Part of the Leadership Stories Series - Click here for More

I heard it once said that a good example has twice the value of good advice. I came across a powerful leadership story that I would like to share and that highlights what leading by example is all about.

There is a legend that is told of a French Monastery known throughout Europe for the exceptional leadership of a man known only as Brother Leo. Several monks took a pilgrimage to visit this extraordinary leader to learn from him. Starting out on the pilgrimage they almost immediately begin to argue over who should do certain chores.

On the third day of their journey they met another monk also going to the monastery; he joined them. This monk never bickered about doing chores and did them dutifully. And when the others would fight about which chores to do, he would simply volunteer to do them himself. On the last day of their journey, others began to follow his example and the bickering stopped.

When the monks reached the monastery they asked to see Brother Leo. The man who greeted them laughed. "But our brother is among you!" And he pointed to the fellow that had joined them.

Many seek positions in leadership to serve their own interests and not that of others. There are many self serving reasons why a person may want to lead such as power, status, networking and money. But the best leaders lead because they care about people. And those are the types of leaders that lead like Brother Leo. They teach through their actions, not by words alone. They are servants, not commanders.

Is this type of leadership rare in the world today? Do you even think that we need this type of leadership? I would love to hear what you have to say.

Become one of our 1,500+ Fans on Facebook. Click Here.

Follow Mike on Twitter! Click Here.

Mike Rogers

Everyone is a leader and has the potential to be a big time leader! One of the reasons I love this blog is the opportunity I have to make a difference in someone's life. I love seeing people succeed, that is probably the reason I went into corporate education and enjoy coaching so much. It is my passion.

I often feature some of whom I consider every day, but big time leaders on this blog. People who may not even realize they were or are leaders, but they are. The story of Richard Rowland Kirkland, a compassionate Confederate Sergeant during the American Civil war. Or Charles Steadman, who inspired an entire student body with his kind and thoughtful act. Or the story of Narayanan Krishan who demonstrated what the power of love can do.

The reality is we all have the power to lead no matter who we are, or where we are leading. Most of us, if not everyone of us has blessed someone else's life through our influence. We have someone that looks up to us and listens to what we have to say.

Everyone is a leader because everyone influences someone. ~John Maxwell

I have had hundreds and maybe thousands of leaders in my life. Some I have met, others I haven't. But each has one thing in common, they have had an influence on me. They have inspired me to work harder, or to not quit, or to change things. Think about the hundreds or perhaps thousands of leaders in your life that have influenced you. You might start with your parents, your kids, a grandparent or Aunt. Or maybe you had a wonderful coach, teacher or priest. Or maybe you have had a co-worker or two, a manager or someone you managed. Or maybe someone on television, a book, a movie or a magazine has had an influence in your life. Think about it, there are hundreds in your life. I call these big time leaders. Most of us may have never met your big time leader or even heard of him or her, but they are the substance of who you are.  

Are you a big time leader? If not, you can be by simply caring. Caring enough to share with others your life lessons, caring enough to share your knowledge, caring enough to be there.

You are a leader!

Become one of our 1,500+ Fans on Facebook. Click Here.

Follow Mike on Twitter! Click Here.

Mike Rogers

The best leaders are optimistic leaders. Here is a great story for leaders that they can use. I came across a "Dear Abby" post a little while back that I thought you might enjoy. In response to a previous letter, this reader provides an optimistic way to look to the future.

DEAR ABBY: My great-grandma also requested that she be buried in her pajamas, but said she also wanted a fork placed in her hands. We could understand the pajamas -- given the "long sleep" -- but the fork had us stumped. She explained that when dishes were cleared after family dinners when she was growing up and dessert was on its way, her father would say, "Hold onto your fork, the best is yet to come!"

We did as my great-grandmother asked, and it helped those of us who were grieving to remember that she's now enjoying her "just desserts." -- HOLDING TIGHT TO MY FORK, SIOUX FALLS, S.D. Dear Abby source: http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/?uc_full_date=20100318

Leaders need to be positive and optimistic. So how do you hold onto your fork? How might you use this story to inspire those you lead?

Other related and very popular posts that you might like:

Positive Leaders Live Longer and 4 other Benefits

Attitude is Everything - Great Video! Smile Leaders : )

A Powerful Story that Could Change a Leader's and Other's Life

Become a fan of our Facebook Page - Click on the Logo Below

Follow Mike on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/secondgleader 

Mike Rogers

Feel free to share these three teamwork videos and this post to build a stronger team.  What can you learn as a team from each of them?

