GrowthStarts

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

So I became determined to acquire that skill [public speaking]. Fortunately, Bill Marriott’s father-in-law, Royal Garff, who taught speech at the University of Utah, was willing to spend some time with me. He gave me some of the best advice of my career: (1) don’t give speeches, tell stories; (2) use personal examples, whether they’re about your family, your dog, or losing your bicycle; (3) never let anyone write a speech for you; and (4) never give a speech about anything you are not passionate about.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

The written version of the Disney Great Leader Strategies begins with this statement: “In times of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.”

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

Time has a way of getting away from busy people. So if you think that being organized is only for uncreative drones, think again. The time you save by being organized is time you can spend learning new things, thinking up new ideas, or implementing innovations.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

As you can see, management and leadership are closely connected. Managerial skills give you credibility; unless you are organized, do what you say you are going to do, and keep your promises, you will not be considered a great leader.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

Some resist having anything resembling a routine; they think it’s boring, and they want to remain fluid and flexible to respond to changing circumstances. But good routines actually give you the stability you need in order to adapt when challenges arise. I once heard someone say, “Management is boring. If you want excitement become a race car driver.” His point was that good managers aren’t there to seek thrills; they are there to keep things under control, minimize the unexpected disruptions, and give their employees the consistency they need to do their best work. Good processes ensure that you attend to the routine, necessary, and predictable tasks, freeing your mind to respond creatively to unexpected events.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

As a leader you are always responsible for the outcome….So make sure everyone knows exactly what outcomes you expect and exactly what authority he or she has and doesn’t have, and install rigorous procedures for keeping informed.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

…[I]t pays to take care of your people before you take care of your paperwork.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

Great leaders know they don’t know everything. They learn as they go, and they’re confident enough to listen to people at every level of their organizations. As a result, they make better choices and fewer mistakes. They also inspire greater commitment to and more support for their decisions. By reaching out to everyone on your team, you give the benefit of a variety of perspectives. Make it clear that you want to hear from everyone, whatever his or her title or position, and that you want everyone to speak his or her mind. Ask for people’s opinions and ideas even if they don’t volunteer them.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

Never underestimate the power of a simple gesture like saying hello or stopping to chat for a minute or two. And make sure you mean it; if you’re just going through the motions like a glad-handing politician looking for votes, they’ll see right through you. As the old saying goes, “People will not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.”

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

When people feel valued for the talents and skills they bring to the team, their level of commitment soars. And committed people feel a strong personal connection to, and responsibility for, the work that they do and the teams they’re a part of.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)