A great boss is hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget

by Leadership, Workshop

I’m launching a new training leadership course in 2018 (details below) and was delighted to come across this blog by the author Brigette Hyacinth. It captures how it feels to be around a real leader, so I’m reposting it here.

I lost one of my managers a couple of years ago and I can’t seem to forget him or the legacy he left behind. He was one of my earliest examples of true leadership. I often refer to him as “The Memorable Leader.”

I had a family emergency and before I could finish explaining to him the situation. He said, “And you are still standing here talking to me? Why aren’t you out the door yet? I’ll cover for you.” I smiled then went to my desk, took my belongings and left. Thereafter, he had my full commitment.

Here are five qualities of memorable leaders:

  1. Integrity & Authenticity go hand in hand. Joseph was honest with employees even though this trait was sometimes unpopular with top management. He often took the slack for his team. If leadership is not authentic, then what is it?
  2. Humility. True leaders always aim to serve rather than be served. Being humble makes you more approachable to your followers and allows you to create an environment of open communication and more effective feedback.
  3. Empathy plays a critical role in one’s ability to be a successful leader. It sharpens your “people acumen” and allows leaders to develop and maintain relationships with those they lead. Leaders that possess this trait always make time for people.
  4. Communication Skills – Great leaders are able to communicate their vision in such a way that motivates their team. They are great communicators; quick to listen and slow to speak. They possess high emotional intelligence skills.
  5. Inspirational- Joseph didn’t need a title to get us to complete tasks. He had our full support. Words such as “Good work team,” “You are the best”, “I trust your judgement” were at the top of his dictionary. Team spirit was high during his reign.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

Managers are forgotten but true leaders live on in the hearts and minds of followers. Sometimes I can still picture Joseph walking through the office, greeting staff on mornings, and might even give me a little nod or pat on the back. Those were the special moments I still hold dear. It doesn’t take much to create those special moments with your team.

Good bosses are few and far in between, but if and when you get one, really appreciate them.

Brigette Hyacinth‏

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THE FINE COMPANY LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSE

I have spent about 30 years of my life as a CEO / MD of small to medium sized companies and about 7 years working for dental practices as a management consultant. I am a better leader than I am a manager so processes and structure have been key in building my effectiveness.

In truth this program is quite personal – it’s what I believe to be the essential skills, techniques and behaviours that are essential if you are going to grow your practice or group.

Essentially I wanted to create a really practical program that plays to the natural strength of clinicians and provides a raft of tools to compensate for where there is a lack of skill, experience or confidence.

Delegate numbers are small – this is a very intensive program.

day 1

1 knowing yourself

2 thinking like a leader and behaving like a leader

3 thinking like a manager – process / systems / discipline / structure

4 building a balanced team

5 the importance of sustainable, consistent process and driving by numbers

6 managing people – performance and accountability

7 the practice structure – production and sales

day 2

1 building your plan – goal / SMART objectives / strategies / tactics

2 managing / mitigating risk – creating the hierarchy of risk

3 implementation plan – project management techniques

4 making decisions

5 dealing with failure

6 being invincible

day 3

1 the financial imperative

2 why you need a budget – why you can’t miss a budget, + budget building

3 recruitment

4 the marketing system

5 scalability

6 getting tough, staying cool and sense of humour

dates

Jan 25th – dinner at 20.00 / drinks 19.30

Jan 26th – workshops from 09.00 – 18.00   drinks 19.30 – dinner 20.00

Jan 27th – workshops from 09.00 – 18.00   dinner in Falmouth

Jan 28th – workshops from 09.00 – 16.00

The event will also run Feb 8th – Feb 11th & April 12th – 15th.

accommodation

The luxurious St Michael’s Hotel in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK – all rooms have sea views and a private terrace.

cost

£3k + VAT inclusive of all accommodation, meals and refreshment.

£2k + VAT for Fine Company clients.

the delivery team

I have a team of 5 that all run individual workshops – they are all highly skilled and come from a variety of backgrounds.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the course please contact me directly.

Best wishes,

JJF

PS we got great feedback from clients who joined us for the three-day business manager training course in November – here’s what Sean Corry of Corry Dental in Northern Ireland had to say.

 
Brigette Hyacinth

“It doesn’t take much to create those special moments with your team”

Brigette Hyacinth‏

Author: Jonathan Fine