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	TBP SPEECH "SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP" WEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SPRING 1982 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE CETA CANYON METHODIST CAMPGROUND FEBRUARY 13, 1982

SATURDAY, 12:30 P.M.-1:30 P.M.

(WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR LUNCH AT 12 NOON)

(BRAD WOMBLE, MARK WOMBLE'S BROTHER, IS PRESIDENT OF THE WTSU LEADERSHIP BOARD)

I. I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU TODAY.

A. ONE OF THE THINGS I ENJOY MOST, BUT HAVE TOO LITTLE TIME TO DO, IS TALKING WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

B. YOU SHOULD REMEMBER, HOWEVER, THAT I WENT TO TEXAS A&M MY FRESHMAN YEAR AND THEN TO WHAT WAS OKLAHOMA A&M, NOW OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE I WAS GRADUATED. SO, I MAY BE THE ONLY "DOUBLE AGGIE" THAT YOU WILL EVER HEAR SPEAK.

C. I THINK I HAVE FIGURED OUT THE REAL REASON WHY BRAD WOMBLE INVITED ME HERE TODAY. SINCE ARRIVING. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY CHALLENGED ME TO A RACQUETBALL GAME. BRAD'S BROTHER, MARK, WORKS AT MESA AND BEATS ME FAIRLY REGULARLY ON THE RACQUETBALL COURT, IT LOOKS LIKE BRAD AND MARK SET ME UP AS AN "EASY TOUCH." (NOTE: BELIEVE YOU NEED TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME THAN USUAL IN YOUR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS TO ESTABLISH A RAPPORT WITH THE STUDENTS.

D. THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY I'VE HAD TO MEET WITH STUDENTS AT WT SINCE REJOINING THE UNIVERSITY'S BOARD OF REGENTS.

1. I AM PARTICULARLY HONORED TO BE SPEAKING TO THIS GROUP, BECAUSE YOU, AS THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP, PROVIDE THE REAL KEY TO THE UNIVERSITY'S SUCCESS.

II. THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL LEADERS FROM BIBLICAL AUTHORS TO TODAY'S AVALANCHE OF "SUCCESS" AND "GETTING AHEAD" BOOKS AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES.

A. I DON'T PRETEND TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, NOR DO I INTEND TO CONDUCT A "HOW-TO" SESSION IN OUR BRIEF MEETING TODAY.

1. RATHER, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE STIMULATED TO DEVELOP YOUR OWN LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES.

B. SUCCESS BEGINS ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WINNING ATTITUDE, A POSITIVE APPROACH TO LIFE.

1. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A "POLLYANNA" MENTALITY, BUT RATHER A SELF-COMMITMENT TO ACCOMPLISH REALISTIC GOALS. AND, YES, SOME THAT MAY EVEN BE CONSIDERED DREAMS.
A. SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS ARE WILLING TO TAKE RISKS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT UNDER OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM, THE GREATER THE RISK, THE GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR REWARD. IN SHORT, THEY DARE TO BE GREAT.

2. BEING SUCCESSFUL AS AN INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE ONE A SUCCESSFUL LEADER.
A. MANY ENTPEPRENEURS BECOME WEALTHY THROUGH SELF-MOTIVATION, DETERMINATION AND EVEN A LITTLE LUCK. BUT, NOT EVERYONE CAN TRANSFER THESE SAME ATTRIBUTES TO OTHERS.
(1) THAT'S WHERE LEADERSHIP COMES INTO PLAY AND WHEN TRULY GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEGIN FOR ATHLETIC TEAMS, UNIVERSITIES AND CORPORATIONS.

C. ALL LEVELS OF OUR SOCIETY TODAY ARE LOOKING FOR A SENSE OF MEANING THAT COMES FROM A WELL DEVELOPED SYSTEM OF VALUES.

1. A SUCCESSFUL CORPORATION NEEDS THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT WILL PROVIDE A SENSE OF COMMON PURPOSE WHICH LEADS TO A MORE HUMANE AND EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION.

2. THE "HUMANIZING" OF THE CORPORATION HAS A VERY REAL BOTTOM-LINE EFFECT.

3. THIS IS OUR CONCEPT AT MESA, AND IT HAS WORKED VERY WELL.

D. THE KEY TO MESA'S SUCCESS IS ITS PEOPLE—THEY ARE A TREMENDOUSLY DEDICATED TEAM.

1. A PRIMARY FACTOR IN GOOD LEADERSHIP IS THE ABILITY TO ASSEMBLE THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHOSE CAPABILITIES AND PERSONALITIES COMPLEMENT ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS TRUE FOR A FOOTBALL TEAM, A UNIVERSITY FACULTY OR A CORPORATION.

2. ANOTHER BASIC SUCCESS FACTOR IS CREATING A TEAM CONCEPT WHERE EVERYONE IS WORKING TOWARD A COMMON GOAL.
A. AT MESA, THAT GOAL IS TO MAKE OUR SHAREHOLDERS NO. 1.

3. THE TRIGGER THAT MOVES THE TEAM TOWARD ITS GOAL IS MOTIVATION.
A. THIS CAN BE DONE MOST EFFECTIVELY BY GIVING ALL EMPLOYEES "A CUT OF THE PIE"—EVERYONE LIKES TO MAKE MONEY—IT IS PROBABLY THE STRONGEST MOTIVATIONAL TOOL.
B. OVER 95% OF MESA'S EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO STOCKHOLDERS.
(1) ACHIEVED THROUGH A STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
C. KEY PERSONNEL ARE ALSO HOLDERS OF STOCK OPTIONS.
D. OUR PEOPLE LOOK AT SITUATIONS LIKE OTHER STOCKHOLDERS; THEREFORE THEY REMAIN MOTIVATED TOWARD THE COMMON GOAL OF DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE SHAREHOLDER.

