(2024-11)

I am an avid World War 2 history buff and have been for quite some time.  In my opinion, the Boeing B-17 was the most impactful airplane of the war.  It is my favorite plane of that period of history.  My love and admiration for this plane was recently rekindled when a fully restored B-17 visited New Orleans for an airshow.  On Mother’s Day, I saw a B-17 flying around the city.  It’s amazing that it’s still flying after more than 80 years.

My appreciation of this plane started in early childhood.  I remember watching the TV series “12 O’Clock High,” which originally aired on September 18, 1964.  I was a little over six years old and watched the show with Dad.  It was one of my most memorable bonding experiences.

When the movie “Memphis Belle” came out in 1990, I had to see it.  The Memphis Belle was one of the first B-17s to complete 25 bombing missions.  The actual plane was restored starting in 2005 and is displayed at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

This past year, “Masters of the Air” showcased this aircraft as it chronicled the actions of the 100^th Bombing Group.  If you are a WW2 history fan like me, I’d recommend watching it (currently streaming on Apple TV).  After viewing this mini-series, I spent some time reviewing the history of this iconic aircraft. 

The B-17 was designated Model 299 by its designer, Boeing.  It was the sole four-engine aircraft in a 1935 bomber competition called by the U.S. Army Air Corps (which was later spun off into the U.S. Air Force in 1947).  Although the 299 lost the competition for a production contract (due to a freak accident caused by pilot error), the 299’s performance was well liked by the USAAC.  Thirteen Model 299s were purchased as experimental bombers.  The designation was changed to YB-17 and some slight modifications were made to the original Model 299 design.

The B-17 was believed to be outdated before the start of WW2.  It proved those critics wrong, becoming known for its rugged durability.   A total of 12,731 B-17s were produced over a ten-year period.  During the war Boeing was joined by Douglas Aircraft and the Vega subsidiary of Lockheed in manufacturing this plane.  Many stories exist of battered B-17s making it back to base after bombing missions.  One severely damaged B-17F (named “All American” by her crew) continued to fly after colliding with a German Bf-109 fighter, eventually landing without crew injuries.

There are still a few B-17s that are in flying condition.  The owners of these fine aircrafts sell rides on them.  I made a goal after retiring to take a ride in a restored B-17 then decided that the cost of the ride was a luxury I couldn’t justify.  When the plane flew over on Mother’s Day, I instantly regretted this decision.

As I reflected on the success of the B-17, I identified a few leadership or life lessons:

1. Quality that lasts can have dramatic impact.  The B-17 was the right bomber design at the right time.  It had a profound impact on the outcome of the fight against Nazi Germany.
2. Newer isn’t always better.  The B-24 bomber was a newer four-engine heavy bomber that also had a big role in WW2.  While the B-24 was also a good airplane, the B-17 was the more durable one.
3. Adaptability is the key to remaining relevant.  The B-17 had at least eight different models from test to retirement from active service.  Each new model helped maintain its relevance in combat.
4. Carpe Diem (Seize the Day).  I regret my decision earlier this year and have decided to ride a B-17 at the next available opportunity.  As a leader, if you have a vision, you should pursue it!

What is something “tried and true” in your life and/or work that can be adapted instead of replacing?  Do you have a plan to remain relevant in your life and career?  If you don’t, reach out to me ([email protected]) to help with a personal development plan.  If I can add value to you, I’d love to help.

Also, what is your favorite WW2 airplane (if you have one) and why?

(2024-10)

You’ve heard the expression that time flies when you’re having fun.  I firmly believe it!  It recently dawned on me that five years ago on September 1, 2019, I retired from Chevron after over 40 years.  I find it hard to fathom!  I can’t believe five years have passed. 

I decided to look back on the last five years and to ask myself a few questions:

• What pre-conceived notions did I have about retirement?
• Was retirement what I envisioned?
• What have I missed not having a full-time paying job?
• What don’t I miss about working full time?
• What should I do differently (if anything)?

My retirement started off like many retirements – we took our family on a three-week trip to Thailand.  On our outbound flight, I hit my two-million-mile mark with United.  It was fitting to hit this milestone with my family, who had sacrificed so much while I traveled extensively for work.

We had a blast in Thailand and saw so many wonderful sights.  The Thai people are very friendly and nice.  We enjoyed many fun experiences that probably justify their own post.  Stay tuned for details on the trip.

We brought two grandchildren with us on this trip.  The older had just turned two and the younger was nine months old.  Traveling with young children is an experience in itself!

When we returned from Thailand, we settled into our New Orleans home (and put our Houston condo on the market).  My wife and I told our daughters that we would provide backup childcare.  This is not your stereotypical retirement plan (or at least what the TV commercials say), but it’s what we wanted to do to support both of our daughters.

We also spent some time studying where we wanted our retirement to be based.  We selected a few states outside of Louisiana to have our primary residence due to tax structures.  One of these states was Tennessee.  We scheduled a family vacation in Tennessee to check it out.

Right after Mardi Gras 2020, the COVID epidemic and resultant lockdowns struck.  This shook our world.  In May of 2020, we heard that Tennessee had started to open from the lockdown.  We planned a one-week trip at an Airbnb in Gatlinburg with the family to explore the Greater Smokey Mountain Park area.  We spent a week there and thoroughly loved the area.  Julie and I took a trip to east Tennessee in September to look at properties.  We found a property we liked and put in an offer.  After a lengthy process, we closed on our place late in October. 

