Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

At the end of each year, I select my choice for the best new leadership book for that year, and then highlight that book on my blog.

Well, only five months into 2017, I had already found a new leadership book so good that I couldn't wait until year-end  2017 to share it. Reflecting back, and sharing again, that book is, The Inspiration Code, by Kristi Hedges.


Perhaps now more than any other time, the need for inspirational leadership is critical in the workplace. Filled with profound insights and compelling data, and based on a commissioned survey on who and what inspires people, Hedges uncovers a set of consistent, learnable behaviors that dramatically enhance leadership success. And, shows you how to inspire those you lead. And, how to energize people every day.

Kristi Hedges
But, first, what exactly is inspiration? Hedges explains that psychology professors Todd Thrash and Andrew Elliot have determined that inspiration is:
Transcendence: We can see beyond our ordinary preoccupat…

Your employee will appreciate your acknowledging their birthday, advanced degree graduation achievement, wedding engagement, wedding, or other personal milestone event.

If he or she shares with you information about any important event in their life, take the opportunity to congratulate them, honor them and acknowledge them. You can give them a card. Or, take them to lunch. Or, even a simple handshake can go a long way.

Taking an interest in your employee goes a long way and it's one of the easiest, meaningful actions you can take.

If you manage a large team, you'll likely want to create a way to help you remember upcoming milestone events for each of your employees.

These quotes truly inspire me:

“The three common characteristics of best companies -- they care, they have fun, they have high performance expectations.” -- Brad Hams
“The one thing that's common to all successful people: They make a habit of doing things that unsuccessful people don't like to do.” -- Michael Phelps
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." -- Harry S. Truman
“The leader of the past was a person who knew how to tell. The leader of the future will be a person who knows how to ask.” -- Peter Drucker
“Leadership: The art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
“Good leadership isn't about advancing yourself.  It's about advancing your team.” -- John C. Maxwell
"People buy into the leader, then the vision.” -- John C. Maxwell
“Great leaders have courage, tenacity and patience.” -- Bill McBean
"People never learn anything by being told, they have to…

The leader of the past was a person who knew how to tell. The leader of the future will be a person who knows how to ask -- Peter Drucker

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit -- Harry S. Truman

No man becomes rich unless he enriches others -- Andrew Carnegie

Perception, visibility, and influence will help you stand out from the gifted group of stars that surrounds you --  Joel A. Garfinkle

According to entrepreneur and authorMargaret Hefferman, as reported a few years ago in Inc. magazine, the secrets of the most productive people are that they do these three things:
They take breaks. Breaks refresh the mind and allow you to see new situations. They aregreat collaborators. They have lives outside work. In fact, the most successful have rich private lives that include interests that hone different skills and that let them think in different ways.

Edward M. Marshall's book, Transforming The Way We Work -- The Power Of The Collaborative Workplace, remains relevant today, more than a decade after Marshall wrote it.
Particularly useful is the book's section that teaches readers how to be a collaborative leader.
Marshall says that there are seven different, important roles and responsibilities of collaborative leaders when leading teams, and those leaders should select the appropriate style to meet the team's needs.
The seven roles are: The leader as sponsor -- You provide strategic direction, boundaries and coaching for the team. You also monitor progress and ensure integrity in the team's operating processes.The leader as facilitator -- You ensure that meetings, team dynamics, and interpersonal relationships function effectively. You also ensure internal coordination of activities among team members.The leader as coach -- You provide support and guidance and you serve as a sounding board.The leader as change agent/cat…