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What’s Draining Your Leadership Energy?

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The biggest concern of an organization should be when its most passionate people become quiet. – Tim McClure

I remember last year when I made a special trip to one of my favorite bird sanctuaries. It’s a little over an hour’s drive away, and I was going with much anticipation. It’s a beautiful place, and photographers and bird enthusiasts come from all over to see it. I packed my camera gear and selected and packed the lenses. I was very much looking forward to my time there.

I was just a few minutes into my adventure when the unthinkable happened. The battery light in the viewfinder began blinking. My battery was about to die. My immediate thought was, “How could this be happening to me?” “I never do this!”

But there I was, standing there with my camera and all my gear in tow, and I was about to be finished before I ever really got started. I didn’t charge the battery the night before, and I didn’t pack any spare ones. How could I have forgotten something so basic? It ruined everything.

As leaders, we too must understand that it’s not always the big things that upset the apple cart. Little things, if left unattended, can mess up our day.

Just as many things can drain a camera’s battery life, knowing what drains your leadership battery matters. Things can and will drain you as a leader. Knowing what they are is important.

Knowing what drains you as a leader is a critical self-awareness skill you need to develop. If having an accountability partner helps, get one. But don’t fly solo and miss the warning signs.

What drains you as a leader is something many leaders have to figure out. Here are a few to look out for.

Constant decision-making can drain you

Leaders can easily make hundreds of decisions a day. Think about yours throughout the course of a day or week. How many are really ones you should be making instead of someone else? If someone else can make it, why haven’t you delegated that decision-making to them?

After over 40-years in leadership, here is what I know. Not every decision deserves the same amount of your energy. Create routines for repetitive decision-making. Save your best thinking for the decisions that truly require you.

Power Saving Tip: Don’t spend premium battery power on low-value decisions.

Carrying problems that belong to other people drains you

Good leaders care about people. It ought to be one of the hallmarks of your leadership. But there’s a difference between caring for people and taking on problems the other person needs to learn to fix at work. So let me be clear: caring for your people in their time of personal need is important. Your people need to know you care and that you are present.

When you take on problems that are not yours to solve, it robs you of your time, energy, and focus. The things that belong to you as a leader should be in the top percentile of importance for you and your organization. Click To TweetMake sure what you are devoting your time and energy to isn’t draining you so you can’t give your best in every situation.

Power Saving Tip: Sometimes developing people means resisting the temptation to rescue them.

Trying to please everyone can drain you

This can easily be the biggest leadership battery killer. It’s only natural: you want employees happy, parents happy, board members happy, colleagues happy, family happy, and the list goes on and on.

There’s only one problem. You can’t make everyone happy. Go ahead, read the sentence again. You can’t make everyone happy.

Leadership involves making decisions that not everyone will like. Get used to it. So, if your emotional well-being depends upon everyone approving of your decisions, leadership will constantly exhaust you.

Power Saving Tip: You can listen to everyone without living for everyone’s approval.

Think about your leadership for just a moment and ask yourself these questions: What consistently drains my energy? What am I carrying that really belongs to someone else? Who or what am I allowing to occupy too much of my mental space?

Knowing who or what is draining your leadership energy is the first step in saving it. 

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

The 3 C’s of Conversation

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A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years of mere study of books. – Longfellow

One of the most complicated words in most any conversation is the word “fine”. It says nothing, yet says everything if you are picking up on the clues. “Fine” is a complicated word and harder to define. 

You ask your spouse, “How are you?” 

“Fine.”

That could mean everything is wonderful. 

Or, it could mean, “Nothing is wonderful or fine, and if you had half a brain you would know that and you would stop asking.” 

Then there is the dangerous leadership version.

The boss asks, “Does everybody understand what we are doing?”

Everyone nods in the affirmative.

“Any questions?”

Silence.

“Great. Let’s get to work.” 

Thirty minutes later, three people show up with questions that could have been clarified earlier. 

The boss thinks, “I communicated that perfectly”. 

The employee thinks, “I have absolutely no idea what he was talking about.” 

