What Can We Learn About Leadership and Relationships?

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Posted on by Beth Pelkofsky

PebblesI’m a colleague of Nan’s. She is now writing Part 3 of her new book, Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture that Will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation; so I offered to write a blog post.

I subscribe to a few online daily quotation services. I read them most mornings before beginning my day. These words often provide inspiration or a new way of thinking. Here is one that arrived in my inbox yesterday by American businessman and author Max De Pree, “Leadership is more tribal than scientific, more a weaving of relationships than an amassing of information.”

Unfortunately, in many workplaces today it is the opposite, leaders believe hoarding information is power and with that power brings authority and followership. Really? Have they looked recently at successful workplaces today?

So, what does it mean to be tribal? According to speaker and author of Tribes, Seth Godin, “A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader and connected to an idea.” OK, makes sense.

Now, what about the “weaving of relationships?” How do titleless leaders build good working relationships? Here are a few ways to spark your thinking?

  •  Operate with Trust – Trust begins with self-trust, pay attention to yourself and to your intentions, and give trust first. What does your trust barometer say?
  • Effectively Communicate – Share information clearly, continuously, timely and Continue reading →

For Titleless Leaders – Things That Got My Attention

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Posted on by Nan Russell

Photo - flower closeupEclectic items caught my eye recently in-between writing chapters for my new book, Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture That will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation (Nov 2013; Career Press), that I wanted to share with titleless leaders. Each gave me pause in a different way:

  • Titleless leaders do great work. But, what makes us feel good about our work? That’s the question asked and answered in this TEDTalk by Professor Dan Ariely.
  • Titleless leaders understand what others see on the outside happens on the inside first.  Yet, how we see ourselves and how others see us is not always congruent. This Dove video offers some perspective on how hard it can be to see us as others do:
  • Titleless leaders know what they’re for. They work toward what they want to bring about. No matter your position on Continue reading →

Being Kind

Posted on by Beth Pelkofsky

Photo - stictman2I am a colleague of Nan’s. She is writing Part 2 of her new book, Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture that Will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation; so I offered to write a blog post.

As I went about my normal routine this past week, I heard a couple of disturbing workplace stories. So much so, that I found myself ranting to friends and families. What has happen to basic kindness and human compassion in today’s workplaces? I’m sure at least a story or two come to mind.

It takes me back to a frequent conversation with my mom when I was a teenager. “Young lady it’s not what you are saying, it is how you are saying it, that is mean spirited.” And, my typical response was “Whatever.” This is an important learning that has served me well. Although, it did take a while for me to get it.

Why It Matters
As a titleless leader you will need to focus not just on what your message is but how you say it and how you act. Here’s why -

  • You create a lasting impression. Does your impression look like a magnificent tapestry or a lackluster textile? Which is more valued?
  • You get what you give. Are you kind with colleagues? Are you honest and act with integrity? This isn’t a cause and effect relationship but Continue reading →

Playing on the Big Team

Posted on by Beth Pelkofsky

Nan is busy writing her new book, Trust, Inc. – How to Create a Business Culture That Will Ignite Passion, Engagement. and Innovation which comes out in Fall 2013. So, I’m posting a blog for her this week.

It’s that time of year, March Madness is in full swing. When I was young I wasn’t much of an athlete – poor eye hand coordination, horrible balance and slow running kept me out of sports. But I could be found almost every weekend cheering my friends from the bleachers. Later, when I had kids they were involved in sports, a couple in every season. I learned there was so much more happening then just “playing the sport and winning”. Leadership for one. That’s why I’m always on the look out for sport stories when something greater besides the game happens.

If you haven’t heard about Basketball Coach Morales, a high schoolleather basketball isolated on a white background basketball manager named Mitchell, and Jonathon, an opposing basketball player from a rival team in El Paso, Texas – check it out.

