Each week, we will be highlighting someone we think demonstrates the actions, thoughts and mindset of a Contagious Leader. Franco Graceffa is our contagious leader this week.
Those who have heard us speak probably know about our friend and his restaurant, Dolce Vita, in the North End of Boston, Ma. Franco is our hero for exemplifying the concept of CUEing, creating unforgettable experiences. He does it in spades and because of that his restaurant has been around for years while other ordinary restaurants just come and go. He knows the experience is not just the food and clean linen but creating a feeling, an emotional connection with his customers so they feel they belong, that they are family.
Franco is a leader. He knows that to be distinctive, to be unforgettable, to treat each guest with enthusiasm and joy for seeing them again. He hadn’t seen us for years yet……..A kiss on each cheek (for John too) and a warm “Ai, YAi, YAi (or something like that) you guys look like movie stars.”
Now how would that make YOU feel?
If you would like to nominate someone, feel free to send us an email by clicking here, and we would love to consider them! Please tell us a bit about them and what makes them Contagious in their leadership.
It is amazing how much energy we spend in criticizing and whining about our bosses.
So much so that by judging by the large percentage of posts on the web, one would bet that every boss out there is an idiot, a dysfunctional jerk, an out-of-touch loser, or simply craps.
Of course we understand that the only way to improve someone’s management and behavior is to observe what that person is doing wrong; however, the majority of posts and comments are written in such a way that confirms their only goal is to whine, very much like a child complaining about how mean dad or mom are without actually grasping the point.
Well, it is about time for all of us to grasp this:
If you behave like a victim, bathed in self-pity, or act as if you deserve better, you are in for something bad, and you may end up getting fired or seriously harming your career.
In order to avoid this creepy scenario, here’s a lousy boss’s reality check:
- Confront your boss face to face and you will lose
No matter how mistaken your boss is and how bad he may look in a given situation, he can, and probably will, fire you if you challenge him directly.
- You do have a choice, make it
This is a free country, and if you don’t agree with your boss’s character, you can quit.
“But, I love my job and most importantly, I need it!”… Ahhh! Then, put your pride aside and exercise your patience.
It is your choice.
Equally, you can go over your boss to HR, but it may end badly for you. Remember that your boss may be highly respected in the company.
- What if the problem is you?
Have you observed your behavior towards your job and boss?
Maybe your boss has a lot to say about your attitude and performance too, because if something is certain in the business world, it is that lousy employees are out there in the millions.
So, observe yourself and your actions at work before acting emotionally. Remember that when something about someone else bothers you deeply it is because that something lives inside you as well.
- There are only so many bridges one can burn
When you’re young, you don’t consider that the choices you make and your behavior will follow you later.
If you burn all your bridges, at some point you won’t be able to cross anywhere. Sure, you will have no boss, but also no job!
What’s the point then? The point is you DON’T go against a lousy boss.
Of course all of us, even the best leadership speaker and coach, have had crappy bosses, and we understand what an employee who is exposed to such a boss feels like, but this is no excuse for acting without a clear perspective, because it can only get worse for you.
If it gets truly unbearable, exercise your right to choose, and quit.
Outstanding leadership is now manifesting through one of the oldest forms of communication, the handwritten note.
Writing personal thank you notes expresses how you feel about aspiring leaders and their value to your company. The hidden message behind a written note of praise is that “I truly appreciate you.”
Handwritten notes can greatly help you create a leadership culture within your organization and their benefits are huge. These notes are remembered, and they produce a feeling of distinction and individuality on the one who receives it.
John Hersey, renowned leadership speaker and coach, has heard from people who, after several years, still remember that special thank you note they received from their supervisor or CEO. Such a small, but personal touch can truly leave a lasting impression and positively impact someone’s life.
Some leaders state that it is easier to email, and maybe it is, however emails are impersonal, cold and hollow. Emails are the electronic version of a Post-It note. It is like buying plastic flowers for an anniversary; it is a gesture, but a very superficial one.
Still, other leaders say it is easier to delegate the task to their secretary or assistant, and again, perhaps it is, but in this case you are better off not sending anything.
Hersey recommends a leadership program called ‘Recognize Five’. In this program, every week or month you identify five team members within your organization or department who deserve praise for something they did or said. Handwrite a short note to each one of them detailing what they did, how it impacted the company, and say something in appreciation, then, send it to their home address.
The result of a handwritten note is increased morale, production and loyalty, which in turn bring about higher leadership retention. The costs of a first-class stamp and five minutes of your time are a low price to pay for such a positive outcome.
Each week, we will be highlighting (or “spotlighting”) someone we think demonstrates the actions, thoughts and mindset of a Contagious Leader. This week’s spotlight is on Frank Shankwitz.
