CorePurpose - Joan Koerber-Walker's Blog

Responsibility, Leadership and Noblesse Oblige

Leadership is a popular word these days. Consultants preach it, journalists either praise it or bemoan it, companies, boards investors and customers demand it. 

The days when leaders were anointed at birth, except in a very few cases, are long gone. Today’s leaders may have great power… or none depending on the authority they wield.  But whatever level that may be, with leadership comes a corresponding measure of responsibility.

“For of those to whom much is given, much is required”

Bible (Luke 12:48)

Through the ages it has been written that leadership and responsibility go hand in hand.  Today, leadership takes many forms. We lead people in organizations. We lead with thoughts, ideas, and experience.  We lead in the development of processes and products.  As leaders, however and where ever we may lead, it is important to remember, leadership is not something that is merely handed to us, it is a privilege that must be continually earned.  For when our leadership falters, others cease to follow. If others choose not to follow, we are not leading, we are simply walking alone.

Noblesse oblige is a French phrase literally meaning "nobility obliges".

The Dictionnaire de l’Académie française defines it thus:

1. Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly.
2. (Figuratively) One must act in a fashion that conforms to one's position, and with the reputation that one has earned.

(Source: Wikipedia)

An Antiquated Concept or a Timely Reminder?

It’s easy to look back historically and find examples of of great leaders who lived by the standard of noblesse oblige just as it is only too easy to find the stories of those who failed.  In the present day, we are surrounded by examples from both sides of the continuum and everything in between.  Just turn on the news or check your favorite social media platform and look at what what is unfolding in the Middle East, in Japan, in Washington or in your own home town. 

Most of us do not lead nations, but we can lead in our organizations, our homes, our industries and our communities.  What we do shapes decisions, creates products and affects the lives of others in a myriad of ways today and in the future.

We each have our gifts: knowledge, experience, abilities, reputation, and authority.  It can be said that we have been given much.  So perhaps a question to ponder is… “What are we going to do with it?”

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Koerber-Walker is a two time Stevie Award National Finalist and Chairman of the Board of CorePurpose, Inc. and the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation.  She also serves as Executive in Residence for Callaman Ventures and on the boards of for profit and nonprofit organizations.  As the former CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association and a past member of the Board of Trustees of the National Small Business Association she has worked with hundreds of small businesses and on behalf of thousands.  Chat with her on Twitter as @joankw, @JKWgrowth, @JKWinnovation, @JKWleadership and @CorePurpose or at her blog at www.JoanKoerber-Walker.com.

 

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Do you have a snowball’s chance in …

When it comes to leading an organization, finding the right fit  for both the leader AND the team is critical to success.  When the fit is all wrong, you don’t have a  snowball’s chance in … well you know what I mean. 

 

An Andertoons Cartoon

 

Be up front about your culture.

The first step in avoiding leadership meltdown is understanding the culture that exists or that you are creating within your organization.  It’s easy to slap some words up on a website and say “Here it is – this is our culture” but very few people will actually pay it a whole lot of attention. The true culture inside your organization is based on the experiences of your employees, customers, and partners.  It starts with the example set by the leaders and reflects in the faces of the organization at every level.  If you are not sure what your culture really looks like, ask questions.  Just like a brand, culture exists in the perceptions of others.  If you don’t understand those perceptions, its unlikely you will understand what your culture truly reflects. 

As you come to understand your culture, your true values – those that you act on and demonstrate regularly will become clear.  Your company’s history, decisions and actions are the evidence of what your organization values.  Look at your true values carefully.  Do they match what you publicly say your values are?  If so, great.  If not, go back and look at the trail of evidence.  If stated values are misaligned with your true values, your team and your customers will be confused and you will most likely be building a culture that is inconsistent with where you as the leader want it and your organization to be.

Build around shared values

One way to help your culture and your company to stay on course is to lay a foundation of shared values and then build on them.  Ann Rhoades, founder of PeopleInk and author of Built On Values (Jossey Bass, 2011) knows what happens when you build a values based business.  Listen to what Ann shares based on first hand experience at Southwest Airlines, Jet Blue and many more great companies.

