In the current Covid-19 situation, there are a variety of roles you can play, only two matter.

During the current situation surrounding the corona virus. I have seen the best of us and the worst of us. The best of us are volunteering, donating, helping, healing, teaching, and just doing their level best to keep life as normal as possible for those around them. The worst of us are hoarding, complaining, or attempting to take unfair advantage. This has me thinking out loud about what roles we play when faced with challenges.

In this blog I am honoring and pulling heavily from Donald Miller, author of the book Marketing Made Simple and the concept of Storytelling he weaves in this work helping organizations tell a compelling story and narrative. Essentially, Don shares that in any story, whether move, book, etc. there are four roles or characters that play out in the story. For leaders, there are only two that really matter. . . Heroes and Guides.

Heroes – are those as described by famous U.S. Navy admiral, William Halsey, as “There are no great men and women, there are only great challenges that ordinary men and women are forced by circumstances to meet.” In my last blog, I attempted to outline how you and many others are those ordinary people rising to the challenge to successfully navigate an extraordinary situation. As in many great stories, true heroes never think of themselves as such but in time, come to realize their gifts and abilities in the service to others. Now more than ever, we need leaders of courage and persistence who will work tirelessly to repair and restore our nations, communities, businesses, hospitals, faith communities, and families. These heroes will be easy to spot since they will refuse to play the complainer/blamer and instead be the leader we all wish we had. They will be out in front encouraging, volunteering, serving their teams, healing, encouraging their friends and co-workers, and many other impactful roles.

Guides – guides are those that identify, create, and support the heroes. They are the ones that help ordinary men and women discover just how extraordinary they can be! Think Anne Sullivan, Merlin, Dumbledore, and Yoda all rolled into one! Guides act in sharp contrasts to the villains that seek to take advantage of people and situations in times of crises. Rather, the Guide’s sole intention is to make things better. They have experienced and lived through crises and challenging times in the past and use that wisdom to help. They know however, that in order to do so, they must multiply and empower other leaders. They lend their influence and expertise to emerging influencers who quickly take on the challenge of leadership

For a synopsis of these roles, please see this short video Don Millar made for the Power of Positive Summit - http://powerofpositivesummit.com/watch20/donald20.html. It is important to note that Don is in no way making light of those who have truly suffered due to the physical and other impacts of Covid-19, rather he is making a distinction between those that make situations worse and those that make them better.

Whether Hero or Guide, the role is never easy. There is always doubt, frustration, disappointments, and sacrifice. In fact, I believe the most important characteristic of a hero is not necessarily courage but merely a willingness to not give up, to simply just stand in place and not yield to the chaos around them. I encourage you to be that person because so many of us need you to!

As always if I can help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I invite you to contact me.

Yours in leadership,

Bill Faulkner

Independent Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team ^TM\

Certified DISC Profile System Trainer and Consultant 

Email = bill@outloudinc.com

Visit our website at: www.outloudinc.com

For more information on the John Maxwell Team, please visit

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/williamfaulkner/

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More than Likely, YOU are an Unlikely Hero!

It is amazing how our collective world’s can change so quickly. A few weeks ago, we were preoccupied about where we should take our summer vacations and now, we are debating the merits of single vs double ply toilet paper! In the midst of this coronavirus outbreak, it has me thinking out loud about who the true heroes of our times are!

If you have ever read this blog, you know I can be pretty tough on the cult of personality and the misguided obsession with celebrity worship. Granted, these folks have worked hard, sacrificed much, and have feelings just like the rest of us but that does not make their viewpoints and opinions any more or less valid than yours. In fact, actor Ryan Reynolds posted a great video mocking the self-important posturing of celebrities and “influencers” during times of crises - https://twitter.com/i/status/1242237138239881216. The point is that the people we should be looking toward in helping us through this situation are the people who actually make things, fix things, teach things, heal things, create things, and help things!

