The following contains excerpts from the book, Simple Truths of Leadership (Ken Blanchard, Randy Conley).
“We wrote this book because we know a lot of people aren’t applying commonsense leadership principles in the workplace…Servant leadership and trust go hand in hand.”
This is another good book from Ken Blanchard’s collection. Starting with the ‘One-Minute Manager’ series, all of his subsequent leadership books have easy to understand, cleanly stated, principles that work.
At our music school in Midland, Texas we believe that music is more than sound, it is relationships. In life and in Leadership, relationships matter.
This book is a compilation of many principles, gathered from the author’s own writings, as well as other authors I am familiar with. Since I have read many of Blanchard’s books, as well as those he has referenced, I was familiar with most of the principles laid out in the book. However, he always finds ways of making things more understandable.
“The most persistent barrier to being a servant leader is a heart motivated by self-interest that looks at the world as a ‘give a little, take a lot’ proposition. Self-serving leaders put their own agenda, safety, status, and gratification ahead of others who are impacted by the leaders’ thoughts and actions. The shift from self-serving leadership to leadership that serves others is motivated by a change of heart. If leaders don’t’ get their heart right, they will never become servant leaders.”
At our music school in Midland, Texas, our attitude is to serve those who have joined with us, helping them to achieve their goals and dreams, as we help them to identify their unique strengths, empowering them to succeed.
- Servant leadership is the bet way to achieve both great results and great relationships. “Once the vision and direction are clear, the leader’s role shifts to service – helping people accomplish the agreed-upon goals.”
- Every great organization has a compelling vision. “A compelling vision includes three elements: your purpose (what business you are in), your picture of the future (where you are going) and your values (what will guide your journey).”
- Servant leaders turn the traditional pyramid upside down. “The minute you think you work for the person above you, you assume that person – your boss – is responsible and your job is to be responsive to your boss’s whims or wishes…As a result, all the energy of the organization moves up the hierarchy, away from customers and the frontline folks who are closest to the action…Communicate to you people that you work for them, not the other way around. Your job is to serve, not to evaluate…Your job is to be responsive to them, helping them accomplish their goals.”
It is our greatest joy to serve our students and their families, as they embark upon the journey of learning music in a way that enriches their lives, at our music school in Midland, Texas.
- All good performance starts with clear goals. Specific, Motivating, Attainable, Relevant, Trackable (SMART)
- The key to developing people is to catch them doing something right. “Praising is a powerful activity for both managers and team members. In fact, it is the key to training people and making winners of everyone you work with.”
- Praise Progress. “Exactly right behavior is made up of a series of approximately right behaviors. Praising someone’s progress lets them know they’re going in the right direction.”
At our music school in Midland, Texas, we believe that encouragement goes a long way to helping the student succeed. When they gain a sense of accomplishment, it builds their inward sense of accomplishment and gives them courage for greater tasks in the future.
- When people are off track, don’t reprimand them – redirect them. “When people are clear on the goal and still learning but their performance isn’t up to standard, redirection is far more effective than a reprimand. The aim is to build people up so they will continue to move toward improved performance.”
- The best minute servant leaders spend is the one they invest in people. “Making people feel special doesn’t have to take a lot of your time.”
- Effective servant leaders realize they have to use different strokes for different folks. “Sit with each team members and look at their responsibilities. Determine whether they are generally an Enthusiastic Beginner; a Disillusioned Learner; a Capable, but Cautions, Contributor; or a Self-Reliant Achiever.”
At our music school in Midland, Texas we see every student as unique, with their own strengths that can be developed. It is our goal to help them to identify these strengths and to maximize their potential.
- Effective servant leaders don’t just use different strokes for different folks, they also use different strokes for the same folks. “While individuals generally can be at a specific development level, which requires a certain leadership style, they might have one or two goals where their competence and commitment are different from their overall job knowledge.”
- Profit is the applause you get for creating a motivating environment from your people so they will take good care of your customers. “If you train, empower, and care about your people as your number one most important customer, they will go out of their way to take care of your organization’s number two most important customer – the folks who buy your products and services.”
- Create autonomy through boundaries. “A river without banks is a large puddle.”
Although each student at our music school in Midland, Texas has their own uniqueness, there are core competencies that can be applied to help them develop those strengths. These skills relate to all levels of musicianship and every artistic path.
- You get from people what you expect. “Serve your people and help them accomplish their goals by setting the bar high and modeling the behavior you wish to see.”
- The best use of power is in service to others. “Continue to emphasize we over me. Listen more than you talk. Encourage and support people’s efforts rather than directing them.”