Often times while leading people the hardest thing to do is communicate well. It’s an every day struggle. It’s not something that we figure out then move on to the next problem. It’s like a fine skill that we hone in over the course of our life. My guess is that it takes a very unique leader to focus in on communication. But, we all know what it’s like to not have a leader like that. We’ve probably experienced it at some point. Maybe it’s been us!

I don’t need to list out the symptoms of poor communication. We know what it feels like. We know how it demotivates. Ultimately, I believe it’s what can make or break us as leaders. The problem is it can take a while to track down unless you are actively looking for it.

Here’s where the Communicating Leader comes in. The list below explains how ideal communication comes from a leader and how to be proactively working on communicating well.

1. The RIGHT information is communicated - Sometimes as leaders we share the wrong information. We need to learn how to really focus on what people need to hear. That way we aren’t taking up to much time and they aren’t checking out because we share info that’s not important.
2. Information is communicated ON TIME - This is huge. To often leaders jump the gun or wait to late when sharing information. This is a practice, a skill. Learn how to time your communication right. Learn when your people are ready to hear it.
3. It’s communicated to the RIGHT PEOPLE – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across situations (or heard of them) where the wrong people know the right information. This can be extremely de-motivating to those you lead, extremely. Find out where you communication leaks are, so that the information is going through the right channels.
4. DON’T HOLD INFORMATION as a power play - A leader who doesn’t trust his employees holds information from them. A leader who is insecure, holds information from them. Don’t be that leader. Learn how to trust your employees. If there is a trust issues, address it! Don’t be insecure. Don’t hold the info over their head. Those you lead love it when they know they are in the loop.
5. Finally, COMMUNICATE CLEARLY – This is simple, but it’s very hard. It takes knowing your employees and knowing yourself well. Learn how you communicate, and how others like to receive communication.

Here are a couple of questions I’d love to hear back from you on. Have you ever had a major communication problem? How did you fix it? Are you annually or quarterly asking those you lead or work with how you are doing at communicating? 

Fringe [frinj] 3. An outer edge; margin; periphery: on the fringe of the art world. – Dictionary.com

What is it about the fringe that scares some of us and makes others come to life? For some it is where they find their identity, and others try to pretend it’s not there. What is the fringe?

The Fringe is a group of people, ideas, or actions that are at the outer edge.

The Fringe is that one person who always thinks totally different then you ever have.

The Fringe is that new technology that has the potential to take off but you’re scared to touch it.

The Fringe is the idea that’s out there about that industry you are in. You know that change is coming but you try to prevent it at all costs.

Do you know the Fringe? If you are a leader I hope you do. This is where movements come from. Where ideas are born. Where raw passion and energy collide and overcome great odds. The idea of the fringe leader is something I’m just now discovering and praying that I become one day.

What does a “Fringe Leader” look like? It can vary, but there are some important characteristics.

The Fringe Leader is always listening. They are not just talking to their middle management. They get down with those doing the work and listen. They ask questions. They ask “what’s coming?”, “what’s our culture?”, and “what do I need to know?”.

The Fringe Leader is willing to take a chance on that one idea. They understand how it will revoluntionize or subtly make a huge impact on what they are doing.

The Fringe Leader ask the outsider to join them, and allows them to have a voice. The Outsider is the one most don’t understand (and maybe the Leader doesn’t either). The Leader allows the outsider to speak from where they come from and allows them to disrupt what is happening. (Read disrupt as, dropping a bomb that changes everything, but for the good)

You may be a leader now, or maybe you are a leader in the making. One thing that’s important to remember is that as you grow in influence and leadership there will be times people aren’t always honest with you. Sometimes you aren’t privy to what’s going on at the fringe anymore.

And at that point is the most important time for us to become the Fringe Leader. We must be willing to humble ourselves and “what we know” and ask the right questions of the right people. We need to stop and reconnect ourselves to the outer edge of what’s happening to continue to lead well and lead those there with the passion and energy that they have.

Are you a Fringe Leader? How do you stay connected to those on the outer edges?

(Photo Props)

In high school I worked at a local grocery store in Chambersburg called Sunnyway. It was a unique place. My favortie part about the store was their peanut butter cream filled donuts.

