I.T. Leadership

Remember when social media was as simple as talking through the foam cube wall to your neighbor?  When meeting online happened in front of the copier— or chatting as you slid your tray across those stainless steel shelf-bars in the cafeteria?

Sometimes, I long for the days when life was simpler, when what we said to our peers was limited to earshot or stationery from Walgreens and not part of the permanent global internet record.

You know—times when a twit was something you DEFINITELY didn’t want to be or do.

But hey, we’re hurling face first at break neck speed through the first decade of the 2000’s, so we should expect this kind of change, right?

Social media is here to stay for sure.  The question is, how do we, as leaders, ensure it is used to help move the team toward the new and brighter future and not turn us all into distracted, narcissistic idiots?

Why Social Media is Important

Have a look back at the first article in this issue for the answer.  The dearth of trust has fueled the need, in part at least, for people to connect to their peers— to belong and to trust.

I think social media is an incredibly powerful tool, but it must be carefully managed.  We both know all tools have the potential for incredible good…and incredible evil.  From the wheel to the space shuttle.

I’d love your thoughts on this topic.  Drop me a line…you’ll find me on Twitter, Facebook and yes, LinkedIn.

The highest ranking leader in the country, President Barak Obama, is having a tough time filling a few key positions on his team.

Timothy Geithner, now our Treasury Secretary, apparently had a little SNAFU with his taxes and had to pay up during his vetting process.
It seems most in congress gave him the benefit of the doubt and tucked it into the “honest mistake” file.

I even told my wife Tabbi:

“Hey, who knows, maybe it was an honest mistake. We may never know for sure. Still, it’s the Secretary of the Treasury slot he’s interviewing for here, not the bookkeeper of a local gas station.”

Of course, he got the job.
I shrugged my shoulders and carried on with life.

Then comes the $100K+ Tom Daschle tax flub.

By now, I’m starting to see a trend here. Either these educated political big shots can’t get their returns completed correctly, or they make bad choices when they think they won’t be held accountable. When no one is looking.

So, while president Obama is searching for a new head of Health and Human Services, he gets a tug on his coat by a red-faced, nervous Nancy Killefer, his pick for the new Government Performance czar.
She too, “goofed” on her IRS forms, failing to pay taxes related to domestic help.

What’s the lesson for you as an I.T. Leader?

First, never, ever, ever do anything that violates the highest standards of integrity. What does than mean, exactly?  It means that:

• Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should or that it’s right.

• Just because it’s not illegal or it’s not in the contract, doesn’t make it OK.

• Just because “no one’s watching” doesn’t mean it’s acceptable or that no one will ever find out.

One refreshing example of the integrity I’m talking about is the retired Deloitte, Touche, Tohmatsu CEO, Jim Copeland.
According to www.leadershipdevelopment.com:

“Now, he can look back on a career in which he handled even small items with integrity.
For example, he wrote a $500 personal check every year to cover any personal use of the copier or the times he may have run out of the office with a company pen. As well, he demanded that every expense report he submitted be audited.”

They go on to make a powerful point:

“This chance to look back on an accomplished career in which he has acted with integrity is one of the main messages in Secrets of Effective Leadership by Fred Manske Jr., who emphasizes ethical, effective leadership. In a chapter titled
‘Standards of Honesty and Integrity’ Manske discusses how he always ends a leadership seminar or speech, because the message is so important to him:

‘If you would remember only one thing from this presentation let it be: Live your life by the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
Throughout your career you will be tempted to do the expedient, to shade the truth, or violate ethical principles.
Stand firm, don’t waiver, and someday you can look back at your accomplishments with pride and satisfaction, for you will have succeeded by doing things the right way without violating the trust given to you by your associates.
More than anything else, your legacy will be that you inspired others to live their lives in a similar fashion.’”

The Final Point

The challenges we face as a nation today are due simply to a lack of responsibility and integrity!

Can you just imagine how wonderful it would be if business, community and political leaders all exercised such a high level of honesty and transparency?

I’m convinced that we can heal our country’s economy and reputation in the world one business leader at a time…by strengthening the character and integrity of those leaders.

Will you join me in the effort? If so, comment on this post and tell others about ITLeadershipBlog.com

As I write this, I’m taking time to rest and recover from
2008 in a cabin overlooking Kentucky lake in West Tennessee
during the New Year’s holiday.

I’ve been contemplating what our teachers have taught us for years— that most things in life, even life itself, should be treated like a marathon rather than a sprint.

