Imagine a middle-aged, white belt with a propensity to be on the husky side and a sense of adventure standing amongst serious athletes ranging in age from 16 all the way up to 35.
Leadership Focuses On a Singular Vision The big hot button these days is Change Management, yet Jim Collins in his ground breaking book Good to Great points out that Level 5 Leaders do not focus on change – they focus on the goals for the vision they’ve established.
They hold in their consciousness a very powerful singular vision for us…to become a Black Belt.
As a leader, you just need to point the way and set up the training to get everyone believing they can get there as well.
Eventually, the class rotates and a new comer gets to work with higher ranks including Black Belts.
An experienced sales rep sits in training sessions with newer less seasoned reps to pass on their knowledge and seasoned sales experience.
Leadership Sets Simple, Achievable Goals It can be intimidating to see a Black Belt jump up in the air and kick over someone’s head, but most of us understand that with enough time, dedication and training, you too can be doing these amazing feats of agility.
As we say in the martial arts, “A Black Belt is a White Belt who never gave up.” Fear and intimidation melt away replaced with knowledge and technique.
These types of leaders are secure in their positions and welcome new talent with open arms, knowing that with enough time, training and experience, this individual deserves to stand in the same winners circle.
There is nothing that will get that across easier than the first time you face a female Black Belt.
The training is the same, and the expectations are the same.
People don’t leave bad companies; they leave companies with bad management.
Leadership Rewards Those That Earn It I recently passed a belt test.
Two years ago I attended my nephew Sebastian’s pre-Black Belt exam over.
2 months later there he stood alongside my nephew, a Black Belt around his waste and tears in his eyes.
He did it because he had a vision, spent 5 years aligning himself to that vision, with the right teachers to nurture him and small achievable goals, he was rewarded with the rank of Black Belt.
Now the real work begins as first through fifth degrees of Black Belt status means one must train with a different energy and discipline.
Masters are the Board of Directors and Black Belts are like the executives in an organization…looking for those that want to stand in the winners circle.
If the body of your company is out of balance, in other words, you are not retaining talent, then your company is going no where fast.
There are some experiences I cannot put into words, but if you follow my 5 Keys I believe you too can achieve a Black Belt in leadership.
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