Back to those five questions I mentioned earlier:

• Pre-conceived notions: I knew I wanted to spend more time with my family.  Because I traveled so much in my job, I initially had no big desire to travel other than our family trip to Thailand.  I’m sure I thought I’d be traveling more with family.  I’ve been able to consult periodically, which I hadn’t planned on.  That’s been a way to stay relevant in my field without taking a lot of time away from family.  One big thought I had, and I’ve been able to mostly adhere to it – no more alarm clocks!
• Is retirement what I envisioned?  I am spending much more time with my family.  Our grandchildren have doubled from two to four.  That’s been an intense joy in my life.  Even though we don’t travel like TV commercials would depict, we’re happy around family.  That’s more important to me.  There have also been a few significant emotional events:
  • My trip down the Grand Canyon (https://mrhensonllc.com/you-did-what/)
  • The death of my father and the resultant work as executor of his estate (https://mrhensonllc.com/bittersweet-transition/)
  • Just recently, my sister Laura died at age 69.  She was so much more than a sister to me.  She was a dear friend.  I will post more about her in the future.
• There are a few things I have missed about having a full-time job: 
  • People:  this is my greatest loss.  I had a great team and very fun projects with good colleagues (and negotiation counterparties). 
  • Travel:  I miss exciting places like Brazil, Panama, Singapore, the Netherlands, London, and Turkey.  It was fun to visit these places, meet nice people, eat some incredible food, and see so many cool sights.  Traveling business class and on expense report was awesome!
  • Mental Stimulation: I rarely had a day that didn’t challenge me significantly.  There were personnel issues, negotiations, logistics, and other projects that kept me on my toes.
• There are also a few things I don’t miss about working (some more than others):
  • Travel: while I enjoyed the parts I mentioned earlier, I don’t miss the stress and physical strain of so much travel.  One of the last years I worked I had numerous international trips (Nine to Brazil, four to Singapore, two to Europe, one to Turkey, and a handful to Panama) and a few trips to California from Texas.  I don’t miss the pain of early morning wakeups to get to the airport, flight delays, flight cancellations, and sleeping in hotels all the time.  A couple of times I woke up and didn’t remember where I was.  Business travel sounds so romantic and adventurous, but it comes at a price. I grew quite weary.
  • Meetings: while I enjoyed the social interaction with colleagues, I tired of meetings that weren’t effective.
  • Corporate Bureaucracy:  there is a comfort of working in a large corporation.  One of the downsides is the number of hurdles and hoops to getting things done well.  I had a work colleague who had the right term for this stuff – administrivia.  I had not heard that term until he shared it with me.  I don’t miss administrivia!

I’ve learned three lessons in my first five years of retirement:

• There’s so much more to life than work!  Family is very important to me.  I love my family, and I am glad I get to spend more time with them.  I enjoy supporting my daughters and their families.  I joke with my former Chevron colleagues that I don’t know how I found time to come into the office.  My days seem to be very full and rewarding.
• Grandchildren make you feel both very young and old at the same time!  It has been marvelous and great to spend so much time with my grandchildren (currently ranging from two to seven years old).  I get a kick out of seeing things through their eyes.  I am invigorated playing with them.  At the end of the day though, I can tell the impact on my body!
• When you’re doing what you love, time does pass quickly.  I’ve had so much fun the past five years.  It’s a blessing to watch my grandchildren grow up.  It’s also a blessing spending more time with my wife.  We’ve been married more than 45 years, and that time has passed so quickly.  I’m also blessed to be able to support my daughters and their families.

My bottom line – I’m glad I retired when I did.  I missed the COVID pandemic and its massive change to working conditions.  I’m glad I don’t have to travel and go through security so many times now!  I have no regrets about retirement and can’t wait to see what the future brings.

If you are working full-time now, please take heed of my first lesson.  When I was employed, I tried to “work to live” instead of “living to work” and I’m glad I did.  It helped me adjust easily into retirement.

If you’d like to discuss this further, please contact me via email ([email protected]).

(2024-09)

A dear friend of mine had a great saying she shared with me many years ago – “Books are your friends!”  I believe this, don’t you?

I love books and I love to read.  I started collecting books in ninth grade when I joined the Military Book Club (I’ve been a WW2 history buff for as long as I can remember!).  My passion for collecting books really got turbocharged in high school.  I worked for a publisher who also owned and ran a bookstore.  As an employee I got a discount on any book I purchased.  My collection (and perhaps obsession) expanded exponentially. During this time, I got to meet many authors which further fueled my book purchasing!

I continued to add to my library after I got married and went to work full-time.  I accumulated so many books and moved so often that my father-in-law refused to move my books!

I started tracking the books I read over thirty years ago.  In 2013, I joined Goodreads to automate this tracking.  If you are a reader, I recommend Goodreads to keep track of what you read as well as learning what your friends are reading.  Go to www.goodreads.com to sign up.  (I don’t get any compensation for this referral; I just think it’s a good tool and want to share.)

I did a web search on the positive benefits of reading.  There are many articles on the subject.  Quite a few of them are from medical journals or health websites.  One of these sites (https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books#bypass-tv) states that research shows that regular reading improves brain connectivity, increases your vocabulary and comprehension, empowers you to empathize with other people, aids in sleep readiness, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, fights depression symptoms, prevents cognitive decline as you age, and contributes to a longer life.  I am glad that research validates the positive impacts of reading!

I recall but can’t document a survey that was done on the reading habits of CEOs.  The headline was that CEOs on average read 60 books per year.  That’s more than one book per week!  I have read at least 52 books per year for the past few years.  When I began, my goal was much lower, but I worked up to it.  It’s not easy but is doable.  I didn’t start setting a goal for this much though.  I worked up to it.  Also, my reading really took off when I started flying internationally for work.  There are only so many movies you can watch!

I try to balance my reading.  This is the third year in a row that I’ve set a goal to read more nonfiction than fiction.  As I reviewed my reading four years ago, it was heavily weighted with fiction.  I learn so much through nonfiction.  I split my reading into the following big categories:  fiction, self-development/leadership, history, spiritual, and current events.  I’m enjoying greater balance in my reading.  I apply this shift in all modes (hardcover/paperback, Kindle, and Audible audiobooks).

