Do as I do, Not as I Say! Principled Leadership by Example Dr. Steve Guendert, Brocade Communications

Abstract Leading by example is a lost principle in our society today. Far too many people in management roles in IT organizations practice "Do as I say, not as I Do" and it causes far too many problems, the least of which is a lack of job satisfaction in employees. We'll discuss what it means to be a leader (its not just being a manager), and then we'll focus on how you can learn to become someone who leads by example. The presenter is a former US Navy Officer. 2

Agenda Why do we care about leadership? Leadership definition Manager vs. leader Principles and traits Lead by example 3

Why does leadership matter? 4

Leadership definition Many definitions for leadership exist Leadership is stated as the "process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.” Nice book definition but let’s not be academics 5

My favorite definition Leadership: “ The art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” 6

Examples 7

Leadership (leader) vs. Management (manager) “Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.” ~Stephen R. Covey 8

Steve’s ideas Managers stew, leaders do Managers require, leaders inspire Managers preach, leaders teach Managers follow rules, leaders make them Managers do things right, leaders do right things Managers focus on action, leaders focus on vision Managers haze, leaders praise Leaders realize their people doing well is a reflection on them, it is not a threat to them. 9

GUENDERT’S RULES Principles 10

Integrity Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code Moral soundness Honesty Freedom from corrupting influence or motive Rule #1: Never compromise your integrity. Never! 11

Know your people True leaders sincerely care about their people True leaders show an interest in their people True leaders know their people Example: Bob Mahoney, IBM Rule #2: Know your people. 12

Expectations Don’t ask your people to do what you would not expect of yourself. Are you willing to do yourself what you are asking of others? 13

Expectations Rule #3: Be willing and able to do yourself what you ask of others. 14

Your best effort Sloth is one of the deadly sins. Always give your best effort-demand no less or no more of others than what you demand of yourself. Anything else is hypocrisy. 15

Your best effort Rule #4: Always, always give your best effort. 16

Chain of command If you whine or complain in front of your people, you have lost their confidence and you lose them. Morale is more contagious than the Plague 17

Chain of command Rule #5: No whining 18

Confidence Always exude confidence no matter the odds “Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools”-Napoleon “The difficult we do at once, the impossible just takes a little longer”-US Navy Seabees, World War II 19

Confidence Rule #6: If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. 20

“Micromanagement” "The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”— Theodore Roosevelt, American President "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”— General George S. Patton Rule #7: Trust your people 21

Diversity We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Do unto others….. Rule #8: Treat everyone as you would want to be treated 22

Decisiveness Before you can lead, you need to know how to follow. Indecision only results in bad things. Initiative is there to be seized. Its better to ask forgiveness than ask permission-we learn from failures. 23

Decisiveness Rule #9: Lead, follow, or get out of the way. 24

Power Rule #10: Always do the right thing 25

Conclusion Lead by example-inspire your people. Blaze the path. Integrity is everything. Never quit. Never compromise your principles. Have a vision. 26

THANK YOU 27