Fun Team Building Activities for Adults and Kids! Get Your Team Working Together w Toobeez!

Teamwork Video #1

You will want to watch this teamwork video in its entirety. I am amazed at the effort and coordination this must have taken.

On teams, everyone has a role to play, and the better they are able to focus on that role, the better the entire team is as this video demonstrates.

Teamwork Video #2

This next teamwork video shows what people who care can do as a team in coming to the aid of another. They show great courage.

Team members must be willing to sacrifice their own cares for that of others in order to be successful as you will see here.

Teamwork Video #3

I am glad there are people who are willing to spend months and months practicing for a seven minute performance. This large Korean team makes very few mistakes.

Team building takes time and a focused dedicated effort by every member to reach the teams greatest potential.

For more great Teamwork Videos click on the links below:

Do your team projects sometimes mirror the work of this team? Video - Very funny Teamwork Video.

Amazing Teamwork Video. Battle at Kruger.

Kindergarteners Outperform Most Adults on Team Building Task - Great Video 

Free Teambuilding Activities, Books, Videos and MORE at Toobeez.com! SHOP NOW!

Come join our Teamwork and Leadership Community on our Facebook Page. Click Here.
Follow us on Twitter. Click Here.

If you like this post, then please "Like" us below and spread the word. Thanks!

Share these videos to build a stronger team.


Mike

I love the story I heard once of a seasoned and wise teacher who wanted to change the lives of his young and eager class of students.

Putting a big glass jar on the table in front of him, he started placing large rocks in it until they had filled the top of the jar. He then asked the class, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class shouted, "Yes!"

The teacher replied, "Really?" He then grabbed from under the table some gravel and proceeded to dump it into the jar and then shaking it until all of the gravel had filled the spaces of the big rocks. He then asked again, "Is the jar full?"

Some nodded their head yes. But most didn't say a word.

"Okay... let's see." the teacher said. He reached under the table again, this time pulling out a bucket of sand. He took the bucket and dumped all of the sand in and once more asked the question, "Is it full now?"

By this time the only response he got was from a mumble in the back that said, "Probably not."

He said, "Good." He then grabbed a pitcher of water near by and dumped it into the jar until it was filled to the brim.

Then the wise teach asked, "Would I have ever gotten these big rocks in if I had started with the water, then the sand and then the gravel?" The class all shook their head, "No."

He then taught something this youthful class would never forget. He asked, "What are the big rocks in your life that must come first? What is important?" The class was silent. He said, "They are things like the time you spend with those you love, your faith, your education, your service to others...they are the things that matter most." He then said, "Make sure to put the big rocks in first or you will never get them all in."

What are your big rocks? What are your priorities? The reality is that the only thing you will care about when it is all said and done are the big rocks. The little rocks won't matter much then.

What are some of the little rocks that get in our way day to day? We all have them, what can we do differently? Any tips? I am looking forward to your comments below.

Other Time Management Posts You Will Like:

Three Important Tips for Wasting Lots of Time at Work - Time Management

How many IQ points do you drop when multi-tasking? Time Management

Eat a Frog as Mark Twain Suggested - Perfect Time Management Tip

Is procrastination always a bad thing for leaders? 3 reasons why you should procrastinate.

Come join our Teamwork and Leadership Community on our Facebook Page. Click Here.

Follow us on Twitter. Click Here.

Post by Mike Rogers of Teamwork and Leadership
Mike is an author, trainer and speaker and a grateful husband and father of eight children. He is passionate about seeing people succeed.

Several months ago after returning from a week long and grueling business trip I came home to the following sticky note from my eight year old son placed carefully square smack in the center of my monitor. "Dad is the best. From Jacob." I left it there for several months. Why? Because it made me feel great! Am I the best? Well, maybe not always, but in his eyes I was. His note really made me want to be.

We can shape employee behavior so much quicker by being positive than we can by being negative. It is a special thing to feel appreciated as a dad, as an employee, as a leader! Feeling that someone values us and really thinks we are kind of neat lifts us up - it is inspiring. One simple positive kind comment, one plain sticky note with an encouraging comment or one thoughtful voice-mail can make someones entire day, maybe even week! It is amazing the affect we can have on others lives by just being a little more caring, a little more considerate, and a little more attentive.

I challenge each of us positive leaders this year to lift others up. Make it a habit!

I would love to hear any stories of someone in your life that lifts you and why. What can we learn from others and their example? Please comment below. Thanks.

Other posts that you might enjoy:

Positive video that every leader in business, the home, church or wherever must watch.

