Ender's Game

I re-read a favorite sci-fi classic recently called Ender's Game. It's about a genetically engineered little boy born in the far distant future who is chosen at an early age to be trained for military command. If I were going to teach a class on leadership I'd use this book, along with the movie Twelve O'Clock High, as tools to explore the many different styles of leadership. Ender's Game is the first in a four-part series of books about the life of the boy we meet in that first book. It's a great read and a great story - even if you don't care for sci-fi. In fact, it shows up on many lists of the greatest books of all time on Amazon. Give it a look. And if you haven't seen Twelve O'Clock High you've missed a truly great movie.

It's Not Just Words That Speak

Here's another Q&A response I posted on LinkedIn regarding non-verbal communication skills and how they can be best used in your professional life.

I'd like to add two thoughts to the excellent previous responses. First - just as your voice is your instrument for verbal communication, your body is your instrument for non-verbal communication. You want those two instruments to play in harmony - on the same sheet of music. If they don't harmonize, your audience will have the same reaction you would if you were listening to a duet and one musician began playing a very different tune that the other - or even the exact same song in a different key. Both musicians may be playing masterfully but the result is still confusing, discordant or even annoying. In short, your body and your mouth are an inseparable communication duet and they must be on the same sheet of music every time you communicate verbally - every time. Yes, even on the phone, you can "hear" a smile. Second - ALL the ways you communicate are a big part of your personal brand. And strong brands do not develop by accident or luck. Decide exactly what you want people to think when they say your name. Then communicate accordingly. Shakespeare figured it out back in 1599 when he wrote, "All the world's a stage..." And, yes, I agree that this communication stuff is far, far easier said than done (no pun intended).

Leadership CAPs

A friend of mine recently asked if I'd been blogging lately - which I haven't - so I thought I might add a few new items. The following was my answer to a question regarding leadership posed via the online professional networking site called LinkedIn.

Pilots have checklists. Some checklists are routine. Some are needed only for emergencies. But there are a few checklists that are so critical that they must be committed to memory. Pilots call these checklists Critical Action Procedures (CAPs) or "Redbox Items" because they are surrounded by a red outline in the aircraft operating manual. CAPs (AKA Redbox Items) are the steps that must be taken, perfectly in order and without delay, when the safety of an aircraft is in jeopardy. When pilots undergo the periodic simulator evaluation required to be rated to operate a particular aircraft, the evaluator always tests the redbox items – verbally and within simulator emergency sequences. How seriously do pilots take these CAPs? Air Force F-16 pilots are required to write out their CAPs – in ink, perfectly – at least once a month or they are grounded pending additional training. When the experience level of a squadron is relatively low, Commanders routinely require completion of a written CAPs test every week. Failure to speak or perform the CAPs perfectly in a simulator evaluation results in a permanent "failed" entry in the pilots record. As the Commander of a fighter outfit, I gave my pilots and other officers another set of CAPs – Leadership CAPs - and tested them often, measured their performance, and figured that performance heavily into my promotion decisions. My Leadership CAPs were adapted from an idea on loan from the book “The Leadership Challenge.” There are dozens of qualities that can be valuable to a leader. But extensive research has clearly identified four qualities – worldwide, across cultures and generations – which every leader MUST have if others are to willingly follow that leader. Those four qualities became my Leadership CAPs. 1. Honest 2. Competent 3. Inspiring 4. Forward Looking. Kouzes and Posner (the authors of “The Leadership Challenge) elaborate on those four qualities. Their findings are profound. Their research matched perfectly with my experience both in the military and in the civilian business world.