Attitude – Page 11 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Leadership Minute: Common Occasions

Posted August 18, 2014
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Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them. – Orison Swett Maarden

The down side to seeking extraordinary opportunities is that you may not see them very often. The upside to seeking ordinary opportunities and turning them into extraordinary opportunities is that you could see them more often. A smart leader will seek out the ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary. Common occasions are all around you. They are special moments in the making if your eyes are open to the possibilities before you. If you are sitting around waiting for the next big thing to come your way you will likely miss out on creating your own. Common occasions and opportunities are your pathway to the extraordinary. Look no further than the last opportunity you passed up for being too small or not worthy of your time. Seize the moments that come your way. What may be small today could be an extraordinary event waiting to happen.

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Leadership Minute: Your Hopes and Dreams

Posted August 15, 2014
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Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is still possible for you to do. – Pope John XXIII

One of the most important things you can do as a leader is to never give up on your hopes and dreams. They are the lifeblood of your heart and the passion that drives you. We’ve all faced setbacks and disappointments that have tried to discourage us and cause us to give up. It’s part of our learning and growth. But the challenge today is not to dwell on things of the past; especially the defeats and failures; they are but stepping stones on your success journey. Be encouraged today to embrace your hopes and dreams. Dare to believe that your best days are ahead of you and that all things are possible. Don’t allow fear, frustrations, or unfulfilled potential to hold you back. This is your day to embrace your possibilities and look to the future with hope and confidence.

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Leadership Minute: Nicer Than Average

Posted August 14, 2014
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The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. – Andy Rooney

Be nice. It’s a simple enough concept and is one that we were taught from an early age. The beauty of the idea is that once it’s developed it will serve you well in all areas of your life. Enter your role as a leader. Being nice as a leader does not mean that you have to be a pushover and not be firm. It doesn’t mean that you are naïve and are not business savvy. Being nice is a reflection of your character and how you treat people is important to you. Being nice is a matter of respect for those around you even if you don’t happen to like them. Let’s face it; some people are just jerks and being nice to them can be a challenge. But being nice is not about them – it’s about you. You can be better than average by being nicer than average. Give it a try!

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Leadership Minute: Learn From Your Mistakes

Posted August 13, 2014
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If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner. – Tallulah Bankhead

Of the vast experiences you will have as a leader making mistakes will rank pretty high on the list. It’s what leaders do. Granted, the fewer the better, but it’s part of your growth process. Your growth and maturity as a leader comes from taking risks, not settling for average, and by believing that you can achieve your goals. By embracing this attitude you are setting yourself up to make mistakes. It happens. So what’s the payoff? The rewards come and satisfaction is found when you know how to turn those learning experiences into positives. Past mistakes are simply signposts on your success journey. Each experience is teaching you and sharpening your leadership skills. When you are not afraid to make mistakes the faster you will achieve your goals. The question is not will you make mistakes, but rather, what will you learn?

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Leadership Minute: Vocabulary Test

Posted August 12, 2014
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The word impossible is not in my dictionary. – Napoleon Bonaparte

Words are important. From them your belief systems are formed and realities are defined. As a leader you will inspire confidence and courage based upon your word selection. What message do you want to send? To be sure, you will face many obstacles and challenging circumstances will always be a companion on your journey to success. But when the word impossible enters your vocabulary you then marginalize your leadership and the chances of success for your team. When your words sow seeds of doubt about the obstacles before you then that doubt will serve to magnify the challenge. The challenge of your leadership is to sow seeds of faith and to instill confidence. This happens by the words you speak. It doesn’t make the challenge or obstacle any less real; it simply means that you choose to not be defined by them. The sooner you take the word impossible out of your vocabulary the better off you will be.

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Leadership Minute: Keep it Together

Posted August 11, 2014
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If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. – Proverbs 24:10 (The Message)

One of your tasks as a leader is to model confidence in times of adversity and crisis. It’s during these times that your team looks to you for leadership and direction and you’ve got to deliver. But if you are falling apart and are unsure of yourself then it can quickly become a crisis in leadership. Now the problem is compounded. However, when you have it together your team can come together because they have confidence in your leadership ability. Be assured; times of testing and crisis will come, but it doesn’t have to defeat you. Keeping it together is the result of fine-tuning the fundamentals of your leadership – strong people skills, strong organizational skills, being engaged in what is going on around you, and a commitment to personal growth and development. In times of crisis there’s no need to fall apart; it’s the time to step up and lead.

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Leadership Minute: Who Are You Thankful For?

Posted August 7, 2014
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No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. – Alfred North Whitehead

As you look back over the span of your life as a leader I’m sure there are people along the way who made an impact. Do you remember them? They are the ones who befriended you in a new job. They helped you grow and develop your confidence. They stood by you and believed in you when no one else would. They gave you correction when you needed it and patiently gave of their time to help you grow and become the leader you are today. Expressions of your gratitude are in order. Why not reach out and reach back to say thank you to those who were kind enough to help you? Perhaps you can give them a call or send them a note expressing your gratitude. Life is too short and leadership too hard not to pause now and then to remember, reflect, and give thanks for where you are and for those who helped you. Who are you thankful for?

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Leadership Minute: Change Happens

Posted August 5, 2014
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Every leader knows that change is hard. And, changing the things people say can’t be touched are the toughest changes. – Ron Edmondson

Navigating change as a leader is one of the toughest things you will do. People are creatures of comfort and routine and when you disturb either one you are asking for it. Before you set out on any course of change, especially when it involves touching the “sacred cows” – those long-standing traditions that everyone takes for granted, be sure you make the case for where you want to go and why. A few questions you will need to answer are: Is this the right change at the right time? If either one is in doubt, wait. Why change now and what happens if we wait? Have I made the case for change and are the key people on board with it? Change is inevitable if we want to grow. How you sell it makes the difference. Change happens best when others can shape it, take ownership of it, and at the end of the day wonder why it took you so long to make it.

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Leadership Minute: Make Peace With Your Past

Posted July 29, 2014
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Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or…learn from it. – Rafiki, Lion King

One of the greatest hindrances to your leadership today and that of your future can be things from your past. While you can’t go back change it you can adapt new ways of dealing with it. Perhaps you did some things that you are not proud of or someone hurt you and you are holding on to resentments. It could be a failed relationship or business that has turned your attitude the wrong way and it is affecting your leadership today. While you can’t go back and have a do-over, you can embrace new behaviors and attitudes today that can help you. The past is the past. You can learn from it but it is a choice you have to make. When you let go of the past; forgive, forget, and move on- you can experience the freedom that comes from a fresh new outlook on life. Make peace with your past.

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Leadership Minute: Defining What’s Possible

Posted July 23, 2014
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The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination. – Tommy Lasorda

The secret formula for the success that one achieves over the impossible is found in determination. Great skills and talents are wonderful assets but are of little value to the person who has no motivation or determination. A keen mind combined with a unique business savvy is enough to make anyone envious but is of no value if you quit at the first sign of difficulty. Possessing a charismatic personality that people want to follow puts you at a considerable advantage but not if you don’t possess a long-term commitment to succeed. Determined leaders are a special breed of leaders who are not fazed by external circumstances but rather have their eyes on the goal and a steady hand at the wheel. These are the leaders who are used to hearing “impossible” but forge ahead anyway. The secret ingredient of this leader and their success is not really a mystery. It can be summed up in that one powerful word: determination.

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