I recently read that during the height of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood on PBS in the turbulent 60’s and 70s that parents would ask Fred Rogers how to help young children process the difficult news and events of the day. Fred Rogers in his under-appreciated wisdom would respond that when the news or situations were bad, “look for the helpers!” In short, he was asking us to identify with the problem-solvers and the difference makers. The people who were there on the ground making things better. Essentially, don’t look for the talking head or pundit, look for the unlikely hero!

These days you will not have to look far to find them, in fact you are better off looking closer to you versus Hollywood or Washington, DC. It is amazing to me how the unlikely  heroes of the day are NOW:

• Local Grocers and Cashiers
• Fast Food Franchisers
• Local Restaurants keeping their kitchens open
• Warehouse workers
• Long-haul truck drivers
• US Postal Service and other delivery services
• Farmers and food processors
• Manufacturers
• On-line course developers and instructors
• Assisted Living caretakers
• Of course, health care providers and first responders
• And so many more.

I would also include you on this list of unlikely heroes. I have heard story after story from my friends and neighbors of looking out for each other, helping the elderly in check-out lanes, buying and donating food, or supporting a local business. I bet you are doing the same! I bet you are a hero right now if you were not already! Just being that encourager and voice of calm for your family, friends, direct reports, and colleagues makes a lot of things better.

I recently had the opportunity to hear leadership expert and author John Maxwell talk about Leading in Crises. John points out that in time of emergency and difficulty, that the following is true.

• Crises are more common than we think and this will not be the last one we will deal with
• Crises can distract us from what is most important
• A crises will reveal what is inside of us
• Crises requires we become very nimble and adaptable
• A time of crises will reveal when the real leaders show up versus just those with titles or positions

Trust me, I know this is a difficult time for many people. John encourages us to have as much of a positive mindset as possible because what we focus on - expands! If you would like to view all three lessons from John on Turning Adversity into Advantage, feel free to access that content here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/JohnCMaxwell/videos/

It is my great hope and wish that you and yours are safe, secure, and using this time to reconnect to what matters most. I encourage you to both give and receive support. Make sure to take care of yourself because you cannot give what you do not have!

As always if I can help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I invite you to contact me.

Yours in leadership,

Bill Faulkner

Independent Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team ^TM\

Certified DISC Profile System Trainer and Consultant 

Email = bill@outloudinc.com

Visit our website at: www.outloudinc.com

For more information on the John Maxwell Team, please visit

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/williamfaulkner/

Feel free to “LIKE” our FB Page www.facebook.com/outloudinc

Tap into your NEXUS STRENGTH!

I am in the process of becoming a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach This process is tied to the incredibly insightful and powerful StrengthsFinder instrument developed by Don Clifton. This process involved hours of in-person training, continued learning, completing coaching sessions, and even passing a proficiency exam. Since one of my Top 5 Strengths is that of LEARNER, I am enjoying every minute of it! As I work more with the instrument and process, though, I am developing several theories around the process and started thinking out loud that the key to effective leadership is taping into your NEXUS STRENGTH.

Please allow me to explain further. It is my belief that in every human being who chooses to access it, we have at our core unique drive or compulsion that drives everything else.

• The nature and direction of our goals.
• Our true personal ambitions.
• Our professional trajectory.
• Our core leadership intention or platform.

I call this your Nexus Strength – that one core talent or personal imperative that provides the psychological fuel and emotional energy that drives everything else! This nexus is so fundamental to us that unless we intentionally attempt to discover its source, we are often unaware of it. It simply drives us without full understanding of how central it is to our core being.

Let me provide an example. If you are familiar with the StrengthsFinder assessment, you know that the researchers have ascertain that we possess to a greater or lesser degree 34 fundamental talents or strengths. These 34 talents are then groups in four domains which include:

Executing Talents – organizing and initiating action

Relationship Talents – building and maintaining impactful connections

Influencing Talents – persuading and motivating

Strategic Talents – analyzing and applying information

When you take the assessment, you are initially a T0p 5 Report with your top 5 strengths in priority order. One of my Top 5 Strengths is DEVELOPER which involves a desire to invest in others and facilitate their growth and success. DEVELOPER is my Nexus Strength. It has and still drives my career choices, how I view people, how I approach leadership, what I consume and read, etc. It is my life’s mission and work. It provides the background impetus that drives all my other Strengths and provides the reason why I value learning, why I enjoy maximizing others, how is arrange learning and trainings for maximum effect, and why I feel responsible to and for others. The interesting thing is that Developer is not my first Strength, so my theory is that somewhere in your Top 5 Strengths your Nexus exists.