What lessons have I learned through reading?

• Books ARE your friends!  I started keeping books that give me joy.  I periodically look through my books and donate those that no longer give me joy.  I feel calm and peaceful looking at my collection.  I have a lot of “friends” there!
• Leaders are readers.  I also did a web search on the reading habits of leaders.  I found a great quote from Harry Truman (see illustration).  I also found quite a few good articles when I did an internet search for “leaders are readers.”  There were articles from Forbes and Harvard Business Review along with many other sites.
• Fiction is a fun diversion.  I feel better about reading fiction than binge watching TV.  It seems to have a good effect on my mind.
• Audiobooks are an excellent way to “read” books.  I remember borrowing audiobooks from a library back when they were on cassette or CD.  Now that you can stream them through apps on your phone, it is so much easier.  It’s a good way to learn while you’re exercising and is an awesome way to enjoy long road trips!

How about you – do you like to read?  What are you currently reading?  What’s been the most impactful book you’ve read in the past year or so?  Let me know either by posting a comment to this post (or Facebook or LinkedIn).

If you’d like to discuss this further, please contact me via email ([email protected]).

(2024-08)

I believe that inspiration and learning is improved through direct exposure to leaders in a particular field.  I’ve been very fortunate to meet many masters in the self-development field.  In high school, one of my first dates with my wife was to see Norman Vincent Peale (author of “The Power of Positive Thinking”) speak.  I know what you’re thinking – how romantic!

I’ve been interested in personal development for a very long time.  Norman Vincent Peale was one of the first self-improvement authors that I read.  I read six of his books while in high school and college.  I can’t remember how I found out he was speaking in New Orleans, but when I heard about it, I asked Julie if she would go with me.  I still can’t believe she agreed to go!

Dr. Peale didn’t stay around after his talk, so I didn’t have the opportunity to interact with him one-on-one.  I was young, bold, and brazen, so after a while I went to the hotel he was staying at and asked to speak to him in his room (this was back when you could get a hotel operator to connect you to the room directly).  Dr. Peale’s wife answered the phone and graciously turned down my request to speak to her husband.  She was very nice but held firm to giving her husband time to rest after a very long day.  I’m still shocked that I went this far to meet him.

I’ve also had the privilege of meeting the following masters and authors in the self-development field:

• Zig Ziglar:  I worked for a company that published two of his books.  His book “See You at The Top” was quite impactful to me.  I read it in either 11^th or 12^th grade.  I had the honor of meeting Mr. Ziglar later when the publisher released the book “Confessions of a Happy Christian.”  Mr. Ziglar was a very nice person – very friendly and easy to talk to.

• Scott Adams:  I know he’s not known as a self-development expert, but his office humor was very popular early in my career.  I met him at a conference.  After his talk, he signed books.  I bought four of his books and got in line for his signature.  When I got to him, he asked me “How do you like working at Chevron?”   I asked him how he knew – he pointed out the Chevron pen in my pocket and proceeded to tell me that when he worked at a bank in downtown San Francisco (then the corporate headquarters of Chevron), the bank gave the tellers instructions that if anyone had a Chevron pen, that was all they needed to cash a check!  Great story, and I was impressed with how friendly he was.

• W. Edwards Deming:  I’ve told in another one of my posts how I met Dr. Deming at one of his four-day seminars.  Despite his grumpy stage persona, engagement with him was easy.
• John C. Maxwell:  If you know me, you know that John Maxwell is my favorite leadership author.  I got to meet “my friend John” at his house in 2010.  I attended a certification session and got to have dinner at John’s house.  I went straight to Charlie Wetzel, John’s writing companion.  I wanted to meet Charlie because I read in one of John’s books that he graduated from my alma mater, the University of New Orleans.  As Charlie and I talked, we found out that we graduated the same year – an amazing small world experience!  Charlie then personally introduced me to John and the three of us spoke for a while before John had to speak to all attendees.  John Maxwell is an amazing leadership guru and it was a pleasure to engage him.  He truly lives out one of his books – “Everyone Communicates but Few Connect!”

When I look back on meeting these fine people, I realized a few things:

• Fame doesn’t affect humble leaders.  Zig Ziglar was an incredibly humble man.  He gladly took time to talk to a young idealistic young man.  Even the gruff Dr. Deming was approachable.  Indeed, all the five masters I mention were very nice, enjoyable, and easily engaged.
• Growing and learning are important and pay dividends.  I started my personal development journey in high school.  It’s been a fun ride.   I continue to focus on developing my strengths and learning new things.  I want to add value to others.  To do this, I must remain relevant.
• Everyone, even the masters, enjoy positive feedback.  I’ve been fortunate not to have been “star struck” in any of my encounters with famous people.  I also found that a simple statement of appreciation for their work is well received.  I’ve learned to prepare at least one sentence to say, because you never know when you’ll get the opportunity to interact.  This paid off particularly when I met Scott Adams.

Who are your personal heroes?  Have you ever met any of them?  How did that go?

I’ve learned (and John Maxwell exemplifies this) that I should never stop learning and growing.  Do you have a personal growth plan?  If you don’t, please send me an email if you’d like help developing one.  I can be reached at [email protected]. 

(2024-07)

According to dictionary.com, one definition of the word “raw” is “brutally or grossly frank.”  Using this definition, is brutal frankness good for a leader?  Should leaders welcome raw feedback?  I believe that raw feedback is good for a leader.  Feedback freely given without fear of reprisal indicates that an open, honest environment exists.

One of my favorite memories from my time as a leader at Chevron was when one of my team members called me an asshole in a public setting.  I’m proud of this story.

