Communicate and use these three concepts to become an even more effective leader.

Thank you to Lou Radja, an international speaker, who shared these ideas at our Academy for Private Dental Practice (APDP) meeting in Tucson, Arizona.

🪑 The Chair

Lou walked into the audience, grabbed a chair with one arm (he’s a big guy!) and placed that chair on the stage. He sat in the chair and smiled!

Q: What does this maneuver have to do with leadership?

A: From Lou’s seated position he said, “You won’t post this moment on social media! Sure, the chair met my expectation. I can now sit down, but it’s a non-event moment.” As he sat there, Lou continued, “Success is what you do and say after you do what’s expected of you.”

➜ Communicate and go beyond what’s expected, or you’re just the chair.

🥣  The Bowl

The set up: Lou asked Dr. Sarah Heuer, a past APDP president sitting in our audience, “What’s your favorite restaurant?” She replied, “La Hacienda”. “Great,” he said, “Let’s hypothetically plan to meet there for a date at 6:30pm tonight.”

The action: Lou continued, “Let’s say I arrive at La Hacienda at 6:25 and I’m excited! It gets to be 6:35… then 6:45 and then 7pm… and there is no Sarah.” As he looks at us he cups his hands together to replicate an empty bowl and says, “Think of the ways I can fill this empty bowl of reactions given she is a no show. I’m a loser and this is the third time someone has stood me up. OR I’m worried – maybe Sarah had an accident. OR I’m aggravated, this has been a waste of my time.”

➜ Avoid Empty Bowl Syndrome. Over communicate vs. under communicating. As leaders share your “why” and involve your team.

⛪️  The Cathedral

Lou used the example of two construction workers building a brick wall on a job site for an upcoming church. When asked about job satisfaction the first brick layer said, “I’m slapping cement in between bricks all day. It’s a job.” The second brick layer must have had a different supervisor. He worked faster and with better results. He said, “I’m helping to build a cathedral.”

➜ Lou said, “Leaders center their language around their ‘why’.” He went on to say, “Leaders use ‘cathedral’ language and not ‘task’ language.”

Your leader language reminders: 🪑  🥣   ⛪️

• Go beyond The Chair.
• Avoid the Empty Bowl Syndrome.
• Use Cathedral language.

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