It is one of the earliest dichotomies that we come to know as children. Dog or cat. Loyal or independent. Focused on others, or focused on self. Accepts you as you are, or accepts you when they choose. It “rains” them, we “fight” like them, and we debate which is better.

But do we lead like them?

Think about the best and worst leaders that you know or have known in your life. Think about the most successful leaders in history…then the most reviled. Do the very best of the best lead like a dog or a cat? The answer is a resounding yes. They lead like both a cat and a dog, depending on the circumstances.

Great leaders bring dog-like commitment to those they serve. They know that it is not about them, but about others. They do not revel in their own achievements, but vigorously celebrate the success of others. They do not quit. They are in it for the long term. They are committed.

But they also bring cat-like independence to those situations where others are losing their way. They rely on their own judgment and finely tuned sense of what to do next. They do not fall victims to group think, or the easy way out. They know when the best answer lies within them and not with public opinion.

We have all seen leaders fail who fall too much into dog or cat leadership. The exclusively dog leader fails to see the need to challenge the organization to achieve. Complacency sets in and the organization loses relevance, or worse  walks itself over a cliff. The exclusively cat leader views the organization through the “what does this mean for me” lens and the self-serving focus leads to Enron, Worldcom and Wall Street excess.

Our oldest dichotomy is not really a dichotomy at all. Dog or cat should not be choice when it comes to leadership style. It is more a symphony, blending the very best of our two best friends.

I must admit that I never heard of Evan Lysacek prior to the 2010 Winter Olympic games and am not typically a fan of men’s figure skating. But Mr. Lysacek has caused me to do an abrupt about-face and take notice of his compelling story. Not so much because of the typical Olympic storyline of heroic athleticism, though he certainly has such a story. But because of what each of us can learn from his example of laser-like focus and determination.

Though World Champion, Lysacek was considered the longest of long shots to capture America’s first Olympic Gold since Brian Boitano in 1988, for two, closely related reasons. First, he does not perform the all-important quad, a four revolution jump that every Olympic champion has executed since 1998. And secondly because the reigning Olympic champion, Evgeni Plushenko, a master of the quad came out of retirement especially for these games.

Conventional wisdom told Lysacek that he simply could not win without the quad. Now here’s where the story gets really interesting and relevant to the rest of us mere mortals.

Rather than overreaching what he was capable of doing in response to such “wisdom,” Lysacek instead chose to focus on doing what he does better than anyone else. He executed triple jumps flawlessly. He tied his routines together with style and grace. He was smooth and seamless. He was the absolute best Evan Lysacek that he could be.

It was more than enough. He handily beat Plushenko, who ridiculed him prior to and after the event for his lack of a quad.  After all, he said, “men must do the quad.” The head games did not work. Lysacek’s focus and determination paid off in pure gold.

What a powerful take-away for anyone who wants to excel. Do not worry about what others can do that you can not. Ignore the wisdom of convention. Instead, maximize your strengths and skills to be the very best “you” that you can be.

Thank you for the lesson in excellence, Evan.

My little corner of the world, idyllic Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was the unlucky recipient of 46.5 inches of snow over the last week. Two blizzards in rapid succession demonstrated the unyielding power of a one-two sucker punch from mother nature. It is simply not reasonable to get whacked by two, two-foot snowfalls. That kind of thing happens in Minsk, or some barren frigid landscape inhabited only by penguins. Or so I thought. (more…)

These uncertain economic times are enough to make you want to pull the covers over your head and pull a Rip Van Winkle. Slow growth and continued job loss characterize a “new normal” that has so many people on edge waiting for the next shoe to drop. Or kick them in the behind, to be more metaphorically correct. (more…)

Relationships at work would not be so bad if it wasn’t for the people. Well, maybe not bad. Frustrating is more like it. (more…)