I was the lead negotiator for a project in Brazil.  One of my team members, Candice, was designated as the second chair as part of her development plan.  We had planned an intense week of negotiations.  As we wrapped up our internal planning the week prior, I asked the team what would be the worst thing that could happen (a standard safe practice we used).  Candice said the worst thing she could think of was that I would miss my flight connection and she would have to lead discussions until I arrived.  We all got a laugh out of this at the time.  I said I should be able to get a flight out the next day, so we’d only have a 24-hour gap where Candice would have to lead.  I wrapped up the planning session and headed to the airport to catch my flight to New Orleans for the weekend.  The team was to meet at the Houston airport Sunday evening for our overnight flight to Brazil.

After a short weekend with my family in New Orleans, I headed to the airport for my flight to Houston.  I was scheduled to leave New Orleans after 4:00 p.m. and arrive in Houston at 5:25. This would be a tight connection, as we were scheduled to depart for Rio de Janeiro a little after 8:00 p.m.  I had made this connection many times in the past year or so without any issues.

When I got to the New Orleans airport, I found out my flight to Houston was delayed due to weather in the area.  I sent Candice a text message with my status to keep her posted – it would be close!  We landed in Houston very late.  I was two terminals away from the Rio departure gate and I only had 30 minutes to make it.  I sent a text update but got no response.  (Little did I know – Candice and the team were at the departure gate anxiously awaiting my arrival.) 

At that time, I was a United Global Services member.  Since I had very little time to make my international flight, they met me at my arrival gate and drove me to the Rio departure gate across the airport tarmac.  I tried calling and texting, but Candice couldn’t hear her phone.  The gate agents checked my passport and visa and allowed me to pre-board with a few passengers in wheelchairs.

I settled into my seat in business class and was served a pre-flight drink as the rest of the passengers were boarding.  I could hear my team coming onboard.  When Candice made eye contact with me, she blurted out “asshole!”  A person sitting close by asked her if she knew me and she sheepishly responded that I was her boss (he got a kick out of that!).

I was not offended at all by this.  I knew that Candice (and the rest of the team) didn’t want to start negotiations without me.  When she saw that I had made it on the plane (and had a drink in my hand), she was very relieved.  I thought it was funny.  We still laugh about this story.

As I remembered this story, I thought this sort of raw, reactive feedback was a good indicator that I had created an environment where everyone on the team was free to provide me unadulterated feedback.

Shortly after this story, my thoughts were validated by a new member of our team (who was joining us for a six-month rotational assignment).  After her first team meeting, I asked what she thought of our team meeting.  She told me that the free, open communication was the best she’d ever seen in a team setting in front of the boss.  She even asked me how we did it – an excellent teaching moment.  I told her I wanted everyone to be open, honest, and direct with me.  I knew I had blind spots as a manager that could be covered by the opinions and thoughts of other team members.  I needed their perspective and wanted no fear of reprisal.  Her feedback validated that I had developed the right culture.

 I learned a couple of leadership lessons from these remembrances:

• Open feedback to leaders is crucial for their growth, improvement, and success.  By allowing my team to provide raw, reactive feedback without fear of reprisal made sure I got the varied perspectives of my team.  I think open feedback is an important contributor to organizational success.
• Open and honest communication in a team fosters a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration.  By encouraging open and honest communication, I showed my team members that I respected their opinions and valued their contributions to the team.

I’d be interested in your thoughts and comments.  Do you believe open and honest feedback helps a leader and develops an environment of trust?  Have you had any good (or bad) examples of open and honest feedback in a team environment?

If you’d like to discuss this further, please contact me via email ([email protected]) or comment on this post.

(2024-06)

Sometimes accidents and incidents happen when you least expect it.  We’ve heard the phrase “stuff happens” (or the vulgar version) to depict many unfortunate events. In my opinion, this phrase is overused to the point that people can shrug off preventable incidents.   Should we always expect accidents?  Why is it that some people, companies, or industries do better than others?  What role does organizational culture play?

These questions came to me after a couple of recent events.  On March 18, 2024, I received a blanket email from United Airlines’ CEO addressing management concerns over several incidents that occurred in the previous months.  The CEO spoke about how United Airlines had been trying to build a new culture over “the past few years.”  The CEO also made this statement – “We empower our team to speak up and raise their hand if they see something wrong.”  I wondered if this was why they sent the email, or if it was in reaction to the negative publicity they had received.

One week later (March 25, 2024), a broad management shake-up was announced by Boeing.  The airplane manufacturer has been under the microscope due to numerous issues related to the quality of their aircraft (737-MAX in particular), as well as procedures of repairs and maintenance at Boeing facilities.  In addition to this announcement, there have been two whistleblower deaths at Boeing.  Their stories tell of a lax and complacent culture.  I don’t know how much of the stories are speculation, but it sounds like Boeing has a safety culture issue.

After receiving the United email and the Boeing changes were announced, I did a couple of simple internet searches – “United Airlines safety incidents” and “importance of safety culture.”  The first search yielded several stories concerning United.  After reviewing them, it’s clear to me that United management needs to address the apparent lapse in discipline concerning safety.  The second search confirmed my belief that culture, as set and enforced by strong leadership, is the best way to improve safe operations.  I’ll speak more on this later.

United Airlines is facing two primary challenges stemming from the series of mishaps.  The first of these is customer dissatisfaction (and resultant loss of revenue).  Given the choice, customers will fly on airlines that haven’t had accidents or negative publicity.   Another issue facing United is an increase in scrutiny from regulatory bodies.  Increased regulatory oversight is necessary but can complicate a business’ efforts to improve.

