June 2025 | This Old Guy’s Guide to Leading Better in June and Beyond
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
June 2024
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Sir Isaac Newton 1643-1727
As I read about leadership, I find folks have developed lists like: “The Top Ten Things That Leaders Do,” or “The Eight Things You Must Do as a Leader,” or here’s one: “The Seven Golden Rules of Leadership” (Betsy Bernard, former president of AT&T). John Maxwell has done a great job with this in many of his books as have many others. Most of them are worthwhile reading and make terrific points for developing leaders. Let’s face it, we should ALL be in the process of becoming better leaders. Hopefully, we know someone that “stands on our shoulders” who is working toward becoming a leader or a better leader. Today I offer some thoughts that you might find interesting. Here is a short list of thoughts from my personal list on “becoming a better leader.”
Be aware. See what is happening around you. Know your people. Of course, you know their names and what they are supposed to be doing in your company. I’m talking about something deeper. What do you know about them? What are their goals, their values…their stories? What do they bring with them to your team outside of just doing their job? What are the possibilities that leaders might gain by being more aware? Stop, look, listen… and see. Simply put, become more aware.
No tantrums! I remember a top-level manager that was very professional and very structured, holding high standards for herself, unless she got mad. Then her high standards flew out the window. The swearing and tearing were a sight to behold. This leader demonstrated unacceptable leadership to the other team members who looked up to her. Do you think for even a moment that the others did not take on a similar attitude and demonstrate similar behaviors when they worked with their teams? Some of the ways we teach is through our attitudes and behaviors. No temper tantrums!
Don’t be afraid! Fear does not support the forward movement of whatever cause for which you are fighting. Fear is like an anchor that you wear around your neck. Dump the anchor, dump the load, and move ever forward. I am sure that from this I have at least one of you thinking, “Easy enough said!” The truth is that we all have had fears and still have fears; we are all human. The secret is in addressing those fears face on. Having a plan to unload them will significantly change your role as a true leader. Nelson Mandella once said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” Pass it on!
Have hope! Hope is often confused with optimism or wishing for a specific outcome, but as Paula Davis, a stress management and work/life performance expert, writes in Psychology Today, “Hope is an active, cognitive process that involves setting goals, identifying ways to achieve them, and believing you can make that happen.” You can instill hope in your teams by giving them clear roles and small goals to help them get quick wins, while helping them master new challenges.
And there you have this month’s “wisdom” from this old guy: Be aware. No tantrums. Don’t be afraid. Have hope.
“We rise by lifting others”… Roger Ingersoll
Be well my friends. Happy June!!!
Michael M. Carney mr.mikecarney@gmail.com
A special thank you to my support team!
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