Attitude – Page 2 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Three Attitude Adjustments to Make Before Christmas

Posted November 29, 2020
by admin

An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality – Brian Tracy

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown was having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit so Linus said, “Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem.” Ouch!

Have you ever known a person who, like Charlie Brown, can take a festive event like Christmas and turn it upside down simply because of their attitude? I have and they are no fun to be around.

But the truth of the matter is this: 2020 has been a year like no other. And while most are not going to be sad to see this year come to a close end, it’s important to remember that in many ways, our attitudes can make us or break us.

As we head down the stretch to close out this year, now might be a good time for an attitude inventory and make some adjustments where necessary. Here are three questions to reflect upon.

Am I thankful?

Despite the challenges that came your way in 2020, nothing will reflect on your attitude more than knowing and remembering what you are thankful for right now. During a pandemic, it’s easy to focus on the negative and find things to be upset about. I get it. But during the season we are now in, perhaps it’s time for some perspective that is greater than this snapshot in time.

Charles Dickens aptly put it this way, “Reflect upon your present blessings- of which every man has many- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” I believe this is a good reminder for us all. Be thankful.

Am I serving?

I have found over the years that the surest way to get my mind off of my troubles is by serving others. In leadership this one of the greatest lessons you will learn – it’s not about you. If you find your attitude waning this holiday season, let me encourage you to look outside yourself and renew your sense of purpose by serving those in need.

Martin Luther King, Jr. put it this way,” Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”. The day your focus is on others more than it is on you is the day your attitude begins to shift for the better. Serve others.

Am I hopeful?

One of the underlying foundations of a positive attitude is hope. Hope sees beyond the present circumstances and holds to a greater sense of purpose and meaning that might temporarily be eluding you. Let me encourage you to press on anyway. Allow me to encourage you to believe that despite what your present circumstances look like to remember that your faith is not based upon what you see but on what God sees. Click To TweetIf there’s ever been a time for hopeful leaders it’s now.

In his book Unshakeable Hope, Max Lucado writes, “The question is not, will God keep his promises, but, will we build our lives upon them?” And this is what will cause your attitude to be strong in the good times and the bad, Never lose hope.

Final Thoughts

Here’s what we know – life happens-the good, the bad, and the ugly. While we can’t always control everything that comes our way, we can control our attitude. When our focus is on being thankful, serving others, and being hopeful it can help keep our attitude healthy and strong.

The Cardinal Point Leadership Podcast is coming in January 2021! The Cardinal Point Leadership Podcast is for leaders young and old. My desire is simple – to cut through the clutter and deliver leadership content that is relevant, practical, and useful. Here we will talk about leadership development, employee engagement, servant leadership, and much more.

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How Your Attitude Helps Shape Your Company Culture

Posted February 9, 2020
by admin

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms- to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. – Viktor E. Frankl

I read a story about a young man named John who received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to “clean up” the bird’s vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder.

John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes, the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly it was totally quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arms and said “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”

John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, “May I ask what the turkey did?”

Like John, you may be surrounded by people with bad attitudes and you are desperate about what to do.

Did you know that according to an article in Inc., science says that your bad attitude can cost you $3,600 a year? The link was made between cynicism and income and how cynical people make less money.

How about you? Are you allowing a bad attitude and cynicism to generate negative consequences in your life?

The attitude you have contributes to the overall company culture where you work. The same goes for your colleagues. Based upon your attitude and the attitude of those around you, is this concerning? Click To Tweet

Your attitude is important. Here are a few reasons why.

People are watching

Wherever you are within your organizational structure you carry within you a certain amount of influence. This translates into your leadership capacity. So how you handle stress, adversity, challenges, the unexpected, etc. all contribute to an attitude that’s on display. Your attitude by default and whether you like it or not is shaping the culture around you because other people see it.