Can the culture reinforced by leadership have a direct impact on safe operations?  I believe so.  The research validates my belief.  I remember when Chevron instituted a new safety policy – Stop Work Authority (SWA).  The leadership was very vocal and visible, encouraging any employee to stop work when they observe unsafe conditions.  I felt confident in upper management support of this policy and reinforced it in my operations.  I had the opportunity to support it also by supporting employees who stopped work at customer’s facilities due to unsafe conditions.  In effect, we fired the customer until they could improve safe operations.  This sent a strong message to front-line employees that SWA wasn’t simply something printed on a card.  I was able to contrast this with BP’s apparent culture after the Deepwater Horizon incident.  Sir John Brown (then CEO of BP) testified before the U.S. Congress that BP had an SWA policy in effect also.  My reading about the Deepwater Horizon incident tells me this policy wasn’t fully implemented and supported by leadership.

I saw firsthand the effect a leader can have on the culture of their team.  An organization I was responsible for at Chevron (one of five global manufacturing units) had a particularly poor safety performance.  I took responsibility for this and called for a one-day safety standdown for all our plants.  We arranged each plant to have a facilitated day focused on discussing ways to improve the safety of each plant.  While this was going on, all the supervisors and plant managers convened offsite.  The supervisors and plant managers met to discuss our record and ways to improve it.  As the leader of the organization, I both opened and closed this session.  My introductory remarks were designed to be motivational.  For the kick-off, I pointed out the responsibility of each supervisor for the safety culture and performance of their team.  I also told them the importance of accountability for the improvement.  I made sure each supervisor and plant manager knew that their performance rating (and subsequent bonus and salary treatment) would be affected by the performance of their unit.  I followed through with this during the year-end salary treatment discussion with my plant managers.  I also knew that my rating was affected by our performance.  The team rallied and improved their results the following year.

I’ve learned through my experience at Chevron that the leader sets the tone for the organization.  This is a large part of forming the organizational culture.  As a leader, I knew that I needed to take full responsibility for all results of my team.

I’ve also learned that leadership actions speak louder than words on a policy document.  This was validated by my personal observation of the difference between Chevron and BP.  The words of the United Airlines’ CEO’s email were appropriate, as were the Boeing CEO’s words.  Whether or not the increased focus on safety by United Airlines, as well as the Boeing management shake-up improve safe operations is yet to be determined.  I hope so.

I also believe that words without accountability are not effective.  The Boeing management change is a good indicator of accountability at the top.  I hope the change trickles down to the entire organization.

I’d be interested in your thoughts and comments.  Do you believe leadership has a strong influence on organizational culture?  Can culture make the difference between excellence or mediocrity?  Have you seen an organization that has confidence or mistrust in their leadership?  Is accountability as important as I’ve shared?

If you’d like to discuss this further, please contact me via email ([email protected]) or comment on this post.

(2024-05)

What style of a leader would you say you are?  I had a couple conversations recently where someone told me I was a servant leader.  Another person told me that my style really impressed him.  When he saw the impact of my leadership expressed at my retirement party in 2019, this impact (expressed by the audience comments) became a vision for his leadership style.  That discussion was very humbling to me.  (It got me thinking about my leadership style, and how many different styles of leadership there are.) 

It had been a long time since I examined my leadership style and tried to categorize it.  The last time I did that was in an MBA class on leadership I had in 2000-2001.  For our individual term paper, the professor required us to write a paper with references and a visual that detailed our leadership model.  I published my term paper as one of my first blog posts (see https://mrhensonllc.com/my-personal-leadership-model/ for the post).

I recently reread Robert Greenleaf’s classic “Servant Leadership.”  This book, which was radical when released, is one of the seminal works on the servant leadership style.  The author lobbies for application of servant leadership to education, business, foundations, and most forms of organizations.  I related to most (if not all) of the author’s positions.  If you haven’t read this book, I recommend it.

I decided to find out how many different styles of leadership exist through an internet search.  This yielded many opinions and lists of leadership styles.  The various websites I visited indicated that there are anywhere from six to twelve leadership styles.  Most had other names for similar styles.  A lot of the articles pull the foundational three leadership styles from a study by psychologist Kurt Lewin in 1939.  Lewin’s study contrasted authoritarian, democratic, or laissez-faire leadership and its effectiveness on children’s art projects.

I was surprised at the different websites that offered opinions or descriptions of different leadership styles.  I expected the Harvard Business Review to have an article on the subject.  They didn’t disappoint.  Not only do they list various styles, but they give good advice on when to use the various styles.  Check it out at https://hbr.org/2024/04/6-common-leadership-styles-and-how-to-decide-which-to-use-when and see for yourself.

I got a lot of information and insight from this review.  While there is no consensus on the number and name of various styles, there seems to be agreement that the most successful leaders flex their style depending on the issue(s) they face.  My experience with good (and not-so-good) leaders validates this thesis.

Many years ago, one of the employees on my team gave me some excellent feedback when they were transferred to another unit.  They told me I was like an umbrella for the team.  I took the rain and other “stuff” that rolls downhill and let the rest of the team carry on without disruption.  I was humbled by this also.

After reviewing both the feedback I’ve received about my performance, my personal leadership model, and my recent internet search, I’ve solidified my thinking around styles of leadership.

There are indeed many different styles.  There are many different humans in leadership roles.  Each will be unique.  They will also apply what they’ve witnessed of others (both good and bad).  I believe it’s both nature and nurture.

I also believe that a leader should be aware of their preferred style of leadership.  Knowing your primary style allows you to share it with your team.  Also, as you are aware of your preferred style of leadership, you can also be aware of when it might not be as effective as it should be.  This will allow you to flex your leadership to best fit the situation facing you as a leader.

According to the Harvard Business Review, “Research suggests that the most effective leaders adapt their style to different circumstances — be it a change in setting, a shift in organizational dynamics, or a turn in the business cycle. That’s why you need to stay attuned to your environment, understand your impact on others, and adjust your approach accordingly.” 

