SUMMARY OF LESSONS: FOOTSTOMPERS SUMMARY OF LESSONS: FOOTSTOMPERSLeadership is both simple and complex. When it gets complex, it’s easy to hyper-focus on one problem, allowing the simple areas to drop off our radar. These are the times when I refer to my old notes and checklists to remind me of the important points of leadership. This summary of Foot Stompers is designed to be such an aid. I hope these lessons will serve you for a lifetime of leading with honor.
LEADING SELF
1. Know Yourself. Authentic leadership flows from the inside out. You will be most successful and fulfilled when you clarify who you uniquely are in terms of purpose, passion, and personality, and then lead authentically from that core.
2. Guard Your Character. Authentic leaders intentionally guard their character. Clarify your values with specificity and total honesty. Then structure a support team to help you live them with courage and transparency.
3. Stay Positive. A positive attitude is one of a leader’s greatest assets, and it’s one of the best ways you can influence/lead others. Keep your chin up, because when it goes down, you do too, and many others will follow right behind.
4. Confront Your Doubts and Fears. Authentic leaders develop courage as an act of will. Choose today to do what you know to be right, even when it feels unnatural or unsafe. Trust yourself, honor your values, lean into your pain, and intentionally engage issues with strength and humility, despite your fears.
5. Fight to Win. Successful leaders believe in their mission and fight to carry it out successfully. They don’t quit; they expect to win; they take others with them; and they give others the credit.
6. Bounce Back. Authentic leaders know that life is difficult. They expect to get knocked down, and they have the proper attitude and outlook to enable them to persevere. You have a choice about how you will respond to difficulties. Confront the brutal realities of your situation, but never give up hope. Develop your plan, connect with your support team, and bounce back.
LEADING OTHERS
7. Clarify and Build Your Culture. Authentic leaders intentionally define and build cultures that further the mission, vision, and values of their organizations. Assess the culture of your organization and take the appropriate steps to make sure it is well defined, soundly structured, and effectively communicated.
8. Over-Communicate the Message. Effective communication requires intentional effort. To overcome the noise, distractions, and misinterpretations in the workplace, you must develop a clear message and a comprehensive communication plan. Then you must over-communicate your message multiple times through multiple channels.
9. Develop Your People. Authentic leaders engage in continual development. Knowledge alone is not enough; the only way to grow as a leader is to do things differently, and that requires change. Go first, and then take your people with you.
10. Balance Mission and People. Outstanding leaders balance accomplishment of the mission (results) and care for their people (relationships). However, the styles of most leaders are naturally biased toward one end of the spectrum or the other. To enhance your leadership effectiveness, find out which types of skills you need to develop. Then, leaning into the pain of your doubts and fears, adapt your behaviors to do what you know a good leader should do.
11. Build Cohesive Teams. Build trust by helping teammates gain understanding, acceptance, and respect for each other. The resulting unity and cohesion will enable them to engage in creative conflict, which in turn will build the commitment and loyalty necessary to overcome the most difficult challenges.
12. Exploit Creativity. Think futuristically and innovate to stay competitive. Everyone has the capacity for innovative ideas; the leader’s job is to draw them out. Harness the ideas of the creative folks, and allow them to pull you ahead of the competition.
13. Treasure Your Trials and Celebrate Your Successes. Effective leadership is forged in the crucible of struggles and fueled by the celebration of accomplishment. To promote teamwork and achieve success, treasure your trials and celebrate your victories.
14. Free the Captives. Authentic leaders proactively identify the shackles that hold them back and lean into the pain to break free and grow. As you gain your own freedom, begin helping others to do the same. Start by avoiding bitterness, connecting with your emotions, and doing the right thing even when it’s difficult.