Lexington, KY - Lexington business author and consultant Randy Lisk always seemed to have a quote to sum up any problem, according to his business associates. Concise and to the point, these sayings could easily fit on a car bumper sticker. For more than 20 years, he collected these short sayings that friends started calling his "bumper sticker leadership."
Now Lisk has gathered his favorites into a new book, Bumper Sticker Leadership: One-Liner Wisdom on Life and Business. Based on the idea that the most helpful advice is often the simplest, this collection is an enjoyable and insightful read into ideas about leadership and
success.
Lisk says that he found these short sayings enabled people to view things from a different perspective and to see complex ideas in simpler ways. He suggests that by reviewing catchy, easy-to-remember phrases, the reader can better remember and practice the strategies of leadership.
While not divided into subjects or categories, the sayings are diverse. They number enough for one-a-day reading for a month. Each saying appears on a bumper sticker for quick reading and is enhanced by notes, ideas and suggestions for application by the author.
Among the highlights:
All models are wrong;some are useful
Models of why things are the way they are and what will happen next can be useful. We get into trouble, Lisk suggests, when we think the model is the reality. At some point every business model fails to predict what is happening. Real leadership blossoms when you can build a deep understanding of your specific situation.
Focus and finish
Everyone has too much to do. Maintaining your focus on what is important is the key to success. Don't get pulled into the sideshow of what other people want - you can drown in your own busy schedule. An individual who takes responsibility for how he spends his time is an effective leader. Ask yourself: Who owns your time?
No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care
Genuine power does not come from a position. True leaders care about the people they lead. When people feel they matter to you, they care about you and your vision in return. If you focus on results to the detriment of relationships, you may not succeed. Leadership power comes when you create relationships.
I don't mind if you shoot yourself in the foot - I hate it when you reload
Everyone makes mistakes - and should own up to that fact. It's even more important not to give a repeat performance of your error. Sometimes work is like a scientific experience that did not go as planned. Study what may have gone wrong and learn from failure.
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted
The author suggests two choices when something doesn't turn out as planned: 1) blame someone or something else, or 2) see what you can learn from what happened. The first choice usually works only temporarily and almost certainly guarantees failure in the future. The second gives a chance to benefit by the experience. Brutal honesty can be an important tool in your leadership toolbox.
I am the expert of my intention; you are the expert of my impact
In every situation, there are two experts - one who knows his or her intention and one who knows how the message was received. The ability to communicate a message so it is received as intended is a skill. Developing effective listening skills and seeking feedback helps you to know the impact of your message.
Lisk summarizes his book with a quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. It says, "I would not give a fig for the simplicity on this side of complexity, but I would give my right arm for the simplicity on the far side of complexity."
In this gem of a book, Lisk proves that we can find leadership inspiration, understanding and even some effective ideas in the simplest places - like the bumper of a car.