So why is it important to understand what your NEXUS STRENGTH is?

PURPOSE – if you have a clear understanding of your NEXUS STRENGTH, it will provide clarity on your life’s purpose and intention. It becomes a one-word theme for your life that you can use to evaluate choices, decisions, and directions. It will provide a focus that will help you be the best at what you do. The Franklin-Covey group in their 5 Disciplines material encourages us to look at our tole and try to reduce it down to just one or two words. When you do so, it will change the nature of your work, interactions, and conversations. For instance, let’s say that after all is said and done, the essence of your role is that of Problem Solver. Armed with that knowledge then you excel in this role since everything you say, do, learn, and achieve is all directed toward solving worthy problems!

PASSION – has become an over-used word these days but when I think of passion, I think of it as the necessary emotional impetus that helps us achieve big and small results. I cannot see how you will hope to achieve anything in your personal or professional life if you do not have psychological energy around it. As a career and leadership coach, I do sometimes work with people that are incredibly successful because they truly enjoy what they do. Obviously, the converse is troubling in that if you do not have a passion around a role, then you can certainly cognitively do the job but there is no maximum effort because it just does not (or no longer) inspires you. Your Nexus Strength is that which allows you push through, especially when leadership becomes challenging and difficult.

POTENTIAL – your NEXUS STRENGTH eventually defines your potential. This is why it is so important to not only realize how your Strengths have helped you be successful in the past and to this point in your life but how it can be focused to impact your future success. When you know your NEXUS STRENGTH, it is incredibly important to create action items around how you will intentionally leverage that Strength to maximize your leadership impact. How can you use to increase 3 key leadership competencies that John Maxell highlights in his book Leadersshift which include:

• Motivating Others
• Working in the Global Marketplace
• Leading Change

The point being is that your NEXUS STRENGTH has not only helped you achieve your current success, but used with greater awareness and intention, will help you ensure greater future success.

Again, this notion of a NEXUS STRENGTH is just my opinion. I do, however, believe that knowing what truly motivates you, inspires you, and knowing what makes you want to do the things that you want to do is an impact multiplier because it attaches a useful label to such motivation. Once you know what it is, you can use it to serve you and those you lead.

If you would like to know more about the Clifton StrengthsFinder instrument, please visit:

https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Strengths_ECommerce_Brand_Search_US&utm_content=gallup%20strengths&gclid=CjwKCAiAzJLzBRAZEiwAmZb0arCiqycuRJww796c9Radc89IKIfiq2Sam22RQpFv-ZHSvdm7HWzCDhoCIDwQAvD_BwE

If I may be of assistance in accessing and debriefing your Strengths Results, please do not hesitate to contact me.

As always if I can help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I invite you to contact me.

Yours in leadership,

Bill Faulkner

Independent Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team ^TM\

Certified DISC Profile System Trainer and Consultant 

Email = bill@outloudinc.com

Visit our website at: www.outloudinc.com

For more information on the John Maxwell Team, please visit

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/williamfaulkner/

Feel free to “LIKE” our FB Page www.facebook.com/outloudinc

Hovering – the underappreciated leadership strategy.

I dislike the term leadership or management “technique” since it infers something that we do TO others. Instead, I prefer the term strategy since that is an action we do WITH others. This distinction was made evident to me during a recent interaction with my student clients when I was “hovering” around them. This got me thinking out loud that this is actually not a bad leadership and connecting strategy!

