Comments on: Three Leadership Priniciples That Have Guided My Career

By: Dan Rockwell

Dan Rockwell — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:44:42 +0000

Thanks for your observations… Right on! And thanks for stopping by my blog to say hi. I look forward to following your work.

Dan

By: shrinkingthecamel

shrinkingthecamel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:22:54 +0000

Dan – If you read the link to the Harvard Business article on Authentic Leadership, it’s whole premise is that authenticity comes with self-reflection, gaining feedback from others, and an honest assessment of one’s own strenghts and weaknesses. This kind of humble character-building basically rules out self-centered indulgence. An authentic leader could not get away with that, by the very nature of the definition. So I obviously did not mean that being real means indulging in one’s every emotional whim. It is much more about character-building and self-awareness to avoid that type of behavior. As you said, it is paradoxically our frailities that sometimes take us farther as a leader!

By: donkimrey

donkimrey — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:40:56 +0000

Good job, Brad, as usual. I think another quality of a leader is the ability to recognize ability and potential. I don’t claim to be a leader, but I sure recognized early on that you embody both. Another, I would think, is following up on that and helping mentor and develop future leaders. I still don’t even know what you really do, but I’ll bet you do a darn good job of it and that your leadership is by solid, patient, consistent example. ~donkimrey

By: simplifylearning

simplifylearning — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:46:53 +0000

i learn from you, thank you.

blessings for the working week ahead.

claire

By: shrinkingthecamel

shrinkingthecamel — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:04:23 +0000

I agree with you all about the “Be Real” as one of the most critical aspects for all of us, as Glynn says, in interacting with each other as leaders, friends, peers, colleagues, whatever. Nancy and David – it’s true that most people can see right through phony and puffed-up arrogant behavior. Whenever I have a bad feeling about someone (even if they are very important people), I start by asking “is it me? Or was that person acting like a real arrogant jerk?” Usually everyone else sees the same thing.

By: shrinkingthecamel

shrinkingthecamel — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:59:54 +0000

Yes, there’s something about being with someone you can tell is not trying to impress you or put on an act… It makes them more appealing and genuine. Trying to impress or over-do the name-dropping gives off the opposite effect.

By: shrinkingthecamel

shrinkingthecamel — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:57:53 +0000

What an honor, for my blog to be the first thing you stumbled upon before getting of bed. And you were so coherent, even! Thanks for the feedback.

By: rupzip

rupzip — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:19:24 +0000

I guess I am most drawn to the “Be real” aspect.

There are so many leaders who are phonies…and we see through them. The real ones are tough, but you respect them.

David
http://www.redletterbelievers.com

By: nancy

nancy — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:58:14 +0000

i suspect that those who are not leaders can gain the most from knowing what a good leader is.

By: Glynn

Glynn — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:00:05 +0000

I think I’ve seen too much “I have the title therefore I am a leader” type leadership over the years. This makes so much more sense, and has at least one additional advantage: anyone, at any level, can practice it.