Leaders can learn to be positive from this little girl... Video

5 Practical Suggestions for Being More Kind as a Leader

Come join our Teamwork and Leadership Community on our Facebook Page. Click Here.
Follow us on Twitter. Click Here.

Post by Mike Rogers of Teamwork and Leadership
Mike is an author, trainer and speaker and a grateful husband and father of eight children. He is passionate about seeing people succeed.

I just ran across this inspiring video that highlights a caring side to teamwork. Though you may not initially define the crowd in this video as a team, they quickly become one as they come to the aid of this disabled man. This inspirational teamwork video teaches us three things:

1. There are times on teams that others need our help. The crowd came to the rescue of this disabled man in the video turning what could have been an embarrassing moment into a treasured moment.

2. Not everyone on the team is perfect. It is the diversity of team members that makes teams great and creates the magic. In this inspirational teamwork video the crowd overlooks this man's mistakes and makes the decision instead to appreciate his diverse efforts by singing with him and applauding. Notice that once they join in, his nervousness goes away and he is able to finish his performance. 

3. Teamwork is inspirational! Even when the purpose initially isn't to work as a team, when people are willing to work together they can accomplish inspiring things.

What other things in this video can you think of that help us understand teamwork better? Please comment below. Thanks!

Other Great Teamwork Videos That you Might Like

Kindergartners Outperform Most Adults on Team Building Task - Great Video

I Love Being Human! How about you?

Entertaining Teamwork Video

More Great Teamwork Videos in our category "Teamwork Videos"

Come join our Teamwork and Leadership Community on our Facebook Page. Click Here.

Follow us on Twitter. Click Here.

Post by Mike Rogers of Teamwork and Leadership
Mike is an author, trainer and speaker and a grateful husband and father of eight children. He is passionate about seeing people succeed.

Mark Twain once said: Let's face it, being a leader is not easy. Some times it requires great courage in a very personal way.

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.
~ CS Lewis

Examples of where leaders are tested on their courage in the workplace are plentiful. As a leader you might have to give an employee difficult feedback. Or maybe people are questioning your vision in times of difficulty. In each situation the leader has to be confident and courageous. I will be the first to admit it isn't easy having been tested many times in my life as a leader.

Here are three things you can do now to ensure you have the courage necessary to lead.

1. Be true to your values. It is much easier to be courageous when you have something you are sticking to based on what you believe is the right thing to do. Whether you are making a difficult decision, giving tough feedback or leading your team through complex change; coming from a place of doing what is right will give you the leadership courage you need to succeed.

2. Don't listen. Don't listen to the negative comments of others or the negative thoughts in your own head. You control your thoughts and what you believe about who you are as a leader, so chose to believe in everything positive about you. Change every negative thought into a positive one and make it a habit for life. For a great example read "A Powerful Story that Could Change a Leader's and Others Life..."

3. Care. As simple as it sounds, this is probably the single most important thing you can do as a leader to increase your ability to lead with courage. Leaders who care are more concerned about others than their own fears. Click on the following link of video based on a true and touching story that demonstrates this - "The Best Leaders Care - Amazing Video Based on a True Story."

How do you find the courage to lead? Please share your own stories by commenting below. Thank you. 

Other leadership posts on courage you might enjoy.

Do you struggle providing employees difficult feedback? It may be due to selfishness on your part.

Leadership Story - Some leaders think they are tough and effective, but...

What is Leadership?

Come join our Teamwork and Leadership Community on our Facebook Page. Click Here.

Follow us on Twitter. Click Here.

Post by Mike Rogers of Teamwork and Leadership
Mike is an author, trainer and speaker and a grateful husband and father of eight children. He is passionate about seeing people succeed.

I am a grateful father of eight children. Yes, that's right - eight! I have also been blessed to  have been married 25 years today to a wonderful, more beautiful every year and very strong woman. Why do I tell you this? Because in those 25 years I have learned a lot about leadership; right here in my own home. While I have had the opportunity to work in many leadership capacities both in business and as a volunteer, I would have to say that the greatest and most touching experiences of leadership have come from my experience as a father.  

I am happy to share with you a video based on a very personal and true story of two of  my  children that taught me a great deal about the most important factor in leadership - caring. I hope you find it of value.

To purchase this video and use at your next meeting, presentation and/or training, click here. Facilitator's guide included.

To get updates on other videos we release please subscribe below. We promise to respect your privacy.

Post by Mike Rogers of Teamwork and Leadership
Mike is an author, trainer and speaker and a grateful husband and father of eight children. He is passionate about seeing people succeed.