People are listening

One of the most important things you learn as a leader is how to choose your words carefully. It’s not always easy especially when that special someone at the office has got on your last nerve. I get it. But the way you contribute with your words ought to be a reflection of how you want to add value as a leader. Are your words lifting? Helpful? Encouraging? Know this - your attitude as reflected in your words matters because people are listening. Are you helping your culture or hurting it? Click To Tweet

People are reacting

As a leader in your organization, not only are people watching and listening to your attitude, but they are reacting to it. If your attitude alone was the attitude thermostat that the rest of your organization was set to, what kind of workplace would it be? You may not think that your attitude alone makes that much difference. But what if your attitude was taken and multiplied by 30 employees, 50 employees, or 100, would it matter then? Would you stay and work in that environment?

Final Thoughts

“The greatest day in your life and mine”, says John Maxwell, “is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up.” How about you? It’s time for an attitude check to help shape your company culture in a positive way.

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How Adversity Shapes You As A Leader

Posted January 26, 2020January 26, 2020
by admin

One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity. – Albert Schweitzer

In 1799, Conrad Reed discovered a seventeen-pound rock while fishing in Little Meadow Creek. Not knowing what it was made of, his family used it as a doorstop for three years. In 1802, his father, John Reed, took it to a jeweler who identified it as a lump of gold worth about $3,600. That lump of gold, which was used as a doorstop for three years in North Carolina, is one of the biggest gold nuggets ever found east of the Rockies. Until its composition was determined, its value was unknown.

Hang around in leadership and sooner, rather than later, you will come to learn about adversity. As in life, it comes with the territory.

Your composition as a leader will be tested and what lies underneath will reveal the type of leader you are. Adversity over time will mold you into the leader you become. Click To Tweet

Albert Einstein said, “Adversity introduces a man to himself.” The same is true in leadership. Readily, some would say they could do without the introduction to oneself through adversity. But, nonetheless, adversity has a way of rearing its ugly head. So, now what?

I would like for you to focus on the following three questions as you going through times of adversity as a leader. It’s as you think through these responses you can begin to navigate your way through the adversity that comes to all of us.

Is my adversity defeating or refining me?

Leaders are not immune to adversity. We all face it. But we don’t all respond to it the same way. Your response to and attitude toward adversity will strengthen you or defeat you based upon your reaction to it. Click To Tweet

If the adversity you face is defeating you – by this I mean, disrupting your rhythm as a leader, your judgment and decision making, the way in which you treat others and your temperament, then you need to take a step back and evaluate your response to it. Recognize your reactions and make adjustments accordingly. Be willing to acknowledge it and ask for help. But don’t let it defeat you.

Is my adversity serving me or hurting me?

For some leaders, adversity is like gas on a fire. For others, it’s a death nail. One thing is for sure, going through times of adversity will test your mettle. Adversity will control you or you will control it.

About a month before Edison released the phonograph his lab was destroyed by fire. He lost everything. To add insult to injury, his building was underinsured. By most any account, it was a disaster. How would he recover and what would his response be? After the fire, it’s reported that Edison said, “Thank goodness all of our mistakes were burned up. Now we can start fresh again.” His response shows us that adversity can serve us well if our attitude is right.

Is my adversity promoting me or holding me back?

In a perfect world as leaders, we wouldn’t face adversity. But that’s just not our reality. In the end, it’s our response to adversity that will promote us or hold us back. Our promotions will come as we choose the right attitudes, keep our hearts right, and not lose sight of the big picture. Click To Tweet

Final Thoughts

“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache,” said Napoleon Hill, “carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” And this is the truth I hope you will discover as a leader. In what was once only considered a rock worthy of only being a doorstop, turned out to be the largest lump of gold east of the Rockies.

Your composition as a leader will be tested. Your adversity is like the refining process. The next time it comes your way embrace it. Soon your true worth will be seen for what it is.

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Thriving Leadership in a Calloused World

Posted June 3, 2019
by admin

If you live in a graveyard too long you stop crying when someone dies. – Anon.

