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Tag Archives: leadership attributes

02 Apr

Scaling Through Leadership: Timeless Insights from General George Marshall

wdmoran executive leadership training, Leadership 0 0

Six key lessons that executives can use to help them scale their firm successfully.

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09 Jan

Attribute 4: Self-Efficacy – PM Jacinda Ardern’s Confidence to Lead

wdmoran Uncategorized 0 0

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is an obvious choice for inclusion on the COVID-19 version of the ‘If-‘Sixteen Leaders – although it is difficult to decide which attribute she represents best.  Ardern has led with boldness, courage, accountability, composure, and selflessness.  I ultimately chose Self-Efficacy as the attribute she best exemplified after watching more than twenty of her interviews and Facebook Live videos.  In every video and interview I observed, she exuded extraordinary self-confidence.  This is not the arrogance or bluster that has been the hallmark of many failed leaders; rather, she has shown the type of confidence needed to tell her people the hard truths that fighting COVID-19 has required.  Ardern’s self-efficacy seems to be rooted in her belief in her capacity to lead New Zealand to overcome and endure, no matter what this crisis brings.  This is the essence of Self-Efficacy. While other world leaders were dithering and struggling to establish a coherent strategy, Jacinda Ardern was moving aggressively, repeating her COVID leadership mantra – “go hard and go early.” This statement captured the gist of New Zealand’s COVID-19 strategy, an immediate and absolute nationwide lockdown.  Her approach was bold, and many believed it was recklessly so.  During her March 23rd press conference announcing New Zealand’s lockdown, Ardern acknowledged her critics’ concerns, while emphasizing her confidence in her nation’s ability to endure.  She declared, “These are all tools of last resort, at a time when I know New Zealanders will rally — because that is what we do.” She ended that speech with these words, “So, New Zealand: be calm, be kind, stay at home, and break the chain.” Ardern’s words are reminiscent of Winston Churchill’s confidence-inspiring speeches during the early days of the Second World War.  Coincidentally, Churchill is the exemplar of Self-Efficacy from the original ‘If-‘ Sixteen list.  Like Churchill, Ardern recognized that her confidence was meaningless unless she inspired the confidence of those she was leading.  This required her to invest significant time and energy in communicating with New Zealanders and keeping them engaged and confident.   Ardern’s communication approach has worked.  It has demonstrated her confidence and commitment to her COVID plan, and it has bolstered New Zealanders’ confidence.  Her recent reelection as Prime Minister is the most obvious measure of this confidence, but her success was apparent almost immediately.  The reaction to the lockdown was swift and generally positive.  Most New Zealanders quickly accepted the government-imposed restrictions.  During the more than five weeks of the lockdown, fewer than 4,000 people (in a country of 5 million) were cited for violating the lockdown rules.  Compare that to the difficulty the U.S. has had getting people simply to wear masks.  Throughout the pandemic, Ardern and her government have enjoyed strong approval ratings, with Ardern’s rating ranging from 55% to 65% since March.  Before the pandemic, Ardern was struggling with approval ratings closer to 40%.  New Zealanders’ rating of their government’s handling of the pandemic has ranged between 75% and 85%.   Ardern has communicated effectively, and she has kept the people of New Zealand informed and engaged.  While she has used traditional communication channels (e.g., press conferences, interviews, etc.) to get her message out, she has also embraced social media.  Ardern has shared over 150 videos via Facebook, including scores of Facebook Live videos from her home.  These video messages provided updates about the pandemic, but they also helped Ardern stay connected and engaged with her people.  Many have compared these videos to Franklin Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats.” Just as Roosevelt had the confidence to embrace the new media of radio to connect with the American people during the Great Depression, Ardern has used live video to sustain and build the confidence of New Zealanders.  During her typical videos, Ardern used a combination of optimism and realism.  During her March 25th Facebook Live message, she set expectations for the days and weeks ahead.  She encouraged New Zealanders not to be “disheartened by the initial spike” that she knew was likely, and she ended by repeating her encouragement to, “Stay home, break the chain, and you’ll save lives.” These words reminded each New Zealander that this was their personal responsibility.  Ardern has repeatedly demonstrated that the words we use matter when instilling confidence.  On June 8th, the day New Zealand announced no active cases in the country, Ardern continued to send messages that expressed confidence and caution.  She stated, “We are confident we have eliminated the transmission of the virus in New Zealand for now.” She reminded her people that the threat had not been eliminated, but their plan was successful.  Ardern stated, “We will almost certainly see cases again, and that is not a sign that we have failed.  It is a reality of this virus.” She ended by reminding people that “We are prepared.”  Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark described the feeling that Ardern’s leadership has instilled, stating, “They may even think, Well, I don’t quite understand why [the government] did that, but I know she’s got our back. There’s a high level of trust and confidence in her because of that empathy.”  The support and confidence of New Zealanders have been far from universal.  Throughout the pandemic, Ardern’s critics have accused her of overreacting to the pandemic.  Most critics voiced concerns about the economic impact the lockdown would cause.  As predicted, New Zealand did experience a severe economic downturn, facing its worst recession since 1987 due to the pandemic and the lockdown.  In the second quarter of 2020, its economy shrank by 11% compared to the second quarter of 2019.  However, the economic impact was short-lived, with the economy growing by 14% in the 3rd quarter (https://www.ft.com/content/b8c4ab58-99db-4af2-9449-5fd70a9235ce).  New Zealand’s initial downturn was comparable to the United States, whose economy shrank by approximately 9% in the second quarter and grew by 7% in the third quarter.  However, when you compare their death rates, the story becomes more compelling.  According to the WHO COVID-19 dashboard (https://covid19.who.int) for January 4th, 2021, New Zealand’s COVID death rate was 5.18 deaths per million, while the COVID death rate in the U.S. was 1050 deaths per million.  New Zealand still faces daunting challenges to building its economy, but its successes have silenced many of Ardern’s critics. Dr. Albert Bandura was the first psychologist to study and describe the concept of Self-Efficacy.  He described it as “the belief in one’s abilities to organize and execute the courses of action to manage prospective situations.” In my book, If You Will Lead (Agate 2011), I distinguish between Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem.  The critical difference is that the confidence that Self-Efficacy produces is well-grounded.  Jacinda Ardern didn’t just wake up and say, “I believe in myself.  I can do anything I put my mind to.” In fact, she admitted in a recent Guardian article that she often struggles with self-doubt and “imposter syndrome.”  Ardern spoke of channeling “her self-doubt into a positive.”  She also spoke of using the feeling associated with self-doubt to focus her attention and to encourage collaboration.  Despite her self-doubt and “imposter syndrome,” Ardern has demonstrated a self-confidence that is rooted in her past experiences and successes (and those of the leaders around her).  Throughout the crisis, she has drawn on her own experiences and the expertise of others. Like all of the ‘If-‘ Sixteen Leadership attributes, leading with Self-Efficacy goes beyond simply possessing Self-Efficacy.  Leading with Self-Efficacy requires that we instill our own grounded confidence in those we are leading.  Jacinda Ardern has done this throughout the COVID-19 crisis.  She has given assurance to the people she serves, and she has set an example for other world leaders to follow.  Who else is leading with Self-Efficacy?  Whose grounded self-confidence is inspiring others to make hard choices to fight COVID-19?  Remember, we are looking for leaders at all levels, so share examples of local, national, and international leaders who exemplify Self-Efficacy.

