Creating An Impact

The Qualities of Effective Leadership — Part V

I am really enjoying the writing of this series of articles.

I however hate the fact that I had to rewrite each article once or twice, because of frequently changing occurrences.

For example, I had already completed most of this article, when I learned about the sudden death of Tim Russert and the firing of Mets’ coach Willie Randolph — those occurrences compelled me to make alterations in order to remain current.

For example, I had already conducted research into Sam Cooke, Willie Randolph, Kobe Bryant and a few mothers for this article, when the sudden death of journalist/moderator Tim Russert was announced on Friday, June 13 (Black Friday).

PREPARATION, being a creature of reading and research myself, with everyone I spoke after learning about Russert’s death, I lauded his appetite to do research and his willingness to show it off.

I am happy to be joined by the many commentators on Russert’s life and contributions, about their admiration for the manner in which he PREPARED for his interviews and other journalistic endeavors, by doing UNTIRING RESEARCH.

I shall have a lot to say about Jesuit-trained Tim Russert and Willie Randolph in the next article, which will in fact be the last in this series.

Because I mention Jesuit-trained, I have written several times before about the benefits and advantages that Godfrey Wray and his colleagues earned from being educated at a Jesuit College in Guyana (St. Stanislaus) — towards becoming leaders in their varied fields of endeavor.

PERSONAL ARRIVAL

I had never looked at personal success in this way, until I read Michael Goodwin’s tribute to Tim Russert.

Goodwin said that you know that you have MADE IT or YOU HAVE ARRIVED when your last name stops being a NOUN, and is being used as a VERB.

For example, to be Russerted means to be grilled during an interview.

— Dennis, Godfrey, Handel and Edgar (for example) you would know that you have arrived, when your last name comes to mean to be Nelsoned, Wrayed, Andrewsed or Henried. This recommendation also goes out to my many friends and associates.

READERS, let me remember to ask you to extrapolate from my several references, quotations and stories in order to discover the aspects of effective leadership that you could apply to your personal situations.

SAM COOKE

One Saturday afternoon (June 14), I was very frustrated over the fact that persistent rains had prevented the METS from playing baseball against the Texas Rangers and there was hardly any interesting alternatives on T.V.

Hence, I decided to look (one more time) at a documentary on Sam Cooke, who many argue was one of the best soul singers.

OBSERVATION — While I was aware about the importance and relevance of OBSERVATION, it never meant that much to me until I heard Sam Cooke speak about it, as a tool of leadership. I had seen observation more as a tool of INTELLIGENCE.

When asked about the source of his success, Sam said OBSERVATION. He disclosed that he constantly looked at what the people wanted and took it to them . . . that was his interpretation of OBSERVATION.

Sam advised that you know when you have SUCCEEDED, when you no longer have to GO to the people, and they start COMING to you . . . I think he is right.

SUCCESS — Sam amplified on his personal success with emphases on the successes of his TEAM MEMBERS. Though very young, black and relatively poor, Sam had the foresight and entrepreneurship to start his own record label . . . Sam stated that he looked to see the success of other persons who were singing on his label, because their success rallied his . . . He emphasized the importance of COOPERATION and the team.

Sam’s view is true of cricket, baseball, or any other (team) game — the more successful the individual players are, the more successful and productive becomes the entire team.

— And do you know, why there is such a terrific brain-drain from Third World countries? Because most of the political and organizational leaders from those countries have allergies to skillful and qualified individuals . . . they feel threatened by vertebrates — and feel more comfortable subsisting with weaklings and dependents. They prefer the A . . . lickers or soup-drinkers.

The hypocrisy within this exercise is that these societal/organizational leaders are (intellectually) dishonest enough, to state in advertisements that they are looking for independent thinkers; self-starters; team leaders; and/or qualitative persons with drive and initiative.

SOME SPECIFICS

Readers, I am not giving you dictionary or encyclopedia meanings, instead, I am quoting straight from the horses’ mouths.

INSPIRATION — A leader has to be able to give or share inspiration to his/her followers or admirers, e.g. Diana Reed, 23, who was crowned Miss Iowa this year, said of Oprah Winfrey " . . . I love Oprah, I think she’s a great leader of the country, an amazing and empowering and INSPIRING person for me . . ."

THE ONE — The effective leader has to discover and maintain ways and means to be the ONE — campaigning for Barack Obama in Des Moines, Iowa on December 8, 2007, Oprah Winfrey confessed, " . . .I’ve never done this before. For the very first time in my life, I feel compelled to stand up and to speak out for the man who I believe has a new vision for America . . . I am here to tell you, he is the ONE; he is the ONE . . ."

SOMETHING SPECIAL — Apart from being the ONE, the effective leader has to be SOMETHING SPECIAL . . . After winning this year’s NBA (western) finals, on Friday evening May 30, 2008, Organizational Official — Jerry West, who presented the Western conference trophy to the L.A. Lakers, commented " . . . You people in L.A. are very privileged to see this young man here — Kobe Bryant — he’s SOMETHING SPECIAL . . ."

L.A. Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson added Kobe, though still young, is a " . . . Mature veteran . . ."

WINNING — In response to the compliments, Kobe Bryant stressed " . . . We play for one thing and one thingy only, and that's championships . . . My prayers have been answered . . . We have won . . . Readers, please note of essential importance of WINNING.

MOTIVATION — An effective leader has to be able to motivate and/or stimulate those around him or her. Let me stick to sports’ examples: FERNANDO TATIS, who has recently returned to professional baseball, after taking a break in his homeland — the Dominican Republic, has recently helped the New York Mets to win two successive games.

This is how 33-year-old Tatis’ teammate David Wright described him " . . . He’s been phenomenal for us; he’s come up with some big hits for us; he’s played some outstanding defence; he has given us a lot of energy; he goes out there and plays hard; he plays the game the right way; and I think that rubs off on a lot of other players who see his excitement, passion and intensity, and want to go out there and match those qualities.

WORKING HARD — The effective leader has to be prepared to work hard, often going beyond the call of duty. Let us look at what Fernando Tatis had to say about his comeback " . . . It was something I WANTED, I WANTED to come back to America, I worked so hard to be back here in the big leagues, I just got to do it for myself and for my kids. It takes a lot of hard work . . ."

DETERMINATION — The effective leader also has to have and demonstrate DETERMINATION. Mets Man-ager, Willie Randolph, in showing appreciation for Tatis’ contributions, commented ". . . When you’ve been a good player, you don’t really lose IT, if you keep your DETERMINATION . . . The heart he showed by staying in good shape, to fight his way back, there’s really something to be said for determination of a guy who wants to succeed, who wants to be in the game, and who wants to win . . ." (at this point, I should reiterate that each and every one of us, though we may not be leading countries or organizations are leaders in our private lives and undertakings, hence these pointers could also be useful to you).

SAVING — We have grown up hearing sayings like " . . . Make hay while the sun shines . . .", " . . . A stitch in time saves NINE . . .", and "Money SAVED, is money EARNED . . .", — Well, I was amazed by answers that Robinson Canoe of the New York Yankees gave in a recent interview.

The broadcaster asked Canoe, how come he himself was not scoring runs, but was fielding so well? Canoe disclosed that his philosophy has always been " . . . If they are not going to allow me to score, than I am not going to allow them to score either . . ." Canoe pointed out that his father often told him " . . . Good defense at times makes up for poor offense . . ."

I cannot stand how they

treated Randolph

They left him like a chicken

in the rough,

Allow that to be a lesson

for us all,

That we have to keep our eyes on the ball