In addition to Mt. Rushmore, one of Gutzon Borglum’s great works as a sculptor is the head of Lincoln in the Capitol at Washington. He cut it from a large, square block of stone in his studio. One day, when the face of Lincoln was just becoming recognizable out of the stone, a young girl was visiting the studio with her parents. She looked at the half-done face of Lincoln, her eyes registering wonder and astonishment. She stared at the piece for a moment then ran to the sculptor. “Is that Abraham Lincoln?” she asked. “Yes.” “Well,” said the little girl, “how in the world did you know he was inside there?”

The question posed by that young girl is an appropriate one for the likes of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. His work is rightfully critiqued by the product he produces.

What about you? How would an outsider look upon your leadership and what observations would they make? What inward image do you project? The truth is: what’s on the inside will come out. It always does.

I’m at the age where it could be very easy to be cynical or calloused in my thinking. And quite honestly, some days it’s a challenge. Hang around in leadership long enough and you can get to the place where you have seen it all, heard it all, and there’s just not much that shocks you anymore. Can you relate?

Studies have shown that those in their first year in a new job are among the happiest in the organization. Contrast that with more tenured employees and you will find vastly different attitudes and opinions.

So how do you retain a healthy perspective as a leader and not become so calloused that you are no longer effective? It’s a challenge we all struggle with. Here are a few tips for your consideration.

Watch your attitude

Your attitude will make you or break you. It always has and it always will. You can come to a place over time that you feel no one is listening, no one wants to improve or change, and that there’s just no reason to be optimistic. Can you relate? This way of thinking can cause your attitude to sour and your leadership to be ineffective.

If you are going to thrive as a leader you must watch your attitude and remember that you are not responsible for other people’s attitudes and actions. You are only accountable for one. Yours. Guard your attitude at all costs. Click To Tweet

Be intentional about your inner circle

In as much as a bad attitude can be disastrous for you as a leader, so too can an inner circle filled with the wrong people. I absolutely believe that you need diversity in your circle. You need people who will inspire you, challenge you, question you, and bring out the best in you. It’s the sign of a smart and thriving leader. We all need people around us – younger and older – who see the world differently from us. But you don’t need the wrong people.

As a leader, you don’t need people with bad attitudes who bring drama; who are unwilling to change, are afraid to take risks, who protect the status quo, and who are afraid to speak the truth.If you want to thrive as a leader then you must be intentional and selective about your inner circle. Click To Tweet

Hold yourself accountable

We live in a world where cynicism and divisions run deep. As leaders, it can be easy to get sucked into all the negativity that surrounds us on a daily basis. We need trusted friends and advisors around us who can hold us accountable for wrong attitudes, actions, words, and behaviors. Click To Tweet The truth is, we all have blind spots and we need the help. I know I do.

Leadership is a marathon, not a 100-yard dash. So on your journey, keep your attitude strong, be intentional about your inner circle, and hold yourself accountable. You will be a better leader for it and your influence as a leader will be worth emulating.

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Hope For Discouraged Leaders

Posted April 22, 2019
by admin

If you are alive and breathing, you can still become everything God has created you to be. – Joel Osteen

In 1858 the Illinois legislature- using an obscure statute- sent Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln, although Lincoln had won the popular vote. When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said, “Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.”

If you hang around in leadership long enough you will know what discouragement feels like. I’m not trying to depress you but simply stating the obvious. Behind the glittering image and friendly smiles are leaders who face incredible pressures and shoulder responsibilities that can be daunting. Unfortunately, many leaders feel trapped with no one to talk with or vent to due to the “glittering image” that they feel compelled to present to the public.

Let’s be honest. Times of discouragement will come. How you react to it will make all the difference going forward. As a leader, you are not immune from troubles, in fact, you may have more. So how do you keep a proper perspective and come through it on the other side a better leader? Here are three reminders that you need to consider.

You are not alone

Life happens to all of us. It’s not always pretty. As a leader, you know this to be true. Disappointments come – you didn’t land that new client, a colleague betrayed you, sales are sluggish – you get the picture.

