Leadership Law #4 - The Law of Navigation

Anyone Can Steer the Ship, but It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course

Vocabulary for Law #3 ä ä Arduous - Hard to accomplish ä ä Gangrenous - Local death of soft tissues due to loss of blood supply ä ä Stupor – a condition of greatly dulled or completely suspended sense or sensibility ä ä Navigation - the method of determining position, course, and distance traveled ä ä Paradox- a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true ä ä Predetermine - to determine beforehand ä ä Communication - a process by which information is exchanged between individuals ä ä Preparation - the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty

What is the Law of Navigation? ä ä They see the whole trip in their minds before they leave the dock. ä ä They understand what it will take to get there. ä ä They know who they'll need on the team to be successful. ä ä They recognize the obstacles long before they appear on the horizon.

The secret to the Law of Navigation is preparation. ä ä When you prepare well, you convey confidence and trust to people. ä ä Leaders who are good navigators are capable of taking their people just about anywhere.

Successful Leaders are like Successful Navigators. Navigators Draw on Past Experience Every past success and failure you’ve experienced can be a valuable source of information and wisdom. Success teaches you what you’re capable of doing and gives you confidence.

Successful Leaders are like Successful Navigators. Navigators Examine the Conditions Before Making Commitments No good leader plans a course of action without paying attention to current conditions. Good navigators count the cost before making commitments for themselves and others.

Successful Leaders are like Successful Navigators. Navigators Listen To What Others Have to Say Navigating leaders get ideas from many sources. They always think in terms of relying on a team, not just themselves.

Successful Leaders are like Successful Navigators. Navigators Make Sure Their Conclusions Represent Both Faith and Fact A leader has to possess a positive attitude. On the other hand, you also have to be able to see the facts realistically. Balancing optimism and realism, faith and fact can be very difficult.

Successful Leaders are like Successful Navigators. Charting A Course with A Navigation Strategy ä ä Predetermine a course of action. ä ä Lay out your goals. ä ä Adjust your priorities. ä ä Notify key personnel. ä ä Allow time for acceptance. ä ä Head into action. ä ä Expect problems. ä ä Always point to the successes. ä ä Daily review your plan.

Build your Leadership Qualities, one at a time. ä ä Communication is not just what you say. It’s also how you say it. ä ä Credibility precedes great communication. ä ä Communicators focus on the people with whom they’re communicating.

COMMUNICATION Simplify the Message ä ä Forget about impressing people with big words or complex sentences. If you want to connect with people, keep it simple. ä ä Will your readers be able to grasp the words you’ve chosen, or will they have to scramble for a dictionary? ä ä Have you used the fewest words possible? ä ä To a communicator, your best friends are simplicity and clarity. ä ä Write your next piece of communication keeping both in mind.

COMMUNICATION See the Person ä ä It is impossible to effectively communicate to an audience without knowing something about them. ä ä Pay attention to your focus when you communicate. Is it on you, your material, or your audience? If it’s not on people, you need to change it. ä ä Think about their needs, questions, and desires. Meet people where they are, and you will be a better communicator.

COMMUNICATION Show the Truth ä ä Ordinary people become extraordinary communicators when they are fired up with conviction. ä ä There is no greater credibility than conviction in action. ä ä Talk to a few trustworthy people and ask them whether you are living your message

COMMUNICATION Seek a Response ä ä If you dump a bunch of information on people, you’re not communicating. ä ä Every time you speak to people, give them something to feel, something to remember, and something to do. ä ä If you’re successful in doing that, your ability to lead others will go to a new level.