12 Powerful A’s for Leaders
Add: Increase. “She added to our fulfillment by scheduling round-table conversations with satisfied customers.”
Abandon: Unreserved dedication to people, mission, and vision. “He fully committed to making his team successful.”
Adjust: Look for better ways to reach short and long-term goals. She never used, “We’ve always done it that way,” as an excuse to ignore new ideas.
Affirm: Point out behaviors and attitudes that get things done. “He told them their commitment to bring out the best in each other was central to their success.”
And: Bring the best of all ideas together to reach the richest decision. She worked toward “and” rather than “either/or” decisions.
Apologize: Acknowledge wrongs. After acting rudely toward teammates he said, “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”
Approve: Look for things you like and let people know you like them. Say four positives for every negative. She said, “I really like the way you solve problems together.” (See affirm.)
Approachable: Without protective barriers. He welcomed people into his space and asked, “How can I help?”
Aspire: Stay in touch with your inner dream. She was glad for reaching career milestones but continued looking for ways to make meaningful contribution.
Ass: Self absorbed leader who believes they are the center of the universe. He gloated over his executive parking space and the windows in his office.
Authentic: Without mask or manipulation. She spoke from her heart when dealing with performance issues.
Authorize: Give permission. He went out of his way to tell people to make the best decision and move forward as long as they expressed organizational values and worked toward goals that aligned with organizational mission.
What “A” words would you add to the ABC’s for leaders?
How would you add to or modify definitions I’ve offered?
See Facebook for more A’s for leaders.
I’m working my way through the alphabet and look forward to your contributions.
Appreciate. The A in CARE. Thanks Dan. These are great.
Al
Thanks Al. I appreciate your comment. 🙂
Always. In the case of coaches, we must ALWAYS show the players we have their best interests at heart or all the Xs and Os don’t mean a thing. Brad Oringer-The College of Mount Saint Vincent
Thanks Brad. I like the idea of including things that leaders “Always” do.
Acknowledge – not only the work that gets done but also the person behind the work. See the person, not just a job description with legs.
Thanks Joe. That feels like authenticity and compassion to me. Glad you added your insight.
Similar to Authorize, Actuate: motivate to take action.
Thanks Pete. I need to use that word today!
Awesome – Be awesome, inspire awesome.
Like this idea Dan – saw it come up on your facebook page and was waiting to see the aoutcome..
Thanks Richard. Awesome comment. This is the third alphabet series I’ve attempted. Glad you joined in.
Authentic is a critical component of leadership.
Paul
Thanks Paul. I love the word. I wish it didn’t feel overused.
Available – spending time with your team and building those relationships. I want them to know they can always grab me for a chat good or bad.
Thanks Heather. Good one. Isolation is easy and safe.
Allow: Allow others to act.
Thanks Bob. Yes, it can be easy to do it yourself or micromanage when others take action.
Able and Awareness: be present with your team (and others); see their gifts as well as their weaknesses and use coaching opportunities. Great post Dan, thank you!
Thanks Melanie. I really like the approach of seeing the gifts of others. It reflects an outward focus.
Dear Dan,
I like two words- aspire and authentic.
Leaders aspire people with their authenticity. They do everything with conviction and dedication. They are aware about their purpose. They are unshakable from external aberrations. They have great determination. So, the new words are aware and aberrations. Leaders are aware about their mission and do not deviate from aberrations.
I add here one word- adulation. When leaders are influenced by adulation, they start becoming manipulators. Leaders refrain from adulation. They do not believe in adulation. They create distance with adulators.
Thanks Dr. Gupta. You surprised me with your take on adulation. Giving us a warning is very useful.
Autonomy: Autonomy for your team…the empowerment of freedom to take chances and learn from mistakes.
Thanks Jody. Love autonomy. I wish I had thought of it.
Dan- I love the list.
I would add Ask… The great leaders that I have come across are unafraid to say “I don’t know”. They are constantly asking for feedback and freely ask for help, unencumbered by fragile or swollen egos!
I am struggling with Abandon- as I’m thinking it is ok to have unreserved dedication. Perhaps what you are getting at is unexamined or blind dedication? I am thinking that the dedication and care for team members and for vision, mission, can be without reserve- but should not be blnd-without question and/or ongoing reexamination. What do you think, oh wise one?!
Thanks Lori. Another great word to add.
I see your take on abandon. I’m using it in the sense of unreserved. I see your concern about being blind. Thanks for adding your perspective.
AND is such a powerful concept (the melding of ideas). Also, ASPIRE to make meaningful contributions. I also think strong leaders are ANCHORED. They are not easily swayed by fads or superficiality. They have a strong moral and ethical compass. And the great thing about an anchor is that you can weigh anchor and move when you need to.
Thanks Steven. Anchored is a great word. I like the sense of stability AND the way it allows for movement.
Alliance. Great list of “A’s” and I look to building an alliance with my team, our board, stakeholders and the community. Better as one alliance than fragmented teams and organizations seeking their own goals, which often leads to duplication of resources, turf building and slow progress.
Thanks Jayne. Alliance is another great A-word. How you contrast it with fragmented teams is important.
Words, starting with any letter in the alphabet, mean nothing without “ACTION.”
Thanks Bob. You amplify the power of this post.
“Assistance”, all leaders should be willing to offer assistance to their employees, either physical or knowledge based. Cheers
Thanks Tim. Another great word. They just keep arriving. 🙂
ACT – which I view differently from ACTION. Sometimes you have to ACT the part, even when you do not want to, and sometime you have to allow others to ACT to strengthen their skills. Great list, with many good additions!
Thanks Cheryl. Some might find it awkward to “act” the part. But, I believe you are right. We fulfill our responsibilities even when we don’t feel like it.
Hey Freak!! You get an ahhhhhh “A+” for this one!! GOOD STUFF …AS ALWAYS
Thanks Ferrell. Amazing comment.
Action – Always look towards doing as opposed to talking about doing.
Thanks Garret. I’m glad you joined in.
13 never is the most favored number.. but the 13th A that I can think about this post is Awesome..
Thanks Soul… I hadn’t thought about #13! But awesome is an awesome word.
AUTHORIZE…..YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Empowering people to make sound decisions is a confidence building/boosting exercise. When people know you have faith in them it makes them want to do a good job.
Fun post! I might add –
AUGMENT – Change, if necessary, to include others and encourage growth of the participating group toward goals.
Applaud – In addition to recognition, take the time to celebrate individual and team success (and clever posts).
Thanks Dominique. We can take applaud figuratively AND literally. Glad you added to the conversation.
“Adjust” … roll with the punches … “ADAPT”! I’m currently working somewhere where “we’ve always do it that way” permeates the mindset. Staying still in your perspectives is a recipe to whither and die as a leader.
Astute – leaders need to be able to make sense of things quickly and accurately
Leaders hold themselves accountable to people around them.
Leaders accompany his people – they are part of the team and are not. They work with the team with a greater responsibility.
Leaders accommodate the people around them – I mean in the way for protection and shielding their team.
Authentic is key to being a great leader. When others feel that you are authentic they also feel Assured. We trust an authentic leader and that assurance is a powerhouse for motivation. 🙂
ADULT – put “childish behavior” behind you – be the grown up – even when you’re don’t feel like it
Thanks Phillip. Simple and true.
Advocate for ideas that improve the common good. Advocate for those that cannot.