Here is what you need to know: your disappointment today is preparing you for great opportunities tomorrow. But there’s a catch. It all hinges on your attitude. While bad things can happen to good people; good people turn bad things into great opportunities. Click To Tweet

At a young age, Walt Disney easily could have been discouraged and given up. He was fired by the editor of a newspaper for “lacking ideas”. He could have taken his rejection and thrown in the towel. But if anything he used that experience to motivate him to greater things – and the rest, as they say, is history.

When times of disappoint and discouragement come, remember this truth – you are not alone.

You are stronger than you think

One truth I’ve learned over the years is this: you can be defined by life’s moments or you can define life’s moments. So how do you define life’s moments? You do so by choosing faith over fear, forgiveness over resentment, and by embracing God’s view of your life over man’s view. You don’t always have control over what comes your way but you can choose your path going forward. Click To Tweet

Thomas Edison experienced one of those defining moments in his career. His lab caught fire and was destroyed. All of his work went up in flames. To add insult to injury, his building was under-insured. It was a devastating and defining moment. How would he respond?

“There is great value in disaster,” said Edison, “all our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” Edison did not choose the fire, but he did choose to define the moment.

Here is the truth to remember: We don’t like adversity and disappointments because we mistakenly believe that we can’t handle it. But I submit that you are stronger than you think and you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way. Are you ready to define your moment?

You are not defined by your past you are prepared by it

Every experience that you go through is preparation for what’s next. Along the way, you have gained valuable experience. Some of it has come easy while at other times you wish you could have a do-over. It’s all part of the learning curve. I’ve been there countless times and I dare say you have as well.

But if you want to move forward as a leader you have to learn to let go of the past – especially the bad and cut yourself some slack. What’s important is that you have learned your lessons, have peace in your heart and are stronger as a result.

Discouragement sets in when you see yourself through the lens of failure rather than through the lens of grace. Click To Tweet

Here is the truth you need to remember: you are not the sum of your fears or your mistakes. Your past is your boot camp and it has prepared you for such a time as this.

Times of discouragement will come. But the good news is- it will pass. Stay strong and be encouraged. You are not alone, you are strong, and you are prepared!

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7 Habits of Teachable Leaders

Posted March 3, 2019March 16, 2019
by admin

What I believe is that all clear-minded people should remain two things throughout their lifetimes: Curious and teachable. – Roger Ebert

An article in Pew Research revealed about a quarter of American adults (24%) haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form. Think it’s just the younger generation not reading? Not so fast. The survey revealed that older adults are a bit more likely than their younger counterparts not to read a book. The survey revealed that some 28% of adults ages 50 and older haven’t read a book in the past year.

As an avid reader and author of books, I find the results of this survey both disappointing and revealing. Do these statistics surprise you?

As a leader, the one thing that will give you a distinct advantage both personally and professionally is that you are teachable. Your personal growth and development are non-negotiable if you are a leader who desires to succeed.

It’s important to keep in mind that your growth and development is the result of intentional behaviors that you embrace. You have to be disciplined. So what are some of the habits of teachable leaders that must be embraced? Here are seven for your consideration.

Teachable leaders are readers

You can come up with every excuse in the book (pardon the pun), but teachable leaders are readers. There are just too many options now available not to. From traditional prints books, audio, or on your device, there’s no shortage of access or books, blogs, and magazines to choose from. If you are not teachable and reading then how can you effectively lead the people who are? Click To Tweet (See my current reading list below)

Teachable leaders are listeners

It’s part of a leaders responsibility to talk, engage, articulate vision, etc. which requires being out front and being the voice that brings clarity to the mission. But what’s equally as important if not more so, is being a good listener. How else are you going to know what’s on the hearts and minds of your people other than by listening to them? When you cultivate the art of listening, you demonstrate a teachable attitude. Talk less, listen more.