Recently, we oriented a new cohort of Executive MBA students who complete their degree by coming to campus every third weekend or so.  Due to my role as their primary leadership and career resource, it is important to me that they know who I am and my commitment to their success. I was sharing with some current students how I used my usual hovering strategy during their orientation week by being a presence during breaks and meals. I see this as what leadership expert and A list speaker John Maxwell calls “walking through the crowd slowly.” My current student clients jokingly call it “creepy!”  At least I hope they are joking!

But this practice and strategy of hovering, allows me to quickly establish a positive working relationship which in turn, helps these talented leaders reach their full potential as they define it. It also allows me to get them on an individual basis. I believe this niched strategy can be applied to leaders in just about any workplace scenario that want to also create positive working relationships. The trick is to hover in a way that doing so is seen as positive and not intrusive. Here are a few ideas to do just that.

Be Proximate but not a Participant:

My student clients attend class either one day a week or every third weekend. Due to the cohort manner in which they progress through a challenging curriculum, they become very close and enjoy seeing each other in light of not being to see each other every day. They also have a lot to catch up on in terms of assignments, upcoming courses, etc. Hovering allows me to be on the periphery in case they have a question, but I am not a fellow student or peer. They have important issues to discuss or questions to settle; thus, it is important that I not interfere or distract them from getting what they need done.

The same is true for leaders. Our team members have a lot to do and we want to show that we trust them to do it well. Even though we would like to be an instant resource or “fixer”, that is not what they need from us and to participate would de-skill them. Management from “walking around” however tells team members we are supportive and available for questions, but we are not and should not be a distraction to their work.

Be Present but not Pervasive:

With my students, it is important to me that I am present and supportive, but I am NOT the main attraction. They are. They are the ones who are sacrificing time, energy, and resources to complete an important degree from a Top 20 business school. Yes, they are times when I am conducting a webinar or on-site workshop but that is a very small part of their experience. The power of their experience lies in the connections they make with each other and the other faculty and staff.

Much like my hovering strategy, being present allows for that quick question, check-in on an ongoing conversation, or that impromptu encouragement. This is what former Campbell Soup CEO Douglas Conant was communicating in his book Touchpoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments. Douglas would share the concept of “impactful interruptions” where impromptu conversations would reveal a lot about how his team was operating or any shared concerns they had. You are not micro-managing or looking over shoulders, but to make sure you are not leaving that impression, you have to do this consistently enough that team members get used to your presence every now and then and know they can take a moment with you or not. It is their choice.

Be Precise but not Platitudinal:

You have often seen my write that leaders who add-value do so in very specific ways. Each week or weekend students are present, I usually have two or three specific follow-ups or congratulations I want to offer. This is to make sure that these specific students know that I have not forgotten about a request or inquiry or that they were on my radar based upon a prior conversation.

The same should be true for good hoverers! Identify two or three team members each week that you can connect with on a specific matter. Loop back to a question or concern they had. Do in-the-moment recognition for a job well done. Celebrate a big life moment such as the birth of a child or their graduation. Again, this takes just a few moments of thought and a running list. What they do not want is just empty platitudes of encouragement but targeted and highly personalized connections.  

As you can gather, the student clients I have the privilege of working with can be a cast of characters but, as has always been the case, I learn more from them than they ever learn from me. So, here is your challenge, try the hover strategy for one month and see what happens. I would bet you will be surprised how much you learn from the people you spend most of your waking life with!

To summarize, I think John Maxwell captures this strategy very well in his recent book, Leadershift. I am paraphrasing John who shares that when doing the Leadership Dance:

• Hover AHEAD of people staying close enough for them to access you and anticipate their needs
• Hover BESIDE people so that you can listen to them and discover the journey they want to take
• Hover BEHIND people so that they know you believe in, with, and, sometimes, for them

Yours in leadership,

Dr. Bill Faulkner

Email = bill@outloudinc.com

Visit our website at: www.outloudinc.com

For more information on the John Maxwell Team, please visit

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/williamfaulkner/

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There is no such thing as a Neutral Life!

