Helping Men and Women
Become More Effective Leaders

Recognized as one of the 30 Most Influential
Leadership Gurus Worldwide*

June 2008

“Develop and practice contagious enthusiasm. When others see you get excited about a project, they get excited, too. And when people are enthusiastic, it steels them against the challenges and obstacles that will inevitably come.”
from 180 Ways to Walk the Motivation Talk

John is a now a Discussion Leader for Harvard Business Online.

John’s Podcast of the Month: How to Avoid Misunderstandings
Make certain that you are heard as well as understood.
http://www.cio.com/podcasts/baldoni/10misunderstandings.mp3

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Release Your Inner Dolly

So what can woman with big hair, painted lips, and a world‑famous bosom teach us about leadership? A lot, if her name is Dolly Parton. Her new song, "Better Get to Livin'" offers insights that every leader ought to keep at the ready. The song, the lead track of her latest album Backwoods Barbie, allows Dolly, the Oprah of Appalachia, to reveal the secret of her long‑lived career -- "living, giving, forgiving, and some lovin.'"  Not only do these words make good sense for country music enthusiasts, they make sense for leaders. Let's take them one at a time.

• Giving. Leaders give of themselves so others can succeed. That's means you spend time coaching and developing your people. Pull them aside when they are high falutin’ and give them a shoulder to cry on when times are tough.

• Forgiving. People make mistakes. If they acknowledge it and seek to make amends, move forward. Get over it. A leader cannot afford grudges; it rubs off negatively on others and drains energy from the team.

• Loving. Apply this to your work. Have a passion for what you do; it will rub off on the entire team. A leader who enjoys his work and the people with whom he works is one that encourages people to follow his lead.

• There are a few other verbs that Dolly uses in this song that also apply to leadership behavior. Among them are knowing – understanding your values; shining – standing up for yourself; and showing – letting others know you care. And there is another word Dolly uses – healing. Leader must exert themselves to bring people together. Rifts need to be breached; wounds bound; and feelings assuaged. All of these are leadership responsibilities.

Most importantly, get to "living." My friend, and fellow Harvard Business Online contributor, Marshall Goldsmith advises in his best‑selling book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, to let go of the past. Self‑absorption is never pretty. No one likes a whiner and a complainer. Leaders who cannot let go of the "woulda, coulda, shoulda" are locked in a self‑perpetuated cycle of negativity that hinders personal growth as well as alienates others, that is, the very people the individual should be leading.

Why listen to Dolly? Pure and simple, she knows of what she sings. Born in poverty in Pigeon Ford, Tennessee, Dolly Parton has been a professional musician since age 13. Success came early but not without some hardship and sacrifice. All is reflected in her music. Not only does she play and sing, she writes much of her own material. She has created a business enterprise worth hundreds of millions and yet is not without self‑irony. "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap."  With her "glad to know ya" smile and country soprano voice, Dolly Parton knows her audience and time and again delivers what they want to hear. The woman knows her heart and herself.

So the next time, you are faced with dissension on your team or a seemingly impossible deadline from your boss, do yourself a favor. Tune into your inner Dolly. And then as Dolly says, "Better Get to Livin.'"

 [Adapted from a column first published by Harvard Business Publishing on March 25, 2008] Used with permission.

Keynote Speaker
People who attend John's keynotes and workshops come away saying that his presentations are "insightful," "helpful," and "motivational." John's topics include communications, motivation, personal leadership and getting results the right way. John is a frequent speaker on leadership topics to corporate, professional, military, and university audiences. Visit www.johnbaldoni.com to see John's videos, listen to his coaching podcasts, or read his newest articles.

Executive Coach
John specializes in helping his clients discover and achieve leadership presence, which he defines as "earned authority." Those with leadership presence demonstrate a strong capacity to project confidence, communicate with conviction, instill trust, and most importantly, lead by example. Leadership presence combines a leader's earned authority with a follower's reason to believe. While leaders project their leadership, followers authorize it with their approval. What matters to us most is authenticity. Leadership presence can be taught and put into practice through focused coaching. Watch John's videos on leadership presence and communications at www.johnbaldoni.com/askjohn.

John in the News
* John Baldoni was named one of the "30 Most Influential Leadership Gurus”"worldwide for 2007 by Leadership Gurus International www.LeadershipGurus.net.

John Online
John is a Discussion Leader for Harvard Business Publishing where he writes the Leadership at Work blog. John also writes the monthly Baldoni on Leadership column for CIO.com.

About John Baldoni
John Baldoni is a leadership consultant and speaker specializing in executive coaching, development and communications. John is the author of six books on leadership including the Great Leaders trilogy for McGraw‑Hill: How Great Leaders Get Great Results (2006), Great Motivation Secrets of Great Leaders (2005), and Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders (2003).