I am 71 now. I travelled all around the world. I met innumerable leaders in different companies and institutions. I experienced "good" and "bad" leaders. My "good" leaders, just a handful, became my mentors. Each one in his or her own very special way. The others I sorted out. Forgot them... .
Quitters never win and winners never quit! Basta! My first leader's motif - a publishing house manager, whom I met during my college time. This saying has been imprinted in my mind till today. As a result, when I started teaching German language in the Institute of Languages at University of Southeastern Philippines years ago, I used this and other sayings to help my students remember the key points.
As I said before: a handful of great leaders crossed my path. In Germany, in the U.S. and lately also here in the Philippines. I learned a lot from them and their behavior. I also learned from negative leaders, those catching people doing things wrong. Why don't leaders spend at least an hour a week wandering around their operation catching people doing things right AND wrong?
Many leaders wait to praise their people until they do things exactly right. Problem: one waits forever.
Up to now, I see a lot of unmotivated people at work or students at school, but I have never seen them after work or school! When office is done and school is over, people race to do such things that provide them with positive feedback on results.
In one of my previous write-ups, I mentioned: Dream hard but work harder. I have to rethink this. How about this: Don't work hard - work smarter. This saying is common sense but not common practice as America's best-selling business author Ken Blanchard voiced it out. If you don't take time out to think, strategize, and prioritize, you'll work a whole lot harder, without enjoying the benefits of a job smartly done. As an ordinary worker or as the Big Boss.
Leadership and communication are two areas in which we can continue to develop virtually forever.
