2013 Global Leadership Summit Highlights

Overview

The 2013 Global Leadership Summit was a worldwide event viewed by 170,000 people either live or by satellite. This was the best leadership event I have ever attended. Speaker after speaker wowed me and they all tied their presentation into leadership.

3 Key Takeaways

1. It reinforced the importance of creating and using a sound foundation (or culture) in both life and business (as in having clear vision, goals, mission and values).
2. It emphasized the critical importance of leaders finding, focusing and supporting the next generation of leadership, in business.
3. It reminded me of doing as Bob Goff (my favorite speaker of the 2 days) says “What We Were Made to Do”.

Speaker Overviews

General Colin Powell
“It Worked For Me”

1. Leadership is about trust
2. Your ego gets in the way
3. Say “Thank You” to others for their work / service (word he used)
4. As a leader, you need followers
5. Give your followers a sense of purpose…a “why” for what we are doing

Patrick Lencioni
“How To Lose Your Best People”

Patrick Lencioni was back for third year in a row. This time he discussed corporate health and discussed three things that can kill people morale and thus productivity

1. Anonymity
2. Irrelevance
3. “Immeasurement” (a word he made up to describe how all people need feedback and evaluation on how they are doing)

Bob Goff
“Give Thanks Again”

Bob Goff is an attorney who founded Restore International and my favorite speaker of the two days. It hard to describe how passionate and funny he was in presenting and explaining, “what were you made to do,” and about following your calling in a very simple down to earth way. He is an inspirational speaker his speech on developing leadership within the company and helping leaders “see people for who they are becoming” is something I will use for both clients and group presentations.

Mark Burnett
“Unscripted Leadership”

Mark Burnett is a four time Emmy winning executive producer of Survivor, The Voice and The Bible. He was interviewed by Bill Hybels. This is a success story that Burnett said can happen only in America. He came from Europe, sold tee shirts on the beach and managed to build a successful career as a producer. Some key points from his interview:

1. Choose companions before you choose your road (same message as Jim Collins preaches)
2. With any idea you need a plan, the right people and a budget.
3. Make sure you get the right people doing the right job and get rid of people who are energy saps. When you have what he called an “energy drain person” they sap your energy and the company’s energy.
4. Bill asked him, “what comes first the vision or the plan/budget etc.?” He said in no in uncertain terms that he thinks that a vision without a plan and budget is foolishness. How couldn’t go to a network and say, “I have a great program but I no idea what it would cost you.”

Dr. Brene Brown
“Daring Reality”

Dr. Brown discussed Leadership from an unusual take… the perspective of being more vulnerable. She believes that shame, blame and disrespect kills an organization. We, as leaders, must build people up and build trust by being more authentic and vulnerable to who we are. Leaders do NOT have to have all the answers but they do need to nurture and support peoples self-esteem, build respect into our relationships with others grow and nurture a loving relationship with ourselves and others. She tied this all in neatly to providing effective leadership. She is a highly moving speaker

Oscar Muriu
“Viral Leadership: Multiplying Your Impact Exponentially”

Oscar Muriu is a well know Christian leader from Kenya who used teachings from the bible and applied them to building his church and his leadership. I found his presentation hit home with me in reminding me (and other leaders) that to grow we need what he called disciples. These are what we in business would call the next generation of leaders. We must find them and invest in them. The next generation, he says, are people 20-30 years younger than you. His basic concept aligns with Jim Collins’ idea that you must find the right leaders and put them in the right position in order to have any meaningful growth. He also suggested that you need a “Hit List” of potential leaders they want to enroll and grow.