I believe that, as with most things, it’s just not that simple. There are exceptions and darn good counter points to the whole sprint vs. marathon theory.

Truth is, there’s a time to pace yourself and then, there’s a time to run like you’ve stumbled into a mamma grizzly’s kitchen, with her cubs squealing at her for help, pointing their paws at you.

I’ve come to agree with what world record setting Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson describes in his book, Slaying The Dragon:

“Success is found in smaller portions than most people realize. A hundredth of a second here or sometimes a tenth there can determine the fastest man in the world. At times we live our lives on a paper-thin edge that barely separates greatness from mediocrity and success from failure.

Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter: long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best.”

In other words, impose on your life a set of routines that allow you to stress yourself, then recover, stress, then recover. The concept applies to not just your physical energy, but your mental and emotional energy as well.
Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2009!

DG

My Hungarian father-in-law must be getting soft as he gets older.  A former marine and a retired truck driver, he’s an intimidating looking man who seldom shows his feminine side.  And, when he does, it’s disguised with sarcasm to protect his ego.

But after we all gathered in a circle, filling the large living room of my wife’s sister’s home, we asked God to bless our food and time together.  Then, just as all the “Amen’s” were done and to everyone’s surprise, my father-in-law, Joe, interrupted our stampede with a very heartfelt and sentimental request of the group.
 
“I’d like everyone to take their turn and quickly say out loud what they are thankful for.  I’ll start.”

We all watched his face as he stumbled through his words.  They were short and private.  Most of us had lumps in our throats and it wasn’t pecan pie.

After a short pause, we each took our turn, sharing briefly what is most important to us and expressing our deepest gratitude for it.

I try to learn from all my experiences, triangulating them against what I’ve learned from others, what I’ve experienced myself and what I read.  Here’s what my Thanksgiving with family both reminded me and taught me this year.  I hope you can apply it to your leadership and management efforts.

1.  Be their weatherman:  Just as our family watched Joe’s facial expressions carefully, your team looks at your face for the company or department weather report.  Sure, times are tough for many, but you must remind them the weather is local.  Just because some are experiencing a hurricane, doesn’t mean everyone will be doomed by the storm surge.  Be truthful, be positive and be aware and prepared for the side effects.  But don’t panic or let your team become consumed by worry.  And never, ever, let them use bad news or “the economy” as an excuse for poor performance.  This too, shall pass. 

2. Help them filter:  When it comes to information, we have unprecedented access to excess.  You must help your team cut through the clutter and home in on the thoughts, facts and feelings that really matter.  Like Joe with his measured and sincere words, you must set the example and help them distinguish between the unimportant, the important and the imperative.

3.  Help them focus:  Cell phones and email were discouraged during our family retreat.  If there were an “endangered skills” list, focus would be on it, thanks to our “always on” culture.  As you sort through and settle on the factors critical to success, you’ll need to help your team develop and use the skill of focus.  I believe it’s more important than even intelligence and creativity.  The world is full of educated and creative derelicts.  What’s the best way to improve focus?  1.) Set the example and 2.) Apply sustained pressure to yourself and your team to reach your goals.  You’ll develop laser-like focus over time.

4.  Reinforce their behavior:  My nephew, Nolan, age 4, loves to bowl on the Wii.  During Thanksgiving, he did well in the first round of the family Wii™ bowling tournament, but as expected, didn’t win.  He was showered with praise for every small success, and each time he took his turn, he looked over his shoulder at the adults, anticipating their accolades.  The next day, he brought down the thunder on the grownups and out-bowled us all, stacking up over 200 points! 

Give positive feedback soon and often.  This comes natural to us when we’re working with children.  A child takes her first steps or bowls a strike and we applaud and hug him and send video to our friends.  Every new milestone reached earns your applause and affection.  Unfortunately, as the baby grows, you stop reinforcing the new steps toward progress he’s making.  When the baby becomes a young adult, praise and recognition for steps in the right direction are seldom offered; only the big wins matter.  Remember to praise the baby steps, too, and they will surprise you with their scores.

5.  Celebrate:  Get together and have fun!  Just like our Thanksgiving outing, set work aside for a while and celebrate your successes and blessings as a team.  Be thankful for one another.  After all, no one succeeds alone.

Our home cracked and moaned as the bulldozer-like winds heaved on its south and west sides.  Big oaks, maples and poplars around our property, normally upright and proud, leaned and groaned almost as if in pain, begging for relief while Mother Nature pushed them to their limits.  As the weather raged on, I watched the news on TV like everyone else, amazed that powerful gulf winds could travel this far north.

