John Hersey Leadership Blog

During our keynote leadership presentations we have been asking our audiences what they have done in the past twelve months to get better at being a better leader. This is not a question about what their company has done for them, but what they have done. Observing what happens when we ask the question is far more interesting and telling than hearing the answer.

Audiences actually start to squirm in their seats. They look down to the floor, avoiding eye contact out of fear that we’ll actually call on them.

You see, the biggest leadership challenge in most organizations is that way too many people are waiting for someone else to do it—lead. We complain that the top brass don’t step up; the top brass complain that the middle managers are too weak, while the folks that actually implement the work wonder if anyone is ever going to lead.

As business continues to experience the challenges of a flattening world and a pressured U.S. economy, taking responsibility for our own development will be more and more important. Long gone are the days when our company solely takes on the challenge of making individuals better at being better leaders. The fact is that organizations will increasingly look to the individual and ask “How are you investing in yourself?”

So start investing in yourself! How about:

• Join Toastmaster and develop your public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback in local clubs www.toastmasters.com .

• Take on the internet. We recently hired a coach, Tom Antion at http://www.greatinternetmarketing.com . It is not easy but we are making great progress in an area that we need to develop if we are not going to be left behind as leaders.

• Research and subscribe to blogs in your area of business expertise to get current points of view and resources.

• Read, read, read…take a speed reading course and read your heart out, reference your newly acquired knowledge in conversations, recommend books, share quotes.

• Don’t have time to read? Subscribe to www.dearreader.com

Join the free business book club. Every week day you will receive a 5 minute read from current business books…one book a week.

Getting better at being a better leader is something each of us must begin to own up to. It’s a process. Start today and everyday do something that will make you a wee bit better.

John

John and I make a point to surround ourselves with people who have a positive mindset, even during an economic downturn. Here are a couple of excerpts from emails we received this weekend:

Here is some great insight on how to not only survive but thrive during these unusual economic times.

OneCoach CEO John Assaraf and President Scott deMoulin (www.onecoach.com ) discussed what you can focus on now to get the business you want, regardless of what’s going on out there.

Some key takeaways:

• In order to live a life of unlimited abundance, you must focus on what you want to create, rather than living a life of default focused on what is already happening.
• If you focus on the problems, then it is difficult to see the opportunities in front of you to take advantage of.
• Your mind can only focus on one image at a time, so if you are focused on the challenges then that is the only thing you are going to see.

And here’s what Joe Vitale ( http://www.mrfire.com/) says-Like many marketers who are busier than ever right now, watching TV is very low on the priority list.

But the other day during a much needed break, I turned the TV on to see what was going on in the world.

I almost wish I didn’t.

After watching just 10 minutes of the news and learning about massive corporations going out of business, the stock market going bonkers, the housing market, and the recession, you’d think that we’re on the brink of a complete and total economic crash.

I can only imagine the mindset of people who spend a great deal of time in front of the TV watching the doom and gloom news.

They must be completely scared out of their minds.

And for some, they really have every right to be… unless they know the *ONE* thing that can completely recession-proof their life and business.

What the news isn’t talking about is how many people are having their most profitable years EVER….

There are no mentions of how people are driving more traffic to their websites than ever before…

And there are no mentions of people spending fortunes to attend marketing events around the world, take their families on vacations, and are truly living the life of their dreams.

Why isn’t the media talking about these people?

Can’t we feed our heads with good information like this rather than staying up late at night until we are blurried eyed from watching politicians and bureaucrats point fingers at one another and tell us that the sky is falling.

We think so!

Bev

Paul Potts -- Captivates the Opera World

Paul Potts is a mobile phone salesman who had a dream to sing opera. He is a shy and humble man who is short on confidence standing on a big stage about to exhibit is voice. The judges, one being the opinionated Simon Cowell for Britain’s Got Talent, would decide if Paul’s got it. Paul is risking the dream to do
what he always thought he was put on this earth to do. He has pushed through his fear and found enough gumption to go for it.

Experience Paul and you decide. Was it worth it for him to push through his fear and possibly risk his dream? Would you have done it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_5W4t_CBzg&feature=related

Bev

Full of Possibility

Michael Edward Ronan was born on August 26, 2008 at 4:35AM EST. As grandparents, we could not be more proud.

While visiting Michael in Boston we could not help but notice just how full of possibility he is. Everything is new, fresh, untried, untested. There is nothing he cannot do, as long as he is willing to give it a go, and his parents and grandparents allow him to do so. He does not know failure so it cannot hold him back. He does not know success so it cannot motivate him forward.

Somehow, Michael Edward Ronan knows that he has been born into a world that is full of possibility. Thus far, he appears to be open to all of it, that is when he is not sleeping or eating. It is a miracle to be in the presence of someone so small with everything in front of him and none of the junk that holds we humans back behind him. As grandparents our job is to see to it that the junk is kept to a minimum so Michael Edward Ronan can joyfully, enthusiastically and passionately be all that he chooses to be.

Wouldn’t the world be a truly wonderful place if we could all see only possibility?

John and Bev

Hello friends;

We are all being barraged with bad news and because of that strong and dedicated leadership is more critical than ever. Besides, we have a choice about whether we will allow the news to dictate our success or shall we succeed despite of the news.

Personally, Beverly and I have decided to not play in the negativity sand box. It’s way too crowded. Instead, we are creating it that the next 24 months will be awesome; different, but awesome.

To help, we have uploaded five recordings to keep our mindset focused. These five recordings are set up for 10 easy minutes of listening and inspiration and can be accessed by clicking on anyone of the links below.

This is our way of contributing to the continued success of our friends and associates. Please pass these on to others who could use a little lift right now.

Be well, Be Contagious, and Be UNFORGETTABLE

John Hersey and Beverly Belury

Being Unforgettable Audio – Great leaders know that being ordinary is unacceptable. It is risky and puts yourself, your company, your brand at a competitive disadvantage. This 10 minute audio explains the risks and offers suggestions on becoming an Unforgettable Leader.

Being Unreasonable Audio – To be Unforgettable Leaders we must stop being reasonable and start expecting UNREASONABLE from ourselves. This 10 minute audio is a great reminder about why we need to be unreasonable and how we might begin the process of achieving it.

Consistency Audio — Our friends at OneCoach (www.onecoach.com ) keep telling us that consistently focusing on the top 20% of our income and impact producing activities is critical for being unforgettable and attaining unforgettable results. This 10 minute audio gives you a few things to consider as you set forth to improve consistency and develop a highly effective routine.

Power of We Audio — Unforgettable Leaders have learned the value in developing long-term relationships. They look at the lifetime value of every customer and prospect rather than looking at them as a transaction. This short audio will help you stay focused on building your relationship bank account.

Power of Routine Audio – Way too many aspiring leaders go to work everyday without a plan. They lack a routine. Remember, “Discipline, not desire, determines destiny.” We all know what to do to be successful. Doing it is another matter. This 10 minute audio will help you focus on your routine.