“Words Matter.” Those words were scrawled across the commentary section my local paper, The Richmond Times-Dispatch. This article was about the tendency of government entities to use confusing language and the danger this tendency carries. While I appreciated the article, the headline got me thinking about other language-related problems. Language is particularly important in the field of executive leadership. In my coaching practice, many of the biggest challenges my clients face stem from imprecise language, yet most of us rarely think about the words we use.
“It’s not supposed to be fun. That’s why they call it work.” That was my father’s attempt at humor whenever I complained about chores around the house. I know he was only kidding, but for many people, this is how they truly feel. It’s work, so it is supposed to be hard and unpleasant. The idea that work could be fun is almost counter-cultural. Several years ago, in spite of what my father said, I came to the realization that work not only can be fun, it should be. That doesn’t mean that we will always love every aspect of our work, but I believe we are doing ourselves a real disservice if we don’t strive to find employment that is fulfilling and enjoyable. This new way of looking at work was a primary driver behind my decision to leave the relative security of my corporate life for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship.
In my last post I wrote about the importance of knowing when to break the rules and the leadership it takes to help others do so. Today, I want to focus on how our actions (or inaction) can lead others to behave inappropriately. Without knowing or intending to, our actions may lead people astray. Our behaviors may give people the impression that the rules do not apply to them. Our actions may even make them believe that they have our tacit approval to break rules or even break laws. Our failure to react to one misdeed may give them the impression that we will ignore others. As leaders, we must recognize that our behaviors and choices send messages for others to interpret, and if we are not careful, they may lead to disaster or tragedy.
Some rules are made to be broken. It’s true, but the real challenge is figuring out which ones they are and what it means to break them. Some are easy. Last week, an extraordinary rule breaker celebrated his 94 birthday. Nelson Mandela’s willingness to defy his government to oppose Apartheid changed a nation and made him an international symbol for transformation and reconciliation. Mandela’s life has taught us that breaking rules and paying the price for doing so can raise awareness to issues that must be addressed. Whether you are trying to change the world or just change your family, deciding to break rules takes selflessness, courage, and wisdom. Most of all it takes a willingness to lead.
As a leadership coach, speaker and writer, I am always looking for examples of leadership to share, and I often find them in the places you would expect – business, politics, current events, sports. But I recently had the pleasure of finding leadership in an unusual spot, my son’s Rock Star Camp. Local songwriter and musician Dean Fields supplements his income with guitar lessons. During the summers, he takes these lessons a step further in the form of Rock Star Camps. Last week, my son finished one of these camps, and I was struck by the extraordinary leadership it takes for Dean to make these happen.Here is how it works: