September 2025 | Buffet of Leadership

September 2025

www.SOGiants.com

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Sir Isaac Newton 1643-1727

As we move through September we are marked with a season of sharpened focus where leaders harvest what has been built and rally teams for the final sprint. At SOGiants, we see this as the month to balance patience with momentum and turn change into opportunity, so here we go!

I don’t know about you, but I occasionally enjoy a nice buffet dinner! Lots of choices! You don’t have to try everything, but you can try it all if you like. Choices! When mentoring through the years, I tell my younger friends that at their age they should see life as a big buffet. They should try anything that appeals to them. By doing this, they are likely to find what they will have more of or never have again. In the same way, we should spend our early lives trying the “buffet of life.” Try different jobs, play many roles, see what we like. We might find what we never want to do again but by sampling the “buffet of life,” hopefully, we will find something that we love to do and perhaps spend a large part of our lives pursuing as a career. As we mature, we should start to narrow our path. There should be a time when we no longer just think about being a doctor, owning our own restaurant, becoming a teacher, or a professional athlete. At some point, we need to pursue the chosen path with a passion. 

Another consideration in thinking about buffets might be the “buffet of leadership.” There can be levels of leadership, for sure. Many may try being a leader, but it is simply not something they enjoy or are truly good at. Leadership is not for everyone. If we do find that we want leadership to be a part of our life journey, our first step should be to find a leader or leaders on whose shoulders we might stand. If we are already leaders, we should be seeking people who aspire to be leaders and allow them to stand on our shoulders. Either way, we can always seek out a leader or leaders to follow and use as mentors.

Let’s look at what I would call a simplified “Buffet of Leadership”

(not in any particular order)

A.    Be kind: No fits, no yelling, and no condescension. Just be kind to all.

B.    Thank people; Everyone likes to be appreciated. Say, “Thank you” a lot.

C.    When you must reprimand, always do it in private, never in a public gathering. Always one on one.

D.    Praise: Praise in public AND in private. Acknowledging someone in front of their peers is great, but doing so in private adds extra value to the praise. 

E.     Be honest with people. We all get better when we are honest. No muttering and whining. Integrity is everything!

F.     Make more leaders. In our search for leaders on whose shoulders we can stand, we must also develop leaders that can stand on our shoulders. Leaders must “replace themselves.”

I am sure that we could add to our leadership buffet, but for now, let’s work on these half dozen “buffet” items. Let’s pass them on and create a “pandemic of leadership.” Not only will it change your life but also the lives of others, and most certainly, your company.

“The two most important days of your life are the day you were

born and the day you find out why.”

Mark Twain

Michael M. Carney mr.mikecarney@gmail.com

A special thank you to my support team!

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