As we have discussed in a previous teaching of “Hole Nutha Level,” to achieve the next level of leadership, performance, or training, you must sequentially go through steps and levels.

The simplified example that I used, each level has 10 steps, and you much go through each step to successfully get to the next level.  You cannot skip a step or try to skip to a next level.  Each step prepares you for the next step.  Each sequence of steps builds on the previous step, and each level builds upon the previous level.

So good leaders should determine what is the next step for their followers.  They must really analyze what skills (steps) are required to get to the next level and then develop these skills in the follower.

Again, a good leader develops and grows their followers for the betterment of the follower, the betterment of the team, and the betterment of the company.

This weekend, I watched the movie Karate Kid with my family.  There is a great example of a great leader in this movie.  Mr. Miyagi (the coach/teacher/leader) develops his student Daniel LaRusso, the Karate Kid, to a “Hole Nutha Level”.

For those who have never seen this movie, here’s the storyline.  Miyagi is an old Japanese Karate master who is currently the maintenance man at Daniel LaRusso’s apartment community.  Daniel LaRusso is a New Jersey kid who has just moved to California.  During his first couple of days in California, a bunch of kids who are very good at Karate start beating up Daniel LaRusso.  Well, long story made short, Miyagi agrees to train/lead Daniel LaRusso in Karate on two conditions:

Miyagi will teach Daniel LaRusso
Daniel LaRusso will learn
As Miyagi stated, “I say, you do, no question, that is your part.”

View Video #1 (Play 4:13 to 7:06)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlSDS9H2b2A#t=4m13s

View Video #2 (Play 2:00 to 3:38, 4:30 to 9:00)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF8qlQChR6w#t=2m00s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF8qlQChR6w#t=4m30s

Now after seeing the clips, How many of you have had a time where your leader has asked you to do something that either verbally or in your head you have said, “what does this have to do with me ?”

So many times over the past years, I have been in a leadership situation where something in my past has prepared me for the current situation or challenge.  And when this training happened in the past, I did not have any idea that I would use it in the future.  Your past prepares you for the future.

Leaders are Learners.  In every situation, you can learn something.  What is funny is that I have learned just as much from poor leaders as I have from good ones.  What do I mean?  Well, poor leaders show you the mistakes to avoid.  Remember, everything rises and falls with leadership.  So when things start falling the poor leaders are changed out with good ones, you just have to be patient.

Mr. Miyagi is a great leader in this movie.  He leads Daniel LaRusso not only to a “Hole Nuthra Level” but to become the Karate Kid and winner of the Championship.

Takeaways from the Video:

Leaders knows what it takes to get to the next level: Daniel did not understand why he had to wash & wax the cars, paint the fence, paint the house, and sand the deck.  However, Miyagi knew the steps that were necessary to get to the “Hole Nuthra Level.”
Leaders pass on what they have learned to make others better: Mr. Miyagi knew about Karate and had experiences doing what Daniel wanted to do.  His father trained Mr. Miyagi in Karate and now he passes on the training to Daniel.
A Great Leader focuses on the development of the follower, not there own benefit: Mr. Miyagi was focused on making Daniel the best Karate Kid possible.  It was not about winning the championship, but getting Daniel to be good at Karate.  (Highlight the part of the road illustration)
Great leaders understand when their follower is at their breaking point: Mr. Miyagi did not tell Daniel the why, until Daniel was at the breaking point.  And he did not tell him everything.  See point 5.
Great Leaders illuminate just enough to allow the follower to take the next step, but not too much to allow them to stumble.
Mr. Miyagi told Daniel just enough to allow him to keep improving, but never too much to overwhelm or paralyze him.
To be all that you can be – you must submit to authority: Daniel was a great follower and submitted to Mr. Miyagi’s request, “I say, you do.”  If he did not follow the authority that was over him, he would have never reached the next level.
Leaders and Followers develop a relationship: Mr. Miyagi develop a respected friendship, based on common interests and shared purpose.  Mr. Miyagi first earned Daniel’s trust by jumping into a fight and physically defending Daniel in a fight when he was defenseless.
Lead On!
Sutton