Matt's Muzings
A Ph.D in Leadership
Do you ever want leadership boiled down into one simple principle? Sometimes I do.
At times the complexities and the challenges of dealing with different types of people in many situations is a real frustration.
Wouldn't it be great if you could summarize years of research and study from thousands of the best minds in the world into one simple principle?
One of my favorite thinkers about leadership and organizational development is Dee Hock. He helped create Visa, which is one of the largest organizations today that does trillions of dollars of business and has drastically changed the world we live in. He has read hundreds of books and is one of the foremost business thinkers of organizations and leadership in the world today.
Here is his short course, he calls it his Ph.D. in leadership.
"Make a careful list of all things done to you that you abhorred. Don't do them to others, ever. Make another list of things done for you that you loved. Do them for others, always."
Make a List
Are you stuck? You don't know what to do in a relationship or at work?
Make a list of what was done to you that you abhorred and things done to you that you loved.
Here is my list:
What do I abhor ?
I abhor being ignored.
I abhor being pushed.
I abhor shallow answers.
I abhor legalism.
What do I like ?
I like to be listened to.
I like to be respected.
I like to be included.
I like space.
I like to be asked.
That means I like a choice.
As soon as I make the lists I have a clear and simple way of knowing how to deal with others. It is so simple and I know it so quickly that it is scary. At this point I think it is important to say that "I" am not the standard. Others may not like what I like, but it is a beginning when we are stuck or frustrated. I should also say, Jesus is the standard and here's what he said, "whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
What did Jesus want people to do to him ? Some things that come to my mind:
To speak honestly and seek the truth.
To love Him with their whole heart, mind and strength.
To relate to him in humility.
To honor God and His ways.
To deal with sin for what it was, wherever it was found.
What took our best minds hundreds of books and thousands of hours to get to, we can find in the life and words of Jesus.
You may want to take a moment and make a simple list of what you like and what you abhor in regards to how people treat you. Now form those into a simple pattern for how your leadership will work. Then after you put it to practice, gather a robe and prepare for graduation for you will have your doctorate in leadership. This is no small task but well worth the effort.