The New Laws of Leadership

Christine Comaford-Lynch CEO, Mighty Ventures

What is Leadership?

Finance Department.
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What is Leadership?

I was going to thank you, Philip. But, then, yours is a thankless job.
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What is Leadership?

The weird thing is we cant find anyone qualified to replace him.

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What is Leadership?

Influence

Energy = Equity Equity = Access Access = Influence Influence = Leadership

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The Official Bio

5x entrepreneur, average 700% ROI Invested in over 200 companies as a VC and angel investor, including Google Consulted to over 700 of Fortune 1000 Advisor to White House: Clinton & Bush Business accelerator, columnist, author

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The Backstory Bio

High school drop-out, teenage runaway Tried numerous careers: lingerie model, Buddhist monk, software engineer, geisha trainee, hospice worker Became entrepreneur at age 27 Retired at 40

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Mighty Ventures

We help corporations turn their teams into entrepreneurs

We help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into high-value businesses

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Leadership Components
BRAND: Maven, Connector, Patton, Hopper-in-front-of-parade or hybrid METHOD: Bursty or Always On Focus on how you can help others Become known as the go to person
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7 Laws of Leadership
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Build A Rockin Team Course-Correct Constantly Foster Collaboration Have a Pair Made of Brass Work With PeopleFor Better or Worse Say It and DO IT Self-Sacrifice Not Necessary Leaders Elevate Others!!
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Build A Rockin Team

Tip #1: Hire the Fab Four
Visionaries: see the future Leaders: lead the troops Implementers: make things happen Infrastructure Builders/Supporters: build & maintain the foundation

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Build A Rockin Team

Tip #2: Choose Wisely Hire for: Smarts (Smarter than YOU) Pedigree (GSD over MBA) Emotional Equity Playing well (enough) with others

(contd)

Tip #3: Rock The Culture Post values that everyone agrees to uphold Accountability, Innovation, Speed, Failing Forward
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Build A Rockin Team

(contd)

Tip #4: Build an Extended Team: Investors, Board members Advisory board Customer council Strategic Partners See my column on
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Course-Correct Constantly

You say its a win-win, but what if youre wrong-wrong and it all goes bad-bad?
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Course-Correct Constantly
Guide your staff, your company, yourself back on track A culture of course-correction: Embraces risk Fosters accountability and ownership Fails forward Holds rejection parties Fosters entrepreneurship Story: Intellectual property fiasco
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Leadership Check

Energy Equity Access Influence

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Foster Collaboration

And at this point in the meeting Id like to shift blame away from me and onto someone else.
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Foster Collaboration
With departments, vendors, customers Equalizes everyones value Makes the leader approachable and ok to challenge Story: Worldwide marketing repository
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Have a Pair
Theres never enough info for a decision Hire smarter Love competition Carry a big umbrella Deal with difficult situations & people Equalize, Exchange, Embrace Story: August 15, 2005

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Leadership Check

Energy Equity Access Influence

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Work with People

We bring all of ourselves to work: you will deal with personal issues You will build tremendous loyalty as a resultand touch lives too Do you manage up, down, across? No people = no business, no bonuses, no challenge Story: Jane

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How Connected Are You?

Birth Family Myself Greater Truth /Spirituality

Immediate Family Friends & Community

Organizations & Institutions

ME

Work

Ideas and Information Pets/Animals Nature History

Beauty

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Say It and DO It
Happy ears dont help anyone Ask your inner circle to be straight with you Once you lose credibility, its tough to get back People are watching Story: Consultants outta here--Financial services firm

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Self-Sacrifice Not Necessary

It doesnt prove commitment It leads to burn-out It leads to reduced respect from the team You deserve high pay, time off Your employer deserves a refreshed, motivated executive A Common Misconception!
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Leadership Check

Energy Equity Access Influence

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Take-Aways
1. Leaders Are Always Elevating Others 2. Know/Reinforce Your Leadership Brand & Method 3. Remember the Leadership Equation
Energy = Equity Equity = Access Access = Influence Influence = Leadership
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In Closing
Do It Anyway By Mother Teresa People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
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If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

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What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

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The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
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You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

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Thank You
See Resources section on MightyVentures.com Rules for Renegades book released 9/01/07!
Christine @ MightyVentures.com

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