I spend a quite a bit of my time with with innovators and entrepreneurs these days. As CEO of the Arizona BioIndustry Association or AZBio as we say, I get to connect with teams that are researching and developing products for a better world… Sustainable Health (and health care) , more plentiful food, greener energy… pretty heady stuff. My job’s not nearly as sexy. Here at AZBio our job is ground support, providing opportunities for them to connect and engage with each other, pulling together educational and support resources and sharing their stories. Our job is not to change the world. Our job at AZBIO is to support them so that they can.
Leaders wear many hats. Good ones are visionaries, coaches, cheerleaders and trailblazers. Yet when times get tough or change happens, the chief role of a leader becomes that of a trouble shooter with the responsibility for preparing the team for immediate action. As they say in the movies…It’s time to lock and load.
The phrase “lock and load” has its origins in times of battle and whichever origin you choose to believe, it describes a combination of the resources and process you need to follow to successfully hit your target.
As leaders (and troubleshooters), what are the resources and processes we need to follow if we are top successfully hit our targets in times of change?
Know your target
The first step in the process is to clearly define what our target is by answering questions like...
Provision your team
One of the worst things we can do as leaders is to fail to provision our team adequately. Without the right manpower and ammunition, you are sending your trouble shooters on a suicide mission. They can’t succeed and they know it. This will rapidly erode both morale and commitment to reaching the ultimate goal in all but the most extreme of cases.
As leaders, our responsibility is to get our team what they need by providing those resources either directly or through partnerships with others who have a shared belief in reaching our goal. Equally important, as leaders, we need to clear the path for the team, removing obstacles or other blocks created by process or conflicts that get in their way so that they have a clear line of sight and an unobstructed path to the targeted goals.
Lock
Following the plan that you and your team have developed, lock it in. In this age of technology, there are lots of tools available that allow you to post your plan and track your progress in a way that makes it easy for everyone to see where we are and where we need to get to. One that I am currently using is TeamBox. By outlining and updating our projects, tasks, and assignments online for everyone on the project to see, we can quickly identify what is getting done and what has yet to be accomplished. Built-in communications tools allow the team to share what’s working and what needs more support or resources. As the team leader, I can monitor where things are able to move forward cleanly and quickly as well as where things are or are likely to get jammed up or cause a misfire in our project plan and may need a little leadership grease.
Load
You have your team in position and the resources are in their hands. If you have done your job, you have set a clear line of sign to the targeted goals through both planning and process. At this point you have your manpower and your ammo. It’s time to load up and get ready for immediate action. Get out of the way so they can…
Move Forward and Fire!
Our plans may lay out that we proceed slowly with caution or with a burst of forward movement, but either way, moving forward is essential. Once we have given them the ability to lock and load, our job as leaders is to ensure that they continue to have the support, the resources and the reinforcements they may need on their journey to the goal. Whether we are shooting for a local goal or leading a global initiative, our job as leaders is to make sure that they have what they need to get there and then be there to celebrate their success when they reach it.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned…
Joan Koerber-Walker
Joan Koerber-Walker is President and CEO of AZBio, the Arizona BioIndustry Association. A two time Stevie Award National Finalist and former Fortune 500 executive, she is also the Chairman of the Board of CorePurpose, Inc. and the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation and serves as Executive in Residence for Callaman Ventures. 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 in Washington, D.C. Joan has worked with hundreds of small businesses and on behalf of thousands in these roles. Chat with her on Twitter as @AZbioCEO @joankw, @JKWgrowth, @JKWinnovation, @JKWleadership and @CorePurpose or at her blog at www.JoanKoerber-Walker.com.
Your Opportunity to Join Joan
On Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 10:30 AM Eastern/7:30 AM Pacific, you can join Joan as she chats with Zane Safrit on Blog Talk Radio. For information on how to listen live or to tune in to the replay after the show, click here.
As I go about my day, I wear a hat or two or three. I’m a Mom, a wife, a non-profit executive, a CEO, a board member, an investor and a few other things. Across them all, it it all ties back to one thing. I need the help and support of others to get the job done. This week, at one of my many meetings, a fellow board member shared a thought that has really stayed with me. “We need to provide value BEFORE we ask for support.” As I have continued through my week, that message kept coming back to me.
This weekend, a carton by Mark Anderson brought it top of mind again. Support has to be bidirectional and not a one way street.
Support takes many forms: time, investment, donation and talent. In the non profit world we often view support as a combination of the Time, Treasury, and Talent. In the for profit world we need the same things, we just look at them in terms of growth capital and human capital.
Support goes both ways…
As Entrepreneurs, we need to show how our innovative new product or service will create value before we make the ask. (At least if we want to be successful in garnering support.) When we an demonstrate the true potential for value creation, we are much more likely to succeed.
