Posted in Category: Servant Leadership by Benjamin Lichtenwalner
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The greatest leaders realize hero worship has no place in business. Long before I ever heard of Servant Leadership though, I learned this lesson from my grandfather, a Korean War veteran…
Real Heroes Wear Helmets
I had spent the year interning with a Fortune 500 company and visited my grandfather in Maine for a week before returning to Penn State. My priorities were not right yet. Money, fame and fortune were still the front of my mind. I dreamed of being the next Bill Gates or Donald Trump. So, as we sat on his front porch one cool summer evening, I casually made reference to a prominent executive at my employer as being, “my hero”.
“Nah! That’s no hero, Ben.” My grandfather cut me off, mid-sentence, in a thick Maine accent. He was not angry, but very serious. The conversation quickly turned from a casual chat to a very somber conversation. I had made a mistake and he needed to correct me. “Let me tell you what a real hero is…” » Read more: There Are No Heroes In Business
Posted in Category: Featured, Servant Leadership by Benjamin Lichtenwalner
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What Can't You Compromise On?
The art of leadership is understanding what you can’t compromise on.
- Seth Godin (Tribes)
In most definitions of leadership, an individual’s uncompromising character is a key attribute. In the above quote,
Godin reveals an important clarification: he emphasizes that leaders must understand what they
can not compromise on. After reading this from his
Tribes book, I realized this was an important matter many leaders today do not fully appreciate. Instead, most leaders today determine what they
want not,
choose not or
should not compromise on. These positions are not strong enough for leaders that truly want to serve their organizations. For example:
1. Want Not to Compromise: “Wanting” is a matter of personal preference. Personal preference can be compromised and is therefore the lowest degree of commitment between wanting, choosing and knowing what one should do.
» Read more: Refuse to Compromise
Posted in Category: Career, Featured, Servant Leadership by Benjamin Lichtenwalner
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“To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.”
- Benjamin Franklin
Rock Concert or Business Conference?
The scene resembled a large rock concert. There was a massive stage, huge projection screens, a booming sound system, laser lights and special effects that would make Broadway jealous. To say there was a great deal of excitement and anticipation for the presenter would be a major understatement. His name was announced, the music boomed and onto stage strode the classic image of a powerful, confident executive. Navy suit with pin stripes, tall, slender, salt-and-peppered hair, power tie and polished shoes. The audience’s applause roared. He walked to the podium, the music faded, applause stopped and the stadium settled to perfect silence in anticipation… » Read more: Narcissism Kills Morale
Matt Edmundson
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MrLich
PM Hut