This is the “W” installment in the series “Alphabet for Leaders.” I thought I’d break the pattern with this one. Here’s a list of “W” words followed by the first thing that popped into my mind.
Waffle/Waver: Never waffle when it comes to taking responsibility. Never waver when it comes to honoring others.
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Wage war: Attack the tendency of all organizations to turn inward and begin focusing on themselves.
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Wagon: Hitch your wagon to someone who has gone further than you have.
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Warts: Your warts make you beautiful. Well, at least they make you interesting.
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Weary: Too much weariness leads to waste.
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Wake up call: Inner dissatisfaction is you trying to get your own attention.
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Wisdom: Knowledge is about what’s in your head. Wisdom is about what’s in your hands and feet.
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Whee/whoohoo: Have some fun before you’re done.
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When: The meeting isn’t over until everyone knows when things need to be done.
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Whiff: If you swing at things you’re bound to miss. Only bench-sitters never whiff.
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Whittle: Break big issues into small pieces. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
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Whackos/weirdoes: They might be right.
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Wronged: It’s wrong that you’ve been wronged. Now what?
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Wreck: If, from time to time you don’t feel like you are going to wreck, pull over and let someone else drive.
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Worth: Did you know that some activities are worth more than others? Spend yourself of things of worth.
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Worry: Don’t!
Work: Do!
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Worm: Even the shiniest apple may have a worm.
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Words: Your words are rudders. They take you places.
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Woozy: How I feel contemplating tomorrow’s post on the letter “X.”
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What “W” word for leaders can you add to the list?
Tags: Leadership
July 20, 2010 at 7:57 pm |
And Welcome – open your heart and mind to everyone you encounter. There’s always something to learn from everybody.
Other than that, I’m going with Wisdom and Whittle: slice everything down to its essence; the rest is sawdust.
Good luck on X!
July 20, 2010 at 8:08 pm |
Hey Mark,
Thanks for the welcome you offer and for condensing this into two great ideas.
I have to tell you that I accidentally hit send on this post. I wanted it to go out tomorrow morning.
Xylophone?
Your participation encourages me and I’m sure adds value to others.
Dan
July 20, 2010 at 8:27 pm |
X-Variable (the unknown)
July 20, 2010 at 9:09 pm |
Xciting
July 20, 2010 at 9:17 pm |
Way – as in leadership showing the “Way” that others will follow.
July 20, 2010 at 9:30 pm |
Way to go Jim.
Jim’s bio at: http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/featured-contributors/
July 20, 2010 at 10:32 pm |
Wonder – seeing the World and the Work afresh and Watching those you lead Wake up and Waltz into their Wonderful futures Wealthier for having been With you!
July 21, 2010 at 5:43 am |
Sue,
Wow! I’m not sure but I think you are going to win the W award.
Your creativity hasn’t obscured an important lesson. Add value to others. Make others wealthier. Your comment has done that.
Cheers!
Dan
July 21, 2010 at 12:51 am |
Dear Dan,
Very existing post. You have covered almost all good Ws. The best among the list, I like are, wake up, wisdom, words and worth. Wake up with wisdom to create worth with your words. I believe leader has to have will-power wholeheartedly and look for welfare of his people and get rid of weak spots from himself and his people. He has to be whistle- blower in organization and society, wherever he witnesses any wrongdoing and unethical practices.He should be well behaved and well balanced in his attitude, behavior and action. He should try to weed out anti human activities. He should be watchful and act like warrior and fight with weapon of the words to win the war, not every battle. The success lies in addressing and seeking solutions to ” What, where, who and when”. He should wish his followers with welcome all the time.
July 21, 2010 at 5:40 am |
Dear Ajay,
I might have covered most of the W’s but you put them together in a great stream. “Wake up with wisdom to create worth with your words.” PLUS, you added a wagon-load of new ones.
“Not every battle” — hmmm. Well said. Sometimes smaller battles can distract from the ultimate mission and vision. Great insight.
Cheers!
Dan
Ajay is a featured contributor to Leadership Freak. Read his bio at: http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/featured-contributors/
July 21, 2010 at 12:54 am |
W word “Waiver” should be spelled as “Waver”
July 21, 2010 at 5:34 am |
thanks! I fixed it.
July 21, 2010 at 1:58 am |
Hi Dan
All good journalists are supposed to know the 5 “W”s and get them into a news article as early on in the piece as possible. They are: who, what, when, where, why…and “how” (the unofficial other “w”).