 

Ann Rhoades, founder of PeopleInk shares what it means to lead and succeed as a values based organization. (Video by John Wiley and Sons)

(Watch at YouTube )

When I first started CorePurpose back in 2002, Ann was one of the very first people to help me get started.  I still remember sitting at Z-Tejas over queso dip and chips and listening to Ann share her wisdom and experience.  The lessons she taught are still part of our culture today.  They are…

1. As a leader, be clear on your values and demonstrate them in your words AND actions.  If you are consistently true to them, your team and your company will be too.
2. Hire and fire based on values. 
3. Choose teammates employees, partners and customers whose values mesh with yours.   If you and your team share the same values, you will not have to worry about motivating them…they are already motivated.
4. When your company and its culture are built on solid values, your business will be on solid footing.

If you have not picked up a copy of Built On Values yet, I encourage you to do so.  Ann’s wisdom has served me well and it can help you and your team too.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

 

Joan Koerber-Walker is a two time Stevie Award National Finalist and Chairman of the Board of CorePurpose, Inc. and the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation.  She also serves as Executive in Residence for Callaman Ventures and on the boards of for profit and nonprofit organizations.  As the former CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association and a past member of the Board of Trustees of the National Small Business Association she has worked with hundreds of small businesses and on behalf of thousands.  Chat with her on Twitter as @joankw, @JKWgrowth, @JKWinnovation, @JKWleadership and @CorePurpose or at her blog at www.JoanKoerber-Walker.com.

 

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Are you a class act?

Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting some pretty amazing people.  Some were captains of industry, others were politicians, scientists, professional athletes, engineers, artists, celebrities or brilliant thought leaders.

Each, in their own way, was at the top of their personal game and it showed, not just in their accomplishments, which in some cases are legendary, but in the way they treated people.  Each one was a class act.

A class act is genuine

Recently, I got to meet another class act. His name is Dave Nemeth.  I met Dave when he and his wife Nanci came out for a project I was working on for my friend Morris Callaman.  There was lots to do and Dave pitched right in.  Rolling up his sleeves to help out in many different ways, lending his expertise and even stepping in to act as Master of Ceremonies to give the event a wonderful finishing touch.  Everyone on the team commented on what a genuinely nice person he was, how easy he was to work with and how professional he was.  It came as no surprise.  In addition to being a class act, Dave Nemeth is a pro.  His work has taken him into millions of homes across major U.S. markets via the nightly news, morning talk shows and as the male co-host that launched EXTRA! for Warner Brothers.

A class act has nothing to prove.

Dave is a great example of a lesson another class act taught me years ago.  That lesson came from Bernie Vonderschmitt, then chairman and CEO of Xilinx.  Bernie was a brilliant leader, engineer and businessman who was well known for his skill in building great companies AND great teams.  He shared his wisdom with me by using golf as an analogy for business and the kind of people you want to work with.  The lesson went like this…

“If you want too truly enjoy the game of golf.  Play with a scratch golfer. They don’t have anything to prove, they just enjoy what they do.”

~Bernie Vonderschmitt co-founder of Xilinx (1923 – 2004)

A class act looks out for others.

When you are great at what you do and secure in it, you don’t worry about what other people think.  That leaves plenty of time to champion others.  Dave Krieg may go down in the annuals of sports history for his leadership and stats as quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, and Tennessee Oilers/Titans, but for me he will go down in history as the leader who taught my sons and his that looking out for the little guy is everyone’s responsibility.  One of my favorite stories is when Dave Krieg did just that for my “little guy” Nick.  But helping others for Dave is not just something done at home.  He helps out with local charities and organization to lend his leadership skills and name to various causes that benefit when he lends a hand.

A class act does not take themselves too seriously.

Herb Kelleher may be the most successful airline executive in the history of the industry, but in the hearts of his people he was also a man who fought hard, played hard and never took himself too seriously.  That spirit was embedded into the Southwest Airlines culture and exists to this day.  Herb did not worry about his “image” instead he invested it and his energy in his people.  The results he got are the stuff of corporate legend.

Television icon Regis Philbin, recently announced he would be leaving LIVE about a very successful run that spans over 16000 hours, the Guinness World Record for television airtime.  Part of his longevity and success is that he too is not afraid to look at himself playfully and share a laugh with his viewers.  In the video below, Dave Nemeth and Regis spoof about about having to compete for the attention of their loquacious co-hosts.