Moments later, the lights flickered and died, and the house fell eerily silent.

My wife, Tabbi, and my two boys Nick (17) and Nathan (11) turned and looked at me.  Nick cracked a nervous joke, winning only cordial laughs.  They all sat staring at me, waiting for answers or instructions on what to do next.   “The power has gone out before.” I said.

But this was different.  This was not a quick thunderstorm.  Something about these winds commanded more than the usual respect.

Maybe it was encouragement my family needed.  One thing was certain; they looked to me to lead them through something we had never experienced…hurricane force winds of 80+ miles per hour that seemed to have no end.

After delegating the gathering of batteries and flashlights and checking in with family via cell phone, we sat at the kitchen table and talked and played cards and board games until dark.

I love those times.  Some of our best family memories were squeezed into our busy agendas by thunderstorms and power outages.  Sitting at home in the dark reminded me of a visit with an Amish friend a few weeks ago.  I’d never been invited into his home before this particular visit.  We always talked outside.  But on this night, we found ourselves laughing and sharing stories by lamp light with Noah and his wife Jemima and their 12 kids.  The children were all sitting on their big family room floor at the edge of the soft circle of lamplight which spread out like a round carpet.  They didn’t dare say a word, just laughed when mom and dad did, and kept our cup of spicy friendship tea full.

Almost by accident, I blurted out the question, “Noah, why do Amish not have cars or TV’s or computers and all that?”

“Too many distractions.” He said, stroking his beard.  “They can tear a family and community apart.”

Part of me hates to admit it.  After all, I own a technology company.  But Noah is right.  We do, far too often, let things distract us from what’s most important. 

We overlook the basics.  We’re so overcome by events, many we can’t control, that we don’t see that an employee needs an encouraging word.  We don’t see that we’re not measuring and paying attention as we should, or we’re simply so focused on our immediate problems that we’ve rushed ourselves into making bad decisions.

As a leader, few things are more valuable than clarity of thought and freedom from distraction.  In order to have clarity, we have to interrupt the barrage of random worries that dominate our minds.  Life’s storms do that for us sometimes.

Recently, my boys brought home their first progress reports from school.  The grades weren’t good.  That caused a real “storm” for us that night.

Having learned  a valuable lesson from my friend Noah and the power outage caused by hurricane Ike,  I made the decision to eliminate or tightly manage everything in our home that distracts from studying and learning:

No more cell phone for my 17 year old during the week.
No TV during the week.  We only watch it on weekends and ONLY when homework and chores are done, or as a reward for a milestone reached.
No “Facebook”, “MySpace” or other social sites during the week.  TV rules apply.
No computer games.  TV rules apply.

Yes, we go on nature walks together now.  During the week even.  A lot.
Yes, we fish in our pond now.
Yes, we shoot BB guns together now.
Yes, we actually enjoy bing co-teachers for our kids, helping them for 2 – 3 hours a night with their homework!  We didn’t at first, but now that we have gathered all the resources available to us from the school and online, it’s actually a treat to spend this time with them, helping them learn.
Yes, we cook dinner together now.

Their grades have soared in the last two weeks, and we enjoy being home together even more than before.  I wish we had done it sooner.

Question is, what habits and distractions are sapping time or energy from you and making you less effective as a leader, coach and mentor to those important to you?

This October, take time to ask your employees, your spouse and your kids the following question: “If I could make more time to spend with you, what would you want to do with it?”

DG

I’ve learned, through trial and error, what my two boys and incredible wife value most. 

I’ve also learned what my employees value most.

The two are  often the same.

I only wish I could report that I deliver said “value” as consistently and predictably as I’d like.
Let’s just say I’m a work in progress

But what is it anyway, that is so important they’ll sometimes go to unhealthy means to get it?

It’s not money or “stuff”.  Not birthday parties or office celebrations; weekend trips or motivational boondoggles.

If you said “Time” or “Recognition”, you’d be partly right.

But there’s one overarching element that must be present or all others are rendered useless.

The answer?

They require your undivided attention.  They require that you listen.

John Maxwell, in his book Leadership Gold, gives five reasons listeners are more effective leaders:

1. Understanding People Precedes Leading Them:  It’s essential to understand the hopes and dreams of the people on your team.  Learn to understand and connect to be more effective.

2. Listening Is The Best Way To Learn:  (I differ with Mr. Maxwell a bit here.  I think teaching is the best way to learn, but for sure, the best teachers are the best listeners.)

