Management Mess to Leadership Success

About the Author

Scott Jeffrey Miller is a prominent figure in the world of leadership development. With over 23 years at FranklinCovey, Miller serves as the Executive Vice President of Thought Leadership. His role involves leading the strategy, development, and publication of FranklinCovey’s best-selling books and thought leadership materials. Previously, as the Executive Vice President of Business Development and Chief Marketing Officer, he spearheaded the global transformation of FranklinCovey’s brand. Miller's journey and experiences have provided him with a wealth of knowledge, which he shares in his book "Management Mess to Leadership Success."

Main Idea

"Management Mess to Leadership Success" offers 30 practical leadership challenges designed to transform your leadership style. These challenges are divided into three parts: Lead Yourself, Lead Others, and Get Results. The book emphasizes humility, trust, and active listening as key components of effective leadership. Miller's wisdom, derived from years of experience and research by the FranklinCovey team, is aimed at helping leaders manage themselves better, lead others effectively, and achieve significant results.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Part I: Lead Yourself
• Challenge 1: Demonstrate Humility
• Challenge 2: Think Abundantly
• Challenge 3: Listen First
• Challenge 4: Declare Your Intent
• Challenge 5: Make and Keep Commitments
• Challenge 6: Carry Your Own Weather
• Challenge 7: Inspire Trust
• Challenge 8: Model Work/Life Balance
• Part II: Lead Others
• Challenge 9: Place the Right People in the Right Roles
• Challenge 10: Make Time for Relationships
• Challenge 11: Check Your Paradigms
• Challenge 12: Lead Difficult Conversations
• Challenge 13: Talk Straight
• Challenge 14: Balance Courage and Consideration
• Challenge 15: Show Loyalty
• Challenge 16: Make It Safe to Tell the Truth
• Challenge 17: Right Wrongs
• Challenge 18: Coach Continuously
• Challenge 19: Protect Your Team Against Urgencies
• Challenge 20: Hold Regular 1-On-1s
• Challenge 21: Allow Others to Be Smart
• Part III: Get Results
• Challenge 22: Create Vision
• Challenge 23: Identify the Wildly Important Goals (WIGs)
• Challenge 24: Align Actions With the Wildly Important Goals
• Challenge 25: Ensure Your Systems Support Your Mission
• Challenge 26: Deliver Results
• Challenge 27: Celebrate Wins
• Challenge 28: Make High-Value Decisions
• Challenge 29: Lead Through Change
• Challenge 30: Get Better

Part I: Lead Yourself

Challenge 1: Demonstrate Humility

Humility is the foundation of leadership. As Todd Davis notes in "Get Better: 15 Proven Practices to Building Effective Relationships at Work," humility involves shedding one's ego and focusing on others. Leaders who embrace humility create stronger, more meaningful connections. To demonstrate humility, consider the perspectives of others and genuinely listen to their viewpoints.

"Those who are humble have a secure sense of self—their validation doesn’t come from something external but is based on their true nature." - Todd Davis

Challenge 2: Think Abundantly

Adopting an abundance mentality means believing there is enough for everyone. This mindset contrasts with scarcity thinking, which drives competition and fear. Leaders who think abundantly uplift others and create a positive, inclusive environment. Reflect on areas where scarcity thinking limits you and shift to an abundance mentality.