E. I THINK I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN INSTILLING ENTREPRENEURAL INSTINCTS OR NURTURING THEM IN MOST OF OUR PEOPLE.

1. THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE RISKS, THEY ASSESS RISKS WELL AND CAN MAKE DECISIONS QUICKLY. I BELIEVE THIS HAS A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH SUCCESS.

F. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW YOUR PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE NO. 1. YOU LEAD THEM TO THAT POINT AND LEAVE NO DOUBT IN THEIR MINDS.

1. YOU MUST INSTILL A TOTAL SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM.
A. COACH HENRY IBA SAID THAT IF YOU LOOK LIKE A BUSHER, YOU WILL PLAY LIKE ONE.

2. IT MAY SOUND CORNY, BUT IF YOU BELIEVE, THEN YOUR EMPLOYEES BELIEVE.
A. LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.

3. A TRADITION OF WINNING PERPETUATES ITSELF.

G. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF MOTIVATION RELATES TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR COMPANY.

1. JACK HARBIN, CEO AT HALLIBURTON, ASKED ME, "NOW DO YOU MAKE THEM FEEL A PART OF THE TEAM?" THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE—INVOLVE THEM!

H. PERHAPS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IS GOOD COMMUNICATIONS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL IF EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION IS TO BE CHANNELED TOWARD A COMMON GOAL.

1. WE HAVE A MESA EMPLOYEE MEETING WHICH I CONDUCT IN OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND IN EACH DIVISION OFFICE.

2. COMMUNICATION AT MESA IS AN ONGOING THING. BESIDES IN THE OFFICE, IT IS HAPPENING IN ELEVATORS, THE HALLWAYS, IN COMPANY PLANES.

3. IT EXTENDS TO OUR FITNESS CENTER IN THE COPORATE HEADOUARTERS WHERE, IN ADDITION TO STAYING PHYSICALLY FIT, WE FIND THAT WE DISCUSS A LOT OF BUSINESS.
A. WE OFFER ALL OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR SPOUSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM, TOTALLY FREE OF CHARGE.

I. THE RESULT OF OUR LEADERSHIP EFFORT IS A HIGHLY MOTIVATED, COHESIVE TEAM WORKING TOWARD THE SAME COMMON GOALS.

1. CONSEQUENTLY, MESA ENJOYS EXTREMELY HIGH PRODUCTIVITY FROM ITS EMPLOYEES.

2. WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP, WORKING HARD, THERE ARE NO WARM BODIES—EVERYONE IS A CONTRIBUTOR—AND WE KEEP SELLING THIS THEME.
A. OUR PEOPLE ARE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE AUTHORITY TO GET THE JOB DONE, FEWER PEOPLE WITH MORE AUTHORITY INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND ENABLE THE COMPANY TO REACT MORE QUICKLY TO OPPORTUNITIES THAN THE COMPETITION.

J. AS INDICATED EARLIER, WE STRIVE AT MESA TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PEOPLE TO ATTAIN A MEANINGFUL LIFE BY:

1. AFFORDING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCUMULATE WEALTH AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE BY SHARING IN A "PIECE OF THE PIE."

2. PROVIDING THE FACILITIES AND MOTIVATION TO ACQUIRE AND MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH, NOT ONLY THROUGH THEIR WORKING YEARS, BUT IN RETIREMENT AS WELL.

3. AND, PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION THPOUGH A HIGH DEGREE OF PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY.

III. THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP CAN EXTEND BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY.

A. FOR EXAMPLE, SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP AT MESA INCREASES EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY.

1. IN TURN, THIS CAN MEAN MORE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION.

2. THIS RESULTS IN FINDING MORE RESERVES WHICH THEN AFFECTS THE NATION AS A WHOLE, SINCE INCREASED PRODUCTION MEANS LESS RELIANCE ON IMPORTS.
A. AND, THAT MEANS A BETTER BALANCE OF PAYMENTS AND A MOVE TOWARD RENEWED WORLD ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP FOR AMERICA.

B. CORPORATE LEADERSHIP CAN ALSO EXTEND BEYOND BUSINESS.

1. IT'S MY FEELING THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE PERSONAL AND ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP TO HELP OUR SOCIETY MEET ITS HUMANITARIAN, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL OBLIGATIONS.

C. SO YOU SEE, LEADERSHIP IS NOT JUST A BUZZ WORD—IT'S A TANGIBLE PART OF THE NATION'S ASSETS WHICH MUST BE REPLENISHED BY YOUNG PEOPLE SUCH AS YOU.

1. ONE OF WT'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO DEVELOP THE LEADERSHIP NEEDED BY THE PANHANDLE TO FACE SUCH CHALLENGES AS INCREASING POPULATION AND INDUSTRY VS. WATER AVAILABILITY.

IV. HOPEFULLY, OUR DISCUSSION TODAY WILL HAVE HELPED EACH OF YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS OF LEADERSHIP ABILITY AND WHY YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS RESPECT IS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU, YOUR FUTURE EMPLOYEES, OUR STATE AND NATION. I WOULD BE PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY OUESTIONS.