As Community Organizations (non profits serve communities not shareholders) we need to demonstrate that achieving our mission and vision will support the community and that we know what we need to do to execute on our plan and achieve our stated goals.
As Leaders, in what ever place we can be found, we need to make the time and take the time to support our people so that they in turn can support us.
So this week…
So this week, as I go about my days running from meeting to meeting and place to place, I think I’ll focus a bit more on how we can serve and create value first and ask for support second.
As a wise friend reminded me, when you create value, you attract support … you often don’t even have to ask for it.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned…
Joan Koerber-Walker
Joan Koerber-Walker is President and CEO of AZBio, the Arizona BioIndustry Association. A two time Stevie Award National Finalist and former Fortune 500 executive, she is also the Chairman of the Board of CorePurpose, Inc. and the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation and serves as Executive in Residence for Callaman Ventures. 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 in Washington, D.C. 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.
We’ve all been there. Those times when we have so much to do that we’re just not sure how it will all get done. Emails are pouring in. Reports are due. The phone won’t stop ringing. New social media communication tools are pinging you from all sides. A new crisis has just popped up and you have not finished dealing with the old one! Each forms a link in a chain that has you attached to your desk.
When overload hits, it’s easy to get sucked into it. That just makes things worse. As it sucks you down, it slows you down… just when you need to speed up.
At times like this, your attitude and the actions you take make all the difference.
Mark Anderson’s cartoon has the right idea. Find the positive in the situation. You may be overloaded because THEY need YOU. The question is… how will you meet all those demands. Here are a few tips that work for me.
There will always be times when we feel like we are chained to our desk. By keeping the right attitude, taking the right action and getting the job done, we break those chains. Soon we are free and have left a string of accomplishments behind us. THAT is is the best way to create job security.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned…
Joan Koerber-Walker
Joan Koerber-Walker is President and CEO of AZBio, the Arizona BioIndustry Association. A two time Stevie Award National Finalist and former Fortune 500 executive, she is also the Chairman of the Board of CorePurpose, Inc. and the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation and serves as Executive in Residence for Callaman Ventures. 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 in Washington, D.C. 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.
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:
- Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly.
- (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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
Often when I am speaking with an audience or sharing ideas with leaders and entrepreneurs, I hear a question that starts like this: “How did you get people to give you a chance to …”
It’s a recurring theme. We want to lead. We want to grow. We want to make a a difference. So, how do we get people to give us a chance to do it? In 2010, I had the opportunity to share ideas with the Society of Women Engineers. We we focused on the 5 C’s that build success. One of those C’s is Community. Here is what happens when you get involved in your community and volunteer.
We don’t need to be labeled “a leader” to lead. Just as we don’t need someone else’s permission to develop our skills and grow. What we do need are opportunities to showcase our leadership ability and talents. Although are not many fairy godmothers out there who can wave a magic wand and make an opportunity materialize before our very eyes, there is something we can do that works like magic and makes us feel great too. One simple word. Volunteer.
Over the years, through a number of volunteer activities, I have had the opportunity to share ideas on network television, land radio interviews, be profiled in newspapers and magazines and connect with key decision makers, customers and partners who I might otherwise have never met. By volunteering to do what I could do, I got the chance to do it. People noticed and more opportunities followed. Those opportunities created more opportunities. Pretty soon, I was not just leading, I was doing it officially as “the leader.” It all came about because of volunteer work done in my community or where I worked. If it can work for me, it can work for you. Just follow these two simple steps.
A leader is someone who stands out above the rest. We all have talents that we can share that help us to stand out. Perhaps your talent is organization, team building, networking, writing, or simply listening. Maybe your gift is mentoring, speaking, or a special set of technical or business skills Think of ways that sharing these talents and gifts can help a nonprofit organization that you believe in. Step up, stand out and lead in whatever role you are given.
In today’s economy, nonprofit budgets are stretched to the limit. There is almost nothing they do not need. Does your business have great consumer products or services? Donate them to gift baskets, silent auctions or raffles. Do you provide business services? Donate them to the nonprofit itself to help in reducing overhead costs. In each case you are getting yourself and your products or services in front of others who may want to work with you in the future. Often this is the supporters, board members, donors, or sponsors of the organization. The nonprofit may not have the resources to pay for your donations and services, but these people do. When you do a great job or deliver a great product, people notice and even better… they tell their friends.
Volunteering is not only a philanthropic activity. In our workplace, there are lots of opportunities to step forward and volunteer. Perhaps it is on a committee, in a new project that looks a little risky, or even to give a customer a hand on a project that they are not able to pay you for. Sometimes when we take on one more project, we feel we keep giving and giving and nothing is happening. But that is NOT the case.
