The Hero & The Zero

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Don't be afraid to be the hero and the zero.

CALVIN MURPHY

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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.

The Tomjanovich Equation (at least that's what I'm calling it)

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When you include them [your team] = Commitment

RUDY TOMJANOVICH

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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!

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Have an amazing journey today!

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Alan Mikolaj is a seasoned coach and leadership development consultant with nearly 20 years of experience.  He is passionate about helping leaders transform their leadership, their teams, and their organizations.  He has an impactful, professional approach driven by a passion for meaning and purpose, a growth mindset, and a commitment to excellence and service in order to drive change and results.

Alan holds his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and Associate Certified Coach credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and maintains their ethics and standards of behavior, including the standards regarding confidentiality.  You can learn more about them on the ICF website.

Transformational change starts with a conversation!
Schedule your free, one-hour session by clicking here: Discovery Conversation with Alan
Or call or email: Contact Page

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