Teachable leaders are humble

The older I get the more I’ve come to realize just how much I don’t know. It’s humbling. Over the years, I’ve come across people who think that they are “experts” on everything. No matter what the subject, they seemed to know it all. Teachable leaders, on the other hand, are wise enough to know their limitations and are willing to surround themselves with those who complement them and make them better. A teachable leader has the self-awareness to know that they don’t possess all the answers and are humble enough to keep learning and growing.

Teachable leaders ask a lot of questions

For the teachable leader, this is where genuine humility pays off. Teachable leaders ask a lot of questions because they want to keep growing. The advantage teachable leaders have over others is the ability to set aside pride and humble themselves and ask the questions others won’t. Click To Tweet It’s in the asking of questions – not in your silence- that growth takes place.

Teachable leaders have positive attitudes

Nothing will get in the way of the learning process more than a bad attitude. Henry Ford was right when he said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” As a leader, your attitude will be your greatest asset or the greatest liability that holds you back. You choose it and you own it. Teachable leaders will succeed or fail, by and large, with their attitude.

Teachable leaders seek wise counsel

In as much as teachable leaders are readers, they also understand that they need people speaking truth into their lives. A teachable leader seeks out the counsel of people who can give them guidance and insights from their experiences. As leaders, we all need people in our lives who can inspire us, challenge us, and hold us accountable. Click To Tweet

Teachable leaders are lifelong students

Class is always in session for the teachable leader. Once you discover the joy of a teachable spirit then you will never stop growing.

These seven habits can put your leadership journey on a whole new path of fulfillment. Embrace these habits and watch your influence grow.

Are you a teachable leader?

Here’s what I am currently reading:

Leader Shift: The Eleven Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace by John Maxwell

Didn’t See It Coming: Overcoming The 7 Greatest Challenges That No One Expects And Everyone Experiences by Carey Nieuwhof

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Getting Comfortable With Failure

Posted June 8, 2017
by dougdickerson

I have not failed. I have found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – Thomas Edison

As a leader, chances are, you’ve had a run-in or two with failure. If not, be patient. I say that not to be pessimistic or to discourage you. I say that to challenge and prepare you for great adventures that lie before you.

Failure. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear that word? Unfortunately, some people make the mistake of applying false labels to people who fail. They see them as failures rather than a success in progress.

In his book, Chase The Lion, author Mark Batterson gives an inspiring description of what it means to fail. He writes:

The cure for the fear of failure isn’t success. The cure for the fear of failure

is failure in small enough doses that we build up an

immunity to it.

God is in the business of helping us overcome our fears, but

He often does it by bringing us face to face with our worst fears.

He graciously brings us back to the place of failure, and then, He

not only helps us pick up the broken pieces but He also puts them

back together again.

That description, especially as it applies to the fear of failure, is an important lesson every leader must learn. As a leader, you will have to face down your failures, and confront them if you want to grow to the next level.

Regardless of where you are in your leadership journey, and wherever that path leads you- be it in business, sales, technology, management, customer service, etc. you must find your cure for failure and build up your immunity to defeat it. Here are a few ways to do it.

Develop a resilient attitude

Developing a resilient attitude is hard work. But most of that battle is won when we change our attitudes.

It reminds me the story of the two shoe salesmen years ago who left for the Caribbean islands from Chicago. Upon arrival, they discovered that no one wore shoes. One salesman phoned back to the home office and notified them that he was returning to Chicago, “no one here wears shoes,” he said. The other man phoned back to the home office with excitement, “Send more shoes, no one here wears them!” Both men saw the same thing. One through the lens of a negative attitude, the other through a positive one.

The difference between your success and failure will often be determined by your attitude. Develop resilience in this area and you will develop an immunity to failure.

Develop the right perspective

While attitude has to do with how you see yourself in your present circumstances, your perspective is how you see yourself through it. It’s all about thinking long.

Look back on your own history for a moment. Think back to a time when you were going through a challenging or difficult time. Chances are your attitude at the time may not reflect your perspective on it now. The difference is time and distance. It’s much easier to look back at a difficult time you’ve come through than it is to see light at the end of the tunnel when going through it.

