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Game plan leader coaching

A Cape or a Whistle

I work with a lot of executives who think they are superheros. Well, maybe they don’t think they are superheros, but they sure try to act like superheros!

Many define leadership and their value by what they accomplish. They drive results themselves by taking everything on. When goals are set, they put on their capes and try to take it all on. When projects are assigned, they sign up for as many as they can. When things go sideways, these heros try to put the entire team on their back and save the day.

It all starts positive and with good intentions, but eventually, the superhero becomes an exhausted hero! To define leadership, superheros need to turn in their capes and trade it in for a coaches whistle.

Defining leadership as a coach means actually leading, not doing. Think about a sports coach. Many of them didn’t even play the sport at the level they are coaching. They can never go on the field and throw the ball, put on a jersey and shoot a free throw, or grab a racket and jump on the court. A coach helps maximize the skills, talents, and power of the team. A coach provides a clear vision, clear direction, and unwavering support when things get tough. They know how to approach a problem with the solution of several team members, instead of just one of themselves.

So, choose the whistle and be a coach. Retire the cape and stop trying to be a superhero. As a coach, build the Game Plan and help your team score!

By Mark HeydtAudio Post
Heydt leadership exhausted hero’s

Andrew Luck had a choice. You do too!

Andrew Luck made a choice.  It was a hard choice.  If you listen to his retirement news conference, it was a choice for his physical and mental health.  He didn’t enjoy what he was doing anymore because he wasn’t able to do it the way he wanted to. Injuries just wouldn’t let him

So many people that I coach these days have to be reminded that they have a choice too. A choice to enjoy their work. A choice to decide what to prioritize and what to push out. A choice to have a difficult conversation with their boss. A choice to quit.

Just like Andrew Luck, many people are in jobs that are detrimental to their health. Many have ulcers, anxiety issues, trouble sleeping, or high blood pressure. Is it worth it? You don’t have to sit in it. Make the choice to do something about it. Start by having a transparent conversation with your supervisor about changes you want to make!

By Mark HeydtAudio Post
Strategic Manager heydt

Define Leadership

Define leadership not through studies, but through the real-life expectations in your company. 

Define leadership not by googling “Define Leadership”, but instead by analyzing your organizations strengths and opportunities.

Define leadership and build customized programs to embed leadership throughout your organization. 

Over the last ten years, there has been an intense desire to define leadership.  Countless books and articles have been written.  Competency models have been created.  And studies by large universities have been published. 

Most of these studies and publications have tried to make the distinction to define leadership in contrast to defining management.  But to exclusively set out to define leadership, they are making it very confusing to the leaders they hope to impact.

Leadership and Management is often integrated.  When an executive goes to work each day, they can’t lead from 8am-9am, then take off the leadership hat and manage from 9am-10am.  As an executive, they lead and manage all day…together.   Attempting to exclusively define leadership is often confusing!

I have create the Leadership Integration Model that takes the definition of leadership and the definition of managing and defines the overlap.  As a leader, you set a vision, lead change, influence, and coach your team.  As a manager, you manage your team, manage projects, and manage resources.  The model helps leaders navigate the balance of these responsibilities and assists them in being strategic, not Corporate Exhausted Heroes. 

As your company attempts to define leadership for your organization, let us help you in finding the real-life unique needs and building a program that establishes clear expectations for your leaders to be successful.

By Mark HeydtDefault Post
Gameplan leader leadership

One Year with GPL

Today is a brand new day.  People often say this after something horribly bad has happened.  But not in this case.   Today is the first day of the second year of Game Plan Leader.  And the first year was EPIC, awesome, and fun.  

A year ago I set out on the adventure of entrepreneurship and I was blessed with an awesome year.  I helped several companies define leadership in their organization and reset all leadership expectations.  Taking on projects to define leadership included defining behaviors that were consistently desired and building customized leadership development programs to embed these leadership behaviors.  Before these programs companies relied on situational leadership meaning they hoped leadership would step up in each situation.  Now through defined leadership behaviors, these leaders have a guide point to lean on.

Whether it be in healthcare, advertising, manufacturing, government, or retail, the projects have been hugely rewarding.  So rewarding that I have now created and tested my own model, a standard for defining leadership and the challenges in elevating leadership.  This model is already shaping the year to come with keynotes, leadership courses, executive coaching, and leadership offsites.  And one giant project in the works that I hope to unveil in the next few weeks.  

Today is a new day.  Last year was the adventure of entrepreneurship.  They say the first year is the hardest.  If that is true, I am in for a fun second year!!!

By Mark HeydtDefault Post