 

Dave Nemeth and Regis Philbin have some fun talking about their co-hosts in this media spoof

 

So what about you?  Are You a Class Act?

Being a class act is not about how you look, what you wear, what you say or the power of your position.  The people I have used as examples here are all successful in their own arenas.  But success is not the reason they made the list.  Instead, who they really are is what made them successful. Being a class act is defined by the actions you take, how those actions affect the people around you and how together they reflect who you are as a person.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Koerber-Walker is a two time Stevie Award National Finalist and Chairman of the Board of CorePurpose, Inc. and the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation.  She also serves as Executive in Residence for Callaman Ventures and on the boards of for profit and nonprofit organizations.  As the former CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association and a past member of the Board of Trustees of the National Small Business Association she has worked with hundreds of small businesses and on behalf of thousands.  Chat with her on Twitter as @joankw, @JKWgrowth, @JKWinnovation, @JKWleadership and @CorePurpose or at her blog at www.JoanKoerber-Walker.com.

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Class Act,Leadership,Leading by example,Dave Nemeth,Dave Krieg,Herb Kelleher,Regis Philbin

Success Tip: Taking the First Step

If you are like most entrepreneurs, you have BIG plans.  The success journey can be a long one and you are eager to take that first step.  The question is…which one should it be?  Like a toddler who is taking those first tentative steps, some will be met with words of encouragement and applause and others many have you landing on your backside with a thud.  Either way, if you don’t pull yourself up and step forward, you will never get anywhere.

 

Andertoons Office Cartoons

Taking those first steps can be scary.

No one wants to land with a thud.  As entrepreneurs there are things we can do to baby-proof our business process so that our steps are sure and even if we stumble that the landing is not too hard.

Set your sights on a reachable goal.

One of the most common mistakes we often make as entrepreneurs is to set long term vision or goals instead of focusing on achievable short term objectives.   Having a long term vision is great, but most successful businesses look different over time as they grow and evolve.  If you set your sights too far in the distance, it’s easy to fall short.  When this happens you, your team, and your investors can get discouraged and may eventually give up. 

Setting achievable short term goals that build upon each other allows for a higher probability of success.  With each win, you encourage your team to reach for a more aggressive goal the next time and the next time and the next.

“Why” first.  “What” second.

The second secret to safeguarding your first steps is to understand the “why” before you get all wrapped up in a never ending series if “what” and “how.”  Too often we jump right in by recruiting partners, lining up suppliers or designing systems BEFORE we have clear agreement on the reasons behind these steps.  Take the time in the beginning to truly understand WHY you want to achieve WHAT you want to achieve and then communicate it to your team so that everyone has a shared direction and motivation.

Lay out your plan

Once you have those achievable objectives in sight and you and your team know  why you want to achieve them, you are ready to lay out your plan.  Map out what you want to do and how you want to do it. Identify the resources you need and your sources of supply.  Clearly define who will do what and when then get to it.

Grab a camera

Now you are ready to to start your business off on the right foot.   Be sure to grab your camera to capture those important first steps and gather the team to celebrate each success.  After all you don’t want to miss out on the excitement…  

You’ll be up and running before you can say “baby booties” ten times fast.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

Joan Koerber-Walker is a two time Stevie Award National Finalist and Chairman of the Board of CorePurpose, Inc. and the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation.  She also serves as Executive in Residence for Callaman Ventures and on the boards of for profit and nonprofit organizations.  As the former CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association and a past member of the Board of Trustees of the National Small Business Association she has worked with hundreds of small businesses and on behalf of thousands.  Chat with her on Twitter as @joankw, @JKWgrowth, @JKWinnovation, @JKWleadership and @CorePurpose or at her blog at www.JoanKoerber-Walker.com.

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Entrepreneurship,Success Tips,Growth,Business Strategy,Launching a new business or venture

When change matters, step up, step out and speak up.

We’ve all been there.  Sitting with a group in the break room, the boardroom or over lunch when the conversation shifts to what’s wrong with our team, our business, our community or our lives. 

It’s so easy to point out what is wrong.  Words fly.  The passion is inspiring.  Each idea builds on another .  Then, oops, you look at the clock.  Time’s up and you go back to work and keep on doing things the same way you have always done them before.

Talk does not bring change, action does.

