the image or the message my actions represented. I didn’t listen very well to negative feedback. In fact, until the CEO of the company I worked for at the time called it to my attention, I didn’t realize that the rattlesnake was just a symptom of many things that were wrong with my leadership model.

It was a wakeup call for me

You see, it wasn’t long before we had a real issue that the corporate CEO and I didn’t quite see eye to eye on how it should be handled. The issue was dealing with the introduction of a union in the operating division that I was running. Ultimately, within six months, we agreed to disagree, I left and he was happy. It was the one time in my career that I can actually say I was fired even though it wasn’t presented that way. (Or maybe it was just my ego & ignorance that didn’t accept it that way)I learned a lot from that experience. At first it was a punch in the stomach but very soon afterwards I realized that I’d better wake up. This was a turning point for me. I realized that I was still a young man with a lot to learn and a lot to offer. It was that day that I finally got the courage to look into the mirror and reflect on my personal leadership model and my behavior as a person. Sure, I did a lot of things right. I had a lot of leadership qualities. But, I also did a lot of things wrong. I honestly believe that my early success, that was a result of some of those leadership characteristics, actually threw me off track. I knew then that I had to really work on my leadership skills.

I went on from there to become very successful in helping companies maximize their effectiveness. I learned many things on that journey that started 20 years ago and I am still learning today.

Leadership is not easy

That is the first thing I learned. Leadership evolves as conditions change, circumstances change; the people around you change and you change as an individual. Just as I have often said about sales effectiveness – “There is no Purple Pill;” rest assured, there is no purple pill that you can take to become an effective leader. Additionally, no matter how much experience you have, common sense is still a major performance indicator. Effective leadership must incorporate common sense to keep you at ground level. Ask yourself, do you have some form of rattlesnake in your leadership model?

Leaders influence people and get them to realize their maximum potential. But, to do that, leaders must be able to recognize and understand themselves. Otherwise, as I did with my rattlesnake, we will not be able to comprehend the appropriate use of the “Tools of Authority”. Remember, with authority comes responsibility; the responsibility of honesty, trustworthiness and integrity. It’s not about being a BOSS!

Understanding the two types of authority

Yes, even though I teach the concepts of servant leadership, authority is still a part of leadership that involves your position in the hierarchy of the organization. Authority that is assumed based on your title is known as formal authority. This type of authority can help you get things done but it doesn’t mean you should strike like the rattlesnake. Utilizing formal authority alone is the old autocratic, lone wolf style of leadership that just isn’t acceptable to today’s employees. Formal authority, used inappropriately as the only means of management, may get short term results but it can do long term damage.

Trust and Respect

Informal authority, authority that is earned out of respect, is the authority granted to you by the employees. It is the authority you have as viewed in the minds and hearts of your employees. It is based on your ability to trust and respect your employees. It means that you recognize that they are your most valuable asset. As a result you earn their trust and their respect for you as a leader.

Reflect on and examine your personal leadership model

Just as I had that “Aha” moment when I got bit by my own rattlesnake (a softer way of saying “I Got Fired”), each of us has to really take the time to examine just what kind of impression we are leaving behind as a leader. What do our footprints as leaders say about us? What will our leadership legacy be?
What are your personal plans as a leader for 2009 and beyond? What are you doing to improve the impact you have on people? Who is responsible for your personal growth and success?

Self Analysis ---- look for your rattlesnakes

To be an effective leader, regular self analysis and reflection is absolutely critical to your personal growth. Start by asking yourself the following questions.

• What do you want people to say about your impact as a leader?
• What do you want people to say about you as a business person?
• What do you want people to say about you as an individual?

• What do you want your leadership legacy to be?

• What wisdom and intellectual knowledge will you implant in your employees?

• Are you a mentor?

No, we can’t be absolutely positive about what people are going to say about us. But, if you have some form of a rattlesnake buried in your leadership model, kill it now. Even if you don’t have a rattlesnake, take the time really look at yourself in the mirror. To learn from your mistakes you have to first admit that you’ve made some. I sure did.

www.ceostrategist.com – Sign up to receive “The Howl” a free monthly newsletter that addresses real world industry issues. – Straight talk about today’s issues. Rick Johnson, expert speaker, wholesale distribution’s “Leadership Strategist”, founder of CEO Strategist, LLC a firm that helps clients create and maintain competitive advantage. Need a speaker for your next event, E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com.