3. Listening Can Keep Problems From Escalating:   A deaf ear is the first symptom of a closed mind, and having a closed mind is a surefire way to hurt your leadership.

4. Listening Establishes Trust:   Author  Brian Tracy says, “Listening builds trust, the foundation of all lasting relationships.”   (In other words, they don’t care how much you know ‘till they know how much you care. ) (continued on page 2)

5. Listening Can Improve The Organization:  You can never get the best out of people if you don’t know who they are, where they want to go, why they care, how they think and what they have to contribute.  You can learn those things only if you listen.

DG

Last year about this time, I sent an email to many of you inviting you to partake in the bounty of my family’s tomato harvest.  We had more tomatoes than we could possibly eat and it was a real joy to share them with you.

We have a nice crop this year and, depending on the weather and bugs and other stuff, we should have plenty to share this time around too.  Send me an email if you’d like some.  I’ll put you on the priority list. J 

Gardening is a fun pastime for me, even though I do it on a very, very small scale.  This spring, though, I decided to add another crop to my list.

When I was 16 years old, my naturalist grandfather gave me a beehive , thinking it was a perfect gift for a boy my age.  I had helped him during my adolescent years, harvesting honey and cleaning hives for the summer season.  Still, I only had a couple of things on my mind now that I was 16, and honeybees weren’t one of them.

But after being threatened by my mom to cut off my food supply, I cheerfully accepted the gift, along with a small “How-To” book that came with them.

The word soon spread of the teenage beekeeper on highway 60 in little Smedley, Indiana.  People called from all over the county when a swarm landed near their home, and by the end of the summer I had seven colonies.

I abandoned the hobby completely when I went to college a couple years later, in the fall of 1983.

Last winter, 25 years later, some of my team and I were remembering how much fun we had last year giving tomatoes to you and the conversation moved to gardening, then to unusual hobbies.  Naturally, I had to throw my beekeeping experience into the ring.

One of our sales executives, Blake Deuser, spoke up and said “How cool would it be to give real honey, straight from the hive, to our clients to thank them for their business”

So I now have three colonies on our small mini-farm in southern Indiana.

What I didn’t anticipate was the fascination both my boys and my wife would have with them.  They have given me many, many opportunities to teach my boys about responsibility, hard work, leadership, followership, perseverance…the list goes on.  Look for more from me on the lessons my family and I are learning from mother nature in future issues.  As for the honey crop this year, well, it’s a bit light.  It’ll be next season before they’re established well enough for a big harvest.  I plan to build up to 10 colonies, which when mature can produce up to 600 pounds of honey.  Plenty for everyone.  I’ll keep you posted.
DG

As a 3rd grader sitting at the kitchen table, my grandmother, Oza Riley, would quiz me REPEATEDLY on my multiplication tables.  I remember it like yesterday.  “Practice makes perfect”, she would say firmly.

My grandmother was right…almost.

Howard Hendricks, author of the book Teaching to Change Lives (Multnomah Publishers, 1987) says perhaps a more accurate way to state it is “Practice Makes Permanent”.

For example, if you play golf, as I do, you could practice for years and never improve your game if you are practicing the wrong way.

You need a coach to point out your blind spots.  Someone to force you to change your stance and position (or at least test a new one) so that you get more power out of your swing and hit the ball farther and straighter than before.

Of course, it won’t feel natural.  It might even feel like he (or she) is trying to twist you into a human pretzel at first!  And you’ll need to repeat the new motion again and again and again, making corrections along the way, until you get it right.

In your career as a leader of I.T. professionals, are you getting the feedback and correction you need to hone your leadership skills?  Is someone helping you to communicate more effectively and improve your ability to attract, engage, inspire, motivate and persuade others?  Are you able to move them from mediocrity to peak performance as people and professionals?

And, are YOU giving your team the feedback THEY need to improve?

Here’s the bottom line:  Keep practicing, the right way!  Get feedback from superiors, peers and your troops on how you’re doing, and do the same for them if appropriate.  Find a strong leader who can observe you in action and invite them to quiz you at the office conference table, pushing you out of your comfort zone like my grandmother did (and yours probably did, too).   DG

If you want to be a better manager, here’s one sure bet: Surround yourself with people who are willing to speak their minds.

If you ensure that the people who work for you are the kind who will tell you the truth and not hold back out of fear, you will open a flow a information that will allow you to stay on top of troubles that inevitably develop in a workplace.

While a group of people who are always admiring you might be comfortable to be around, they are not likely to help you define and solve the problems that will keep things running smoothly in the long run.