Lee Thayer: His Thinking Regarding Leadership & High Performance Organizations

Effective questions are those that accomplish their purpose as well as build a positive relationships. Questions that work should build a deeper and better understanding of the problem and possible solutions, but should also construct better working relations among the problem solvers.  Edgar Schein in his book Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling promotes the kind of inquiry that comes from an attitude of interest and curiosity. Inviting others to tell their story in their own words helps to establish rapport, gather information and increase understanding.

Humble Inquiry changes the quality of listening from confirming habitual judgments and the focus on the factual/objective data to more empathic and generative listening (Otto Scharmer) and greater humility. My whole being is able to slow down and to be present when I can suspend my judgment and enter into the question at a deeper level. 

From my early days with Lee Thayer about 20+ years ago, it has always been about being in the learning mode.  Vistage, formerly known as TEC (The Executive Committee), was one of the many organizations that Lee infected with being in the learning mode as opposed to the knowing mode.  Red Scott would always say: You're green and growing (learning mode) or ripe and rotting (knowing mode).  I added that for many of us we turn to rotting and composting so that we can once again become green and growing.  It's not what I know that gets me in trouble. It's what I know that just ain't so...that does.   ozzie MIndfulness.com

Mindless habits sap our energy, steal our time and clutter our life at home & work. It is the never-ending obsession with doing or being good enough. Mark Nepo and Oprah highlight, in the video clip, the limitations of the listening to the constant chatter of the inner critic, our distractions and busyness. Nepo stresses the need to develop the discipline and personal practice of presence.

Being fully present in the here and now creates greater peace, power and harmony. Presence and making genuine, loving contact is not always safe or easy. There is always a risk involved in trying to make a real connection. Being aware of our presence and making small adjustments in our mindless habits will help our lives flow more harmoniously according to our own nature and natural rhythms. 

It is about service to others. Some wonderful insights that General Talley shares to the questions asked.

"I have to get people to think I’m a careful, compassionate, caring leader, and then people will help me do things."

The General's words echo what Lee Thayer has been teaching for over 4 decades to leaders: "The most fundamental lessons is that leadership is about commitment, competence and character."

Read Annette's insights.   ozzie Mindfulness.com

Read Annette's insights. And start with anyone of Lee Thayer's books.

Read Annette's insights. And start with anyone of Lee Thayer's books.

Leadership is largely about developing your people, setting a vision, and supporting them in making it happen.  But are you hindering that success by not setting clear expectations, not considering organizational capacity when rolling out a new initiative, or setting policies and procedures that aren't useful?  Leaders clear the way, they don't stand in the way.

The story of Ralph Stayer is interesting in getting out of one's own way.  What is more interesting is that his mentor early on was Lee Thayer who asked the questions that needed to be asked.

Lee Thayer reminded me numerous times:

• No tool is any better than the understanding of the person using it.
• The best tool in the wrong hands will not accomplish what was intended.
• No tool or technique can be any better than its users

And BOLDED as a reminder:

The Mother of all tools is how I think about what needs thinking about.

It would serve one well to get to right thinking by reading any of Lee's books starting with: Leadership: Thinking, Being, Doing or an easier start would be: A Pocket Oracle for Leaders.

Lee has been adding the contact for over 40 years. Check out my Pinterest board on Lee Thayer On Leadership especially @BrianNarelle did a cartoon capture of Lee's Presentation here in San Diego a number of years ago. We forget that knowing and doing are worlds apart. You might want to start with: Leadership: Thinking, Being, Doing and progress through his 9 or 10 other thought prodding and provoking  books by Lee. In the works: Mental Hygiene.

My thinking influences who I am and who I am impacts what I do and the habits I create. 

Check out this piece I wrote on the Kalama Sutra about who to believe.

Dave Logan, co-author of Tribal Leadership, speaks of crucible moments when very difficult circumstances call forth our greatness and, in many ways, our true selves.  Great leaders have these crucible moments (indeed we all do) and the author of this article identifies several of them while also presenting questions for you to answer as you seek out your special gifts, your greatness.  It is from this knowledge and utilization of our special gifts, when woven together with those of our colleagues, that great work cultures evolve.

The quote of John Wooden says it: 

“True success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”

Lee Thayer in his thought provoking and thought challenging book: Leadership: Thinking Being Doing shared:

"In all the world, there is no human e xperience that can compare to the exercise of the deeply-developed competencies required for the pursuit of a great and worthy achievement"

In the final paragraphs of the book he adds:

if you succeed, be humble. Others comspired with you to make it happen. You were blessed.

If you did not succeed, go backa nd fix the only things over which you have control: how you think, who you are, and how you do what you do. And make all of the tools required an integral part of who you are.