Leadership Information

Leadership and The Dirty Work


The airline, Jet Blue, has been featured in many magazines as a new company that has hard great results and success so far. A lot too has been mentioned about the challenges they face ahead and about the culture they created at the start and are working hard to foster now. One of the many things that sets Jet Blue apart is their focus on teamwork. Here's one example. They have no cleaning crews - every employee on the flight (including pilots and those not working but on the flight) cleans up the plane. This saves time and money - both things very important to any business.

When I say everyone helps clean, I mean everyone - including the CEO, David Neeleman. Neeleman helps the flight attendants hand out snacks and helps clean up. This takes Neeleman's words about teamwork and turns them into action. He is quoted as saying, "You can't ask employees to do something you aren't willing to do yourself."

I learned this lesson from my father growing up on a farm. There were many tasks I was asked to do - some of them much more unpleasant than picking up newspaper and snack wrappers on a plane - but all of them were done knowing that my Dad had done them and was willing to do them still, even if he had higher priority work to do.

This is an extremely important lesson for us as leaders. Being willing to do the grunt work, the dirty work (call it whatever you want - on the farm there was some VERY dirty work) builds commitment and shows that all of the work in the organization is important.

As a leader, please don't push this off saying you want to delegate and make people responsible for their own work. Delegation and ownership is important to be sure. If you always delegate the unpleasant stuff, but always want to help with the more glamorous tasks, your comments of delegation will fall on deaf ears.

Help. Show up for clean up. Be a part of the team. These actions will make you a better leader.

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company. To receive a free Special Report on leadership that includes resources, ideas, and advice go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/leadership.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Markel Corporation Announces Two Leadership Positions for Markel ...
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
He has also held a variety of leadership positions within Markel including assistant vice president, marketing services; vice president, marketing services; ...


Stratix Expands Leadership Team With the Addition of Industry ...
MarketWatch - 13 hours ago
... a leading mobile enterprise solutions integrator is pleased to announce the addition of Jim Collins to its executive leadership team. ...
Stratix Expands Leadership Team With the Addition of Industry ... International Business Times
all 18 news articles


CTV.ca

A new dawn of American leadership has arrived, says Obama
Independent, UK - 5 hours ago
By Leonard Doyle in Washington Barack Obama called for a "a new dawn of American leadership" yesterday as he formally introduced his once bitter rival for ...
Video: Obama Picks Gates, Clinton for Foreign Policy AssociatedPress
National Security Team Reinforces Obama's Commitment to Elevating ... MarketWatch
Success of Clinton Choice Hinges on Rapport Washington Post
Los Angeles Times - Atlanta Journal Constitution
all 3,827 news articles


Leadership Gap in China
Washington Post, United States - Nov 30, 2008
In the midst of a global financial crisis, the world has come to China's doorstep seeking leadership. Yet China's leaders have largely kept the door shut, ...


How local lawmakers did in KS legislative leadership races...
Kansas City Star, MO - 8 hours ago
He's the only new addition to the list of local lawmakers in leadership positions. Rep. Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, retained his position as the House ...


Commentary: Leadership key to preventing genocide
CNN - 6 hours ago
By Madeleine K. Albright and William S. Cohen Editor's note: Madeleine K. Albright is former US secretary of state. William S. Cohen is former US secretary ...


Skelos may be part of Senate leadership talks for weeks
Newsday, NY - 21 hours ago
So far, Minority Leader Malcolm Smith falls three Democratic votes short of the 32 needed to win the majority leadership. But aides and allies of Smith ...


The Sacramento Bee's Capital Alert

Steinberg names leadership team
Bizjournals.com, NC - 7 hours ago
New state Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg from Sacramento announced his leadership team for the 2009-2010 legislative session Monday. Sen. ...
Video: Steinberg Takes Top Senate Post kcratv
Senate Democrats announce new leadership team PolitickerCA
Steinberg names leadership team Sacramento Bee
News10.net
all 9 news articles


Voice of America

Turmoil in Indian leadership after attacks
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 16 hours ago
City in mourning … Mumbai residents gather near the Oberoi Hotel. More than 170 people were killed in last week's terrorist strike. ...
Video: Police: Pakistani Militants Behind Mumbai Attack AssociatedPress
Mumbai carnage Pakistan Observer
Mumbai Attacks, India and Pakistan, and Australia's Security Council on Foreign Relations
International Herald Tribune - Bloomberg
all 2,696 news articles


The Leadership Promise
Huffington Post, NY - 8 hours ago
Welcome to the first in a three part installment on leadership challenges Barack Obama will face in guiding our country through these difficult times. ...

leadership - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.