SQUARE-1 ENGINEERING - ENGINEERS BEYOND EXPECTATION

White Papers & Articles

Monday Quickie – Will You Make the Right Leadership Choice?

9/16/2019

 
Picture
What’s the difference between a great leader and an average one?

​I’ve had the opportunity to observe dozens of leaders in my career.  Some were exceptional, most barely passed for average.  I’ve spent many hours tossing and turning on the idea of what makes for an exceptional leader, what makes them great.  I’ve read books, had discussions with colleagues, watched videos and talked with people who are far smarter and experienced than myself.

After all of this wonderful introspection and discovery one characteristic continues to pop up which defines great leadership over average leadership.  It’s a mindset, a willingness to do what others often won’t.

What makes great leaders is their ability and willingness to use ‘managerial courage’.
Managerial courage is the linchpin, the cornerstone, the apex for all things related to leading successfully.  The word courage is of itself is an incredibly powerful word.  The late John McCain had described courage as “that rare moment of unity between conscience, fear, and action, when something deep within us strikes the flint of love, of honor, of duty, to make the spark that fires our resolve.”  

Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic and best selling author is quoted as saying “Courage is the quality that distinguishes great leaders from excellent managers.”

George also said, “courageous leaders take risks that go against the grain of their organizations. They make decisions with the potential for revolutionary change in their markets. Their boldness inspires their teams, energizes customers, and positions their companies as leaders in societal change.”
If we apply George’s and McCain’s definitions of courage we can surmise that ‘managerial courage’ is the willingness to make decisions which we believe to be in the best interest or our employees or company, regardless of the popularity or risks involved.

A deeper look into managerial courage and we find that it can be further described as a set of actions and beliefs a leader possesses which define who they are and how they go about leading and inspiring others.  These actions and beliefs include:
  1. Courage to lead by your ‘True North’, your authentic self (compliments again of Bill George)
  2. Courage to face the truth and to openly express it
  3. Courage to act as a servant to your employees
  4. Courage to rely on others, while stepping aside to allow those around you a chance to lead
  5. Courage to listen and not always be heard
  6. Courage to make the right decisions in risky or uncertain situations
  7. Courage to give praise for a job well done while taking blame when the house of cards collapses
  8. Courage to work outside our comfort zone
  9. Courage to impose rigorous standards and hold people accountable

There’s no other word I can think of other than ‘courage’ to appropriately define good leadership.  Primarily because it is so easy to not do the things listed above, especially when times are tough, yet to do them consistently it takes great discipline and resolve.  It also means we will inevitably make decisions which don’t favor ourselves yet position our employees or company for better opportunities.

Here’s what managerial courage looks like in real life.

Scenario: A CEO of ABC company is pressing his VP of Sales to reach revenue targets by year end in order for the company to hit its financial goals.  The VP of Sales has one sales rep in particular who singlehandedly drives 30% of the company’s revenue, consistently coming in as the #1 producer in the company, year after year.  The company relies on this sales rep heavily to produce and as such the company has benefited handsomely.  Unfortunately this same sales rep also causes a lot of problems within the company.  He’s had several complaints against him by other employees, has a bad attitude, disregards company policy, has even been caught using his company expense account for personal purchases.  If that wasn’t enough our lovely sales rep has also caused two other employees within the company to quit.  Even though this sales rep is a cancer to his company, the company overlooks his problems because he’s a top performer.  They’ve swept the issues under the rug hoping things will miraculously improve by themselves.  Let’s face it, he makes the company a lot of money, how can they walk away from that.

Does this scenario sound similar to you?

Managerial courage in the above scenario would look like this.  The VP of Sales provides a variety of opportunities for the sales rep to improve while demonstrating the employee is acting in accordance with company standards and the VP’s expectations. In the event these opportunities to improve and or employment warnings are not adhered to the VP of Sales must make a tough and unpopular decision to fire the sales rep.  It’s a tough decision indeed because the VP of Sales knows she very well may lose her own job because she just went against the CEO and fired an employee that represents 30% of the company’s annual revenue intake.

In this scenario, our VP of Sales chose an unpopular decision because it’s what was truly best for the company and its employees, despite what her boss the CEO had advised.  The VP of Sales fired an employee who is a cancer to those around him.  Ultimately it doesn’t matter how good the sales rep is at their job, if they are causing issues and aren’t able to adjust accordingly after receiving feedback they don’t belong there in the first place.

This is managerial courage.  The willingness to make a decision to do what’s right even when the outcome may be unpopular or damaging.