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17 Aug

Just Because It’s Fun Doesn’t Mean It’s Not Important

wdmoran Leadership 0 0

“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.

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20 Sep

Willing Leader, Reluctant Hero

wdmoran Leadership 0 0

It is one thing to do what we know is right, but doing so when those in authority are telling us not to (or ordering us not to) can be extraordinarily challenging. Add the element of repeatedly putting his life on the line, and it is easy to understand why Sgt. Dakota Meyer received the Medal of Honor last week. He is truly an exceptional human being, and his action on September 8, 2009 and his behavior since then have proven he is also an impressive leader.

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02 Aug

Leading Ourselves Can Be The Biggest Challenge

wdmoran Leadership 0 0

Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? Not always. I came to this realization in October of 2008. That was when I started a new chapter in my career. On October 2, 2008, I left the safety and security of the corporate world for the uncertainty and anxiety of entrepreneurship. For nearly 25 years, I had been a part of an organization, a member of a team. Now I was the organization. I was the team. That was my plan. I had saved for years, and that had given me the flexibility to make this bold move. Unfortunately, my plan was developed in the fall of 2007, and it did not contemplate the economic crisis that hit rock bottom right as I was walking out the door. I had planned for some degree of economic uncertainty, but I never contemplated a crisis of that magnitude. My savings, my safety net, seemed to have developed holes overnight. My plan was on schedule and falling apart at the same time.

