The Leader as a Mensch: Become the Kind of Person Others Want to Follow by Michael A Freeman MD CEO & Martinuzzi Bruna

Author:Michael A Freeman, MD, CEO & Martinuzzi, Bruna [Michael A Freeman, MD, CEO]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Six Seconds
Published: 2009-01-29T16:00:00+00:00

Leaves of Mastery

Grace is a sense of fitness and propriety. It is also a disposition to be generous and helpful. Think about your current relationships, whether direct reports, colleagues or superiors. Are you showing up with executive presence in all of them? Which relationships might need a tune-up or re-adjustment on your part? Is there someone you need to forgive for real or imaginary slights?

Every morning, spend a few minutes to visualize how you would like your day to evolve. In addition to the accomplishment of your ‘to-do’ list, think about how you can incorporate an attitude of goodwill in all your dealings with everyone. In finance terms, goodwill is defined as an intangible asset representing the value of the company, such as its client base, its reputation and potential future earnings. It’s the ‘good name’ of the business. Resolve to manage yourself with the same regard for your good name.

Create a relationship action plan. Make a chart of your key relationships at home and at work. How can you improve each relationship in the next six months?

When it comes to relationships, don’t keep score. For more tips on becoming a master connector, consider reading Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi. We all know about the dreaded cold call. Consider the author’s four tips for converting them to warm calls–conveying credibility, stating your value proposition, imparting urgency and convenience, and being prepared to offer a compromise.

The relationship is the conversation. Know the difference between a conversation and a discussion. A discussion involves issues of right vs. wrong, it is an exchange of facts, opinions, and data. A conversation is a personal exploration of another person for the sole purpose of learning about them. To that end, read the insightful article written by Rabbi Noah Weinberg,“The 48 Ways to Wisdom." [27]

Many of us inadvertently become ‘conversation stealers’, interjecting our own story to change the focus of the conversation to ourselves or to something we know. Should this be one of your habits, practice honoring the person’s story before moving on to yours. Know when to speak and when to listen. [28]

Make a point of remembering people’s names and birthdays. It might seem like a small thing but it is a big thing in honoring others.

Represent your unit or your company like an ambassador represents his or her country, conscious that everything he or she does and says casts a wide reflection. Practice dealing tactfully with others by making a decision to be diplomatic rather than aggressive. It is impossible to have true executive presence with an aggressive stance. This does not mean giving in, it means holding one’s position with grace and regard for the other person. When criticizing others, it means replacing phrases such as “you need to” and “you must not…” with “I encourage you to…” or “you might consider how…”. In addition, it involves replacing “don’t…” and “you can’t” with “it didn’t work out well…” or “it seemed to me…”.

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