People Often leave jobs because of the leader, so what's this mean for you?

In the last four weeks I have sat with groups of leaders and talked about the following leadership principles or topics:

+ High challenge & High support

+ How to handle and navigate the parents of your athletes

+ What accountability looks like in their program

+ Scheduling philosophy

+ Tools for winning trust

+ The power of encouragement

+ The power of Curiosity

+ Leading and managing staff

+ and more...

The wide variance of what leaders believe, how they behave, and how they deal with these (and other) topics is huge. They span from one end of the spectrum to the other. 

For example...One coach is 100% open to parents calling him about anything. That doesn't mean he has to entertain or engage deeply with every topic the parent wants to talk about but he has an "open door" or "open phone" policy. 

Another coach is at the other end of the spectrum. He talks about his parent policy during the recruiting process then has almost zero interaction with parents. 

Both of these coaches are extremely successful. And both are very different.

Or how about the comparison of two other coaches? One is quiet, unassuming, and doesn't say much but when he does speak unleashes a sharp tongue. He is systematic and surgical in implementing his culture and system.

The other coach is outgoing, has never met a stranger, is a gifted encourager and relentlessly positive. His implementation of the values is much more organic being led more by intuition than schedule. 

Both have sustained a high level success.

In reflecting on the past several weeks, this point continues to get driven deep into me: 

Each leader or coach is distinctly different. They all have a unique leadership fingerprint.

I would define leadership fingerprint as the strengths, constraints, personality, passions, energy, beliefs, purpose, shadow, and identity that make up a leader...and their leadership flows from these. 

Two leaders might look similar...but the totality of their fingerprints is unbelievably unique. A leader must become extremely familiar with their fingerprint so they can more effectively lead themselves, and in turn, lead others. 

Knowing your leadership fingerprint is not just about you. It is also for those you lead. It is about you becoming the best leader you can be for your people. Crappy leaders make for crappy experiences for those they lead. 

Knowing your fingerprint requires more than a cursory glance. I don't suggest that you overanalyze or start navel-gazing (obsessed with yourself), but it is important to do a healthy amount of introspection to get to know and understand your leadership fingerprint.

The best leaders are aware of who they are and how people experience them. They work hard to minimize their shadows and constraints while leveraging their strengths. They know who they are and who they are not, are driven by purpose, and are comfortable (and healthy) in their own skin/identity.

Not all poor leaders lack self-awareness. Some are actually aware. However, they are unwilling or unable to change. They know they drain the energy out of the room but could care less. They understand that the staff turnover is because people hate working for them but refuse to change.

There are several stats floating around about the percentage of why people leave a job. A quick Google search revealed these stats:

• A Gallup poll found that 50% of employees leave their jobs "to get away from their manager" at some point in their careers.

• Other studies suggest that up to 75% of employees who voluntarily leave their jobs do so because of issues related to their boss or leadership rather than the job itself.

If you want to have success, the self-awareness journey is not optional!

There are many great tools to use to help you uncover your leadership fingerprint (DISC, Myers-Briggs, Strengths Finder, etc).

Several exercises I use with leaders:

+ Identity exercise
+ Strengths/constraints
+ Skill stack
+ Gold/shadow
+ Energy
+ Identifying your purpose
+ Website exercise

In the following weeks, I will spend some time explaining these exercises. There is no magic in the exercises. They are simply forcing functions of evaluating and asking questions to learn exactly who you are!

If you have any questions in the meantime, just reply to this email!

 
Click here to learn about/order my book The Leadership Greenhouse

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One of my weekly disciplines is scouring the internet for articles/tweets I can learn from and/or use with those I work with. Below are two that I hope help encourage and equip you.

Article 1- How to get to know your people...quickly

Article 2- Culture

Podcast- Jason Burton- Women’s basketball coach at University of North Texas. Stud!

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Five Ways I Can Help:

1 on 1's - A powerful solution to combat the isolation and loneliness that often accompanies leadership. Leading with excellence can be an uphill battle, but you don't have to face it alone. My 1-on-1 coaching is designed to be your trusted thought partner, offering thought-provoking, perspective-enhancing questions that ignite fresh insights and clarity. My  mission is the help you gain precision like clarity of your strengths, motives, identity, and energy so that you can be the best version of yourself and a truly exceptional leader for your people. My personalized approach ensures that each session is tailored to meet your specific needs and goals.

Here is a testimony from a 1 on 1 client: "Travis has helped me become a better leader. Travis has helped me organize my thoughts and has given me so much clarity on how to lead on a day-to-day basis. There is no doubt that he is the biggest asset to my leadership and has reenergized my coaching style." Jeff Duncan, Head Baseball Coach, Kent State

360' Leadership Assessment - I have yet to meet an elite leader who isn’t hungry to grow and improve. The problem is when you become a head coach, feedback gets more and more rare. Let Travis take you through a 360’ review that will shine a spotlight on your superpowers (strengths) and also identify ways in which you can get better. This is for high-level leaders with a hunger to continue to improve! Email Travis at travis@kingdomcoachingtw.com to learn more or get started.

Interview Prep - The person who lands to job isn't always to best leader or coach. It is often the leader or coach who is able to articulate their vision, principles, and strategies the best. In order for us to be our best during an interview, we need to prepare. Let us help you get ready so you can land your dream job! Email Travis at travis@kingdomcoachingtw.com to learn more or get started

Speaking - During this transformative experience, I will guide you through the essential principles that lay the foundation for an elite environment in your program. Our approach is entirely interactive, ensuring an engaging and dynamic learning journey for all participants.

The Tribe - What are your pain points? What do you need to do to become a better leader? To create a better environment? Join a group of like-minded coaches who get together (via Zoom) every 2nd and 4th Monday to discuss and work through principles and frameworks to help you become a better leader.

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