And therein lies the problem. Talking isn’t necessarily having a conversation. Leadership happens when we move beyond simply giving information and start creating understanding.

As this transpires, three things emerge. Allow me to explain them to you.

Conversations create connection

When, as leaders, we communicate to people rather than with them, we are committing a Leadership 101 mistake. Communication is not about you talking to people and walking away hoping for the best. 

Leaders who make time for conversations build trust. And when trust increases, people are more willing to share ideas, admit mistakes, and contribute honestly. Meaningful conversations tell people, “I see you. I value your perspective. What you think matters.”

Leadership Principle: You can’t build strong relationships without meaningful conversations.

Resource: Click this link to read The Leader’s Secret to Connection

Conversations create clarity

Many workplace problems aren’t caused by bad intentions – they are caused by assumptions. One person assumes expectations are understood. Another assumes silence means agreement. Before long, everyone is working from a different version of reality. 

Good leaders use conversations to clarify expectations, address misunderstandings early, give feedback, and make sure everyone knows where they are going and why.

Leadership Principle: What leaders leave unspoken often gets filled with assumptions.

Resource: Click the link to read Why Clarity Matters in Your Leadership

Conversations create community

A group of people can work on the same team, attend the same meetings, and pursue the same goals – and still never become a community.

Community is created when people move beyond simply working beside one another and begin knowing one another. And one of the primary ways is through conversations.

Leadership Principle: Leaders who make time for conversations aren’t wasting time. They’re building relational infrastructure that holds the organization together.

Have you had a meaningful conversation today?

Resource: Click the link to read Building Community in Leadership

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Leadership in Black and White

Photo Courtesy: Doug Dickerson

Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions. – Harold S. Geneen

As a photographer, there’s nothing I enjoy and appreciate more than the beauty of a black and white picture. When color disappears, distractions disappear with it. And it’s then that we begin to discover things that we might have missed otherwise. Black and white doesn’t necessarily give us less – sometimes it allows us to see more.

And that is one of the great challenges in leadership.

Leadership can be crowded with color: opinions, personalities, expectations, organizational politics, old traditions, and more. Sometimes as a leader, you need to switch the picture to black and white and ask what really matters here. 

Here are a few essentials to understand, along with why they’re important.

Black and white reveals contrast

Without color, contrast becomes more important. 

Light appears brighter because of the surrounding darkness. Shapes become recognizable because one tone stands against another. 

Leadership also requires contrast.

There are times when a leader must distinguish between:

Principle and preference

Mission and method

Activity and accomplishment

Popularity and integrity

What feels good and what is right

Everything cannot have equal weight.

One of the responsibilities of leadership is helping people distinguish between what is good and what is essential.

Leadership Principle: Clarity begins when we learn to distinguish what matters from what merely demands our attention.

Black and white removes distractions

Color naturally attracts the eye. I get it. But when you remove it, we see the composition differently. 

Leadership often needs the same discipline. Organizations accumulate ‘color” in a variety of ways:

Programs

Meetings

Processes

Preferences

Projects

Personalities

None of these are necessarily wrong. But collectively they can make it difficult to see the real picture.

Strong leaders repeatedly ask:

If we removed everything that was distracting us, what would remain?

What is our mission?

Who are we trying to serve?

What are we actually trying to accomplish?

What deserves our best energy?

Leadership Principle: Leadership isn’t always about adding something new. Sometimes leadership is about knowing what to remove.

So the next time someone says to you that you just see everything in black and white, think about this lesson and remember that it can be a good thing. It opens up a whole new way of looking at the challenges that you face as a leader.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

When Every Letter Matters

Old typewriter
Credit: Doug Dickerson

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. – Robin Williams

Some time ago, I was in an old store that, among other things, had an old antique typewriter. It instantly brought back memories of my days in college before computers. And yes, this does make me feel rather old.

In those days, especially before working on some major paper, we would have to stock up on paper, white-out, and make sure the ribbon was good before beginning. It was a tedious process, but back in the day, it’s what we did.

The old typewriter I used in college was not as old as the one that is pictured, but it took me down memory lane nonetheless. It also got me to thinking about a few leadership lessons from the typewriter. See if any of these resonate with you.