We all see things we need to change our world but there are only so many hours in the day to do it.  Then something happens that gives us the impetus to step up, step out, and truly make a difference for ourselves and others.  When we step up, we start doing things.  We make things happen.  We get things done.  Yet, we may not be sharing it with others.  That means going to the next step as we step out and speak up.  We begin inspiring others to action by sharing what we are doing, how we are doing it, and how others can do it too. 

I am lucky to know three people who are doing just that. They inspire me and if you read on, they can inspire you too.

Lynn Tilton

One of the most successful business women in the world, Lynn Tilton founder and CEO of Patriarch Partners, was once a single mom, working by day and going to graduate school at night.  Working incredible hours and with very little sleep, she held it together and pursued a passion to learn what she needed to know.  Then, she applied it…well.   She stepped up.  Lynn’s business is founded upon her personal mission...the attempt to save America, one company at a time, one job at a time and she does it by buying distressed companies and turning them around.  The Patriarch platform is built upon the premise that each company otherwise would have been liquidated, but instead is saved and rebuilt so it can add value to our economy and our nation. With the restructure and renewal of each of these companies, jobs are sustained and created.  Over the years Lynn and her team have saved approximately 150 companies from the throws of liquidation and 250,000 jobs associated with those companies but she did it quietly behind the scenes.  When our nation and the world got into real trouble she did more than step up, she stepped out.  By sharing her story and how she did it, she is inspiring others to do the same.

(Read the latest article on Lynn in Chief Executive Magazine.)

 

Morris Callaman

A VC, angel investor and four-time startup founder with Global 500 experience, Morris Callaman believes that it is time for a principled approach to creating companies and products that make life better instead just make money. 

Morris’s story is not your typical success story. An eighth grade runaway, his journey includes homelessness, food banks, ditch digging, carpentry, community college, night school, programming, language study, and a brief apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 640.  He’s seen the worst people can do to each other and the the best.  Through Callaman Ventures, he focuses on the best and invests his time looking for, finding and helping consumer entrepreneurs – people who truly love what they are doing, know how to get up again after a failure and have a business intent that includes net societal benefit while creating real products or real services for real people.  He’s stepped up to help build great companies and now is stepping out to share what he has learned with others and help them when they need it.

(Read Morris’s story in Phoenix Magazine.)

 

Michelle King Robson

Michelle King Robson is one of the nation's leading women's health and wellness advocates as well as  the Founder, Chairperson and CEO of EmpowHER, one of the fastest-growing and largest health media companies dedicated exclusively to women's health and wellness.

When a debilitating health condition left Michelle sick, alone, hopeless and on the verge of taking her own life, she struggled and fought to find answers. Luckily, for all of us, she found them, but it was so hard.  Michelle believes it should not be and she has committed the rest of her life to ensure that no other woman would suffer in silence as she had. And that is how EmpowHER was born. She stepped up and stepped out in one fell swoop creating a web portal where women can find their health answers more easily.  Today millions of visitors turn to EmpowHer with their health questions and find the answers they seek.

(Read Michelle’s story and see the video at EmpowHer.com)

 

And after you act, it’s time to step out and speak up.

Lynn, Morris and Michelle are just three examples of the many people I get to meet that have taken their life experiences and what they have learned along the journey and used them to move from talk to action in an area where they have a true passion.  They did not just sit around and talk about it.  They did it and they still do. Beyond that, they are telling their stories and inspiring others to action by their example.

So what’s your passion?  Your story?  The thing you want to change?  Are you ready to step up, step out, and speak up… in that order?

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned…

Joan Koerber-Walker

Joan Koerber-Walker is a two time Stevie Award National Finalist and Chairman of the Board of CorePurpose, Inc. and the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation.  She also serves as Executive in Residence for Callaman Ventures and on the boards of for profit and nonprofit organizations.  As the former CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association and a past member of the Board of Trustees of the National Small Business Association she has worked with hundreds of small businesses and on behalf of thousands.  Chat with her on Twitter as @joankw, @JKWgrowth, @JKWinnovation, @JKWleadership and @CorePurpose or at her blog at www.JoanKoerber-Walker.com.

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Change,action,execution. entrepreneurs,people making a difference,Lynn Tilton,Morris Callaman,Michelle King Robson,Patriarch Partners,Callaman Ventures,EmpowHer