One could argue that these are tools every leader should use regardingt all aspects of the business. And they can lead to “wisdom”. Wisdom comes about by asking questions, not by providing answers. Using the W’s can help us as leaders.
Can’t wait for “X” (It marks the spot doesn’t it?)
Chairs
mg
July 21, 2010 at 5:32 am |
Mark,
Reading your comment led me to, “Wisdom comes about by asking questions, not by providing answers.” Zing! Love it. Questions provides wisdom to BOTH the person asking and the person trying to answer.
I appreciate that you continue to add value to the community,
Dan
July 21, 2010 at 7:52 am |
YOUR Best Dan — “Wage war: Attack the tendency of all organizations to turn inward and begin focusing on themselves.”
If the leader of an org. does this, success is practically guaranteed. There is an old saying that an org. performs around how they are organized rather than dynamically to meet the customer’s and market’s changing needs.
In fact, that is why smaller upstart companies with great leaders can often unseat the larger company’s market dominance. The smaller company isn’t crushed by its own org. structure and self-importance.
FYI: I think you should publish many of your “original” W quotes on Twitter with @JKWGrowth #BeOriginal hashtag. You have many many good ones here.
Kate Nasser
July 21, 2010 at 11:07 am |
Kate,
Thanks for the good word and thank you for expanding Wage War. I’ve felt the pressure to turn inward in my own life and in the organization I lead. If we aren’t careful we collapse under our own weight.
I’ll take your suggestion to tweet these ideas.
It’s always great seeing you. I look forward to adding you to a the soon-to-be “Featured Blogger” page.
Dan
Dan
July 21, 2010 at 1:23 pm |
Kate – thanks for pointing Dan over to #BeOriginal to join us all in sharing original ideas on Twitter. Now to add my W’s to the list.
Wealth – Leaders help their team not only earn it but to create it – be it money, knowledge or opportunity.
Wherewithall – A true leader makes sure their team has what they need to get the job done.
Why-Not – (OK I stretched this one) A leader is open to possibilities and is willing to give new ideas a chance.
July 22, 2010 at 2:33 am |
Joan,
I was excited to learn about the #BeOriginal hashtag and glad to meet you as well.
Thanks for leaving a useful comment. I love your stretch. Why-not!
I look forward to seeing you again,
All the best,
Dan
July 21, 2010 at 10:25 am |
Hi Dan,
What about…
Willing: Willing to do the right thing even if it isn’t the easy thing. Or, willing to take risks. Willing to try new things. Willing to provide support and coaching, and so on.
July 21, 2010 at 11:08 am |
Hi Erin,
What I like about willing is that it can precede able. Plus, doesn’t willing have a certain kindness to it?
I’m thankful you stopped in again.
Cheers,
Dan
July 21, 2010 at 4:12 pm |
We…
While we are in this world, be not wayward, waver not, nor a weasel be!
Whack at the walls of “we always do it this way.”
Waft wisdom…well, that was a stretch
July 22, 2010 at 2:18 am |
Doc,
Sometimes without wavering we have to stretch a bit. The comments on this series has consistently produced more smiles than any other series. OH! I haven’t really done any other series. Thats whacky.
Best regards,
Dan
Read Doc’s bio at http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/featured-contributors/
July 21, 2010 at 7:06 pm |
This is a great series Dan! After attending Tony Hsieh’s (Zappos.com CEO’s) presentation this morning, I listened to one of the audience members stand up and ask a question (in a condescending tone, I may add) that was obviously intended to put Tony in an uncomfortable spot. As my fellow table-mates and I rolled our eyes, the highly unsophisticated thought that immediately went through my head was “that guy is wacked”.
Wacked: how you look when you peform ego grandstanding (especially dangerous when done in front of a room of 200 people!)
July 22, 2010 at 2:21 am |
Leader Talk,
Thanks for your great story. It’s a warning to us not to get full of ourselves. Sad thing about being whacked is we don’t always see how whacked we are. What if the weirdos (Zappos) are right and we are wrong?
Best to you,
Dan
July 27, 2010 at 1:48 pm |
To expand a little on Mark’s post I will simply add one of my favorite quotes from Nietsche (Hope I spelled that right). If you truly know the “why” there is no “how” one cannot bear. Great post and contributions. This is my daily moment to reflect, learn, and grow and very importantly revitalize my work day. Thank you all.
July 27, 2010 at 2:05 pm |
Al,
Love the Nietzsche quote. Thanks. (I can’t spell
)
And thank you for the good word. I appreciate it very much.
Best to you and your health care group.
Dan