Jon Henry
Knoxville, TN
- 192 comments
- 59 likes given
- 215 likes received
I exist to Make Work Better and tell interesting stories about amazing people and organizations that reflect on leadership, culture, and communication.
@getoddliles Thank you sir. I suppose we are also more fortunate today that it is much easier to work "with" thanks to the collaborative efforts done online and such... but I failed to mention that in my post due to my inner-loathing of social media references.
@Aaron Nelson I think the best teachers I've ever had were the ones who let their subject material shine through above the individual qualities of the teacher. So boring subjects like history became thrilling because the teacher trusted the material they created and introduced it to their students without letting their own shortcomings interfere.
I'd think the same would be true for leadership... great leadership occurs when leaders trust their purpose and vision and let that shine through. Just like school is about the subject more than the teachers, I'd think leadership is more about the purpose (be it individual, organizational, and so forth) than the leader.
@JoshuaWRivers Makes you wonder who bears the responsibility with applying knowledge: the student, the teacher, or someone else? The student should learn and do something with the learning, yes. But the teacher should not assume the lesson is complete unless the student takes action right?
My latest conversation: Do Not Complete Goals
@Aaron Nelson Yes, progressing with life is usually more preferable than it's completion. Thanks!
@MattMcWilliams2 One day when I have kids, I will make sure they use your line in school: "I have a lot of knowledge stored up that I am working to apply, so it will be a long time before I can legitimately learn something new." Classic. Thank you very much!
@Aaron Nelson I imagine many people assume they are never in a position to "practice what they preach" if they are not a leader, teacher, or preacher. Even as a teacher, I'm sure you don't want that responsibility all the time. I guess that is why parents resort to the old "do as I say, not as I do" routine, huh?
My latest conversation: Education is Not Power
@Bret Interesting story, thanks for sharing. I like the last line of your second paragraph. I also agree with the comment on education in general...can you imagine how schools would perform if students were assessed on goals rather than benchmarked to peers?
@CarolDublin Absolutely... the balance part is very important. One could also say that chaos becomes organized and predictable once you embrace it over time.
@Aaron Nelson Thanks for the kind word. I wish you well on your little adventure!
@JoshuaWRivers Thanks for the reminder. I like that verse, and 1 Timothy 4:15-16 too: "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
Personally, I thrive on the unstable. I grew up in it as a military brat and then had assumptions about my purpose and the things I enjoy constantly disrupted by periods of uncertainty and change. In some odd way, the challenge and disruption helped me focus on what matters. What happens AFTER you focus is just as important. You have to move forward.
In the professional world, the unstable is what keeps consultants like me in business. I help others focus and deal with change. And I help them move forward, too.
My latest conversation: How to Reform Better
This rattles me for a different reason. There are hundreds of research materials available that suggest people rarely care about customer service that exceeds expectations or goes the extra mile (unless something really, really bad happens). What customers DO care about, however, is a product or service being delivered as promised. The problem starts because most service people and their leaders have absolutely no idea what was promised to begin with. Hence the breakdown.
If customer service is sales, then sales is a promise. If you want to succeed at the former, you better know the latter.
My latest conversation: This Week Starts With You
@JoshuaWRivers Kinda stinks that doubt has a posse with it too, huh?
My latest conversation: Be Inspired or Be Inspirational
... finishing what I started. Which definitely requires being overly intentional and somewhat zealous to overcome!
My latest conversation: Where to Find Peace
@Skropp Certainly a great idea. But if / when I do post something along that line, I think you'll accuse me of "getting inside" your head ... even though you just volunteered this idea. Thanks :)
My latest conversation: Where to Find Peace