Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

The Principal Coaching Clinic #15

What is your formula for success?

I would bet that every leader has his or her own personal success formula.  In most cases we use the alphabet to help us illustrate our points. 

The United States Army has its three Cs.  Namely:  competence, commitment and character. 

I have also seen these three Cs used by different people to mean different things. Such as: confidence, competency and charisma.

Edmund Hajim, a noted financier, who I recently heard at a commencement exercise spoke of his four Ps.  These were:  passion, principles, partners and plans.

For me, I have Ed’s Four Es for Excellence.  Namely: expectations, enthusiasm, empowerment and environment.   I have written about this before on these pages.  You must bring to the table daily high expectations, a high level of enthusiasm, the ability to empower people and you must ensure an environment conducive to excellence. It sounds so simple.  Yet you will quickly find out that the pursuit of excellence is extremely difficult.  Excellence is evasive.

When I speak on this subject, I consistently emphasize that success is all about your effort and attitude.  Work hard with a good attitude and you are on your way.

But after many years of thought on this subject, it may be as simple as “kissing the right butt!”  Boy, doesn’t that sound awful.  Yes, it might sound abhorrent but yet it might be true.  Your “butt-kissing” ability might be what really paves your way to success.

Several months ago, I was engaged in a conversation with an experienced professional who was having difficulty on the job.  After listening intently, I told her to go back to the job and “kiss every butt” possible.  Paste a smile on your face and patronize everyone. A week or two ago she and I were once again engaged in some professional dialog and she told me I gave her the best advice possible.  Since her global patronization began, her job happiness improved.  I am convinced this is not an isolated case.  It works.

But how do you do this and still keep your identity?  How can you do this and still make a contribution?  How can you do this and still look at yourself in a mirror?  All good valid questions.   This too is not easy.  I would say this can be done by picking and honing your sense of timing.  Know when to present your ideas or disagree. One time I had a boss where I could see his body language change.  He could go from being open and receptive to being closed and antagonistic in a minute.  When I saw this, I tucked in and I waited for a better time to share my thoughts.  Those that did not have my sense of timing would get blasted.  It was painful to watch.  Fortunately for me, being able to read the nonverbal cues from people is part of my skillset.

Do a study of your own body language.  What vibes are you sending out?  Work hard to change your negative signals.  Try smiling.  Watch your tones.  Watch your degree of familiarity.  Know your environment.  Is this a first name place or is this a Mr. or Mrs. or Dr. place?  You have to be able to skillfully move between these environments.

Perhaps it all goes right back to attitude.  Be pleasant.  Be agreeable. Be supportive.  Be respectful. Be energetic. Show initiative.  And of course, it doesn’t hurt to “kiss the right butt!”