Dream more than others think practical. Expect more than others think possible. Care more than others think wise. ~Howard Schultz
You’ve got mail! Rem
ember that? For a number of years now, I’ve developed a Christmas tradition of watching the movie You’ve Got Mail. I watch it because I like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Even more so, I watch it because it highlights two business icons that were thriving at the time of the release (1998), AOL and big box bookstores Borders and Barnes & Noble. We can’t really say that those businesses are “thriving” any longer.
But this time when I watched the movie I realized that I had forgotten that at the very beginning another icon was also highlighted, Starbucks. While AOL, Barnes & Noble, and Borders have either struggled or gone out of business, Starbucks continues to thrive. I quickly made a mental note that I could immediately name the person leading Starbucks, Howard Schultz. But I couldn’t recall AOL’s primary leader back in the day (I’ve refreshed my memory (i.e., Google) and it was Steve Case), and I have no idea who the leaders were for either Borders or Barnes & Noble.
Howard Schultz has authored a number of books; I’m not sure why, but I’ve not ready any of them. That will change in 2015. Schultz has a very clear leadership perspective, and I can see why Starbucks thrives when he’s at the helm. Here are a few Schultz quotes to give you an idea of what I mean.
From Pour Your Heart into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time
In this ever-changing society, the most powerful and enduring brands are built from the heart. They are real and sustainable. Their foundations are stronger because they are built with the strength of human spirit, not an ad campaign. The companies that are lasting are those that are authentic.
To be an enduring, great company, you have to build a mechanism for preventing or solving problems that will long outlast any one individual leader.
From Onward: How Starbucks Fought for its Life without Losing Its Soul
Grow with discipline. Balance intuition with rigor. Innovate around the core. Don’t embrace the status quo. Find new ways to see. Never expect a silver bullet. Get your hands dirty. Listen with empathy and over communicate with transparency. Tell your story, refusing to let others define you. Use authentic experiences to inspire. Stick to your values, they are your foundation. Hold people accountable, but give them the tools to succeed. Make the tough choices; it’s how you execute that counts. Be decisive in times of crisis. Be nimble. Find truth in trials and lessons in mistakes. Be responsible for what you see, hear, and do. Believe.
At least for Starbucks, Schultz’s leadership works. He certainly gives us a lengthy list of possible leadership mantras for 2015. What’s yours?
Leadership Mantras
It’s a great expression or handle. It’s my opinion that Leadership Mantras can be created or developed by all of us. Many times, we look to those in significant leadership position and then hang and repeat their every word. One definition of leadership is simply leading a group of people. So, all of us are leaders, in the different conditions or circumstances we find ourselves. Fathers, mothers, buddies, relatives, neighbors, sweethearts, co-workers, and certainly managers are potential leaders. Mantra is a word repeated to aid concentration. As a result, a leadership mantra is a word or a series of words used by the person who finds themselves in a leadership role that aids the concentration of one person or for an entire group.
My mother who was the leader in our family said “You come from a long line of smart, intelligent people. To accept mediocrity is to deny the existence of your heritage”. A buddy in my group of friends says, “Forgiveness means that you drink the antidote for bitterness and resentment”. One of my sisters says “It is important to appreciate the relationships we have with others rather than focusing on their flaws”. A co-worker on a team I was on said, “I am committed to every member of this outfit and I will give my best to help us achieve our very best”. An old boss once said “The speed of the leader is the speed of the team”. A girlfriend I used to have told me, “If you go the extra mile, there is never a traffic jam”. As the leader of my family, I’ve said, “the will to win is based on the will to prepare” and “As a man, you have to keep showing up”. Each of these is an example of leadership mantras. While you may not find them printed in McKinsey Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, or Vistage, these none the less are from leaders. These mantras have had impact to the leader and the follower.
So we all need to stay tuned into those around us, listening for mantras that, if repeated and adopted, can significantly and positively impact our lives.