My preferred style of leadership is to be a servant leader.  I recognize there are situations I’ve faced where I needed to flex my style to be more effective.  I’ve also learned from my mistakes where I didn’t adapt and change my leadership style to fit unique issues.

How about you – what type of leader are you?  What type of leadership do you perform best under?  Would you like help in assessing your style of leadership, or in adapting your style?  Drop me a line ([email protected]) if you’d like to discuss further.

As always, please share your thoughts and feedback on this subject.

(2024-04)

My last post (https://mrhensonllc.com/long-way-home-making-memories/) got a few comments.  One of the comments was from one of my favorite friends from my life in Northern California.  Ray Abraham posted a simple comment on my personal Facebook page about the post.

Ray’s impact on this trip, and my life in general, was so much more than getting our bikes ready!  He was one of the primary influences in my motorcycle riding.  I met Ray at church in Northern California.  At one point, Ray hosted a small group in his home along with his lovely wife Kristen.  My wife Julie and I loved this small group.  One evening, Ray showed us his two motorcycles.  I caught a case of “iron lust” looking at his bikes.  Ray was excited when I expressed interest in his bikes and willingly shared the details on them.

Later, Julie gave me a special birthday present when she enrolled us in a motorcycle safety course.  Once we completed the course, we could get our motorcycle endorsement on our driver’s license.  Of course, I shared this with Ray.  He was excited for me and told me to let him know when I got my license.

I still remember the day I left the DMV after successfully getting my motorcycle license and calling Ray.  I believe it was a Thursday.  Ray said to pick him up Saturday morning and he would go with Julie and me to buy the necessary equipment.  We went to the local motorcycle supply place and with Ray’s consultation bought the right safety gear.

Ray also surprised us by showing us an ad he found online.  He said, “I think this may be the perfect bike for you.”  After buying our gear we went to look at it and fell in love with the bike.  Ray facilitated the negotiation and purchase and then drove the bike to our house (since he was quite experienced).  He loaned us a few motorcycle safety videos and told us we shouldn’t ride our bike until we’d seen them all.

Ray and his wife Kristen rode together.  He drove while Kristen enjoyed the scenery.  They took us riding with them many times.  It was so much fun riding in Northern California that Julie and I decided that we needed another bike.  That started another round of traveling with them on the weekends.  Before we rode three bikes together, Ray gave us an excellent safety briefing about traveling in a group.  Whenever we’d stop, Ray would provide feedback (always in a positive, encouraging manner).

We really enjoyed our time on the motorcycles with the Abrahams.  In addition to riding with them, we got a great kick out of the small group they hosted.  It was truly a special time, mostly because Ray and Kristen are very special people!

Somewhere along the way, the Abrahams suggested we watch “Long Way Round” on Netflix.  When we got transferred to Houston, Julie suggested we take our own long road trip.  When I mentioned it to Ray, he was quite enthusiastic and said it’d be great.  He also agreed to keep our bikes for us at his place until we were ready.

As my post stated, our start was delayed a bit.  So, not only did Ray get the motorcycles ready for us, but he kept them for a few months – a true friend indeed!

In addition to the many motorcycle safety lessons, I learned a few life and leadership lessons as well.  They include:

• The Yellow Bug Syndrome:  At one of our small group meetings, Ray gave us some homework for the week.  He asked us to be on the lookout for any yellow Volkswagen Beetles and to count how many we saw during the week.  It was an odd assignment at first because Ray didn’t tell us the point of the exercise.  At next week’s meeting, Ray asked for a report.  Everyone saw at least one and many of us saw quite a few.  The reason Ray asked us to do this was how quickly we adapted once we had a target to look for.  He said we could use this technique to be on the lookout for ways God was working in our lives.  We could also be on the lookout for many other things (positive impact, nice people, happy stories, etc.).  To this day, I use this technique to be on the lookout for many things – it works!
• Be prepared to act when your people are ready to learn or do something and help them on their schedule.  Ray was prepared to act when Julie and I went beyond just appreciation of his motorcycles.  Once we got our licenses, he was all in on leading, coaching, and supporting us.
• Positivity is contagious.  Ray is one of the most positive people I know.  He can always be counted on to share good thoughts, encouragement, and advice in a kind and uplifting manner.  It was powerful for me as a recipient.  I also saw Ray encourage so many other people.
• Seek out and find a good life partner who complements your skill set.  Ray has that in his wife Kristen.  The two of them are perfect for each other.  They exhibit true commitment to each other.  They shared a lot of marital counsel with many people.  I am most fortunate to have been on the receiving end of their words of wisdom.
• Give yourself away.  Ray is always willing to share, help, and be there for people in need.  He was famous for his grilling skills in our small group.  He even set up a wonderful afternoon one weekend and taught grilling to our church’s men’s group.  I got hooked on The Big Green Egg by Ray and am so glad I did!

Ray’s understatement on my post in Facebook sums him up.  He was so much more than a motorcycle custodian.  He is an excellent example of what a good husband, father, and friend should be.  He also showed me the power of a good coach. How about you – do you have a good coach in your life?  If not, you should find your own Ray Abraham.  Everyone needs one!  THANKS RAY!

(2024-03)

Last October and November, I had some entertaining pictures show up on my Facebook page from fifteen years ago (October 2008).  For ten days in a row, my memories showed up and it got me thinking about social media, memories, family, friends, and adventure because I joined Facebook in 2008 strictly to share these events.

First, a little background is necessary.  I got transferred from California to Texas in mid-2008.  My wife and I had lived in California for six years before this transfer.  While there, we picked up a new hobby and interest – motorcycle riding.  California is a great place to ride motorcycles.  During our last year in California, we watched the documentary “Long Way Round” and decided to ride our bikes from California to Texas instead of shipping them.