Every keystroke matters

Back in my college days, we didn’t have the luxury of the backspace or delete button any time we hit the wrong key. We had to be careful and make sure every keystroke was right. Turning in a paper with a bunch of corrections with white-out was not good.

In leadership, this teaches us that our words matter. Every criticism and word of encouragement leaves an impression that people will remember long after you have forgotten them. What marks are you leaving on your team?

There is no delete key

With an old typewriter, my mistakes simply couldn’t disappear. We would have to live with them, or start over.

In leadership, we make mistakes. Great leaders don’t pretend that they never happened; they own them, correct them, and learn from them. People don’t expect perfection; they expect honesty.

One key doesn’t write the story

Every leader has a role. Every team member has a role, and each one is relevant. Remove a few letters from the keyboard and writing becomes difficult. Words are incomplete. Stories are never told.

In leadership, every member of the team matters. Some people receive more attention than others, but every role contributes to the final product. It’s a team win.

The ribbon must be replaced

Eventually, the ribbon on the old typewriters would fade.  Their usefulness would come to an end. The words are still there, but they’re faint and hard to read.

After many years in leadership, here’s what I know: leaders need renewal. Without rest, learning, reflection, and growth, our influence begins to fade. You can’t keep pouring into others if you have stopped investing in yourself.

Speed isn’t everything

A computer can produce pages in a matter of minutes. Technology has forever changed the game. An old typewriter demands a slower pace, and more thought is required for every word.

In leadership, first decisions aren’t always wise decisions. The next time you are in a meeting and everyone is sitting around the table, pay attention to the one speaking last. That’s usually the voice of wisdom. Additionally, some conversations deserve careful thought; some emails shouldn’t be sent immediately. Always remember that wisdom often moves more slowly than urgency.

The sound tells you progress is being made

The rhythmic clicking of the old typewriter is part of the experience. It reminds you that something is being created.

In leadership, progress isn’t always dramatic.

Culture is built one conversation, decision, moment, and act of integrity at a time. Leadership is often the accumulation of small, consistent actions.

Every finished page started blank

Every novel or speech began with a single keystroke.

Every successful organization started with someone’s first courageous step.

Don’t become overwhelmed by the finished product; focus on today’s next right decision.

In closing: remember that an old typewriter teaches us that leadership isn’t about flashy technology or quick fixes. It’s about making each action count, accepting responsibility, consistent effort, and recognizing that every person helps write the story.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

When Your Team Locks Horns

Credit: Doug Dickerson

Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners. – Laurence Sterne

Last year, I set out in the pre-dawn hours to photograph some elk in the mountains of East Tennessee. It was fascinating to watch the elk slowly make their way to this meadow and begin grazing. It was a perfect morning to be there, and the elk were plentiful.

One fascinating thing to watch with the elk is when they lock antlers. I have seen this on occasion before, but in the morning fog at sunrise, it was picture-perfect. This is not an uncommon thing to see during mating season, as they are fighting to establish dominance and breeding rights.

As you picture what this morning might have looked like in person, think in real time about the daily culture you experience in your workplace.

There will be times when the people on your team clash over ideas, opinions, and decisions about the direction things should go. If this is your experience, then good for you. You want engaged and thinking people working it out.

One of the most important things for you as a leader to understand is the difference between conflict and accountability. “Conflict is about issues and ideas,” says Patrick Lencioni, “while accountability is about performance and behavior.” As a leader, when you understand this difference, you can lead your team more effectively towards your shared goals and mission.

Along the way, there are a few things that are important to understand for your team’s sake. Allow me to share a few of them with you.

The cost of winning

A leader can readily understand the cost of losing and its immediate impact. That’s an easy one for the most part. But how many leaders understand the cost of winning? This happens when personal wins become more important than team wins. The team pays the price when personal victories become more important than shared success.

On the other hand, when trust is at the forefront of all decisions, constructive conflict and debate can occur within that environment to reach shared goals. One must not confuse personal victories for the sake of ego with shared wins for the team.

