Black Belt Productivity

Today we turn the page to a different perspective. In John C. Maxwell’s 360° Leader, we begin to talk about leading down. If you have employees who look to you for leadership, this is for you.

The first lead-down principle is to walk slowly through the halls. To understand what John is speaking of here, you must first understand that leadership is a business…of people. Leadership is not always about the bottom line. It is often about the people and motivating them to make your business a success. Building sound relationships with those whom you lead makes all of the difference in tough times.

Are you the least bit concerned about your employees’ lives outside of the office? If you are perceived as one who only cares about the work and the bottom line, I would argue that your employees, in tough times, will not be willing to go to war with you. But if there is a sense of loyalty built through a genuine relationship, your people will dig the trench for you and jump in to fight with you…because they know you care.

John gives us some thoughts on how we can build relationships with those whom we lead…

1. Slow down
2. Express that you care
3. Create a healthy balance of personal and professional interest
4. Pay attention to people when they start avoiding you
5. Tend to the people,and they will tend to the business

Again, I suggest, as always, that you read this book. There are some great illustrations to demonstrate the points John is trying to make in this chapter. This chapter includes a nice story about Dick Vermeil.

- Jason