It takes great tenacity, strength, fortitude, mental determination and care to be a leader and do so successfully.  Sure, anyone can be a leader, but those who do it successfully stand head and shoulders above their counterparts when they utilize managerial courage.  The characteristic of courage is the very essence of what leadership is all about.

Key Take Away:

Standing up for what’s right and having the willingness to make tough decisions is key to being a great leader, even if the outcome may be viewed as unpopular.

Action Item:

Read the book ‘True North’ by Bill George.  It’s an incredibly well written book that teaches people who to be themselves while acting and making decisions which are in accordance with your beliefs.
0 Comments

    About the Author

    Travis Smith is the founder and managing director of Square-1 Engineering, a life sciences consulting firm, providing end to end technical project services to companies which design, develop and or manufacture products in Southern California.  He successfully served the life sciences marketplace in SoCal for over 15 years specializing in engineering services, consulting, project outsourcing and leadership development. In 2019 he was recognized as a ‘40 Under 40’ honoree by the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce as a top leader in Orange County, CA.

    Travis also serves as Chairman, Board of Directors for DeviceAlliance, the only Southern California based medical device non-profit professionals organization and member of the University of California Irvine's Division of Continuing Education Advisory Board for Medical Product Development.  He holds a business management degree from California State University Long Beach and is a graduate of the Southern California Entrepreneur Academy.