Leadership Tip: Leaders and team members need to check their ego at the door if they want to stay healthy.

The cost of holding back

Most leaders can identify unhealthy debate and conflict. And most just want peace and everyone to get along. I get it. They see it as bad for morale and as contributing to an unhealthy culture. But is it?

What if you were to change your perspective and understand that it’s when your team stops pushing back that you should be concerned? Your organization will rarely stall for lack of talent or ideas, but will stall when those talents and ideas are suppressed by those who do not understand the value of healthy debate. 

Leadership Tip: Your team can’t get better if they aren’t given permission to lock horns with each other with integrity and respect.

The cost of accountability 

A misconception for leaders on your team is that their personal wins are good for the team. In some cases, it may be true, but attaining victories at all costs for the sake of a personal win can be damaging. Healthy workplace cultures don’t eliminate disagreement; they encourage it through honest conversations and mutual respect.

“Building a cohesive leadership team is the first critical step that an organization must take if it is to have the best chance at success,” said Lencioni. He is right, and it begins with accountability. 

Leadership Tip: Leaders must get comfortable with what at first seems uncomfortable. It’s the pathway to your success.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

What the Battle of Shiloh Teaches About Leadership

 

Canons at Shiloh, Credit: Doug Dickerson

Battles are won in the hearts of men. – Vince Lombardi

I was back in my home state of Tennessee recently and spent an afternoon at Shiloh National Military Park. I have been there numerous times, but it has been many years since my last visit. As a history buff, I found it fun to be back and walk the grounds of this significant Civil War battle.

The Battle of Shiloh took place on April 6-7, 1862, and, due to the high casualties, it is considered a turning point in the war. Among the most significant losses in the war was that of Confederate General Albert Johnston, who died from a gunshot wound to the knee. During the battle, nearly twenty-four thousand soldiers from both sides lost their lives. 

The South’s defeat at Shiloh ended the Confederacy’s hopes of blocking the Union advance into Mississippi and ended the Confederates military initiative in the West. With the death of General Johnston, morale plummeted.

The Battle of Shiloh demonstrated courage, decision-making, communication, resilience, and the cost of leadership failures. That hot afternoon reminded me of a few leadership lessons worth sharing.

Never mistake quiet for safety

The Union army camped around Pittsburg Landing, believing Confederate forces were too far away to attack. They relaxed their vigilance and were caught completely by surprise.

Leadership Lesson: Success can create complacency. Good leaders never confuse a lack of current problems with the absence of future threats. Good leaders will ask, “What are we missing?”, stay prepared, and continually evaluate risks. 

Leadership isn’t built during a crisis; it is revealed

The Confederate attack initially overwhelmed the Union forces because many Union camps weren’t prepared for an assault. 

Your advantage as a leader lies in your preparation before pressure arrives. So as a leader, you need to ask yourself: Am I preparing my team for problems before they occur? Are we practicing difficult conversations before we need them? Once the pressure comes, you will either be prepared or you will face certain setbacks. 

One decision can change everything

General Johnston was considered the Confederacy’s finest general. He suffered a gunshot wound behind his right knee and bled out and died.

His death dramatically altered the Confederates’ momentum and was a turning point in the war. 

His death is a reminder that in leadership organizations are often only one decision- or one leader- away from a completely different outcome. This is a reminder of the importance of developing leaders and why leadership development at all levels in your organization is not optional. Neither is succession planning. Are you raising up and training leaders, or are you just hoping for the best? Remember, you are only one decision away from an event that can change everything.

Communication wins or loses momentum

In the 164 years since the Battle of Shiloh, modern communication has advanced dramatically, yet many still struggle with poor communication. 

At Shiloh, commanders struggled with delayed reports, confusion, and incomplete information. Without modern communication equipment, many leaders fought almost blindly.

The issue here isn’t about having more information. It is about making sure the right information reaches the right people at the right time.

A good leader recognizes the value and importance of communication and how it drives momentum. 

“The single biggest problem in communication,” said George Bernard Shaw, “is the illusion that it has taken place”. A good leader knows this and prioritizes strong communication skills to advance momentum.