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Testimonials

If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
I've invited Doug to speak several times at our university and will continued to enjoy doing so. Both students and faculty members love Doug's humility, his comfortable and highly interactive manner, and willingness to share both painful and successful experiences. He comes across as wise yet without a trace of arrogance. I think students almost instantly view him as the type of person they'd like to have as a mentor. I’m confident that those who apply the wisdom he shares will be introduced to new and practical ways of improving their leadership.
-Bob Kolodinsky

Ph.D., Director, Gilliam Center for Free Enterprise and Ethical Leadership and Professor, Management Department, College of Business, James Madison University
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
I've invited Doug to speak several times at our university and will continued to enjoy doing so. Both students and faculty members love Doug's humility, his comfortable and highly interactive manner, and willingness to share both painful and successful experiences. He comes across as wise yet without a trace of arrogance. I think students almost instantly view him as the type of person they'd like to have as a mentor. I’m confident that those who apply the wisdom he shares will be introduced to new and practical ways of improving their leadership.
-Bob Kolodinsky

Ph.D., Director, Gilliam Center for Free Enterprise and Ethical Leadership and Professor, Management Department, College of Business, James Madison University
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Bringing years of personal experience in leadership in Fortune 500 companies, Doug's presentation is based on his Book "If You Will Lead." Doug's program was much more than a “motivational” sales seminar. It was an inspirational and energizing session that provided us with the tools and insights to lead more powerfully and sell more effectively.
- Ivan Gomez

President, AAISP – DC
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Doug Moran’s opening keynote address to our annual conference set the tone for the entire event. It was my hope that we would have a speaker who would inspire and encourage our attendees to think and act more boldly about the topic of sustainable mobility, and Doug delivered exactly what we needed. Most importantly, he provided us with concrete leadership advice that we can use to drive positive change. His provocative and challenging words were repeated by many of our other presenters who integrated his leadership messages into their speeches and discussions.
– Sharon Lewinson

P.Eng., President ACT Canada
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Doug Moran looks at the practice of leadership from a unique perspective - through the lens of a literary classic. It’s a fascinating way for today’s managers to think about their own leadership brand.
- Steve Arneson, Ph.D.

President, Arneson Leadership Consulting

(Steve was named one of the country's Top 100 thought leaders on leadership in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and one of the Top 25 leadership coaches in America for 2008, 2009 and 2010 by Leadership Excellence magazine. )
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Although the problems we confront have changed, the fundamentals of leadership remain the same. Recognizing this enduring truth, Doug Moran has created a book that draws leadership lessons from some of history’s greatest figures. If You Will Lead surely will help readers become better leaders.
- George Allen

Former Governor and Senator, Commonwealth of Virginia
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Few people are born leaders. The rest of us need a guide to help us gain both the courage and competency to lead well. Doug Moran’s book provides a perfect blend of a thoughtful leadership framework and anecdotes from some of history’s greatest leaders to help make his points come to life. If You Will Lead is a great companion for any aspiring executive.
-John Scanlon

EVP and CFO, Intersections, Inc.
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
I was particularly impressed with the section of the book about Jim Mulligan and the role of leading with stamina. It is an outstanding representation of one of the toughest men to endure the Hanoi Hilton. His leadership kept us young guys going. This book captures the importance of leadership stamina.
- Cdr. Paul Galanti

(USN ret.), former POW
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
In IF YOU WILL LEAD, Doug Moran provides keen insights on leadership while drawing lessons from some of history’s great leaders. Moran has taken a complex and challenging subject and created lessons and a framework that can help leaders realize and leverage their strengths.
- Sanjiv Yajnik

President, Financial Services, Capital One
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
As I was reading If You Will Lead, I was reminded of Santayana’s famous quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This book offers the opportunity to learn from some of history’s greatest leaders, so we can replicate their success. Moran's masterful framework translates these historical lessons into a concrete and practical guide for today's leaders.
- Larry Klane