Never allow your present fears or failures to cloud your perspective. You will come through your difficult times and with the right perspective you can see them for what they were–stepping stones to your success.

Develop resilient courage

The formula for courage looks like this: A (Attitude) + P (Perspective) = C (Courage). Your ability to face down your fears and recover from failure takes courage. What will set you apart from your colleagues and give you the advantage over your competitors is courage.

“We don’t develop courage by being happy everyday,” writes Barbara De Angelis, “ We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity”. And this is the place on your leadership journey you must arrive at. It’s when you survive difficult times that you grow strong as a leader.

Resilient courage is developed over time. It’s a process. None of us like failure and we all wrestle with our fears. But failure doesn’t have to fatal or forever. It’s simply a marker on our road to success. Don’t give up!

Favorite quotes on failure:

Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts. – Winston Churchill

Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.- Og Mandino

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. – Henry Ford

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. – Michael Jordan

Failures, repeated failures, are finger posts on the road to achievement. One fails toward success. – C.S. Lewis

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What’s Wrong With (Always) Being Right?

Posted May 26, 2017
by dougdickerson

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy-in fact, sometimes, it’s real hard- but just remember that doing the right thing is always right. – David Cottrell

In my many years in leadership, some of the most annoying people I come across are those whom, no matter the circumstance, are always right. They always have a ready excuse, an ‘out’ when things go wrong, it’s never their fault. They are always right. Chances are you’ve met one or two of these people along the way yourself.

Then you have the ‘know it all’ – that one person who’s the in-house ‘expert’ about everything. They would choose an ‘I told you so’ moment over ever admitting they were wrong about anything- even if it adversely affected the organization. (If this type person exists in your organization they are toxic, and you must deal with them).

Here’s the rub- people hate being wrong. I get it. We like to be at our best, do our best, but at the end of the day, we are mere mortals. We screw up. And we don’t know everything. So how do you guard yourself against ever developing this kind of an attitude? Here’s some food for thought.

Acknowledge your limitations

You bring a certain depth of skill and knowledge to your workplace. It’s great that you are highly trained in your area of expertise and contribute to the good of the team. You do your best to add value to your organization.

But a dose of reality is necessary if you desire to be an effective leader. While your expertise can be strong in one area, chances are you are not an ‘expert’ in every area. That’s why you have to listen, collaborate, and tap into the skills of your colleagues and defer to them. A lack of self-awareness on your part doesn’t change what others know and what you fail to admit. You don’t know everything so quit acting like it.

Focus on doing right, not always being right

When you make the shift from always ‘being’ right to ‘doing’ right, it will significantly change your leadership. It will change the way you look at things – and it will actually be a liberating force in your life. The self-imposed pressure of always being right frees you up to do right. It’s a game changer in many regards.

Let’s be real – it’s when you focus on doing right that you will experience growth in your leadership. It’s a mark of maturity. With nothing to prove and no compulsion to always be right, you can now focus on more important things like being a servant leader instead of protecting your ego.

Be humble and teachable

Personal growth and development will rarely happen within the ‘know it all’ or ‘always right’ bubble or mindset. There’s no room for it. Not because there’s nothing more to learn, but because this person believes that he or she is already there. It’s a dangerous mindset to have as a leader.

In Proverbs 19:20, the writer says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future”. For the sake of your own personal development, and those whom you lead, be teachable and walk humbly. None of us have arrived and there’s a lot of people depending on us to realize it.

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Are You Really a Team Player?

Posted May 18, 2017
by dougdickerson

A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other. – Simon Sinek

For many of us, the idea of being part of a team is something we’ve identified with from an early age. Many of us were introduced to the concept of being on a team from our Little League days, or choosing teams with our neighborhood friends for an afternoon of backyard football, or whom we wanted to play with at recess.