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All
    1099
    2020
    90/10 Principle
    Accountability
    Adapt
    Adp
    Advanced Degree
    Adversity
    Advice
    Aerospace
    Affirmations
    Aggressor
    Agreement
    Ah Ha Moment
    Ah-ha Moment
    Alignment
    American Dream
    Anduril
    Answer
    Application
    Approval
    Article
    Asana
    ASQ
    Assuming
    Assumption
    Authority
    Automatic Data Processing
    Awareness
    Balance
    Bias
    Big Picture
    Bill George
    Blame
    Bottleneck
    Branding
    Budget
    Build It They Will Come
    Business Case
    Business Continuity
    Business Development
    Business Etiquette
    Business Owner
    Buyer
    Buyers Remorse
    Cad
    Career
    Career Advancement
    Career Advice
    Career Change
    Career Decision
    Career Management
    Career Navigation
    Career Transition
    Case Of The Mondays
    Case Study
    Cell Phone
    Certification
    Challenge
    Change
    Character
    Chemistry
    Choice
    Client
    Coaching
    COGS
    Communication
    Competency
    Component
    Concept
    Concept Design
    Concept Development
    Conflict Resolution
    Consultant
    Consultant Services
    Consulting
    Consumer Experience
    Contract
    Contractor
    Conversation
    Coronavirus
    Cost
    Cost Of Goods Sold
    Courage
    COVID19
    COVID-19
    Cross Functional
    Customer Service
    Dad
    Dating
    Deadlines
    Decision Making
    Decision Making Process
    Defensive
    Delegate
    Delegation
    Deliverable
    Design
    Design For Manufacturability
    Determination
    Devicealliance
    Dfm
    Discipline
    Distraction
    Doe Donuts
    Donuts
    Dr. Travis Bradberry
    Ecosystem
    Education
    Effective Leadership
    Effectiveness
    Efficiency
    Ego
    Electrical
    Elegant Warrior
    Emergency
    Emergency Action Plan
    Emergency Planning
    Emergency Response Plan
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empathy
    Employee
    Employee Appreciation
    Employee Burnout
    Employment
    Engagement
    Engineer
    Engineering
    Entrepreneur
    Entrepreneurship
    Entreprenuership
    Executive Coaching
    Expectations
    Failure
    Fathers Day
    Fathers' Day
    Fatique
    Fda
    Fear
    Fedex
    First Impression
    Five Stages Of Grief
    Fixed Cost
    Flexibility
    Follow
    Freedom
    Freelance
    Gantt Chart
    Gap Analysis
    Generation
    Gig
    Gig Economy
    Goals
    Go Giver
    Good Enough
    Growth Mindset
    Guidance
    Hardwork
    Hard Work
    Hazard
    Help
    Hire
    Hire Employee
    Hiring
    Human Resources
    Humility
    Improve
    Independent Consultant
    Independent Contractor
    Influence
    Initiative
    Innovation
    Interview
    Interviewing
    Interview Process
    I Said Yes I Meant No
    Isolation
    Jira
    Job
    Job Description
    Job Interview
    Job Offer
    Jocko Willink
    John Mccain
    Jump Ship
    Kickstarter
    Lead
    Leader
    Leadership
    Leif Babin
    Lesson
    Lessons Learned
    Let Go
    Life
    Lifescience
    Life Science
    Lifestyle
    Listen
    Listening
    Loyalty
    Management
    Management Considerations
    Managerial Courage
    Managing Expectations
    Manufacturing
    Marshall Goldsmith
    Mashup
    Math
    Max Capacity
    Mechanical
    Medical Device
    Medical Device Career Navigation
    Medtech
    Mentality
    Mentor
    Micro Manager
    Microsoft Project
    Millennial
    Mindfulness
    Mindset
    Minimum Expectations
    Misconceptions
    Mission Critical
    Mistake
    Mistakes
    Model
    Mondayquickie
    Monday Quickie
    Mondayquiickie
    Moonlight
    Moonlighting
    Morning Routine
    Motivation
    Navigation
    Nearsourcing
    Negativity
    Negotiate
    Negotiation
    Network
    Networking
    New Business
    New Career
    New Grad
    New Job
    News
    Offline
    Onboarding Program
    Operations
    Opportunity
    Organization
    Out Of Scope
    Outside The Box
    Outsource
    Outsourcing
    Overcome
    Overload
    Overwork
    Overworked
    Ownership
    Panasonic Avionics
    Pandemic
    Pareto
    Patience
    Pause
    Pdlc
    Perception
    Performance Management
    Perseverance
    Perspective
    Peter Drucker
    Pew Research
    Planning
    Pokemon Go
    Positivity
    Praise
    Pricing
    Principle
    Priorities
    Priority
    Proactive
    Problem Solve
    Process
    Process Improvement
    Product Development
    Product Development Life Cycle
    Professional Development
    Professional Engineer
    Professional Experience
    Professional Growth
    Profit Margin
    Project
    Project Charter
    Project Management
    Project Qualification
    Project Requirements
    Projects
    Project Scope
    Promotion
    Prototype
    Quality
    Quarantine
    Quit Job
    Reading
    Reality
    Recap
    Recommendation
    Recruiting
    Regulatory
    Reinvent
    Relationships
    Reliability
    Remediation
    Reputation
    Research
    Resignation
    Resigning
    Resource
    Resource Management
    Resource Planning
    Respect
    Responsibility
    Risk
    ROI
    Rookie
    Sales
    Sam Walton
    Say No
    Schedule
    Science
    Scope
    Self Awareness
    Seller
    Service
    Service Firm
    Service Provider
    Services
    Setting Expectations
    Side Hustle
    Silicon Beach
    Silicon Valley
    Slump
    Small Business
    Small Business Coaching
    Small Businses
    Smartphone
    Sme
    Smithsonian Science Education Center
    Socal
    Social Media
    Solidworks
    Solopreneur
    Sop
    Southern California
    SOW
    SpaceX
    Spin Selling
    Square1
    Square1engineering
    Stakeholder
    Standard
    Startup
    Start Up
    Statement Of Work
    Stem
    Stem Education
    Stephen Covey
    STEP Leadership
    Story
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Subcontractor
    Subject Matter Expert
    Success
    Supplier
    Supplier Acquisition
    Supplier Management
    Supplier Selection
    Supplier Selection Process
    Supply Chain
    Support
    Tactic
    Talent Acquisition
    Tech Corridor
    Technique
    Technology
    Tedious
    Telecommute
    Temporary Worker
    Testimonial
    The Dichotomy Of Leadership
    Theory
    Time And Materials
    Time Management
    Tough Customers
    Training
    True North
    Uci Dce
    Unemployment
    Unhappy At Work
    University Of California Irvine
    University Of California Irvine Division Of Continuing Education
    Ups
    Vendor
    Vendor Selection
    Video
    Visionary
    War For Talent
    White Paper
    Windchill
    Work
    Work From Home
    Work Life Balance
    Work Packaging
    Workstation
    World Class
    World Class Customer Service

    RSS Feed

Visit Square-1's
White Paper & Article
​Publications

Picture

Site
​Navigation

Home

Services

Case Studies

White Papers/ Articles
​
​Contact Us

Contact
​Us

1-844-300-SQR1
Web Content Copyright  ©   2020
Picture
  • Home
  • Services
    • Consulting Services
    • CAD Services
    • In-Source Project Services
  • Successful Execution
    • How We Engage
    • Problems We Solve
    • Project Expertise
    • Case Studies
  • Resource Library
    • White Papers and Articles
    • Recommended Business Reading
  • About Us
    • Vision & Misson
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Services
    • Consulting Services
    • CAD Services
    • In-Source Project Services
  • Successful Execution
    • How We Engage
    • Problems We Solve
    • Project Expertise
    • Case Studies
  • Resource Library
    • White Papers and Articles
    • Recommended Business Reading
  • About Us
    • Vision & Misson
    • Contact Us