I digress.

One of my best friends and I worked there. One day he had a customer come up to him and ask him if he was old enough to be working. He, obviously taken back by her comment, assured her he was old enough. She then replied saying, “Well, actions speak louder then words.”

WHAT? Yeah, that actually happened. Either way, that phrase has always been a haunting phrase to me. What are my actions saying?

If you are in a position of influence or are leading a group of people you should know that you are being watched very closely. Recently I had an acquaintance experience being on the other side of this “actions speak louder then words” scenario. This person had been told about a priority that they should be working towards only to turn around and see their manager do the complete opposite.

If you’ve never been in a position like this let me tell you how it feels. It sucks. That’s how it feels. It’s also confusing and demotivating.

I’m not writing this to make you as a leader scared of everything you say, feeling like you need to right it down verbatim so you don’t confuse someone. What I am saying is that there are a few principles that you need to be thinking through.

1. If you are going to ask someone to do something or practice a certain value you, need to make sure you are doing the same thing. - If you wouldn’t do it or aren’t doing what you are about to ask, don’t ask.
2. Exemplify/Praise/Celebrate when those you lead follow through on what’s been asked of them. – It’s very important to make sure you celebrate a win. It will only encourage the employee and help when you bring the next challenge.

It’s key for us as leaders to be consistent in what we ask and what we celebrate with our employees. We can’t talk out both sides of our mouth. Doing this causes us to be very intentional with our actions and our decisions. It will not be easy for us to think through that lens. It means we can’t be lazy decision makers. It means we can’t be lazy in confrontation. It means we need to have integrity. A consistency in who we say we are and what we do.

This week take some time and think through what you may have asked employees, supporters, or anyone you lead to do. Then, honestly ask yourself if this is something you are doing. If not why? What steps are you taking to be a consistent leader?

Recently I’ve felt like I’ve been going under some kind of metamorphosis. It sounds kind of stupid, but I’ve really been dealing with some strong, internal struggles. Part of this is due to some new challenges at work that are good but are causing me to stretch some of my “leadership muscles”. (Yes, I just wrote that)

Last week I had the opportunity to get together with a friend and talk about some of this stuff. He listened to me talk a lot about what I had going on, what I’ve been working on, and what I’ve been learning. Then he presented me with a sort of challenge.

He said “Adam, I really think you are entering a season of listening”.

That really resonated with me. Here’s why.

When, as leaders, we are constantly pouring into new ideas or new challenges, we are giving ourselves to something whole heartily. It’s causing us to make decision and changes in who we are, what we believe, our convictions, etc. I’m learning that there are times when as a leader I need to step back and just listen.

For me, as a Christian, that means multiple things. That means I need to listen to what God is doing in my heart. It means I need to listen to my soul. I really means I need to listen to those around me and allow some space in my life. When you are in a groove doing your thing that is not easy to do!

Recently I attended the WCA Global Leadership Summit, I highly recommend it if you’ve never been to it. One of the speakers was Mama Maggie Gobran. Considered to be the current “Mother Theresa” for Egypt. She leads an incredibly humbling life. She said this quote in regards to listening.

Silence your body to listen to your words. Silence your tongue to listen to your thoughts. Silence your thoughts to listen to your heart beating. Silence your heart to listen to your spirit. Silence you spirit to listen to His Spirit…in silence you leave many and be with the One.

So, it looks like I’m entering a season of listening. Most probably won’t notice a difference from the day to day things I do, it will probably mostly personal practices that I’ll be working on.

Since I’m learning that this is such an important part to leading, I’d love to hear how you listen. People from all different faiths, and nationalities have their own way. I’d love to hear what you are currently doing to listen. If not, what do you need to do?

Image by Mark Brannan

When you are in a position of leadership there are certain responsibilities you have. They may include any set of job specific responsibilities, taking care of a team or individuals you lead, and continued learning. Usually, when we come into leadership roles it’s not because we got lucky or worked the system. If you are truly leading in an area and influencing people and a direction of an organization, it’s because you did all the hard work to get there. A lot of times that means you did a lot of learning.

As a leader it’s essential that we continue learning.