Leadership lessons are all around us, and the Battle of Shiloh reminds us of what can happen when we lose sight of the basics.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

What Shrimpers Teach Us About Leadership

 

May be an image of boat
Credit: Doug Dickerson

You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust the sails. – Jimmy Dean

Not long ago, I was back in McClellanville, one of my favorite fishing villages here in South Carolina. This small village boasts a population of around 600-700 residents and is one of the most charming places you will ever visit.

Drive down past the quaint homes, and you will make your way down to a row of shrimp boats moored along Jeremy Creek. Named for a local Sewee Native American chief, Jeremy Creek and its waterfront serve as the community’s primary working waterfront and deep water access to the ocean. The waterfront is the heart of the fishing district and home to some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

As a photographer and history buff, I never get tired of coming to McClellanville. Its charm, history, people, and waters make this a special place.

My visits have also included conversations with the local shrimpers. They are hard-working, weather-worn, rugged, and are preserving a way of life handed down through the generations. I always enjoy my conversations with them. And it’s from them that I glean a few leadership lessons worth sharing.

Navigate the waters you’re given, not the waters you want

Shrimpers don’t determine the tides, currents, or shrimp movements. Successful shrimpers focus on what they can control: preparation, maintenance, equipment, and instincts gained from being out on the water. Not every day is going to be a perfect day, but every day can be a good day when you plan accordingly.

Leadership Tip: Smart leaders don’t waste much time on things beyond their control. They learn to adapt and find another way. They know that not everything will go their way, and they prepare in advance for the unexpected.

Persistence matters

Shrimpers may spend hours dragging nets with little to show for it before finding a productive area. Persistence and patience are key to playing the long game out on the water. It may not always be glamorous, but persistence makes all the difference in shrimping.

Leadership Tip: Persistence is crucial. Good leaders encourage consistent effort and trust the process over time for results. 

Preventive maintenance prepares you for the unavoidable 

During my time taking pictures, several of the men were working on trawl warps (tow cables) and conducting other inspections on their boat. A shrimp boat will undergo numerous maintenance checks before heading out to the ocean. This would include, but not be limited to, nets, hydraulics, engines, belts, etc.

Leadership Tip: A good leader will invest in people, culture, training, systems, and more. When a crisis occurs, they will be ready. Smart leaders know that the unexpected can and will happen. When it does, they are ready and prepared because they have run through this scenario many times before it ever happened. Smart leaders are prepared to act, not react.

Read the signs others miss

Over time, experienced shrimpers have learned what sets them apart. Novice shrimpers may rely more heavily on sonar and GPS, whereas experienced shrimpers understand water color changes, bird activity, and surface slicks. They build mental maps of mud bottoms, hard shell bottoms, oyster beds, and more. And most importantly, they can handle the weather better. They understand wind shifts and wave formations and can decide to move haul gear or head home hours before a novice realizes that conditions are changing.

Leadership Tip: Good leaders develop situational awareness. They see trends, morale issues, opportunities, and risks before they become obvious to others. 

In many ways, leadership and adaptability go hand in hand. In your leadership, you learn that not every plan is set in stone; conditions change, and if you are going to be successful, you will have to adapt. It’s what smart leaders do. 

 

©2026 Doug  Dickerson

Leadership Lessons From The ‘Alae’ Ula

The ‘Alae’ Ula Courtesy: Doug Dickerson

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe. – Marilyn vos Savant

I have been asked over the years how I manage to come up with so many examples and illustrations in my leadership posts. It’s a fair question, considering I’ve been doing this weekly or near weekly for around 20 years. “How do you come up with fresh content?” is the common question. 

The answer, at least to me, is fairly simple. I observe and listen. I’ve combined these two skills into hundreds of articles and examples to show how leadership lessons integrate into our lives, often from the most unexpected places.

A few weeks ago, I was in Hawaii. We were hiking to Waimea Falls on Oahu. This is a beautiful place, and one thing in particular that caught my eye was a sign that read “Slow ‘Alae’Ula Crossing”. This is an endangered bird species found only in Hawaii. 

