Five important lessons learned, in business and life | Leading Clearly

As someone with an entrepreneurial spirit, my life has been an interesting journey filled with colorful characters and staggering obstacles. I’ve coached hundreds of individuals and led amazing teams to new heights. This journey has spanned more decades than I care to admit, crossed four states and even more states-of-mind. Countless lessons have been learned, many of which I will share in the weeks to come, but for this column I would like to focus on the five important things that are crucial to any success.
These five things did not come to me in a late night flash of brilliance as I sat bathed in the glow of my computer; nor did they come through the advice of a bearded sage. They came through years of hard work and experience, learning as I went. My goal is to impart this wisdom without the delay of discovery. Put this information to work for you now, and you will see endless dividends in the days to come.
1. There are no bad companies or organizations, only bad leaders.
It’s an axiom that has served me well for more than 40 years. It’s why teams win when they aren’t supposed to win. It’s why good companies go bad. It’s why people say things like, “There are a lot of good people there.” Guess what? There are always a lot of good people there. What’s missing? Good leadership. By the way, this rule never fails.
2. Volunteer for jobs nobody else wants.
If your goal is to rise in the organization, there’s no better tool for learning the business inside and out than to do things nobody else wants to do — and to do them voluntarily. Early on, I found that no one wanted to learn certain things because they would be counted on to do them. Opportunities to be counted on and come through above expectations are where the rich deposits of learning and quick trust by superiors are in your profession. Don’t miss them, and enjoy the trip.
3. Never be on time; always be early.
Get your time management issues solved early on, and don’t ever be satisfied with arriving at the destination or the meeting on the button. Set your standards to always be the first to arrive; it sends such a clear message of excellence. Never allow anyone else to set your standards for you. Example: If you are meeting with someone who is always late, never use that to change your standard. Continue to arrive early no matter what.
4. Respect everyone, no matter the position.
I used to have this consultant who had a nasty habit of making waiters and waitresses feel inferior by trumping their knowledge of the wine menu at dinner. The person who is nice to you but rude to others is not a nice person. This never fails either, by the way.
I’ve always heard that if you want to know your future husband, you’d better look at how he treats his mother. If someone talks about others to you, he or she talks about you to others. Courtesy to all is a habit that has paid huge dividends for me with receptionists, airline ticket personnel, wait staff and CEOs.
5. Never take credit, and always pass on praiseh.
If the team does well, look out the window. If the team does poorly, look in the mirror. If you are the leader, the team is a reflection of you. Give praise liberally, and shy away from credit. It’s really that simple.

I’m excited to be writing a series of articles in the Columbia Business Times on leadership and management. They’ve asked me to share a little about myself; the better parts all lie within my wife and partner, Ann Marie, with whom I’ve been blessed to spend 17 years of my life. We’ve been residents of Columbia for the past 11 years, and we love it dearly.
I’ve been a leader since I stepped on to the field to play my first organized sports event when I was 5 years old. That was 42 years ago, and we didn’t have tee ball then; someone threw the ball to you or at you.
I started working in my family’s business at age 10, worked in the media with my own radio show at age 15 and achieved my first managerial position at age 20. I remember the first time someone cried in my office — it was me.
I was fortunate enough to have corporate positions of leadership within Purchase Broadcasting of Kentucky in the ’80s and Zimmer Radio Group of Missouri, Illinois and Kansas in the ’90s and 2000s. Each of those organizations achieved tremendous growth and profitability because of the excellent people who were assembled within them. I learned volumes from them all.
In 2005, Ann Marie and I founded Word Marketing, a marketing consulting firm to help entrepreneurs realize their dreams through strategic planning, brand development and consistent execution. Through Word’s success we were able to purchase Horizon Research Services from Dr. Kathleen Anger in 2007 and then add a full video and audio production facility in 2008. In each case, I’ve been able to work myself out of a job because of the outstanding management, consulting and creative staff we have.
In 2010, we launched Clear Vision Development Group, which is a leadership/coaching/training company that helps build processes of growth for people and organizations. I’m also excited to be providing leadership training and development for the 2011 Class of Leadership Columbia for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Tony Richards is a leader in the area of personal development and senior partner of Clear Vision Development Group, a Columbia-based leadership coaching and training firm. Visit them online at www.clearvisiondevelopment.com.