Jonathon, a player on his high school basketball team with – no title, no direction from his coach, no consulting with his team – makes a choice. He doesn’t wait, he takes Continue reading →

Your Answer Makes A Difference

Posted on by Beth Pelkofsky

I’m becoming a bit of a regular guest posting on Nan’s Titleless Leadership blog. This week I spent many hours driving in the car. I listened to personal CDs, radio talk shows and of course music.

View of Earth From SpaceYou know how sometimes you hear a song and it plays over and over in your mind and then you hear yourself, singing it out aloud. That is what happened to me this week. Here’s the song that seized my thoughts by Five For Fighting … What kind of world do you want? A pretty daunting question.

How would you answer these questions?

  • What kind of world do you want?
  • What kind of workplace will you create?
  • What kind of leader will you be?

Questions worth considering for a few moments from time to time. Curious but not sure how Continue reading →

Work-Anywhere and the Trust Issue

Posted on by Nan Russell

Column21 - teaser - working from homeOperating with trust is the foundation of being a titleless leader. So the controversy erupting this week over the decision by Yahoo’s CEO requiring everyone to work in the office raised, I think, big questions about trust.

When your organization or boss shifts to a more controlling style does that indicate a shift in trust? Do you need to be physically around those you work with be able to trust them or have them trust you? In this age of technology are work-anywhere approaches being challenged by the trust deficit that plagues many workplaces?

These questions and more are discussed in my recent PsychologyToday.com article, “In the New Workplace: Trust Begets Trust.” I’d love to hear your thoughts on Yahoo’s decision and/or the topic of trust at work in general

Coaching-Tweets for Titleless Leaders

Posted on by Nan Russell

I like twitter. I find it a fun and interesting way to offer and receive info-tidbits, connect with and learn from others, and put a virtual toe into a river of trending happenings or information.Photo - communication

If you want to be a titleless leader, consider these a week of coaching-tweet reminders from me to you:

1. Ask yourself – how can I be of service? How can I best support the work and efforts here?

2. Your words matter. Use them carefully. Don’t forget, please, thank you, and good morning.

3. Paint a word picture of what you want achieved. Help people “see it” – then they can do it.

4. Don’t “hire” hands or heads Continue reading →

Get to It

Posted on by Beth Pelkofsky

As a colleague of Nan’s I periodically post here when things grab my attention about titleless leaders, that’s what happened this week.

My daughter has been in San Jose, Costa Rica for the past four weeks earning credits towards her degree in Sociology. She sent a message to me on Viber (for those of you, like me who don’t know what is, it’s a cool app that lets you get messages and talk for free). Here’s the message, “You need to check this out; I was inspired.”

If you haven’t seen it yet, it is circulating around the internet, as of this writing it has almost 8 million views - A Pep Talk from Kid PresidentPicture - kid3

The video begins with, “The world needs YOU … We are on the same team, right?” That’s an excellent question.

Here are a few scenarios to spark your thinking Continue reading →

A Brief Pause for Inspiration

Posted on by Beth Pelkofsky

Photo - mklAs a colleague of Nan’s I sometimes post about titleless leaders.

This week, I was acutely aware of a great titlesless leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. So, in his honor I thought I’d share a few of Martin Luther King’s inspiring quotes with you. I hope you enjoy them.

  • “Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr; A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Questions build self-awareness

Posted on by Nan Russell

One of the reasons titleless leaders get results where others don’t is because they’re self-aware. They cultivate an inner skill of standing back and considering how their thoughts, words, and actions impact others, and themselves.

Man Using LaptopWant to increase your skill of self-awareness? Try asking yourself questions like these:

  1. Ben Franklin’s evening question, “What good have I done today?”
  2. Before telling a workplace tale, consider if your intention is positive or negative by asking, “Why am I telling this story, anyway?”
  3. When asked to serve on a committee or attend a meeting consider, “How can I contribute here? What skills do I bring? How can I help?”
  4. Before getting angry, frustrated, or escalating a situation ask “In the scheme of things, will this matter? In a week, six months, a year?” Continue reading →