CEO, Korea Exchange Bank
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Doug Moran’s humane and insightful study reminds us of some of the timeless qualities great leaders need. And even if leaders sometimes have to “govern in prose”, drawing inspiration from poetry is a fine idea.
- Stefan Stern

formerly management columnist at the FT, now Visiting Professor at the Cass Business School, London, and director of strategy at Edelman in the UK
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Doug Moran did a great job of tying essential leadership attributes to great, recognizable leaders. The attributes chosen are essential traits of good leadership and very well organized.
- /s/ Vice Admiral Ed Clexton, USN (Ret)

former Commanding Officer, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN-69, and recipient of the John Paul Jones 'Inspirational Leadership Award' from the Navy League of the US.
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
This is an engaging primer for anyone committed to becoming a leader at work or in life. Using compelling examples, Doug Moran has provided a valuable series of leadership lessons that are relevant and useful to all of us. This book will make a difference to you and to all who look to you for leadership.
- R. Jack Weber

Professor Emeritus, Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Doug Moran’s book will motivate leaders at all level to strengthen key leadership traits of character, authenticity, integrity and self-efficacy. You will learn tangible leadership techniques and walk along side some of history’s best known figures from Lincoln to Mandela, making this a truly inspirational book.
- Wendy S. Swire

Co-author Anytime Coaching: Unleashing Employee Performance Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins Carey Graduate School of Business
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
I highly add my name of recommendation to the book by Doug Moran entitled If You Will Lead. "One of the great needs in our country and in our world is the need for capable and inspiring leadership. There is, in my judgment, an absence of good leadership as we hear each day of the incessant wrangling among elected officials. We certainly need some new leaders to come forward. This book gives the reader a sense of the qualities of leadership which are so needed today. Leadership is an innate quality. It certainly can be acquired, as long as we have examples which this book gives to emulate." "In my judgment this book is most worthwhile and sorely needed in our world today.
- Walter F. Sullivan

Bishop Emeritus of Richmond
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
This is an engaging primer for anyone committed to becoming a leader at work or in life. Using compelling examples, Doug Moran has provided a valuable series of leadership lessons that are relevant and useful to all of us. This book will make a difference to you and to all who look to you for leadership.
- R. Jack Weber

Professor Emeritus, Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
I was introduced to “IF” at a young age by my mom, and it is a poem that I keep in my mind at all times as I try to do my job to the very best of my ability here at Butler. Many of the positive lessons in the poem have been very applicable for me. It’s a terrific poem to study for those that aspire to be in a position of leadership.
-Brad Steven

Head Coach, Butler University Men’s Basketball Team
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
“If You will Lead” brings real insight into the qualities needed for successful leadership. This book is exceptionally well written and provides a true guideline into all aspects that challenge true leadership. Inspiring balanced and well thought out it is a major contribution for those who would lead in our fast changing society.
- Jim Mulligan
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
At a time when leadership in the world is at such a low ebb – “If You Will Lead” will make a tremendous contribution to the upcoming generation!
- Louise Mulligan
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
After 26 years on Wall Street, the last 20 of them leading people, I am more aware than ever of the need to level-set your actions and philosophies and always be adjusting to the fast-paced world we live in where change is the only constant. Doug Moran has proven himself to be a forward-thinking leader and insightful assessor of practical practices in an increasingly complex and competitive business environment, having demonstrated a track record of creative and strategic thinking along with successful tactical execution in both the public and private sectors across multiple leadership roles. As one fights off the temptation to become jaded and dismissive of those offering the latest recipe for leadership success, Doug has proven to be one of the few people whose opinions I seek out proactively, knowing that I can count on candid feedback, spirited debate and a collaborative partner when dealing with issues important to me both personally and professionally. If You Will Lead is an important addition to any leader’s short list of practical business reading and will make an immediate positive impact on how one ties effective leadership principles to the future success of their organization.
- Chris Dupuy

Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
If You Will Lead - Enduring Wisdom for Those Who Choose to Lead
Doug's book on leadership is a standout. Based on Kipling's poem, "If," the book is thoughtful and comprehensive, pragmatic and inspiring, and grounded in self awareness, which is the fundamental requirement for leadership excellence. This book, with its well-drawn examples of leadership attributes, is in itself a courageous act of leadership. Serious leaders interested in transformation for themselves or their organizations ought to savor it, journal with it, and refer to it often as a way to calibrate, contribute, and create results that matter.
- Christine Wahl, MCC

Author of Be Your Own Coach, and On Becoming a Leadership Coach, and creator of the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching Program



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