Leaders with Superpowers

Michael Hyatt reminds us that leaders have the power to energize or deflate their teams. In his post 5 Ways to Energize Your Team, he tells the story of a great team deflated by the thoughtless actions of a leader. He also offers these 5 points:

1. Assume others are smart and working hard.
2. Listen intently and ask thoughtful questions.
3. Acknowledge the sacrifices others have made on your behalf.
4. Express gratitude for their effort and their results.
5. Remind them why their work is so important and the difference they are making.

You do have super powers. How are you going to use them?

5 Ways to Energize Your Team

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Like Lincoln or McClellan?

Michael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing wrote about Lincoln’s wins and losses as a leader following his watching Steven Spielburg’s Lincoln and reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln wrote about Lincoln’s biggest mistake when picking leaders, George McClellan. While McClellan was beloved by his troops, Hyatt notes 5 flaws of the general:

1. Hesitating to take definitive action
2. Complaining about a lack of resources
3. Refusing to take responsibility
4. Abusing the privileges of leadership
5. Engaging in acts of insubordination

Yes, even leaders have to submit to authority, to be accountable to somebody at some time.

As Hyatt asks at the end of his post, “Do you have any of these flaws in your own leadership? What can you do to correct them now-while you still have time?” The good news is that you can deal with these problems and avoid your own Civil War failure.

You can go to his post and leave comments, or you can leave them here.