Frank Shankwitz is a Prescott, Arizona resident and a 37 year veteran of the Arizona Highway Patrol. He’s a cop, always has been, probably always will be. He has seen bad things happen everyday for 37 years and you would think his outlook on life might be colored by that.
Not Frank Shankwitz!
This big man has an even bigger heart. That’s how he was able to make the world a better place for 230,000+ kids with life-threatening diseases since 1980.
Frank is a contagious leader. He saw a need, knew he could make wishes come true for kids if he found the right people to pull it together. And he did with a ‘can do’ attitude, a clear vision and uncompromising focus.
If you would like to nominate someone, feel free to send us an email by clicking here, and we would love to consider them! Please tell us a bit about them and what makes them Contagious in their leadership.
Each week, we will be highlighting (or “spotlighting”) someone we think demonstrates the actions, thoughts and mindset of a Contagious Leader.
Noah Plumb is an inspiring GoDaddy.com employee. When Eric Keosky-Smith arranged for the Fountain Hills Leaders Institute to meet with Warren Edelmann, COO of GoDaddy.com and to tour the facilities last year, we had no idea that we would still be thinking about Noah. Noah gave us the tour.
It occurred to us that we rarely hear an employee so enthusiastically rave about their company, passionately engaged with the success of GoDaddy.com as he constantly offers up suggestions to grab more market share, expand products and boost morale even more. And GoDaddy.com has had something to do with this relationship as they warmly embrace and encourage even more suggestions from Noah. Noah proclaims that he is a lifer at GoDaddy.com, he drank the cool-aid!
Noah is a Contagious Leader! Congratulations, Noah!
If you would like to nominate someone, feel free to send us an email by clicking here, and we would love to consider them! Please tell us a bit about them and what makes them Contagious in their leadership.
Contagious Leaders know that they have to help their teams find passion, energy and excitement for the vision. People get excited by people who are excited. So, find ways to get excited and you’ll see the excitement around you change. It really is that simple.
So many of us long for the “good old days” when the good guys finished first. It seems as though those days have been replaced by all the “bad boys” winning the big games and gaining all the notoriety and huge pay days. Well, we have news for you; the good old days may still be with us.
We recently traveled to Baltimore to visit relatives and participate in a fund raiser for the Baer School, which Bev’s sister Debbie Kastendike, her uisband Graham and their sons Eric and Christopher and his wife Ashley are deeply involved with. The plan was to have an affair at the Legends of Sport Heroes right near Camden Yards where to Baltimore Orioles still play. A special treat would be an appearance by Joe Flacco, Quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. With all the controversy about and around “star athletes” these days I wasn’t so sure that the QB’s appearance was anything worth getting all excited over. Boy, was I wrong!
Joe Flacco impressed each of the 200 people there, including the biggest doubting Thomas of all, me.
Joe Flacco and the Kids of The Baer School
Joe and more Kids
Eric Kastendike, Joe Flacco and Christopher Kastendike
Joe Flacco and Ashley kastendike
Joe and another Baer School Charmer
To watch him was to learn about him. He began quietly, appearing a bit shy at first. Then as we entered the room where the kids were he began to be more lively. For the last picture above he actually asked if the little girl would like to have a picture taken. He didn’t presume she wanted the shot, nor did he walk away relieved that he avoided yet another inconvenience. No, he asked if she would like a picture.
Most of these kids had no idea who Joe Flacco is, nor did they care. They only knew that he enjoyed being with them, paying attention to them, talking with them, smiling with them. They loved him for that and so did the delighted people that came to help the Baer School.
That night, we all saw a side of Joe Flacco, and perhaps other “star athletes” that made us revisit our attitudes toward all athletes. Perhaps they are not all thugs and bad boys. Perhaps a few, like Joe Flacco, are really good guys that just dress up like athletes and happen to get paid a lot of money for doing so. This doesn’t make them bad. In fact, it just helped prove a really important point for all of us. Despite what the world may look like from time to time, good guys really do finish first.
Passion Counts, it sells, it inspires and people respond to passion. So, if you are not naturally passionate how does an aspiring leader get passionate. The 3 E’s of a Passionate Leader are:
Each week, we will be highlighting someone we think demonstrates the actions, thoughts and mindset of a Contagious Leader. Franco Graceffa is our contagious leader this week.
It is amazing how much energy we spend in criticizing and whining about our bosses. 
Frank Shankwitz is a Prescott, Arizona resident and a 37 year veteran of the Arizona Highway Patrol. He’s a cop, always has been, probably always will be. He has seen bad things happen everyday for 37 years and you would think his outlook on life might be colored by that.
Each week, we will be highlighting (or “spotlighting”) someone we think demonstrates the actions, thoughts and mindset of a Contagious Leader.
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