My One Word of Advice – v1.1
I asked leaders, “What advice would you give someone based on the behaviors that have helped you get where you are today?
Be as specific as possible.
Translate “not” statements into positive behaviors. Find a positive way to say, “Don’t be lazy,” for example.
One word of advice – in some cases a few words more than one:
“Seek input and take new actions to become a better version of YOU every day.” CEO in Environmental Consulting
“Loving and wanting the best for people is the key to their growth and yours.” Bob Hancox Executive Coach
“Be curious about others but true to yourself.” National GIS Coordinator, Ducks Unlimited. He added, “If I could do it all over again, I would work towards living according to the mantra: Time equals love.” From No Word for Time.
“Connect.” Henry Mintzberg
“I’d tell them not to do things half-assed.” Project Manager
“Son, whatever you choose to do, do it with 100% integrity and 100% effort.” Zig Ziglar (Tom Ziglar on the best advice he ever received.)
“Ask more questions, be open to the idea that they could be wrong, and strive for excellence while accepting imperfect progress.” Dan Rockwell
“Always apply your best leadership towards people, listen carefully to what people have to say, be determined to succeed even if failure appears every so often, continue the development of yourself and show interest in the development of others.” Richard Nentwich Director Hotel Operations Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
“Connect with people and show up to serve. Stop thinking so much about what’s happening to you.” V.P. and CIO
Which of the above word’s of advice are most meaningful to you?
If you could say one thing to help someone reach a little higher and get a little further, what would you say? Base your response on the behaviors that have helped you get where you are today, not theory.
Note: I’m posting on this topic again next week.
Be grateful, stay cheerful!
YOu might say that gratitude makes you cheerful. 🙂
The last one is big. Always good to stop thinking so much about what we’re going through ourselves, because everyone has a battle they’re facing. Plus, helping others is a great way to help ourselves.
It’s so true. We’re better when we help others get better.
Practice continuous improvement. Always ask yourself—how could I have done that better?
This helps us receive feedback when it stings.
Show up. Get in the game. Add value.
LOVE first, LEAD second. But always do BOTH. Scott Ridout, President, Converge
It’s the people, stupid! Thanks
Expect. Inspect. Respect.
Spoken like a successful manager. Looks like a virtuous circle.
Commit to your best self, have vision, seek guidance, remove your fears, and remember that life has valleys (low places), you must find the value in the valley to be strengthened for the next chapter.
I love that phrase – “find the value in the valley”. Thanks.
Me too!
I’m working on a post based on the value of the valley.
Look after yourself, develop yourself, and you will be better able to serve and lead others.
Self-development is the first development.
Expect results. Forgive failures. Enable progress.
Been living by this since you wrote it in 2014. Thank you for it.
Thanks for the shout out Deb. Here’s to continued growth and success.
“The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice we give others.” I laughed at this, when I am frustrated or things are not going the way I want them to, I often say what would I tell myself to do. An example of, we know what to do, but we don’t always do it.
It’s a little poke in the eye for me. 🙂
Know your finish line; celebrate the small wins daily that will get you there, be kind along the way and keep the distractions in your rear view.
Another of my favorites from Zig Ziglar:
You can have everything in life you want, IF you will help enough others get what they want.
Dan, i really liked your quote: “Ask more questions, be open to the idea that they could be wrong, and strive for excellence while accepting imperfect progress.” I might modify and keep it at “Strive for excellence while accepting imperfect progress.”
“Son, whatever you choose to do, do it with 100% integrity and 100% effort.” Zig Ziglar (Tom Ziglar on the best advice he ever received.) I’ve been successful when I tow this line. Even if it leads to failure in the short term, it always leads to success down the road (the left road that is since I usually take the road less traveled).
strive for excellence while accepting imperfect progress.” Dan Rockwell
Wow that one is hard for me. I want a great end to a project but should I expect that all during the project if the goal is still a high standard?
Stop thinking so much about what’s happening to you.
Oh its not all about Me? When did that happen? For real if I can get myself out of the way things go much better. Yes life has been hard but lets move forward and focus on the good things of the past and now.
Everything happens through people.
Prioritize people
Be vulnerable to be courageous. Our people don’t need or desire “perfect” leaders. They want leaders who empathize and lead with care as well as skill.
As a “senior” health care associate.. I tell students, new hires, my family members as well as others. That everyday that you go to work… is a job interview. If you go in …. you give it your ALL. Someone is watching. Those who know me… ALL know, what I mean when I ask: If your job became open today.. Would I hire you back today? Now that leads into some REAL conversations.
Show up and be present. Bring your authentic self and do GREAT things!
Be Organized and Deliver!
My advise to my children and my staff: “Do what you have to do today so that tomorrow you can do what you want to do”.
In humility, be concurrently 100% mission focused and 100% people focused.
Share credit. It doesn’t cost you anything to include someone in the recognition of a successful project/sale (even if they played a tiny part), but it will cost you dearly if you leave them out.
“Always… no wait, it was.. Never… just kidding. “Always keep a trash bag in your truck, because if it ever gets full, you can just throw it out the window.” Steve Martin
Seriously, all of the above advice is excellent. One of my favorites is the one from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Now that may fall into the quote category, rather than advice, but I think it speaks to the notion that you absolutely can make a difference, especially if you team up with people.
Thanks for the humor Rex! Mead’s quote is good advice. 🙂
“Be all you can be”.
“Pay attention”
“Always do your best”.
Be kind, love each other”.
“If it was easy, everyone would be doing it”
It’s not about you, it’s about THEM.
Wow, so many great ones, including in the comments! The lead statement, to act on the advice we give others, caught my attention. The succinct advice of “Connect” was great… so much in one word. The advice to stay curious about others rang a bell for me, seems like I’ve run across that in advice you’ve given, Dan. Curiosity leads to openness, which can pull out the best in people. Great idea, some interesting common threads.
Lead by example. Your team will mirror their leader. I’ve used this approach to lead from the bottom up throughout my professional career. It also works from the middle out.
My one piece of advice for me would be good at listening because if you’re new to a team, you need to listen to understand how things are. Employees can also voice their opinions and feel they are being heard. Listening for a leader can take you so far in productivity. As opposed to just implementing with no credibility and changing things right off the bat.
I would choose your words. “Ask more questions, be open to the idea that they could be wrong, and strive for excellence while accepting imperfect progress.” This is the way I think the world should work. Accepting that there are wrong answers and imperfection. I think there would be fewer wars and hate in the world based on this saying.
I would tell someone to learn from every experience even if it’s thought of an insignificant experience and listen more. For example, learning from a child or someone new. They all have a different perspective that someone could learn something from. Therefore, you can take all that knowledge in and make the best decision is right for you when the time is right.
So many great words in the post and comments, too, Dan! I would add: Be true to yourself and the people you serve, and strive to be YOUR best so that you can be your best self while you commit to helping others to be THEIR best. **That also includes forgiving yourself because the path to success is filled with failures, not perfection.
I learn from my mistakes. ‘Mistakes are lessons of wisdom.’ Sometimes due to negative responses of life one deprives him/her self the lessons that it teaches us. In Think Big by Ben Carson, Sonya would say to her boyr, ‘.. if they can do it, you can do more better.’ Sometimes I ask my true self this question, ‘if you could start all over again what would you do differently?’ I came to realize that the answer is hidden underneath my fear of the unknown and failing again and again. The truth is, it’s a game and to get a goal one must abide by it’s rules and create more if necessary. 🙂