That sign was all I needed, as the birder and the photographer in me had a collision of epic proportions. Now, I am not only interested in seeing one; I have made it a quest to find one. Luckily, for me, I did just that. I was able to fire off numerous photos of this waterbird and now have them for posterity.

The simple act of capturing the pictures of “Alae” Ula was one of great satisfaction and a little perseverance. My group was about ready to leave, but made allowances for my search. From this, come a few leadership insights that can be helpful in your leadership. Here are a few for your consideration.

Value what others miss

The ‘Alae’ Ula is often overlooked simply because of its environment. Since it lives in marshes and wetlands, people can easily pass by without even noticing it, or, if they do, they may think it’s no different from any other bird, not realizing how rare and special it is.

Good leaders are always on the lookout for the value in others, those who may be overlooked or passed over. The greatest asset in your organization may be the quiet contributor who isn’t seeking all the attention but lies low in the marshes and brings great value to all they do. Don’t overlook them. 

The difference between extinction and survivability requires adaptability

Despite many ecological and environmental changes, the “Alae’ Ula has survived. Its population is down to around 700, but local programs are endeavoring to help this bird survive. Because of these proactive steps, one can hope that the “Alae’ Ula will survive and thrive in the years ahead.

In leadership, organizations that endure are not necessarily the strongest but the most adaptable. A key strength in your leadership is understanding timing and knowing when to make the moves you need to make.

Healthy cultures matter

Just as the fate of the ‘Alae’ Ula depends on healthy ecosystems, so too does the health of your organization. As a leader, you have to be proactive in creating and stewarding it. The fate of the bird is tied to the health of the wetlands around it. When the ecosystem thrives, the bird has a greater chance of survival. 

In leadership, the same holds true with the people you lead. They will always perform better in a healthy culture. When they do, they thrive and reach their potential, and so does the team. Protect your culture.

Seeing the ‘Alae’ Ula was a thrill for me. But it was also a teachable moment in that, as leaders, we must notice those not clamoring for the spotlight, be intentional about adaptability, and protect our culture. 

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Leadership Lessons From Diamond Head

Doug at the top of Diamond Head

It’s not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves. – Sir Edmund Hillary

I was recently on vacation on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It was a splendid vacation and exceeded every expectation. As one who enjoys the outdoors, Hawaii is a paradise. In addition to exploring a cave, hiking to numerous waterfalls, and lighthouses, I also made the notorious climb to the top of Diamond Head.

In my younger years, this would not have been one of the harder climbs that I have taken. But at my age now, it was more of a challenge than I expected. On top of that, I was fighting a bad head cold and congestion. Our reservation time for the hike was in the middle of the afternoon, so, with the heat added to the mix, I had my work cut out for me.

For those unfamiliar with the Diamond Head hike, you make your climb on a paved trail that eventually turns into switchbacks on the ascent to the top. The final section is a steep set of stairs that takes you to the summit.

A few times on the climb, I was offered the sympathetic “It’s OK if you want to go back down and not do it,” knowing that my breathing was difficult at times. But I was determined to finish the climb and reach the summit. I certainly didn’t set any record for the best time getting there, but I did. And it was worth it!

The climb to the top of Diamond Head reminded me of a few important leadership lessons that I benefited from. Perhaps they will speak to you as well. 

Great views come after great challenges

The views from the peak of Diamond Head are breathtaking. The view was worth every step, every stop, every pause to catch my breath, and every opportunity given to turn back.

In life and in leadership, here’s what I know: significant impact and making a difference come not by taking the easy path, but by taking the hard ones. 

Some decisions you make are hard, some conversations are difficult, and at times your perseverance will be tested. It comes with the territory. But you will never experience the reward of the summit view if you give up. It’s when you embrace the challenge that you get the reward of the view from the top.

Getting to the top will be hard

I chose to hike to the top of Diamond Head not because it was hard but because of what I knew awaited me when I got there.

I could have been discouraged by little kids outpacing me, the heat, or the fact that the climb exposed the uncomfortable truth that I am no longer in the athletic shape of my youth. 

