I grew up in Salina, Kansas. I went to Salina Central High School. We were known as the MIGHTY MUSTANGS. BUILT TO LEAD believes that high performance teams are made up of mustangs not mules. Mustangs love to run. Mules move…when they’re kicked! Mustangs do not wait for someone to “tell them” where to run. Mustangs, remember, LOVE to run.
Here’s the melody line for MUSTANGS or mules. High performance teams are NOT led by leaders that build a “shared vision.” This is contrary to most leadership theories. Most leadership gurus preach shared vision as an imperative. It is NOT.
High performance teams are led by MUSTANGS…lots of them. These MIGHTY MUSTANGS “get it.” They have a personal vision and they actively bump into their MUSTANG teammates personal visions. Together they find some pieces of vision and purpose they share in common. That is all it takes.
They run. They experiment. They play. They say “done so” early and often. They feel it. They are MUSTANGS.
Yesterday a young mustang had a breakthrough in one of our “practice” sessions. Here’s a word from MUSTANG Jeff. “Until now, my search for my personal vision was limited by the fact I did not have CLARITY for that of the entire organization. I felt that I needed to know what the firm’s vision was before I could develop my own. Basically, I had it backwards. The “I got it” moment comes in understanding that the firm’s vision is actually only a collection of the vision of its individuals. Thus, it is only when all the individuals goals are defined and communicated can that of the organization be known.”
Mustangs do not wait for someone to tell them which way to the promised land. Mules wait. Mules require that the rider kick them in the hind quarters. Mustangs are wild.
Which are you?
Which are your directs?
Which do you want?
Every leader gets exactly the team he or she deserves.
Hans, Kary, Jeff, Mark, Brian, Melisa, Deb, Paul, Doug, Jim, Jimmy, Janice, Christy, Craig, Bucky, Birdman, Jerry, Bob, Frank, Seth, Simone, Sherry, Cathy, KA, Mary, Estelle, Stephan, Gary, Kelly, Tracey, Bev, Shannon, Herb, Rene, Richard, Thomas, Ken, Florian, Ray, Francois, Kevin, Charlie, Ellen, Mandy, Eric, Tim, Michelle, Mike, Chris, Jeff, Shelly, Dina, Jerome, Denise, Chip, Franz, Bob, John, Maggie, Caroline, Michael, Andy, Lula, Bushman, Johnny, Sean, Ron, David, Whity, Jim, Ginnie, Linda, Kenny, Tom, Jordan, Kritter, Andrew, Miss, Tay, Billy, Jeff, Annie, Pete, Larry, Roger, Kit, Chris, Meg, RyeRye, Jenna, Corrine, Christine, Abbeyluwho, Marie, Jon, Greg, Lambo, Quinner, Bobbytheh, Snuch, Soup, Rob, Bunthead, Mohaf, JMO, Sandi, Thum, Tommy, Elizabeth, Jade, Lynne, Sue, Nina, Lisa, Annette, Stevorennie, Nicky, Gayle, Leah, Nattyjane, Elissa, Cammylammy, Sandy, Mr.D., Maury, Tilldoggie, Snipper, Bird, Shades, Anne, Ed, Connie, Donna, Maggie, Billy, Meggie, and so many more…remember, you are ALREADY mustangs… RUN!!
BUILT TO LEAD 