We visited our daughter Eliza in Manhattan before the transfer.  One evening, while out with Eliza and her friends, we told them of our decision to make the long road trip.  It was over drinks that they convinced us to join Facebook and share pictures from the trip so they could enjoy the trip with us.  It was a good idea, so we joined Facebook and got a digital camera to capture pictures along the way.  My wife and I both turned 50 in 2008 and thought a long road trip would be an epic way to celebrate this common milestone.  We referred to our trip as “Long Way Home” in deference to the documentary we loved.

We planned to leave California in the Fall of 2008 (early October) to avoid any severe weather.  Well, Chevron had other plans in mind and scheduled a conference in California in the last half of October.  This meant leaving four weeks later than planned.  We left Walnut Creek, California on October 31, 2008.  The night before, we had our last dinner with dear friends in Walnut Creek, which was an excellent time.

We rode over 2200 miles in ten days.  Out of this total, only 300 miles or so was on the interstate system.  Riding the smaller roads and some back roads was what we wanted to do and were glad we did.

As I reviewed the ten days’ worth of memories on Facebook, I jotted down some of my favorite recollections.  My notes included:

• Day One: Lafayette, CA to Paso Robles, CA
  • Our first stop was in Salinas, the location of the National Steinbeck Center.  John Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors.  It was great to take the tour and enjoy learning more about him.
  • We headed down Highway 101.  A pleasant diversion along the way was at the Mission San Miguel.

• Day Two: Paso Robles, CA to Barstow, CA
  • We started our day having breakfast with my friend at a local diner.  We found many great diners along the way.  This was the perfect start!
  • We took Highway 46 from Paso Robles to Bakersfield.  Along the way, we passed the intersection where James Dean died in a car accident.  It was humbling.
  • We passed the Lost Hills oilfield, where Chevron still had an operation.  Being a fourth-generation oilfield person, I had to stop and admire the place.
  • We rode in the rain from outside of Bakersfield all the way to Barstow.  The rain brought in very cold temperatures that lasted the rest of our trip.  Some of the strongest rain was in the Mojave Desert – who knew?  Riding in severe rain was the first character-builder of this journey.

• Day Three: Barstow, CA to Kingman, AZ
  • After the rough, rainy ride the day before, we slept in and got a much later start.
  • Drove through Needles, CA and found the site of the Imperial 400 Motor Inn.  This place was where the infamous “alligator dive” incident from my youth occurred.  I’ll probably need to make an entire post about that experience!
  • After Needles, we took a 50-mile ride on Route 66 at sunset – what a great experience!
  • The one bad thing about this leg was that we ended up going over a mountain pass in the dark. Two character-builders in two days: first riding in the rain; and then riding in 2nd and 3rd gear through many s-curves at night!

• Day Four: Kingman, AZ to Sedona, AZ
  • We rode from Kingman, AZ to Seligman, AZ on Route 66 (also known as “The Mother Road”).
  • We stopped at an antique shop in Hackberry, AZ, where I found a number of old petroleum marketing items.  Too bad I was limited on carrying space.
  • For lunch in Seligman, we ate at the Road Kill Café in spite of its name.  Another good diner along the way.  The food was just fine.
  • At the head of the canyon entering Sedona, I ran out of gas.  Fortunately, my motorcycle had a reserve tank, and I could switch to it while driving!  Yet another character-builder!
  • We made it into Sedona in time to see many remarkable sunset scenes.  We said we should make it back to Sedona.  We’ve yet to make that a reality.

• Day Five: Sedona, AZ to Show Low, AZ
  • We couldn’t stop at every scenic overlook, there were just too many!
  • We did manage to stop at the “World’s Largest Kokopelli” in Camp Verde, AZ.  There was a gift shop where we each picked up a souvenir that we’ve still got over 15 years later (I got a kokopelli key chain and Julie got a kokopelli hat).
  • We stopped for gas at Payson, AZ.  Julie asked a local for a good place to eat lunch.  He recommended an Italian place which turned out to be phenomenal!  Locals usually know where to go and eat!
  • The entire day was cold and very windy.  Some of the crosswinds were incredibly fierce, testing our skill and nerves.  Four straight days of character building experiences!

• Day Six: Show Low, AZ to Socorro, NM
  • The day started very cold.  After 50 miles of riding, it had warmed up to only 45 degrees!
  • We rode over/past the Continental Divide!
  • Well, after 14 years, we stumbled upon the Very Large Array – something Julie’s wanted to see ever since we started watching “Cosmos” with Carl Sagan. She wanted to visit it the first time we moved to California, but it was out of the way.  Wouldn’t you know it was on Hwy 60!  I remember popping over a summit and seeing a vast valley full of what looked like white teepees.  They turned out to be the 27 radio telescopes of the VLA – very cool.

• Day Seven:  Socorro, NM to Artesia, NM
  • Our first stop on the way from Socorro to Artesia, New Mexico was in Carrizozo. After 74 miles of cold, windy riding, we stopped to fill up. Julie asked a state policeman where to get a cup of coffee. He told us to go to a quaint shop in town. We had the best coffee of the entire trip there! Other than this stop, good coffee was hard to find.
  • We drove through Roswell, NM.  We stopped and did a bit of sightseeing but didn’t see any aliens (that we could recognize).  It was a fun stop that got us out of the cold riding weather.  We wore rain gear just to have one more layer of clothing!

• Day Eight:  Artesia, NM to Sweetwater, TX
  • In Artesia, we stopped to see a bronze statue called “The Rig Floor.” It was done in 1.25 scale – brought back many memories from my childhood. Dad let me visit the real rig floor many times as a kid – it was always an impressive sight.
  • We had a close call in Lamesa while looking for a place to eat lunch.  Julie took a spill on her motorcycle making a turn.  Fortunately, only her pride was hurt!
  • After a week of hard and fun riding, we made it into Texas.