What does learning do for a leader? Keeps them fresh! It keeps their mind sharp and helps them to continue to hone in on their vision of where they are leading people. There are so many benefits of continued learning that it might be worth taking another blog post to write them out.

For now, I just want to give three ways to keep learning.

1) Read. This is a pretty simple idea but sometimes it is lost among the busyness of our hectic schedules. Here’s the thing. Just don’t read leadership books or books just pertaining to your “occupation”. Sometimes we need to get out of our circle and read things that are different, because you never know when you might come across something that takes you to the next level. This includes reading a good fiction book every now and then! Here are a few that I’ve recently read that I really was challenged by. Everyone Communicates, Few Connect – John Maxwell, Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey, The Silver Chair – C.S. Lewis. Books I’m currently reading or are next up on the list: Socialnomics - Erick Qualman, The Smashing Book 2 - Smashing Magazine, Rework - Jason Fried & David Hansson.

2) Connect. Learn how to connect with other leaders. This is essential. Leaders + Leaders = explosive things can happen. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” – Proverbs 27:17 (NLT). It’s almost like a law of the universe. The only reason I believe in this idea of connecting so much is because of the difference I’ve seen it’s made in my own life. I’ve been challenged to connect with people who I want to be like or be able to lead in areas that they are in.

3) Go. Go may not be the best word to describe this last one but I’ll do my best painting the picture for it. Go and get away. Here are two places I’d encourage you to get away to. Some type of leadership conference that will challenge you, and vacation. These two places to go will help pull you out of your current environment for a short time and help you refocus. First, going to a leadership conference can help you connect with other leaders but also gives you the opportunity to learn under some people you may never connect with personally. Usually you also have to leave your current context to go to something like this. A few days out of the office can help you refocus your mind and what you are working on. It may even help you look at a problem differently. Secondly, if you never take a break, you will break. And it won’t be pretty. It’s not natural for us to be constantly working and producing. Our bodies and minds are meant to rest. Take the time and do that. Get away for a week. Unplug from the computer for a weekend.

These are just three ways to continue to learn. In different ways they help engage our minds as leaders. Over the next couple weeks I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to practice all three of these things. On conference I’ll be attending is the Global Leadership Summit. If you have the opportunity, try and find one of the locations this is happening and go. I highly recomend it!

So, what are ways that you stay fresh as a leader? What are you reading right now?What’s your next conference that you would do anything to get to?

A couple weeks ago I was hanging out with a group of people who were talking about their current leader who they just found out was going to be leaving. After blogging a few weeks ago about Leading to Last I thought this would be a great follow up to that post. It’s cool to see a leader who has lived out some important principles.

While sitting there listening to this team describe their leader there were three themes that kept coming up that they believed and that they had heard said of this leader.

1) This leader was Visionary. This leader had led their organization in some unique ways drawing together teams that might not always see eye-to-eye and help them be on the same page together. This leader was able to rally a large group of employees and “customers” around this vision on where the organization was going. Not everyone agreed necessarily but they were willing to follow and try it out.

2) This leader was Inspiring. People felt inspired and important when around this leader. The few times I was around this leader I felt that way. Employees felt like they could deal with big hurdles because this Leader was inspiring and believed in them. Part of the reason the inspiration was there was because this leader was great at connecting with people. Because of the connection employees and clients were inspired to great things.

3) This leader had assembled a Great Team. Usually when a leader leaves an organization or company there can be a void that needs to be filled. Sometimes this affects how the organization is working and moving. What was cool to hear about this leader is how everyone said, while they will miss her, she has done a great job at assembling a diverse team that will continue out the vision and mission of this organization. Sure, there will be bumps but it won’t fall apart.

As I was thinking through these three descriptions, I thought what great things to work towards as a leader. Although, part of me feels that these three things might not have been this leader’s main focus. Yeah, everyone wants to be visionary, inspiring, and have a great team around them, but I really think this leader led with an others first mindset. You don’t leave a leadership legacy like this with out being focused on others and connecting with them.

Thoughts? What other’s focused leaders have you encountered and what kind of impact have they left on you?

(Image by: Arash Ashkar)