At any given time, we all see a news story about some person of note passing away. Sometimes their deaths or unexpected and sudden while others are after a long life. Inevitably pundits or just history weigh in on the impacts of their lives. The prevailing themes are either positive or negative and sometimes a little of both but never neutral You never hear a commentator state the he or she was just an OK person who led their lives straight down the middle! Either he or she had a positive impact or they did not. This has me thinking out loud that there is no such thing as a neutral life!

As leaders, I believe this is even more so and no one is waiting until you are put on permanent waivers to tally your stats! Your impact is being evaluated right here and now by more people than you can possibly imagine. Now this may be a little tough to hear in a modern society that more and more does not want to acknowledge that there are “absolutes” such as good and evil, right and wrong, pizza and tacos. Trust me, there still is and the fact that some want to convince us otherwise is my case in point. Besides, such thinking goes against even the natural laws of the universe. Electrons eventually are either positive or negatively charged. I am simply proposing the same works for our leadership. At any given moment in time, we are either adding value or we are not, we are either helping or hurting, we are either part of the problem or an element of the solution. There is no time or room for middle ground for leaders.

Obviously, it is my hope and intention to ensure my leadership stays on the positive trend line and I hope yours does to but, hey, you do you! So how do we make sure our leadership is not stuck in neutral and is in drive? I believe some of the encouragements below may be of help.

Understand Your Orbit! I recently heard author and pastor Byron Peters share that we need to consider the orbit of the people in our lives. Think about it this way and do some quick math with me. First, count the number of people that you lead (this could include family, friends, colleagues, clients, as well as direct reports). Take the example of the number of people that eventually report to you. Let’s say that is 50 people. Multiply that number by the average number of hours you could interact with them in a given week (assume a 40 hour work week), multiply that by the number of weeks of interaction in a given year (assume 50 active work weeks a year) and this equals over 100,000 hours of potential influence a year! So, the big question is, what are you actually doing with that influence? Think about this, consider the fact that the average person has around 338 Facebook connections and around 300 on LinkedIn, what can you do with that kind of influence and orbit?

Establish Your Intention.  Author and leadership expert John Maxwell often share that people who detract from others often do so without malicious intention. They are just not paying attention and thus commit errors of omission. However, leaders who do add value to those around them do so with purpose and deliberate decisions to do so. They actively pay attention to the people around them and consider how they can add value in a very customized and individualized way. This is not easy by any means. It requires a renewed commitment each day to do this. Have you made such a decision? Could tomorrow morning be the day you change the trajectory of your leadership? I always share that where you end up is much more important to than where you started. Even if to this point you have not been as focused on your orbit as you could be, it does not matter. I have often heard it said it may take some time to alter the destination of our journey, but we can change direction at any given moment.

Challenge Others to Commit. Leadership never happens in isolation which is another reason why there is no possible way to lead a neutral life. There are just too many people around us influencing and being influenced by us. I once read the greatest gift you can give someone is your positive example. As my previous example above demonstrates, you have more influence than you thought. Use that influence to encourage others to understand the impact of their lives and leadership. Help them get unstuck and lead in the light! Make it part of your meeting agendas to celebrate positive leadership wins. Ask followers commit to adding value to just one-person next week but in a very individual manner.

We do not leave a legacy; we live it day in and day out. We have the ability (and I would add, the responsibility) to improve the lives of those around us. Don’t waste these moments and opportunities to do so. It does not even have to be some grand gesture. I have heard story after story by my students and clients over the years about how just one high impact person provided just one simple encouragement which launched a lifetime of achievement and success. Sometimes that’s just all we can give, but often that is more than enough!

As always if I can help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I invite you to contact me.

Yours in leadership,

Bill Faulkner

Independent Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team ^TM

Email = bill@outloudinc.com

Visit our website at: www.outloudinc.com

For more information on the John Maxwell Team, please visit

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/williamfaulkner/

Feel free to “LIKE” our FB Page www.facebook.com/outloudinc

It’s time for some Reckless Leadership!

