Getting Back to Basics

It can happen to all of us. We have a library of books. We attend meetings and seminars. We read blogs and listen to those we know. We have experience as a leader and being led. We have all of this knowledge available to us about leadership. nAll of this "stuff" can get in our way.nnSometimes it really is best to get back to basics.nnIf you ask great athletes about the details and particulars of their sport, they can give you tons of technical details, any yet they still practice the fundamentals. Ask great presenters about their craft and they can tell you stories and walk about techniques, and in the end they will tell you to focus on your audience and the core of your message.nnSo it should be for leaders.nnYou have plenty of resources around you. You have plenty of books on the shelves. You have plenty of people who can tell you what great leadership is and looks like. All of it is valuable. All of it is helpful and all of it can help you be more effective - but only if you place it on a firm foundation.nnSeveral times I`ve asked groups to describe leadership in six words - just six words. I urge them to write a phrase, not just six adjectives.nnAnd that`s what I am asking you to do now.nnWhen you have your six word description you can return.nnIt doesn`t have to be perfect or a complete sentence. Let go of your inner judge and just describe leadership . . . in six words.nnRight now.nnStop reading, pick up your pen and write. (It`s OK, I`m not going anywhere.)nnWelcome back!nnIf you are expecting me to give you the scoring key or tell you the right answer, you`re going to be disappointed.nnI could give you a list of things to consider - but I won`t.nNow is the time for you to think about the fundamentals as you see them. Because how you see them has value and makes a difference.nnRead your six words right now. Listen to what they are saying - and what they`re not. Then think about how well you practice these fundamentals every day, regardless of your role or job title.nnLet your six words sit with you for a few hours or overnight. nnThen edit them if you feel you can improve your description.nOnce you`ve finalized your description write it somewhere easily accessible.nnCarry it with you and read it out loud three times a day for the next month. After you read it take a minute to think about what you can do in that moment to more completely do those words in your work and life.nnAt the end of thirty days you will be a more effective leader - not because of what someone else said but because of what you did.nnAnd what you did was practice the fundamentals.nnPotential Pointer: You will become a more effective leader when you continue to learn, but only when you build your lessons on a foundation of the leadership basics. Remind yourself of, and practice your fundamentals and you are on your way to becoming a truly Remarkable Leader.