• Day Nine:  Sweetwater, TX to Killeen, TX
  • Driving into Coleman, TX, I was particularly excited to see an old Texaco station. I pulled over to fill the bikes up, only to find that the station was an antiques store – it was interesting nonetheless!
  • We spent a long time in this antiques store, and only bought one thing – a very long rolling pin.  We had enough bungee cords to strap it on the back of one of the bikes – I’d like to hear what people said when they saw me pass them on the highway!
  • We made it into Killeen and had dinner with my older sister Sheri.  It was good to see her, and to know that this was our last night in a motel.  We were both looking forward to a night in our own bed!

• Day Ten:  Killeen, TX to Houston, TX
  • Went through a couple of small Texas towns and was able to ride around their town squares.
  • After we got home in Houston, I took a look at the odometer of my motorcycle:  finishing mileage: 21507; starting mileage: 19275; miles driven: 2232. Cost: unknown. Experience: priceless!

After we got a shower and fresh clothes, we sat down and enjoyed a bottle of sparkling wine.  As we discussed the events of the trip, my wife said an amazing thing – “we should do that again someday.”  I was humbled and impressed.

As I looked back through the Facebook memories, I also reflected on a few lessons I learned over the ten days.  The lessons I learned included:

• Fear truly is False Expectations Appearing Real.  In spite of the enjoyment I got out of motorcycle riding, I was still quite timid at times.  The early days and character-building experiences really bolstered my confidence of riding.
• Take that first step that commits to go “all in” for an intimidating experience.  Once we took that first step of riding the first day, there was no turning back.  Each of the tough times proved we could get through them.  Once we were committed, we couldn’t turn back.  In the end, it was well worth it.
• Traveling together is better than traveling alone.  I had a great cheerleader with me in Julie.  She bolstered my confidence numerous times.  I hope I helped her a bit as well.
• Cheerleaders are great!  We started with the encouragement of our daughter and her friends in New York City.  As I posted the pictures each night, I got replies from my Facebook friends that made it easier to get up the next morning and get back on the motorcycle.

Are you facing a seemingly dauntless project or task ahead of you?  Take that first step and fully commit.  You’ll either experience success or learn something about yourself.  Have you had experiences outside of work that built your character to tackle a tough assignment at work?  I applied my learnings to various projects and tasks.  I’ve found there are parallels in life.  The challenge is application!

I welcome any thoughts or comments you have.  Let me know if you’d like to discuss how to apply these learnings in your life.  Perhaps my stories are prompting you to think about a challenge you’re facing.  Send me an email or call me, I’d love to add value to your journey.

(2024-02)

I recently read a great quote from an author named Neale Donald Walsch:

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

This quote really resonates with me.  There have been many times I’ve been at the end of my comfort zone.  I admit to turning around more often than pushing on.  When I do continue to push past, I find that I learn something.  Sometimes I learn a lot!  In October of 2023, I went beyond my comfort zone and tried something new.  At 65 years old, that’s not necessarily the common thing to do.

Our two oldest grandchildren had their Fall Break in October, so we drove with them to Tennessee.  Our daughter Hannah joined us in Tennessee with her younger son a day or two later.

We all had a great time in Tennessee.  The weather was nice and there was plenty of outdoor activities.  The grandchildren had a blast.  I also had an opportunity to bring my two-year old grandson to take trash to the local “convenience center” (a county-run operation with dumpsters for trash and recycling).  He really enjoyed the new experience.

The highlight of the week was a trip to the Echo Valley Corn Maze.  This place, a 15-acre family farm, is located outside Jefferson City, TN.  It has a number of attractions including mazes, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, rides, and other activities (see https://www.hauntedcornmazes.com/echovalleycornmaze for more information).  The six of us (three adults and three children) had a wonderful time!  I hope it will become an annual tradition.

Toward the end of our time in Tennessee, my wife suggested we rent a U-Haul tow dolly to give Hannah a break on driving home.  I reluctantly agreed to this.  While I have pulled U-Haul trailers many times, I was apprehensive about pulling Hannah’s car.  It would be the first time using a tow dolly, and I was afraid of damaging her vehicle.

The plan suggested by my wife had a few selling points.  The six of us could ride together and we could pack all of our luggage and belongings in Hannah’s vehicle.  There would be three adult drivers, so no one person would bear the responsibility of the long drive.  All three children would be together, and we’d have three adults to help them.  In spite of my apprehension, I agreed.

As is usual with U-Haul, the support and guidance were excellent.  The equipment was easy to use and we made the trip back to New Orleans safely and without incident.

In looking back at this episode, I learned a few things:

• There is power in traditions.  The week in Tennessee with our family reminded me of a great tradition we had in my family growing up.  During our summer break, my parents would let each of the children spend a week with our grandparents one at a time.  I have many fond memories of time spent at my grandparents with my cousins.  These memories are still special to me.
• It’s never too late to try new things.  I was 65 years old when I first towed another car and I survived!  In fact, the time with the family all together on a road trip was very special.
• The first step to trying something new is usually the hardest step.  That first step can be intimidating if you are apprehensive.  Fear is a tricky thing.  I learned an acrostic about fear that has helped me face my fears.  FEAR is False Expectations Appearing Real.  While I routinely share this acrostic with others, I don’t always practice what I preach.  I’m trying to do better.
• Always have a supportive network in place.  My wife and daughter were instrumental in helping me overcome my fears in this small endeavor.  Watching the three grandchildren enjoy their time together on our road trip validated this was the right thing to do, in spite of my fears.

How about you – when was the last time you tried something new and different?  Do you agree with me that the first step is usually the hardest?  What’s keeping you from taking the first step?

We are in the start of 2024.  This is usually the time for resolutions, behavior change, and goal setting.  What’s next for you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, comments, and feedback.  In the meantime, keep learning and trying new things!