• Ron went coast to coast this winter to visit 13 of his new players and their families.  This allowed him to get to know the players and their families on a personal level and found out what made the player's tick.
• Ron believes for any particular game, he can develop a plan and adjust to the plan accordingly to be successful.
• Ron holds himself accountable if the team doesn't win.

I found it really amazing that when one of his former players won a golden glove, the player gave the award to Ron.  That says a lot about the impact Ron has had on players in the past.

The real proof will be how the Ranger's perform this year.  Last year they finished 3rd in their division, with a record of 80-82.  So far this spring, the Rangers are 12-7.  While I'm not a huge fan of baseball, I'll definitely be tracking the Ranger's this summer.

The full article can be found here: http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10078714/rss

"Driven to distraction. Multi-tasking is a liability when you need to listen and concentrate on what another person is trying to say. Do you sit behind your desk, accept phone calls, shuffle papers or otherwise communicate by your activities or gestures that you are not fully attentive?

Moving on. Whether pressed for time or just accustomed to moving through issues quickly, many leaders have a hard time concentrating on what is being said. Often they mentally shift to what comes next. How often do you think about your response rather than focusing on what the other person is saying?

Problem solving. Many leaders feel compelled to be the expert and offer a solution to a problem right away. Poor listeners give advice too soon. Do you suggest what should be done before the other person has fully explained his or her perspective?

Downplays feelings. Emotions are part of people's work experience. Poor listeners dismiss other people's feelings. They also miss out on important insights into what is going on among their employees. Do you tell people not to feel the way they do? Are you at a loss when another person expresses emotions?

Shuns silence. Many leaders make it a point to fill any silences, or they feel obligated to respond to every comment. These reactions cut short the other person's time to think and react. Do you talk significantly more than the other person talks?"

I know I have been guilty of several of these areas in the past, and probably will in the future.  I believe I could make a huge step towards progress by just getting up from my desk and moving to another chair in my office the next time I'm faced with this situation.  Perhaps this would help trigger my memory of this article and remind me not to move on or try to problem solve too quickly.

The full article from the CCL can be found here: http://www.ccl.org/leadership/enewsletter/2007/FEBlistening.aspx.  It also includes a story about the importance of listening, as well as the benefits of active listening.

Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all. -Dwight D. Eisenhower

I ran across this quote from Dwight D. Eisenhower today.  Here are my thoughts:

• Leaders know where they are going - they have a clear and compelling vision
• Leaders inspire others to reach their vision through influence, motivation, collaboration and teamwork
• If one tries to push a vision or direction onto a group, the group sags and goes nowhere