Last month, FAST COMPANY blogger David Gardner shared a memorial tribute to Paul L Locatelli, SJ, the president of Santa Clara University who passed away after a two-month illness. Father Locatelli was something of a legend in Northern California; I had heard of his talents in management and fundraising, but this eloquent eulogy by Mr Gardner explored the qualities of Father Locatelli's style in a way I hadn't seen. Please take a moment to read it.
Here are the basics of Father Locatelli's approach to leadership, as captured by Mr Gardner, that I took away and will keep in front of me.
- Commit fully to your company, from vision, to strategy, to execution
- Make commitments, not promises
- Be relentless in pursuing your goals and don't lose heart
- Keep speeches short and idle time shorter, all the while moving to the next thing
- Make a list and get it done
- Feed your physical, mental and spiritual selves equally
- Pay attention to the people in your circles by engaging wholeheartedly with them; make time for them always
- Listen intently
- When someone asks for help, find a way to do it without hesitation
- Emphasize the opportunities in life
- Look for a value that serves others as well as yourself and honor it through optimal performance