Interview with Dr. Jim Chambers

In a recent interview IOL Founder, Dr. Jim Chambers, talked about some of his personal insights on leading from the top.

Best Leadership Advice: "Work hard to get things done through other people rather than doing it yourself.  The people who work with you expect you to delegate important tasks and it is essential to continue sharpening these skills no matter how long you have been in a leadership or management position."

Personal Accountability: "One of the most important things you can do is find one or two people to hold you accountable - personally and professionally.  There are two other men in my life who have been helping me stay focused for about 15+ years now, and the value that they bring to my life and business is immeasurable.  They are not afraid to ask the hard questions and they probably know me better than anyone except my wife - and they have her number if necessary."

Personal Character:  "There is no substitute for personal operating agreements, and I adopted a set of four for our consulting work several years ago that have served me well.  They are 1) show up on time, 2) do what you say, 3) finish what you start, and 4) always stay please and thank you.  I didn't invent them, I just try to live by them and recommend them to every leader I know.  Each one shows respect for the people around you, and you won't have to spend nearly as much time apologizing if you put them into practice on a regular basis."

Life Balance:  "I don't think you can ever achieve a balance between work and personal life, but I do like the idea of a blended life.  My wife and I try to find a good mix or blend of working together and spending time with family and friends.  It is really about finding the right blend of things for us rather than attempting to balance everything out."

Time Management:  "Calendar meetings are absolutely essential in our work, and they are one of the most difficult things for me personally.  My wife, Lynette, has helped me learn how to plan out three months in advance and helps keep me on task by meeting regularly to talk about all the activities, meetings, and trips coming up.  I don't like it, but I know it is one of the most important thing I can do for myself and others.  I also use a formal time management system (paper) from Weber and Associates, Inc. as well as Outlook to help management events, contacts, communication, and tasks."

Role of Learning:  "Reading works best for me, as well as spending time with high performance leaders that I respect.  I can't read enough for some reason and even when I'm traveling, I listen to CD's and other things to keep me motivated and growing."

Teaching Others:  "I have continued to stay active as a professional educator at the even though it takes up a lot of my time.  Honestly, I can't help myself.  I enjoy working with corporate leaders and graduate students both in class and during research.  It keeps me sharp and I always learn much more than anyone else when facilitating a course or serving on a project."

Personal Time:  "I spend most of my personal time with my wife and family.  We live in the North Georgia area where there are a lot of lakes and mountains, so I like to be outside if possible.  I love to fish, hunt, hike, ride my motorcycle, and work in my shop as a way to relax.  When he let's me, I go over to my son-in-law's paint shop and work on old cars.  Working with my hands helps reduce the stress of teaching, traveling, and writing."