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.
- Never assume you know what motivates a person. “Motivate your people in an effective and personal way: Aske them at the beginning of the year or the start of a new task what they would like as a reward if they do a good job.”
- People with humility don’t think less of themselves, they just think of themselves less. When things go well, look out the window and give others the credit. When things go poorly, look in the mirror and take full responsibility – a hallmark of a servant leader.”
At our music school in Midland, Texas we teach our students that failure isn’t final. How many times does a baby try to stand and fall down before walking? Failures are the process of learning.
- 3. It’s okay to toot your own horn. “When you catch yourself doing something right, everything in your life will improve – especially your relationships.”
- Don’t work harder; work smarter. “Working smarter not only means delegating, it also means helping people solve their own problems.”
One of the greatest values we can offer students at our music school in Midland, Texas is how to use their time most efficiently, with proven techniques and disciplines that work.
- No one of us is as smart as all of us. “Servant leaders realize leadership is about working alongside their people, sharing information, and keeping lines of communication open…Face the fact that your people already understand that you don’t know everything.”
- Love is the answer. What is the Question? “I believe servant leadership is love in action…Self-serving leaders are seldom perceived as patient or kind…Want to know if your people see you as a servant leader? Ask people…once you get the feedback…make changes in your leadership style to show them you are serious about improving.”
- Servant leaders don’t command people to obey; they invite people to follow. “I’ve met a number of leaders who get upset when they give an order and people don’t obey it immediately. They think when you are a leader, if your tell people what to do, they should blindly submit. The reality is that most people don’t like to be told to do something. They like to be involved in decisions…Say the words pleas and thank you; they are always welcome in any relationship.”
At our music school in Midland, Texas our attitude towards our students is that we are helping them be everything they can be and to be their best. That will be different for each student. Our approach to every student is different, based upon their personalities and temperaments, but the one thing that is consistent is that they each have value in our eyes.
- People who plan the battle rarely battle the plan. Great leaders know they are only as good as the people they gather around them…Here’s how to address people’s primary concerns about change and how to get them involved:
- Information concerns – People want to know what you know. Share information.
- Personal concerns – People want to know how the change will affect them. Let them express their feelings.
- Implementation concerns – People want to know how to perform in the face of change. Involve them in finding ways forward.
- Impact concerns – People want to know whether the change is working.
- Refinement concerns – People want to keep improving systems and processes.
- Servant leaders love feedback. “Self-serving leaders hate feedback because, to them, negative feedback means you don’t think they should lead anymore. That’s their worst nightmare because they believe they are their position.”
- People who produce good results feel good about themselves. “It’s hard for people to feel good about themselves if they are constantly falling short of their goals.”
It is our hope, at our music school in Midland, Texas that when students have a few successes ‘under their belt,’ that they will be motivated to achieve even more.
- It’s not about you. Model behaviors that show your people your goal is to serve, not to be served…Continue celebrating team wins.”
- Great leaders SERVE. See the future, Engage and develop people, Reinvent continuously, Value results and relationships, Embody the values – Servant leadership is built on trust. Servant leaders must be living examples of their values to earn and sustain their people’s trust…Servant leaders are distinguished by putting the needs of their followers ahead of their own. When team members believe their leader has their best interests at heart and is there to support them in achieving their goals, trust in their leader grows by leaps and bounds.”