One Piece of Paper

1. Articulate Your Leadership Philosophy on One Page

Imagine being able to explain your leadership philosophy on one piece of paper—a simple 8.5- by 11-inch summation of all you are and all you want to be as a leader.

Powerful tool for clarity. The Leadership Maxims approach helps you distill your leadership philosophy into 15-20 emotionally powerful statements that fit on a single page. This concise format forces you to focus on what truly matters in your leadership style and makes it easy to communicate your expectations to your team.

Authenticity is key. Your maxims should be deeply personal, free of corporate jargon, and rooted in your own experiences. They serve as daily reminders of how you want to behave and lead, acting as your leadership conscience. By sharing these maxims and the stories behind them, you build trust and understanding with your team.

Four aspects of leadership. The approach covers:

• Leading yourself
• Leading the thinking
• Leading your people
• Leading a balanced life

2. Lead Yourself First: Define Your Motivation and Future Vision

If you are unable to inspire yourself, how can you expect to inspire your people?

Know your "why". Reflect on what truly motivates you and why you get out of bed every day. This understanding will help you align your work with your passions and make better career decisions. For example, the author's maxim "Light bulbs" reminds him of his passion for teaching and seeing understanding dawn in others.

Define your future self. Create a clear vision of who you want to become, regardless of external circumstances. This aspirational self-image will guide your decisions and actions. Consider what you want your epitaph to say or how you want to be remembered.

Establish personal guidelines. Develop maxims that remind you of your ethical boundaries and non-negotiables. These will help you make difficult decisions under pressure and maintain your integrity.

3. Set Clear Standards and Expectations for Your Team

A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal nor tolerate those who do.

Articulate your values. Clearly define the standards you expect your team to uphold. These can be internally focused (like the West Point honor code) or externally focused (like customer service standards). Make sure these standards align with your personal values and the organization's goals.

Communicate expectations. Share your maxims with your team to provide clarity on how you want them to behave. This reduces confusion and helps your team focus on what's important. For example, the maxim "Is this right for the customer?" provides a clear decision-making framework.

Lead by example. Consistently demonstrate the standards you set. When you fail to meet your own standards, acknowledge it and use it as a learning opportunity for yourself and your team.

4. Challenge the Status Quo and Drive Action

In case of doubt, attack!

Question assumptions. Develop maxims that remind you to regularly challenge the status quo and look for new opportunities. The author's "Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?" maxim encourages deeper exploration of issues and assumptions.

Look to the future. Create a compelling vision for your organization and communicate it clearly. A well-crafted vision statement should inspire your team and provide direction for decision-making.

Drive action. Balance analysis with action. Develop maxims that push you to make decisions and move forward, even in uncertain situations. Remember that inaction is still a choice, and often a costly one.

5. Treat Your Team Members as Unique Individuals

He drinks 7UP.

Know your people. Make an effort to learn about your team members' personal lives, interests, and aspirations. This knowledge helps you build stronger relationships and tailor your leadership approach to each individual.

Show you care. Small gestures that demonstrate your attention to personal details can have a big impact on motivation and loyalty. The author's "7UP" story illustrates how a simple act of remembering a preference dramatically improved a soldier's performance.

Listen more than you talk. The maxim "You have two ears and one mouth for a reason" serves as a reminder to focus on understanding others rather than dominating conversations.

6. Stay Connected to Your Team's Reality

He's under the tank, sir.

Get your hands dirty. Regularly engage in the work your team does to understand their challenges and maintain credibility. The author's story of working on tank maintenance illustrates how this approach can earn respect and build rapport.

Avoid ivory tower syndrome. Create maxims that remind you to stay grounded in the day-to-day realities of your organization. This helps you make more informed decisions and avoid unrealistic expectations.

Seek understanding. When you don't understand an aspect of your team's work, ask questions and learn. Admitting ignorance and seeking knowledge demonstrates humility and a commitment to continuous learning.

7. Commit to Your People's Growth and Development

But he's never done that job!

Take calculated risks. Be willing to put team members in stretch roles to help them grow. The author's story of promoting Carson illustrates how taking a chance on someone can lead to great results and increased loyalty.

Provide timely feedback. Develop maxims that remind you to address performance issues promptly. The author's maxim "It's easier to correct course 100 yards into the journey than 100 miles into it" emphasizes the importance of early intervention.

Create growth opportunities. Consistently look for ways to challenge your team members and help them develop new skills. This not only improves individual performance but also builds bench strength for your organization.

8. Establish Boundaries for Work-Life Balance

Fred Flintstone

Define your limits. Clearly articulate the boundaries you need to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This includes the type of work you do, how you prefer to work, and when you work.

Communicate your boundaries. Share your maxims with your team and colleagues to set clear expectations. For example, the author's "I'm going home. You're doing my job." maxim clearly communicates his stance on micromanagement.

Stick to your guns. Once you've established boundaries, be consistent in enforcing them. Use your maxims as reminders to maintain balance, even when work pressures mount.

9. Keep Perspective in Stressful Situations

Burger King is hiring.

Develop grounding techniques. Create maxims that help you regain perspective when stress threatens to overwhelm you. The author's "Burger King is hiring" and "A Burger King crown" maxims serve as reminders not to take things too seriously.

Contextualize problems. Use phrases like "It's only [blank]" to put stressful situations into perspective. This helps you and your team avoid overreacting to minor issues.

Model calmness. Your ability to maintain composure under pressure sets the tone for your team. Develop maxims that remind you to stay calm and focused during crises.

10. Pursue Your Passions Outside of Work

A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work.

Make time for what matters. Develop maxims that remind you to prioritize your passions and relationships outside of work. The author's fishing maxim serves as a constant reminder to balance work with life's pleasures.

Remember why you work. Create maxims that connect your work to your life goals. For example, "Work buys adrenaline" reminds one executive that his job enables his passion for adventure sports.

Live in the present. Avoid the trap of always postponing enjoyment. Remember, "Someday is not a day of the week." Use your maxims to motivate yourself to pursue your passions now, rather than waiting for retirement or some future date.

Last updated: February 4, 2025