Why Are you Followed?

Last weekend my wife and I enjoyed the classic, “White Christmas” with friends at a local theater. The musical was written well after the movie version, which starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. As you know, the plot has its twist and turns as a Christmas performance is planned to help save and old Army General’s Inn.

Crosby and Kaye enlist the help of their old army division to attend the show and lend financial and moral support to their leader and friend, General Waverly. What struck me, besides the beauty of the song “White Christmas”, was another song that was sung by the entire ensemble of men summoned to help their General…”We’ll Follow The Old Man.”

Imagine a group of soldiers gathered around, singing about their leader, who they entrust their lives to “follow the old man wherever he wants to go…we’ll stay with the old man wherever he wants to stay…because we LOVE HIM…we love him…”

Sometimes in leadership we concentrate too much on the bottom line and forget that the business we’re ALL in is a PEOPLE business. This holiday season take some time to pay attention to the people you serve, to the people who rely on you, the decisions you make, and the direction you’re taking them… and imagine…what would they sing about you????

Be good to yourself…

How Do YOU Brighten A Room?

I gather my inspiration for” Krause’s Quips” from the most unusual places at times. The quote below is such an example. I saw it on the back of a semi rolling down the highway during my Thanksgiving travels. The quote read… 

Everyone brightens up a room… 

Some by coming in… 

Others by going out… 

So my friends, consider, what the reaction is of those you lead when you enter and when you exit their room or office…and your evidence?  

Be good to yourself… 

Can't See The Forest For The Trees? Take A Hike!

How many times have you made things worse only by trying to make them better? I was reminded of this phenomenon as I was painting my bathroom recently.  The harder I tried to perfectly edge between the ceiling and the wall the worse I made things.  Rather than listening to common sense, which was SCREAMING, “WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW, YOU’LL HAVE MUCH BETTER LIGHT…YOU’RE TIRED AND ARE NOT SEEING THINGS WELL!” I let my ego dictate my direction and ultimate frustration.

As leaders we often find ourselves in similar situations where we believe our sheer determination in making something better, will simply happen as though we can will it to happen. We continue to push on as our desire to finish a task, to cross something off our “to-do list” propels us even though we see the signs that things are NOT getting better.  Our passion, pride, or ego simply get in the way of doing what it is we want to do in the first place…to do our job well.

There’s an old adage, “can’t see the forest for the trees” that reminds us that when we find ourselves in the thick of things, sometimes it’s better to remove ourselves to get a fresh look and a new perspective on the situation.

My bathroom you ask? It’s amazing what rest and new light on a problem brings.

Be good to yourself…