The following are 5 Leadership Lessons I Gleaned Last Week from Vertigo, Taylor Swift, Bryce Harper, Denzel Washington and Ryan Leak:
It’s Amazing How Easy It Is To Take A Leader Out
Saturday morning I woke and noticed the entire ceiling spinning as I laid in bed. I would later discover I contracted the worst case of Vertigo I had ever had. It became so bad I could not walk the the five paces from my bed to the bathroom toilet without passing out or becoming violently ill. An ambulance ultimately had to take me to the hospital for treatment.
As I type these words I realize all it takes to take a leader out are some crystals incorrectly shifting in their eardrum. You cannot walk, think coherently, eat, dress, or carry on a sensible conversation. I was reminded how important it is to then build a healthy culture, great team, and sustainable organization that can function without you?
If the organization depends solely on you, a bad case of Vertigo could be all that is needed to take down your entire operation.
The Power of Curiosity from Taylor Swift
It appears Taylor Swift seems to be printing money right now. In this article, we learn one of the reasons why.
Even though she was offered $100 million to sponsor the FTX crypto exchange, Swift declined the opportunity because of a simple question she asked. According to attorney Adam Moskowitz, Swift asked, “Can you tell me that these are not unregistered securities?”
Swift’s curiosity, inquisitiveness, and ability to ask insightful questions prevented her from being dragged into these high-profile legal proceedings.
The question leaders must ask is do we have the same level of curiosity, inquisitiveness, and ability to ask good questions that will position us for success as well?
Why Big-Time Players Make Big-Time Plays In Big-Time Games
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper is one of the greatest post-season players in MLB history. His post-season OPS is 5th all-time following names like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. In the last two postseasons, Harper lead all players in OPS (1.210), home runs (nine), slugging (.770), extra-base hits (16). Check out his exploits in Game 3 of last week’s series against the Atlanta Braves.
In this article from The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long said, “It just says how great he is. Really, in essence, when we’re talking about pressure situations, he doesn’t feel it. He doesn’t. He thrives. He’s not feeling pressure. He’s actually gaining steam. In those situations, it’s almost like he’s more relaxed — and better than he would be if it was any other situation.”
The reason big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games is their ability to execute under pressure. Pressure seems to bring a sense of calm and purpose to their responsibilities. Players like Harper look forward to pressure because it is a sign they are doing something important. This allows them to intensify their focus and perform at a higher level.
Can the same be said about you?
The Role Of Efficiency In Leadership
In the Equalizer movie franchise, Denzel Washington plays a retired assassin turned vigilante named Robert McCall. McCall is a person with OCD. He likes his table set specifically to his specifications, his napkins folded in just the right way, and he fights with detailed precision within specific timeframes. There is no wasted motion.
In the opening scene of Equalizer 3 shown below, McCall tells a mafia criminal, “We all end up where we’re supposed to be. You’re man on my left has his finger on the trigger but he’s a foot too close which renders your man on my right dead. He just doesn’t know it yet. I feel sorry for his family. Nine seconds, which is what you have to decide your fate.”
McCall then sets the timer on his watch and at the nine-second mark proceeds to immediately and efficiently dispose of five enemy combatants. A clip of this movie’s opening scene is shown below. Beware – it is rated R for graphic violence.
Efficiency is a big deal in leadership and life. Online payments need to be made in the fewest clicks possible. Written correspondence, like this one, need to communicate important ideas in as few words as possible. Leaders need to make timely decisions or risk losing the trust and confidence of others.
No wasted motion. Calendars are guarded for maximum productivity. Conversations are strategic. Great leaders are efficient leaders.
6 Lessons On Failure
On October 6th, I had the pleasure of attending John Maxwell’s Live2Lead Conference. What an event it was!!! My favorite speaker was Ryan Leak who discussed lessons on failure from his book Chasing Failure: How Falling Short Sets You Up For Success. Make sure you get a copy by clicking HERE. It is a great read! #CommissionsEarned
The following are his 6 Lessons on Failure:
1. There’s no version of leadership which isn’t risky. Risk failure or risk irrlevance.
2. All failures aren’t created equal.
3. Failure loses punch in community.
4. Failure loses its grip when you keep moving forward.
5. You are only failing when you fail to learn.
6. Chasing failure took me farther than chasing success ever did.
What other great leadership lessons did you learn last week?
My latest eBook is available for download. The Top 65 Leadership Quotes Of 2022 Part 1 is a resource every leader should have. Great quotes bring clarity and put into words who we intuitively feel as leaders. They give us wisdom and insights which advance the mission and vision of our organizations. This eBook includes thoughts and insights from leaders like Warren Buffett, Nick Saban, James Clear, Dawn Staley, Jurgen Klopp, Jerry Seinfeld, and even Ted Lasso. This resource will take you about 10 minutes to read but a lifetime to apply. You will want to stop and ponder the implications of each quote. Click HERE or on the image provided for immediate download!