Life is too short to be little. – Benjamin Disraeli

The late Fred Rogers, speaking at his acceptance speech into the Television Hall of Fame, gave a speech that I believe typifies what leadership is truly about. Rogers says, “Fame is a four-letter word: and like tape or zoom or face or pain or love, what ultimately matters is what we do with it.

I feel that those of us in television are chosen to be servants. It doesn’t matter what our particular job, we are chosen to help meet the deeper needs of those who watch and listen – day and night!

The conductor of the orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl grew up in a family that had little interest in music, but he often tells people he found his early inspiration from the fine musicians on television.” Rogers’s perspective on what is truly important may seem like a throw-back in time, but the message is timeless.

Rogers added, “Who in your life has been a servant to you…who has helped you love the good that grows within you? No matter where they are-either here or in heaven-imagine how pleased those people must be to know that you thought of them right now. We all have only one life to live on earth. And through television, we have the choice of encouraging others to demean this life or to cherish it in creative, imaginative ways.”

As defined by John Maxwell, leadership is influence. And with the influence you have as a leader, you will add value to the lives of others by your leadership style or it will be characterized by missed opportunities. How you see yourself will determine the direction you travel.

Italo Magni said, “If you’re talking with your head, you’re going to speak to their heads. If you’re talking with your heart, you’re going to reach their hearts. If you talk with your life, you’re going to reach their lives.” So here is the question: on which level do you want to lead? Discover these simple secrets and understand the most effective way to lead.

When you lead with your head you can help. There is certainly an advantage to leading from a position of knowledge. To be sure, it lends credibility when you lead and speak with understanding and from experience. But leading with your head can only take you so far.

Howard Hendricks said, “You can impress people at a distance, but you can impact them only up close.”  You can draw a person in with your knowledge but if you want to keep them there and truly make a difference there has to be more.

When you lead with your heart you can make a difference. When you lead on this level you have taken a giant step in expanding your influence. When you lead with your head you earn respect because of what you know; but when you lead with your heart, you earn a following because of who you are.

Malcolm Forbes said, “At the heart of any good business is a chief executive officer with one.”  Leading from the heart provides the emotional intelligence that you need to integrate head knowledge into a plan of action that can easily be embraced. Until you connect with the heart you will never get to the life changing encounters that come from leading with your life.

When you lead with your life you change the world. Leading with your life is the most powerful form of leadership. This level of leadership embodies all that you know, all of your passions, and unites them into a life committed to adding value to others.

Fred Rogers also said, “If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” Stop and consider the relationships you have and how your influence is making a difference.

When you lead with your life your influence has no limits. What will be the measure of your leadership?

 

© 2013 Doug Dickerson

*This column was originally published in 2011.

If you enjoy reading Doug’s columns you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

          

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

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Dale Carnegie said, “Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the small jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.” Success in leadership tends to come in incremental steps. It’s in taking care of the small details that you achieve noticeable success in the large things. On your journey to success there are no steps so small that they don’t require your best effort. Take care of the small jobs and they will take care of you. In order to be a big success you have to be a small success.

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

            

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Winston Churchill said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Enthusiasm is a great leadership characteristic to have. It allows you to maintain a level of positive energy that propels you in good times and bad. Many leaders are noted and recognized only in their times of triumph that we celebrate as “overnight successes”. Enthusiasm keeps you going when no one is looking and the road before you appears impassible. Enthusiasm is the fuel of your dreams, it is the engine of your vision, it is the prescription for your timidity. Stay strong. Don’t lose your enthusiasm!

 

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today!

        

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

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Oscar Wilde said, “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” Your chief objective as a leader is not everyone else’s happiness. But being a cheerful person certainly has its advantages. Your disposition as a leader goes a long way in setting the tone for your work environment. When was the last time you took stock of your disposition as a leader? Don’t underestimate this often overlooked characteristic that makes a big difference. You not only influence others by your words and actions but also with your temperament. Be the example. Lighten up. Don’t worry – be happy!

 

 

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

        

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

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George Burns said, “I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.” What is your passion? Are you pursuing it? Many people today find themselves doing something they hate rather than loving what they do. Many feel they have no choice or that it is too late to pursue their dream. Let me encourage you today to embrace your dream and dare to love what you do. Dare to dream. Take that first step. Feel the love.

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

              

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Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it. – Lily Tomlin

According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens, a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.

Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its grip, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bow implies.”

The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be fit for use when you want it.”

Many people today find themselves at the breaking point. Recent findings in the 2013 Work Stress Survey by Harris Interactive for Everest College (http://bit.ly/115tgJa) revealed that 83% of American workers said they are stressed out by at least one thing at work, up sharply from 73% in 2012. Other stressors include lack of opportunity for advancement, fear of being laid off, poor work/life balance and working in a job that was not the person’s chosen career.

These stress points along with others are reasons why many are at the breaking point. Applying a little wisdom from Aesop could go a long way in reducing stress levels and gaining some fresh perspective on the challenges of leadership and life. Here are a few tips to consider.

Know your limits. It might be noble to think you can be the “Ironman” of your office. You can even have 5-hour energy drinks coursing through your veins as you work night and day. But it’s not smart, sustainable, nor is it healthy. You can’t do it all and you shouldn’t try. You can work hard; you can work smart, but you shouldn’t work yourself to death. Permission is granted to be human.

Learn to say no. One of the most liberating things you can learn as a leader is how to say no. This is not an excuse to slack off or not carry your weight as an effective team player, but you have to protect your boundaries. Knowing your limits is only useful when you can define and defend your boundaries. Learning to say no allows you to be more productive at what you do best. Permission is granted to defend yourself.

Set priorities. Many reach their breaking points because of poor time management skills. The most precious resource you have is time. How you manage your time it is essential to your success. Jim Rohn was right when he said, “Either you run the day or the day runs you.” Get a grip on your priorities, write them down, and guard them as best you can. With your priorities in place you can significantly reduce your stress and be more productive. Permission is granted to be organized.

Consider others. Something magical happens on the day you stop navel-gazing and put into practice the Golden Rule.  When serving causes greater than self becomes the norm it puts things into a new perspective. When you begin to focus on the needs of others it begins a wonderful process of reciprocation that allows you to count your blessings instead of your troubles. Permission is granted to be compassionate.

Enjoy guilt-free down time. The point Aesop made was that if you always keep the bow bent it will eventually break. If you let it go slack it will be fit for use when you need it. With the same degree of enthusiasm you have adopted the philosophy of hard work you should equally embrace the philosophy of needed rest and relaxation. Taking time to rest, relax, and enjoy down time will give you the much needed time to recharge and refresh yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Permission is granted to rest.

What do you say?
© 2013 Doug Dickerson

If you enjoy reading Doug’s leadership columns you will especially enjoy reading his books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted!

        

Visit Doug’s website at: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com to order your copies today.

Denis Waitley said, “Courage means to keep working a relationship, to continue seeking solutions to difficult problems, and to stay focused during stressful periods.” Not everything about leadership is glamorous. Courage is the virtue to hold on to when times are tough and you need strength to make difficult decisions. Courage is the key ingredient to bolster you to work out differences in relationships and problem solving. Courage gives you the needed confidence in troubled times. It can be all too easy to give up, walk away, and not face the challenges that leadership brings. Take heart. Be courageous. Keep going.

 

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

          

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

Follow at: www.twitter.com/managemntmoment