While you are giving you are also growing both in experience and influence. The more you give, the more you get.
While you are sharing what you have of value, you are getting value too…
New skills you learn while working with others in your community or workplace.
Connections to other leaders who share the same passions and values that you do.
Recognition for your efforts and the value you contribute to the cause or project.
Visibility for yourself and your business
The opportunity to represent the organization in your community
The chance you thought someone needed to give you. You did not need someone to give it to you after all. You gave it to yourself.
That’s the great thing about magic. It makes anything possible.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned…
Joan Koerber-Walker
This is my chance to volunteer and help lead the discussion with a group of wonderful people from around the Twitterverse on how to #LeadFromWithin. Lolly and I talked about it and decided that exchanging ideas on what happens to us as leaders when we volunteer was a perfect topic for the day after Valentine’s day. I hope you will volunteer to join us, roll up your sleeves and show us what YOU can do by adding your ideas to the tweet chat discussion. It’s easy to do and free of charge. Just sign in with your Twitter ID at www.TweetChat.com at 8PM EST on 2/27/2011. Put in the #LeadFromWithin hashtag at the top and when I post a question – share an answer. See you then.
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.
Today is the big day, Super Bowl XLV. Folks will be donning green and gold or gold and black. Friends will gather around TV sets across the country gobbling up things they know that should not eat and for this one day of the year the DVR is set not to skip the commercials, but to catch them for instant replay.
Teams have sweated and toiled. Investing millions for their time in the global spotlight.
Closed door meetings, strategy sessions, the big chase, and surprising twists… all come together on Super Bowl Sunday.
Oh yeah, there is a football game too.
In business, every day is Game Day.
Most of us will never field a team in the world’s most famous grid iron match up or take the leap to bet around $3 million for a 30 second spot in its commercials although GoDaddy’s Bob Parsons will gleefully tell you what they have done for his team’s business.
As entrepreneurs, investors, leaders or teammates, success in the BIG game means that every day is game day. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you watch from the stands or from the couch…
It starts with a coin toss – it does not end there.
Success always has en element of luck to it. Good luck may move you forward faster just as bad luck might slow you down. But being lucky early does not ensure success. Here is a bit of Super Bowl Trivia:
The team that has won the coin toss is 19-22 all time in the Super Bowl and has lost the past 4 straight and 9 of the last 11. (source)
To win in the big game you need a great team
Don’t kid yourself. The team with strong players, that plays well together has a definite advantage. Great teams are balanced. In football you can have a great quarterback, but if you have no offensive line it is unlikely that you will spend a lot of time in the end zone and if your defense is weak, the other team will. Successful teams have the right mix to do the whole job, not just one or two super stars intent on carrying the day.
Give the fans something to talk about.
Winning the big game is about the experience. In football it is the thrill of the win, the roar of the crowd and the play that fans will talk about for years to come. In business it is the achievement of goals inside your company, the praise of customers when you deliver on your promises, and the great results you deliver to your employees, customers, investors, and partners that keep you ahead in the game.
Innovation = Improvement
Don’t confuse flash and showmanship with innovation. The victory dance in the end zone is not nearly as important as the fact that you got there and need to get there again to win. Commercials are entertaining at the break, but the real win will be measured when customers walk through your door or visit your website to buy your products and services. A bit of flash may bring them in once, but products and services that are new, different, and create value for the customer are what will bring them back again and again.
Success is not built on just one game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers are playing in Super Bowl XLV because they won a series of games and more importantly they won when it counted. Winning at the right time matters, just ask the Jets and the Bears.
Football is more that a game, it’s a big business. And winning in the world of business is a game where the points are measured in value created. Take a look at this ranking by Forbes of the most valuable NFL Teams. You’ll need to keep searching all the way down to #14 for Green Bay and #17 to find the stats for the Steelers. Sustained value is a combination of smart investments, the right resources plus a strong team in the front office, on the bench and on the field that creates long-term, sustainable value together. Interestingly, the Redskins have one of the best track records for value creation in recent years yet they have LOST 55% of the games they played on the field. It’s not just about winning under the lights, everything matters.
So sit back and enjoy the game…
The Super Bowl is an American tradition. You may watch it for the game, for the commercials, or simply as a way to spend time with family and friends. But as you dig into that pile of chicken wings, tray of nachos or bowl of chili, keep a look out for the big game changers. You might have something new to talk about at the office come Monday morning when all the “quarterbacks” come out.
So place your bets, rally your team, and enjoy the game. It’s almost time for the coin toss whether the Big Game starts at 6:30pm ET on FOX or come Monday morning when you and your team take the field once again.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned…
Joan Koerber-Walker
About the Joan:
An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits as well as to community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C. To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business in 2011, you can contact her by clicking here.
