The following contains excerpts from the book I Have the Watch (Jon S. Rennie).
At our Find the Best Music School Odessa Texas we believe that music is not essentially sound, it is relationships. We endeavor to instill life-habits of character and discipline through our teaching that transcends into every part of the student’s life. We hope to inspire the development of moral character in students of our Find the Best Music School Odessa Texas.
In this book, Naval Officer, Jon Rennie shares his thoughts on leadership from a ‘servant-leadership’ approach. His ‘people-first’ ideologies are presented in contrast to the typical authoritarian-style commonly found in the military.
The author sets out a concept of the Leadership Triangle: People at the top, Influence to the left and Goal to the right. “The leader is the conductor with the job of coordinating and balancing these three elements. A leader must define the goal, build up the team, and motivate them properly to reach that goal. If a leader fails to focus on any of these three critical elements, they will fail. If they try to put themselves on the top of the triangle, they will fail as well.”
Showing You Care
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. (Jimmy Johnson)
10 Simple activities:
- Be present.
- Focus on them.
- Be polite.
- Don’t forget to smile.
- Give them your full attention.
- Send thank you notes.
- Send get well cards
- Attend funerals. “Rudy Giuliani famously said, ‘Weddings are optional, but funerals are mandatory.’”
- Welcome new employees.
- Promote a culture of respect.
At our Find the Best Music School Odessa Texas we insist on each participant carrying the attitude of respect towards one another, their teachers, their parents, and their community.
Celebrating Employees
I’m convinced that celebrating wins does more to clarify the vision than anything else. (Andy Stanley)
“I’m a huge proponent of doing the extra things to celebrate employees. It’s one of the best things you can do for morale…I want to create an environment that is both safe and fun so that people actually enjoy coming to work each day.”
Doing Something Memorable
The manner of giving is worth more than the gift. (Pierre Corneille)
“If you want to give a memorable gift…consider these five principles:
- It should be an exceptional event.
- It should fit on a desk.
- It should be personal.
- It should show the employee is part of something special.
- It should reinforce your principles.
“In my case, I decided to give each of our employees a rock carved with the company logo and the phrase ‘The Founding Nine.’ When I presented them, I said there would only be nine of these rocks ever made and they were the only ones to get them. I chose a rock because it represented the solid foundation with which we would build the company.”
Giving Intangible Gifts
“The challenge as leaders is that, whether we like it or not, we leave a lasting legacy on the people who follow us…I can recall a number of good gifts that have had a lasting effect on me:
- The gift of trust.
- The gift of appreciation.
- The gift of faith.
- The gift of support.
- The gift of encouragement.
- The gift of recognition.
- The gift of challenge.
One of the greatest gifts we can give our students of our Find the Best Music School Odessa Texas is believing in them. We start the creative journey we each student by establishing a loving relationship in which they know they are respected and trusted.
Listening to Employees
“Listening to employees is a critical skill to master in order to become a more insightful and effective leader. This seems simple but it’s often overlooked. Most leaders spend their day in a bubble. They find themselves surrounded by people who see the company exactly as they do…Here are four ways that listening to employees improves your skills as a leader:
- You create relationships.
- You face reality.
- You uncover common themes.
- You build a team.
“Some of the best leadership insights are found in the breakroom, not the boardroom.”
Communicating Face-to-Face
“The problem is that most leaders don’t understand the power of their presence. They don’t’ understand the importance of face-to-face communications:
You ensure proper communication. A UCLA study showed that only 7% of what is understood is from words- the rest comes from facial expressions and the tone of your voice.
- You see what’s really going on.
- You learn new things.
- They see you as approachable.
- They see you as part of the team. Too often, leaders think they are more important than their employees. The truth is, more value-added activity is occurring with your employees than with you.
- They see you as the company.
This is why, at our Find the Best Music School Odessa Texas we prioritize in-person lessons. Training and development come as a result of wholistic community. In other words, being physically present in a learning environment is much more influential than any other approach.
Understanding the Power of Your Presence
Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence. (Sheryl Sandberg)
“The truth is, your minimal acceptable standard of performance is often the maximum level for your team so your actions need to be carefully considered…As a leader, people are watching you. They notice the little things you do, what you say, and how you say it.”
“Your presence is powerful and what you do is impactful. Never miss the chance to communicate your priorities by your actions.”
We understand, at our Find the Best Music School Odessa Texas, the importance of teachers demonstrating proficiency and to model successful artistry and courage. It is through setting an example that a teacher has the greatest influence upon the student.
The Problem with Business
“Leaders with good intentions take on far too many activities. They fail to properly delegate tasks and, in the end, they fail to lead their teams properly. They are too busy and employees feel like they don’t care.”
“If you feel like you’re too busy:
Track what you do each day.
Identify those things that only you can do as a leader.
Identify activities that you can delegate.
“The simple truth is, when you find ways to stop being so busy, you become a better leader.”