It’s time for some Reckless Leadership!

Lots of times when we hear the word “reckless”, it is thought of being ill advised, inappropriate, or against the norm. Now I don’t know about you, but I have been known to do some things what would be considered a bit reckless though more on the ill advised but not illegal side of the tracks just to be clear! Anything from zip lining, SCUBA diving, or crawling around a pitch dark abandoned nuclear missile silo come to mind. Here’s the thing, it was during some of these more reckless experiences is when I felt keenly alive, learned about my capabilities, and/or found a lesson in the experience I could share with others. This has me thinking and asking out loud, what if we were a little more reckless with our leadership?!

Church leader and leadership author, Tommy Kiedis, shares that a life of faith and leadership was never meant to be safe or comfortable. In fact, just the opposite.  A life of leadership involves sticking your neck out and making things better by challenging the status quo. It means speaking up when everyone else is hesitant to do so. It means taking the risk of empowering your followers to do and be their very best.

The challenge is that during this time of rampant toxic workplace cultures, elected officials acting like children, and just a general lack of using any kind of filter between thoughts and works said out loud, we are experiencing a crisis of principled leadership. In fact, the Ken Blanchard company’s research on workplace environments reveals that 70% of employees point to their supervisor as the leading cause of workplace stress. This is substantiated conversely but Gallup’s research that shows the number one factor that leads to positive workplace cultures rest with the quality of leadership present in that environment.

All this points me to that it is time for men and women of courage to become reckless in their leadership because as leadership author Tim Elmore shares this new normal of toxic leadership has become commonplace but is still by no means acceptable. It’s time to go against the grain and do the right thing, the bold thing, the lifting the human spirit thing such as:

Reckless Leadership is BOLD – I recently read an article entitled, “How did we get so small?” Essentially the author was questioned why humankind is more and more adverse to attempt big things. Ancient civilizations build huge stone monuments, in the 20^th century we put men on the moon and built tunnels under the sea. Luckily, reckless leaders like Elon Musk are helping us dream big again. To figure out cost effective ways to explore other planets. We need bold and audacious leaders in the workplace to try big things. To push institutions to set aside the old command and control leadership approaches and start to maximize the human capital available to us to solve big problems.

Reckless Leadership is EMPOWERING – If you hire capable people, then be reckless enough to let them do their jobs! You can certainly provide expectations and direction, but if you continue to monitor all their actions, then what’s the point. What did you gain besides just your own ideas? Why not use the full potential of thought, action, and energy that comes from a team running on all cylinders! Conversely, there is nothing more empowering than to make such decisions with them! Will it take more time, yes it will. Will it result in a different outcome or way you would do it, probably. I promise you, however, you will create a team member that wants to stay with you and do their best for you. Just consider your own preference. Would you rather things done with you versus to you?

Reckless Leadership is CATALYTIC – NOW is when we really need leaders to be reckless. To raise valid questions. To evaluate our own words and actions. To take the bold step of asking our stakeholders their perceptions and be ready for the “ouch” moments that may come with the answers you get back. To start movements that will transform communities and organizations where all are lifted and NO ONE is marginalized. To move beyond the sandbox of partisan politics and actually try to solve worthy problems. Catalytic reactions, however, need time and fuel. There is a requirement of vigilance that comes with being reckless.

It is a sad commentary that leaders who want to be and do the right thing are considered reckless or out of the norm, but that is where we are right now. Trust me, I know I am asking a lot and that all of this is much easier blogged than done. Just start with you and your team. Just start with the internal course corrections you need to make. Enlist trusted colleagues to take the journey with you. That is how this starts and how things start to turn around . . . with just small acts of reckless leadership!

As always if I can help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I invite you to contact me.

Yours in leadership,

Bill Faulkner

Independent Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team ^TM

Email = bill@outloudinc.com

Visit our website at: www.outloudinc.com

For more information on the John Maxwell Team, please visit

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/williamfaulkner/

Feel free to “LIKE” our FB Page www.facebook.com/outloudinc