Great leaders overmanage what other leaders don’t

Disney culture model
i spent 15 years speaking full time, explaining this simple model to outsiders. Photo: Disney Institute training materials.

 

Disney great leaders
Screen shot of Disney Institute video featuring answers to the question, from Disney Leaders.

 

Notes from a lifetime at Disney
Notes from a lifetime at Disney

 

Bottom photo, catch the 2007 date in upper left?

Overmanaged the details of every speech i gave since 1999. In the notes above, here’s the back story deciphered:

  • While flying from Orlando to Minneapolis i brainstormed some topics that would share my personal experience with the conference theme.
  • Left Pennsylvania for Washington State with $75, on a bicycle.
  • As a Disney Resort Operations Manager, i “got my throat ripped out” everyday, by a Guests so angry, their jugular veins were “popping out”.
  • Every year i was the closing manager New Year’s Eve and opening manager New Year’s Day. Think about that one.
  • Waited 13 years before asking for Christmas week off and didn’t get it. Got it in my 14th year. True story.
  • Received my 5-years of Disney Service award pin two months late, in an interoffice envelope.
  • I chased a national championship as a Masters Track & Field 400 meter runner.
  • Generated 50% more sales leads than the next highest team member. The next year reached that same number in seven months instead of 12.
  • In 2007, i drove an 18-year old car. Now my car is 27 years old.

Funny how you unearth a random note page, a relic from your past, and it floods you with awe and wonder, and a smile of gratitude.

 

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This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

 

Accountability, Disney-style

car accident
Driving home from the gym yesterday afternoon.

 

Car accident
Clear expectations: always drive the speed limit, never (ever) tailgate, no texting while driving, on time is 10 minutes early – never speed to make up for being late. Clarity. Agreement.

 

Accountability, Disney-style…

This is about two simple yet overlooked ideas:

  • Clarity
  • Agreement

At Disney, the clearer a leader is about what’s expected, the better the end results. Gaining agreement means there’s no misunderstanding. Misunderstanding are rampant, insidious, and cause tremendous damage – to culture, morale, financial results, customer satisfaction, productivity, etc.

Clarity and agreement also includes consequences and repercussions from dishonoring the agreement.

 

__________

 

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

 

A long list, but is there a silver bullet for Leadership?

Quote about change
Action. Good, thoughtful and intentional action.

 

A long list that comes down to one powerful leadership thesis.

The criteria most use to describe why they admire a certain leader center on characteristics, traits, experience, talent, competencies, skills, expertise, and competencies.

But is there a leadership silver bullet that summarizes the whole volume for being a great leader?

It starts with an i, but it isn’t integrity.

It’s intentionality.

Great leaders over-focus on the same things other leaders under-focus on or ignore. It’s about being intentional where others are unintentional.

 

__________

 

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

 

Theory is useless without one critical success factor

Disney Customer Service Speaker
This came to me out of nowhere yesterday, after a phone call with a book publisher.

 

Common sense.

Questions.

Paradox.

The three tools of my trade.

 

__________

 

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

 

.brand .differently

Walt Disney World Railroad photos
Walt Disney World Railroad photo.

 

.brand .differently

• • • • •

Brand like you mean it.

 

__________

 

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.