What does that mean to be "the hero and the zero" and why would Calvin Murphy, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and a Houston Sports Hall of Famer say that?

It was this past Thursday on a hot, steamy, post-tropical storm Alberto, southeast Texas afternoon.  Business leaders, government officials, and graduates from the Leadership Pearland program excitedly found their seats at the Pearland Chamber of Commerce's 2024 State of Leadership luncheon and graduation.  Keynote speakers were none other than Calvin Murphy (quoted above) and Rudy Tomjanovich and moderated by Patti Smith.  These are big names in Houston and in sports.

Tomjanovich coached the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995 and was one of the most respected coaches in the game.  He is also a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and a Houston Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

Smith has been a staple in the Houston sports market since 1995, spending more than 20 years with Fox Sports Southwest where she has won multiple Emmy Awards, among other accolades and roles.  She is currently the CEO and founding partner at Relevent Worldwide and has been an announcer for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo since 2011.

The Hero and the Zero
Murphy was sharing some powerful leadership lessons with our graduating class.  While everyone wants to be a hero, it's not intuitive to be courageous when facing being a zero.  Murphy was sharing a valuable life and leadership lesson:  You are going to fail.  Period.  So don't be afraid of it. 

When you're not afraid of being the zero, you don't let the mistakes or failure control you.  You control them.  Learn everything you can from them, but don't be  afraid of them.  And when you're afraid of being the zero, you sacrifice your authenticity and miss golden opportunities for making a positive difference in the world.

Shared Mission, Vision, & Goals
When I heard Tomjanovich share this leadership pearl, I thought of The Purpose-Driven Leadership Program and all of the leaders with whom I have shared some version of that.  Unfortunately, the leader who can foster and leverage a shared team mission and vision is rare.

Kouzes’ and Posner’s research found that when direct reports were asked about the frequency of how often their leader displayed a list of leadership behaviors, those key behaviors that characterize inspiring and leading through a shared team vision—of being forward looking—are consistently rated at the bottom of frequency for the population of leaders at large. 

Leading through meaning and purpose with a shared team vision is one of the most challenging competencies for most leaders.  I can help you with that.

Why is it so important for effective leadership?  Everyone on your team has hopes, dreams, and aspirations.  Everyone wants tomorrow to be better than today.  Shared and inspiring visions attract more people, sustain higher levels of motivation, and withstand more challenges than those that are exclusive to only a few and/or dictated from above.  You have to make sure that what you can see is also something that they can see.

Summary
So, the next time you're facing being "the zero," remember Murphy's advice and do whatever it takes to reframe it and find your courage.  Don't let it rule you.  Rule it.

And, remember the power of including your team members in key elements of your mission, vision, strategy, and action-plans.  The buy-in and commitment you gain from your team are worth the extra effort since they impact your leadership effectiveness and your outcomes.

If you found this week's blog inspiring, please share it with your family, friends, and colleagues.  Join me on my journey to empower and inspire millions around the globe. 

I'm on a mission to partner with like-minded leaders who want to make a positive difference in the world.  Together, we can spread words of encouragement, inspiration, empowerment, and loving leadership.  Our world could sure use more positivity, meaning and purpose, and lives grounded in values these days—especially in leadership.

Together we can make a difference!

Many blessings to all of the fathers! 

When I was around 16 years old and had been acting particularly ornery, I found this prayer on my dresser when I got home from school.  My father was a man of few words, however this prayer has resonated with me my whole life. 

It leads my book, A Travel Guide to Leadership, and I hope his wisdom blesses your day.  Rest in peace, Benjamin Abraham Mikolaj.

Creating something is inherently rewarding.  Whether it's a meal, a clean house, a customer experience, a powerful lesson plan, a high-performing team, or a meaningful relationship; humans love to create.  When we collaborate, we achieve extraordinary things.

But what about your state of being?  Your state of being drives your choices and actions, it affects your physiology, and creates your habits—all for better or worse.  Over time, this cumulative effect shapes who you become.

Reflect on your current life situation—your health, education, job, residence, relationships, and spirituality.  All of these aspects are influenced by your past thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and decisions.  Your state of being defines who you are as a leader and as a person.

Often, we operate on 'default' or automatic mode—what Daniel Kahneman calls the fast mind.  When we are guided by old programming, thought patterns, stereotypes, and emotions, they may not serve us or others effectively and might even be doing damage. 

In our post-pandemic, fast-paced business world, effective leadership is more crucial than ever.  Consider the recent shift towards remote and hybrid work and the rise of artificial intelligence in decision-making and other processes.  Leaders at companies like Google and Microsoft have had to adapt rapidly, creating new cultures and strategies to navigate these changes. It's a reminder that effective leadership starts with a strong foundation within.

In The Purpose-Driven Leadership Program, I share powerful strategies to help you create the state of being you desire and then leverage that in your leadership.  Professional coaching is another strategy strong leaders use to identify their current state of being, clarify the future state of being they desire, and then discover strategies and action-steps to move in that direction so they can become the best person and leader they dream of being.

Instead of asking, “What do I do?” start by asking, "Who do I want to be?" and "How do I become the kind of person who can lead in these challenging times?"  While your creations in various roles at work, home, and elsewhere are important, who you are—your state of being—determines the quality of your creations. 

So, first, create something more fundamental:  Create you.

If you found this week's blog inspiring, please share it with your family, friends, and colleagues.  Join me on my journey to empower and inspire millions around the globe.  I'm on a mission to partner with like-minded leaders who want to make a positive difference in the world.

Together, we can spread words of encouragement, inspiration, empowerment, and loving leadership.  Our world could sure use more positivity, meaning and purpose, and lives grounded in values these days—especially in leadership.

Together we can make a difference!