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By F. John Reh
These are the things that can help all of us be a little more of a leader.
He knew what he wanted to do. It is awfully hard to get others
to do what you want if you don't know what you want. If you manage a
customer service center, is your goal to have the lowest cost operation
or to answer all calls within 90 seconds.
The goal isn't as important as knowing what it is.
He told people what to do, not how to do it. He was a very
smart, well educated man, but he knew he wasn't smarter than everyone.
He encouraged people to think, to innovate, to be creative. He didn't
blindly accept what you came up with, but he expected you to come up
with something appropriate.
He did his homework. Before starting a new challenge, he
always tried to find out what others had tried that had succeeded or
failed. He researched the obstacles and opponents. He tried to give
himself the best chance of winning by learning as much as could at the
beginning. He was always learning and always thinking.
He led by example. He pushed his people hard. He
demanded a lot of them. But no one ever worked harder than he did. He
was the first one in and the last one to leave. And he worked hard the
whole time he was there. He knew how to play, but he knew how to
separate that from the job.
He demanded excellence, not perfection. He expected you
to work as hard as he did and to be as committed to the goal as he was.
He didn't expect you to do as much or as well as he did, he insisted,
however, that you do as much and as well as you could.
He took care of his people. He knew everyone who worked
for him as an individual. He knew their strengths and weaknesses, their
aspirations, their fears. He always took the criticism from outside the
group, but let each of them take the praise for what they contributed.
He was humble. I never understood why. With all he had
done and had accomplished in his life, he was always modest. There was
one time, about ten years ago, when he made a little boast. That one
probably doesn't count though - he was stating a fact and we were both
a little drunk.
He had character. He was honest and truthful. He was
dependable. When he gave you his word, you always knew you could count
on it. He didn't cheat. He didn't try to find the easy way out of a
tough situation. He didn't waffle on his principles. He was not
inflexible, but there simply were limits that he wouldn't cross.
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