In leadership, distractions are a constant companion. We have to prioritize our day, make important decisions, and not get distracted from keeping our eye on the mission before us. In other words, the struggle is real. And sometimes the obstacles and struggles appear larger than they truly are. 

As I made the climb, I had to keep reminding myself that it would all be worth it when I reached the top. I had to tune out the distractions around me and the physical discomfort inside me and press on. Once I was at the top and enjoying the view, the struggles were out of mind.

We are better together

At the summit, the view is spectacular. But another part worth noting is the encouragement hikers gave each other along the way, and the celebrations with families and friends, taking pictures together at the top. 

Leadership is not about reaching the top alone. Successful leaders help and encourage one another, and go out of their way to create a culture where everyone reaches the top. Click To TweetIt’s not a competition, it’s a shared journey where leaders want to see everyone win.

It’s been said that a true leader measures success not by how high they climb, but by how many people they bring with them. 

Diamond Head reminded me that leadership is, in many ways, a climb; it can be hard and steep, and not everyone will want to make it with you. But when you persevere, you will enjoy a view unlike any other.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Have You Stopped To Smell The Roses?

Photo Credit: Doug Dickerson

As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round. – Ben Hogan

Part of my morning routine before heading to work each morning is to stop and look at the roses in the flower bed at the front of my house. I do this every morning. It’s a ritual.

My fascination with roses began decades ago, when, as a teenager, I worked at a garden center. Each winter, we built a large greenhouse on the property, and we spent those months preparing for spring. In the greenhouse, we potted roses by the thousands. Come spring, we were ready, and our customers would come from far and near to purchase our roses. As did I. It was then that my affection for roses began, and I’ve always maintained an abundance of them in our flower beds.

It seems like I have known the phrase “stop and smell the roses” for as long as I can remember. But I’ve never given much thought to the origin of the phrase.

It seems to be a fairly modern phrase. The core idea of stopping to appreciate life’s pleasures dates back centuries. The Latin phrase carpe diem, “seize the day”, or as the 17th-century poet Robert Herrick wrote: “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…” conveys the idea of pausing on life’s journey.

The exact phrasing “stop and smell the roses” seems to have originated in the early to mid-twentieth century. Ironically enough, the phrase became popular in golf culture when professional golfer Walter Hagen was often associated with sentiments encouraging people to enjoy life beyond work.

Speaking of enjoying life beyond work, I don’t have to be the one to tell you how hectic life can be. It seems life is busier now for most than ever before. Which brings me back to my title question: Have you stopped to smell the roses? There’s nothing magical about my morning routine to observe the roses in the flower bed. But here are a few things I’ve learned.

Set the tone for your day with intentionality

The first decision of my day, walking out the door, is to take in something positive and beautiful. It’s an intentional act that focuses me on something I really admire and appreciate that brings me a small degree of happiness.

Regardless of what the day brings, I begin it with something no one can take from me. What about you? What are you intentional about that guards your peace of mind and sets the tone for your day? Or do you just take it as it comes? 

Leadership Tip: The first decisions of your day will often set the tone for the rest of it. Choose wisely.

Don’t get distracted by the thorns

While working in the garden center, it was just part of the job to get cut by the thorns while potting the roses. Call it an occupational hazard.

In your daily leadership, you will deal with thorny situations from time to time. It comes with the territory. There may be times when you feel overwhelmed by the pressures of running your business and a myriad of other issues that cross your desk. But my pause each morning is not to admire the thorns, it’s to admire and appreciate what I see all around them. 

Leadership Tip: We can’t choose what happens to us, but we can choose our response. 

Pause with purpose

My morning routine works for me. It’s a deliberate pause. It forces me to hold off on the temptation to get in the car, fight the traffic, think about ten things on my mind that I need to do when I get there, etc. It’s a strategic pause.

As a leader, when you take time in your day to pause and take a few deep breaths, you can feel a reset. Regardless of how busy it can be, a pause with purpose can be refreshing.

Leadership Tip: When you embrace pausing during your day, you can gain fresh perspectives you might otherwise miss.

Have you stopped to smell the roses?

©2026 Doug Dickerson