I recently read Mark Sanborn’s You Don’t Need a Title To Be a Leader: How Anyone, Anywhere, Can Make a Positive Difference. It’s a short and easy read. I’m a self-proclaimed slow reader and finished the 100-page book in about three hours. There won’t be many surprises for those that have worked in the professional sector for at least five years. It does however, provide a nice refresher and insight of things we tend to take for granted.
“Intent without action is daydreaming.”
The points below stood out to me after finishing the book (pages in parenthesis):
- 85% of people would pass up on a bigger title for a 10% increase in pay (6)
- “At this school, you won’t make a difference, you will be the difference” (9)
- “In my opinion, fame is based on what you get in life, but true greatness is based on what we give in life. It is contribution through action.”(14)
- How do I get people to trust me? (54)
- If you don’t know something, say so.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
- Under promise and over deliver.
- Be careful to create realistic expectations.
- “Confront problems not people.” “Focus on what went wrong not on who went wrong.” (57)
- Good interview questions (especially for leadership positions (59, 60):
- What motivates you?
- What do you like about work the most? What is your favorite activity?
- What do you like to do the least?
- Whom do you enjoy working with? Whom do you dislike working with, and why?
- What annoys you about being part of a team?
- What do you enjoy about teamwork?
- What values do you try to live your life by?
- What information or ideas do you have that would be beneficial?
- Call for action – Too many communicate without a clear call to action. Every email, phone call, voice mail, conversation, or speech should conclude with a request for action, with a “Let’s do it.” Let’s move forward, take the next step, get involved, play our part, et cetera (67).
- “Having a good ideas isn’t enough – you have to be able to implement them.” (70)
- “Intent without action is daydreaming.” (71)
Overall, You Don’t Need a Title To Be a Leader: How Anyone, Anywhere, Can Make a Positive Difference is a good and quick read. Sometimes, a refresher on leadership principles can help us reflect and move forward. If you’re in a leadership position and feel like you need a pick me up, take a couple of hours to read this book and recharge.
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