The first weekend in October is a big one for all Australian sporting fans. Both the AFL and NRL grand finals are played and the best team is decided after 6 months of blood, sweat and tears from these dedicated athletes.
Whether you are a sporting fan or not, if you watch closely, you will be able to witness why these teams are in the decider and how strong the team work and unity among the group is.
Something that put a lump in my throat was the leadership from the Western Bulldogs coach, @Luke__Beveridge. The team captain, Tom Murphy had been injured since round 3 and missed most of the year, but the coach ensured that he didn’t miss out. In the ultimate show of respect, Beveridge invited his injured captain on to the stage when he accepted his medal and hung it over his neck saying he deserved more than anyone.
Not since Jonathan Thurston gave his premiership ring to injured Bulldogs captain Steve Price in the 2004 Rugby League grand final have we seen such altruistic and selfless leadership.
Last week the topic discussed was selfless leadership. This week, I have found the perfect example of what that is and shared it in the video attached. The best leaders are the ones who care for their employees, are unselfish and bring the best out of every one of them. They are willing to put others first and disregard their own safety and well being. They have a bond with their employees, so strong and akin to family, that through the trust and honesty, loyalty is bred.
Mutual trust, loyalty and a sense of belonging is at its highest and strongest point when everyone is focused on the one goal with the higher purpose, not on who is going to get the credit or how much they are getting paid.
You can take a employee that the group doesn’t trust that has made bad decisions, and put them in a good environment and they are capable of turning their lives around and becoming wonderful contributors.
It’s not the person or the employee, it’s the environment.
Leaders of the organisation are responsible for that environment. It’s as simple as that.
If you take care of your employees, you take care of the environment, your productivity and sales increase and all of a sudden your improving your bottom line.
We are obsessed with getting the right people on the bus, but we never ask, who is driving the bus?
The person driving the bus must first be an effective leader that has courage and is willing to stand up against outside pressure and not listen to critics and what the majority say.
It is hard to stand up against external social pressure that is pushing you to do something for their short term gain. To do the right thing is hard, its thank less, it is lonely. That’s why the best leaders make the hard decisions and take their own self interest out of the equation.
Courage is not some deep internal fortitude. You don’t dig down deep and find the courage. Courage is external and comes from the support we feel from others. When you feel that someone has your back, when you can admit that you can’t do something and show vulnerability and that someone will be there to say I will help you, you can do this, that is the timber that ignites courage.
It is the relationships we foster, it’s the people around us who care about us and believe in us, and when we have those relationships, we will find the courage to do the right thing, and when you act with courage, that in turn will inspire those in your team to also act with courage as well.
People are INSPIRED to follow your example. That is leadership.
I want to leave you with a quick question to ponder this week:
- What can you do this week to become a better leader? What small things can you do and incorporate into your life, so that others feel cared for and that you have put their interest above your own? Examples are things like:
- Letting a car in front of you in merging traffic
- Filling up the water jug at work or filling the coffee jug when its empty and not waiting for someone else to do it.
- Instead of emailing someone (Which has no human connection), give them a call.
- Do something for someone else with no want of reward.
Are you aware that the best discussions happen after you read this email?
Don’t forget to click on the link below and witness what a true leader looks like.
I would love to know your thoughts and if there was a moment from the weekends results that touched you and that you thought displayed amazing leadership……http://beyoubegreat.com.au/get-in-touch/
Have a great week ahead.
Ritchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFGnxa-8_ok