The Power of Leadership

In 2003, I was hired by Michael Kuehn.

There’s a reason that statement stands on its own. It changed my life.

He hired me to do business development at a boutique leadership development firm in Denver, CO.

I learned A LOT about leadership: making managers into leaders, motivation, vision, human potential, hiring, incentives, etc.

And I also learned what NOT to do as a leader.

Unfortunately, most of those what-not-to-do lessons came from within our own organization (the irony, right, at a leadership development firm?).

The company was going through a transition phase. There was a period where we didn’t have a concrete offering other than an ethereal concept, which I wasn’t comfortable taking to my clients.

When I didn’t sell this vaporware (because I’m more interested in doing right by my clients than in making a sale), I was put on a performance improvement plan (PIP) by Michael’s boss.

Even though one of the board members recognized that the sales teams’ livelihood was tied to something we didn’t have, tangible offers, I was told I wasn’t doing my job.

Even though the general manager of the Colorado Rockies came to our office and told our team face to face they weren’t listening to customers, I was told I wasn’t doing my job (I told the team what the Rockies wanted and they didn’t listen).

Even though I had sold a quarter million dollars in consulting services previous to not having tangible offers to sell, I was told I might not be cut out for selling intangible services and that I wasn’t doing my job.

I was being told this by others in the organization. But not by Michael.

In fact, Michael came to me when I was put on the PIP and said, “This is crap, this is not my doing. Just do what you’re being asked to do and we’ll get through this.” I trusted Michael, so that’s what I did.

AND THAT’S WHAT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

See, I trusted Michael because in the 12 months I worked for him prior to the PIP, I learned more about leadership, truly caring for your team, and growing people than I had attending multiple leadership conference, reading about leadership, and listening to various ‘experts’ expound on leadership (and more than I did through two subsequent degree programs focused on leadership).

He taught me about taking care of your team, coaching for improvement, doing the right thing, having tough conversations with tact and class, clear communication, influence, using your strengths, being authentic, and success. He taught me all of this by the way he DID IT. Not with what he said, not in formal trainings, but by his day to day ACTIONS.

When Michael came to me halfway through the PIP and told me he was looking for a new job and thought I should be too, I knew he cared about me and was looking out for me. Did you catch that leadership lesson? I knew he cared about ME.

Not about looking good. Not about toeing the company line. Not about saving himself and leaving the chips to fall where they may.

In the 18 years since the time I worked for Michael, not a day goes by that I don’t use one of the lessons he taught me about communicating clearly, telling the truth as fast as I can, the universe rewards the brave, having tough conversations, doing the right thing, addressing the elephant in the room, asking great questions that invite real discussion, truly listening to another person, persuasion, influence, the power of storytelling, and so much more.

It’s not an overstatement to say that because of Michael’s influence in a brief portion of my professional life, every other aspect of my life since that time has been affected. I’m a better communicator, a better sales person, a better coach, a better person, and a better dad.

I am so passionate about leadership because I’ve seen the damage a bad leader does (not just at this company, but at many others where I worked and now in 400+ global organizations in which I’ve consulted and trained) and just how much of a difference a GREAT leader makes.

Not only on the bottom line and company results, but more importantly, in the lives of those they lead.

Will you join me on the journey to create unbelievably amazing leaders?