ARTICLES BY DR. ANDY NEILLIE, CSP

What in the world does “Leadership 101: WLAO, TLAC” mean?
Eight words: Work Like An Owner, Think Like A Customer.
Leadership 101: I’m convinced if every leader could instill this type of thinking in themselves and in the teams they lead, it could totally transform the organizations they lead and the missions they serve.
Leadership 101: First, Work Like An Owner
Marcia Lindsey is one of our managers.  She’s been in charge of our Dallas-area facility since it opened.  …

“He who knows others is wise.  He who knows himself is enlightened.” — Lao Tzu

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” — Carl Rogers

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Leadership is about three things: people, difficult things and the future.  Let’s talk about the third element, leadership and the future.  In particular, let’s look at leadership and opportunity costs for the future.

An Unexpected Opportunity

Last year, we were presented with an opportunity to expand.  There was an ambitious landlord who loved our concept and offered us “a deal we couldn’t resist.” The location was right, the demographics were right,

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Luther Bruce wasn’t necessarily a skeptic.  But he asked hard questions that no one really wanted to hear. So he sometimes came across as one. And early in my career, I learned that “The Leader as Chief Skeptic” isn’t a bad thing.

My first corporate position was as the Director of Development for a private school – I was in charge of fundraising for a school where I had taught and coached for a number of years.  

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Does your organization have a set of core values? Are they core values, or are they simply an exercise some consultant took you and your leadership team through several years ago. I’m convinced there is a strong corollary between effective leadership and core values.

First of all, a declaration:

The core values of an organization are the promises it makes to its employees, customers, vendors and community.

When I recognized that core values,

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Leadership as an introvert looks different.

Let me clear the air: I’m an introvert.  I like people, but they drain me.  I’m good with names but not great.  I lead well in-the-moment, but remembering personal details about our team members when I don’t spend much time with them is hard for me.

I sometimes wish I could interact with four, maybe five people at the most, and still be considered an effective leader.  

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Leadership as Guardrail

“You don’t want to do that!” Uncle Dave said that to me as I opened the car door before we came to a complete stop. I’m not sure exactly what happened next, but it included me not listening to him, the car screeching to a halt, the door swinging open, a loud honking from the swerving pick-up truck next to us, and, perhaps most importantly for this 7-year-old boy, the strong arm of Uncle Dave reaching across from the driver’s side to grab me before I fell out the door and under the wheels of the truck.

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