Three Attributes of Leadership and Growth
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Today’s second topic is a book review of Truman by David McCullough.
Word Count: About 1,200 words, with an approximate reading time of 5 to 7 minutes. Please share your thoughts in the comments. Please be kind and subscribe to my newsletter.
Links to purchase the books discussed in this newsletter can be found on my website’s recommended reading page.
In Art Markman’s recent article for Fast Company, he describes three everyday habits of people who get promoted quickly. I believe these are common leadership traits and that effective leadership leads to promotions. Markman’s three habits are: 1) Be Useful and Effective, 2) Learn What the Next Role Requires, and 3) Build a Strong Social Network. I discuss each of these in my book, The Leader With A Thousand Faces.
To be useful and effective, you must understand the situation. Leading a turnaround requires different behaviors than what is needed during crisis management. Many of the activities are similar, but how you execute them is unique to the situation.
Understanding what you need to learn to be ready for the next role is crucial. Not only do you need to understand the next organizational step, but you also need to plan for variants. The best career plans often require tacking. As sailors know, reaching the right harbor requires alternately tacking to port or starboard depending on the wind and weather. The way to the final destination is rarely a straight line.
Building solid networks enables leaders to better prepare for the future. Connecting with people who do what you aspire to helps you understand your gaps. To fill a gap, you have to know it is there. Networks can also introduce you to new opportunities. Often, the best opportunities are not advertised or posted.
Many articles use the word habits. I do not like using habit in the context of success. Habits are formed and demonstrated without thought. There are good habits and bad habits; they occur subconsciously. A much better word is behaviors. Behaviors are learned. Behaviors can change over time and can be adapted to fit new circumstances.
Related Articles
Fast Company - 3 habits of people who get promoted quickly
HBR - 4 Steps to Making a Successful Career Change
Gallup - 6 Steps to Successfully Changing Careers After 50
The Economist - The science of networking
Book Review – Truman by David McCullough
Observing the leaders around you and studying leaders from history is essential to continuous growth. You can learn from their successes and failures by understanding how they chose to lead in different circumstances. An entire section of The Leader With A Thousand Faces focuses on Leadership Observed.
President Harry Truman is a remarkable study of leadership. On paper, he was not prepared to assume the office. During World War I, the highest rank he achieved was captain in the Field Artillery. He owned a clothing store that failed in 1922. Shortly afterward, Truman was elected county clerk. In 1934, he was elected to the United States Senate. Many were surprised when Truman was selected to run for Vice President with Franklin Roosevelt. Truman was vice president for 84 days before becoming President.
During his presidency, Truman faced many challenges. Among those were leading negotiations at the Yalta conference, dropping the atomic bomb, containing Soviet expansion in Europe, defending South Korea, and dealing with an insubordinate Douglass MacArthur. He did all of this while preventing conflicts from escalating into World War III. In addition to global challenges, Truman addressed several domestic issues. Most notably, he issued an executive order to desegregate the military.
Studying history provides unique glimpses into leadership. The true effects of leadership decisions are often not realized until years later. The actions of public figures are well documented, and records are well maintained.
What I’m Up To
After our vacation in Greece, things have been quiet. I am looking forward to playoff baseball. I’m excited that the Texas Rangers made the postseason for the first time since 2016. In 2022, the Rangers lost 94 games. This year, they won 90 games and tied for the lead in the AL West. They won the wild card series against Tampa Bay. Now it is on to Baltimore!
Texas plays OU this weekend. There are very few sporting experiences like this game. The game is always played at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas. Being in a stadium with a 50-50 fan split creates a different energy. (I am not going to be in the stands.)
Chips and Salsa: Snack-sized news and posts
NFTs were all the rage until they weren’t. Holland had tulips in the 1600s. We had Beanie Babies in the 1990s. As Stephen Colbert famously said, “There’s an old saying about those who forget history. I don’t remember it, but it’s good.” (Apple TV’s The Beanie Bubble was an entertaining movie.)
Rolling Stone - Your NFTs Are Actually — Finally — Totally Worthless
When new and useful tools appear, it is easy to rely on them too much. General James Mattis famously said, “PowerPoint makes us stupid.” AI is following that pattern.
Axios - How AI can put mistakes into overdrive
Many things on LinkedIn are troubling. In addition to oversharing, I do not like posts with no valuable insights but lead with glamor shots of the poster.
Insider - It’s not just you. LinkedIn has gotten really weird.
What does it mean to be conscious? Scientists, philosophers, and theologians have explored this topic for centuries. The question gets murkier as AI becomes part of the discussion.
Our minds like to play tricks on us.
The Guardian - Deja vu’s lesser-known opposite: why do we experience jamais vu?
If Tinder’s objective is to help people find lasting relationships, why do they have frequent users? If frequent users cannot find the relationship they want, why would they start paying for the service?
Axios - Tinder to charge power users $500 per month for VIP features
Weather is costing us more than ever before.
Insider - The true cost of extreme weather
Logos are interesting. The thought that goes into them is often underestimated.
Fast Company - Why KIA’s confusing logo is part of a growing design trend
Swifties rule.
Insider - Taylor Swift has the NFL on notice as her economic dominance spreads
I have no plans to read a book about Elon Musk. I have seen several very critical reviews of Walter Isaacson’s newest book.
The Verge - How the Elon Musk Biography Exposes Walter Isaacson
Halloween is fast approaching. I always enjoyed The Addams Family
Halloween With The Addams Family (Full Episode)
Quotes
“The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.”
- Samuel Johnson
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
- John Muir
“We must take personal responsibility. We cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but we can change ourselves.”
- Jim Rohn
You can order The Leader With A Thousand Faces on the Recommended Reading Page of my website.
My goal is to make this newsletter as interesting and valuable as possible. Please share your thoughts and suggestions for improvement. If there are specific topics in leadership you would like me to focus on in future issues, please send them my way.
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