People ask me “If you had to give up all the lessons you’ve written about in the last forty years except one, what would you want to hold on to?” It’s Simple Truth #5: The key to developing people is to catch them doing something right. Leaders need to stay positive. People often tell me that when they see their boss coming, they cringe. That sounds like a seagull manager to me. Seagull managers never come around until someone makes a mistake. Then they fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, and fly out. I think it’s so important to catch people doing things right and accent the positive.
As part of my series about “authors who are making an important social impact” I had the pleasure of interviewing Ken Blanchard, coauthor of Simple Truths of Leadership (https://simpletruthsofleadership.com).
Ken Blanchard is one of the world’s most influential leadership experts. He is the co-author of more than sixty-five books, including the iconic The One Minute Manager, with combined sales of over 23 million copies in forty-seven languages. In 2005, he was inducted into Amazon’s Hall of Fame as one of the top twenty-five best¬selling authors of all time. He is co-founder of The Ken Blanchard Companies, a leading international training and consulting firm.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I grew up in New Rochelle New York. My dad retired as an Admiral in the US Navy and my mother was the ultimate home mom and cheerleader. My sister, Sandy, was 2–1/2 years older than me and was my hero. My elementary school was 90% Jewish and we merged with a 90% Black school in junior high. I won most of the elections — president of my class, president of the student body — as the “compromise candidate.” Because of the unusually (at the time) diverse environment at school combined with our strong family ties and my mom and dad’s inclusive, welcoming ways, the outcome of my childhood and school career were wonderful, lifelong friendships with all different types of people.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your career? What lesson or take away did you learn from that?
This isn’t really career related. My wife, Margie, tells people I’ve never been embarrassed. Once we were watching a play at a theater in the round. We had great seats — right in the front row. I was starting to get a little bored so Margie started poking me every so often to keep me from falling asleep. (Side note: I can sleep anywhere and at any time.) She started getting into the plot of the play and stopped paying attention to what I was doing. One scene got very quiet and suddenly, apparently, the whole room heard me snoring loudly. Margie said the actors actually stopped the scene to look at me! I occasionally start falling asleep in church and Margie’s right next to me, elbowing me in the ribs. Sometimes on Monday there are bruises to prove it!
Can you describe how you aim to make a significant social impact with your book Simple Truths of Leadership?
We hope this book makes an impact because it’s full of things you do with people, not to people. People will share this book with their colleagues or friends no matter what their social standing, income, background, etc. because these are truths that apply to everyone. Every reader will get something different out of reading this book. It will help people become better spouses, parents, friends, workers, and managers.
Can you share with us your favorite Simple Truth from the book?
People ask me “If you had to give up all the lessons you’ve written about in the last forty years except one, what would you want to hold on to?” It’s Simple Truth #5: The key to developing people is to catch them doing something right. Leaders need to stay positive. People often tell me that when they see their boss coming, they cringe. That sounds like a seagull manager to me. Seagull managers never come around until someone makes a mistake. Then they fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, and fly out. I think it’s so important to catch people doing things right and accent the positive.
What was the “aha moment” or series of events that made you decide to bring your message to the greater world? Can you share a story about that?
People come up to me all the time and say they love my books and writings, which is always nice to hear and I appreciate it. I often ask them, “How have you been using the concepts from the book?” And they look surprised and start mumbling and sputtering. People take in information, but they don’t do anything with it. The beginning of my mission statement is “I am a loving teacher and an example of simple truths.” This book is the ultimate attempt to summarize the simple truths we have been teaching for decades.
Without sharing specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
I work with a woman who used to be an award-winning author of mystery fiction. When 9/11 happened she was working on her sixth crime novel featuring an antagonist who had committed despicable acts. She suddenly realized that she didn’t want to use her talent to put more negative ideas into the world. When she stumbled across the Blanchard website and saw that our vision was “to release the power and potential of people for the common good,” she knew she wanted to work with us. She came aboard as a temporary receptionist nearly 20 years ago, quickly became my in-house editor, and tells me all the time how much she loves the meaningful work we do. Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Community leaders, politicians, and society in general could focus on the good. Care about each other. Treat each other with respect. Follow the Three Secrets of the One Minute Manager: setting goals, catching people doing things right and praising them, redirecting people when they are off track. Those things seem simple but they are important and they make a difference.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership is an influence process. Anytime you’re trying to influence the thinking, beliefs, or behavior of someone as they work toward accomplishing goals, you are engaging in leadership. We are all leaders — parents, friends, partners, people in organizations. It’s universal. It’s about going somewhere.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
My wife, Margie, and I first came to California on sabbatical leave from the University of Massachusetts where I was a tenured professor. We met some folks from the Young President’s Organization who asked us what we were planning to do at the end of our sabbatical year. We said we were going back to Massachusetts. They said, “No you’re not, you’re going to stay here and start your business.” We couldn’t even balance our checkbook! They helped us and we learned some simple truths from our YPO friends: (1) Find something you love and do it well. (2) Figure out how to get someone to pay you for it or it’s just a hobby, not a business. (3) Make sure your expenses don’t exceed your income. (4) Improve continuously. And (5) Don’t forget to give back.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
The late, great Norman Vincent Peale, my coauthor on The Power of Ethical Management, had a saying I’ve repeated hundreds of times because it really rings true: “If you stop learning, you might as well lie down and let them throw the dirt on you — because you’re already dead.” People ask me, “Blanchard, when are you going to retire?” And I say, “Never! I’m having too much fun learning and doing things. I’m refiring, not retiring!”
Is there a person in the world or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I’d love to have a conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris. I’d like to share ideas on how to turn Washington around from being a win-lose, me-oriented culture to a we-oriented culture where all sides work together on doing the greatest good for the greatest number. I don’t have any political aspirations but I wrote a paper a few years ago called “A Leadership Vision for America.” It crosses political lines and gets to the heart of what I feel this country needs.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenblanchard1/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenBlanchard
Blog: https://howwelead.org/
Author Website: https://www.kenblanchardbooks.com/
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Ken Blanchard Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.