Leadership is about how clear people make their message, how closely they watch money, how bravely they share problems and how they spread praise, a businesswoman says.
Betsy Bernard, former president of AT&T, delivered "The Seven Golden Rules of Leadership" as part of The Patricia Adams Lecture Series at Heidelberg University Thursday evening.
The rules are easy to agree with, she said.
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PHOTO BY DON GROFF
Betsy Bernard, former president of AT&T, speaks at Heidelberg University Thursday evening.
"They're hard to live up to because we're only human," she said.
The first rule, Bernard said, is everybody's time is valuable. Time is scarce, has value and shouldn't be wasted, she said.
"Use other people's time as you would use your own," she said.
The second rule is people should not throw temper tantrums, and the third rule is people should get to the point.
Bernard said the content of what people communicate should get across what is on their minds in a way the audience can grasp. Before people speak, they should ask themselves what their point is, whether their father would understand and how they want people's understanding to change as a result of the communication, she said.
People cannot leave others guessing, she said.
The fourth golden rule Bernard shared is the need for people to be authentic, and the fifth is the need to thank others.
In leadership, Bernard said, people have to remember they are not the whole show, and she encouraged them to notice and acknowledge good work privately and publicly.
"Expecting great things and then celebrating great things, that works," she said.
The sixth rule Bernard shared is integrity is everything. It is disturbing to see some chief executive officers conferring royalty perks on themselves, she said.
"Money, unfortunately, has an image problem," she said.
The seventh rule deals with leaders having to lead. Bernard encouraged people to rally others to do more things than they ever thought they could.
"Nothing leads like certainty," she said.
Prior to Bernard's address, David Weininger, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Bernard participated in eight sessions with students, faculty and staff and had a busy day.
"We have learned a lot by having Ms. Bernard here," he said.
The next lecture is to be delivered by Carol-Lynn Parente, executive producer of "Sesame Street," Oct. 14.
