leadership checklist - sources of insight

7/31/2019 Leadership Checklist - Sources of Insight

1/9

"Stand on the Shoulders of Giants." Insight and Action for Work and Life

HomeAboutArchivesMy Books

ResourcesContact

Search

Home Headline, Leadership

Leadership ChecklistLeadership ChecklistLeadership ChecklistLeadership Checklist

23 May 2011 6 Comments

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,do more and become more, you are a leader. JohnQuincy Adams

Im creating a leadership checklist that should act like ahub and spoke of effective leadership practices.

The challenge is distilling effective leadership practices intoone-liner reminders that are easy to evaluate the behavior,where possible.

I used a specific user story format (As a leader, I )to both make each line item a standalone story, but also to

test these as personal unit tests for leadership. By making each one more precise, insightful, andactionable, while pinning to effective practices, this should serve as a simple and scannable cheat sheet ofproven practices for leadership. If done well, it should reflect years of insight and lessons at a glance.

Its a work in progress. Here is is so far:

Top 10Top 10Top 10Top 10

1. I listen to people until they feel heard (empathic listening.)2. I balance focusing on tasks with focusing on people.3. I vary my leadership style in terms of motivating and directing based on the needs and abilities of

who Im dealing with.4. I vary my leadership style between people-focused and task-focused based on the situation Im in.

5. I continuously find ways to simplify.6. I focus on service to others.7. I allocate time for whats important.8. I do what I say I will do.9. I create a compelling vision that inspires people to rally around.

10. I take feedback and adapt in response.

CoreCoreCoreCore

I am a self-starter and I take the initiative.I am approachable and encourage people to talk to me.I ask questions that help move the ball forward.I build the confidence of others.I clarify whether I want to focus more on thought-leadership, people leadership, or both.I focus on leading myself first before I take on leading others (self-leadership, team leadership,organizational leadership, etc.)I influence others through skills and connection, not power and position.I focus on we not me.I over-communicate both upwards and downwards.

2011/05/25 Leadership Checklist - Sources of In

sourcesofinsight.com//leadership 1/9


2/9


3/9


4/9


5/9

I just wanted to share a little story with you.In the book What to do when you become the boss, Bob Sheldon shares a cool definition of a leader.

He was going to explain leadership to a class of children so, as you do with kids, he asked What isa leader?

- First a boy raised his hand and said A leader goes first.- Then a girl piped up A leader has followers

Is there a better definition?

# 23 May 2011 at 9:15 am

EvanEvanEvanEvansaid:

Hi JD, I think this is a superb list.

A couple of quibbles. The first one is probably really about the ordering. It is that a good leaders firstjob is to listen. Without this being a self starter and taking initiative is just impulsive and leads towasted time, money and effort. This is really just about the impression that was created for me by

having the first point as the first point.

My other quibble is about the dont take it personally expression. Leaders do take feedback andadapt in response. And this can involve changing their ways of relating and personal style. So I findthat expression confusing though I agree with what I think it is intended to convey (get your egoout of it).

# 23 May 2011 at 7:25 pm

KateKateKateKatesaid:

Hi J.D.,

Very comprehensive list!I particularly like the Learning, Growth, and Self-Awareness section I really believe if we cannotmanage ourselves and control our internal environment, leading others is near on impossible.I suppose that boils down to lead by example!

# 24 May 2011 at 3:02 am

JD (author)JD (author)JD (author)JD (author)said:

@ Daniel I like the story

@ Evan Very good points and I agree. I added to the list and reshaped the items.

@ Kate I find its a lot easier to follow a leader that sets an example. Its a trust a confidencething. I also like the leaders that make others great through mentoring, seeing potential, andunleashing it.

# 24 May 2011 at 9:02 am

Stephen DownesStephen DownesStephen DownesStephen Downessaid:

I would drop the As a leader part of the sentences. It adds nothing, and obscures the value thatis actually there (ironically, like many leaders).




6/9

# 24 May 2011 at 4:10 pm

JD (author)JD (author)JD (author)JD (author)said:

@ Stephen I got mixed opinions when I tested, some people liked it, some people didnt. I think forthe ones that liked it, it was because as they read it (silently to themselves), it helped them putthemselves into the leadership role, in a story sort of way.

For now, I removed As a leader.

# 24 May 2011 at 6:11 pm

Leave your response!Leave your response!Leave your response!Leave your response!

Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments viaRSS.

Be nice. Keep it clean. Stay on topic. No spam.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website (optional)

You can use these tags:

This is a Gravatar-enabled weblog. To get your own globally-recognized-avatar, please register atGravatar.

Submit Comment

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

Welcome to Sources of Insight!Welcome to Sources of Insight!Welcome to Sources of Insight!Welcome to Sources of Insight!

Skills for mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun. Learn more ...

Subscribe by RSS

Subscribe by Email




7/9

Read my book for FREERead my book for FREERead my book for FREERead my book for FREE ! Think, feel, and be YOUR best in any situation. GettingResults the Agile Wayis a personal results systempersonal results systempersonal results systempersonal results system for work and life.

Popular PostsPopular PostsPopular PostsPopular Posts

30 Days of Getting Results101 Questions that Empower YouHow To Think Like Bill GatesLessons Learned from Bruce LeeLessons Learned from Seth GodinTrends for 2011What 16 Movies Teach Us About Life and LeadershipYou 2.0

CategoriesCategoriesCategoriesCategories

CareerEffectivenessEmotional-IntelligenceGetting-Results

HappinessIntellectual-HorsepowerInterpersonal-SkillsLeadershipLifeMotivationPersonal-Development

ProductivityStrengthsTime-Management

View All Categories >>

Sources of Insight

Amazon Shop

How to Run Successful

Projects III

Fergus O'Connel l

Best $30.00

Privacy Information

ResourcesResourcesResourcesResources

BlogsBook RecommendationsFeatured GuestsFree E-BooksHow Tos




8/9

Lessons LearnedListsQuotesRecommendationsTraining

Recent PostsRecent PostsRecent PostsRecent Posts

Leadership Checklist

Action Signals Use Negative Emotions as a Call to ActionGreat Expectations of Success

Video of Getting ResultsVideo of Getting ResultsVideo of Getting ResultsVideo of Getting Results

Recent CommentsRecent CommentsRecent CommentsRecent Comments

Cooden Band on Happiness BlogsJD on Leadership ChecklistStephen Downes on Leadership ChecklistJD on Leadership Checklistdigambar on Clarify Meaningful Results

Friends of the CommunityFriends of the CommunityFriends of the CommunityFriends of the Community

"Stand on the shou lders of giants!""Stand on the shoulders of g iants!""Stand on the shou lders of giants!""Stand on the shoulders of g iants!"

Photo byEsparta




9/9

Leverage the wisdom of the ages and modern day sages. Draw from books, people, and quotes to be yourbest in any situation.Sitemap Powered by WordPress | Log in | Entries (RSS) | Comments (RSS) | Arthemia theme by MichaelJubel


sourcesofinsight com//leadership 9/9

leadership checklist - sources of insight

Documents