While our current understanding of teams and teamwork may not mirror those early days, it’s not a concept that is lost on us now. We all want to be on the winning team and we all want teammates that will give us that competitive advantage. And we can still play favorites.

As leaders, how we model teamwork is important. Unlike the backyard football game, the stakes are higher and more is riding on the outcome. What kind of a team player are you? Here are a few questions to ponder. After some honest reflection, decide for yourself if you are really a team player or an imposter.

Does my attitude benefit my team or undermine it?

Teams that succeed do so with players who have a positive attitude. There’s just really no other way around it. Is your attitude one that lifts your team or tears it down? Is your attitude a reliable one that others can look to and emulate and from it gain the confidence and courage they need in a moment of doubt or uncertainty? Or on the other hand, do you entertain those with a bad attitude by lending them a sympathetic ear? Remember, what you tolerate you promote, and this is especially true as it relates to attitudes.

Am I looking out for my own interest, or what is best for the team?

This is an age-old problem for many teams. If you are only looking out for your own interests and your own agenda, and not that of the team, can you really say that you are a team player? Babe Ruth was right when he said, “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” If you are promoting your own interests over the team, it’s likely you really aren’t a team player.

Do I celebrate the successes and accomplishments of my teammates?

One of the hallmarks of a successful team is realized when fellow team members can celebrate the achievements and successes of one of its peers. At the end of the day they understand that when he or she wins, the team wins. If you are blinded by petty jealousy or insecurities you are really not a team player.

Am I open to new ideas and change or am I a hindrance to it?

Teams that succeed are growth-minded and are always looking for ways to improve. They realize that they can’t rest on yesterday’s win, and they must be open to new ideas. If you are always resisting change and your mantra is “we’ve never done it this way before,” then chances are you are really not a team player you’re simply standing in the way of those trying to move forward.

Am I intentional and consistent about adding value to my team?

A team player is not one out to protect his or her own agenda or playing politics, and not saying one thing in public while undermining and scheming behind the scenes in private. Are you looking for ways to add value and lift others? Are you willing to put others ahead of yourself for the good of the team? If so, chances are, you are a team player.

Are you really a team player?

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Six Leadership Lessons from Winston Churchill

Posted April 8, 2017
by dougdickerson

The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes –Winston Churchill

As a student of leadership, I have much respect for Winston Churchill. As a student of history, I have an even greater appreciation for his leadership skills in a most turbulent time in world history. His strength and resolve during World War II gave the British people hope in their darkest hours. His courage and sense of purpose were the driving force that ultimately led the Allies to victory.

Step back in time with me and let Churchill’s own words teach us some time-tested leadership lessons that are applicable today. Here are six of my favorites.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

If you are going to last as a leader you have to let this truth resonate down deep. Every leader experiences failure. But failure does not define you- it shapes you. A failure is merely an event that happens on the road to success. What matters is not that you failed or even tasted the joy of success, but that you had the courage to continue.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

This is such a valuable lesson to learn as a leader. Many have made the mistake of buying into the old notion that the one with the most toys wins. But true leadership is not about what you get but rather about what you give. The world will be a little better than you found it when you come to discover the joy of giving.

You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.

Churchill was greatly admired but he also had plenty of enemies. While the consequences may not be as significant as what Churchill faced, you too will have your share of critics. But regardless of the challenges that you face and the enemies who would seek to harm you; hold true to your principles and hold true to your convictions. Stand up for what is right and do good by all men.

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

In the face of overwhelming odds and at times great calamity Churchill held on to what I would label his trump card. It’s what would give him the courage to move forward in the darkest hours of the war and is what would give his countrymen hope. Succinctly and truthfully put – Churchill’s attitude was a life saver. Never underestimate the power of a positive attitude. As a leader is will make you or break you.

I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.

As a leader, you choose your attitude and you choose your state of mind. If there was ever a leader who could have chosen a different path and projected a totally different outlook it was Churchill. With the relentless bombing raids on London; the tremendous loss of life coupled with all of the sufferings that took place, Churchill could have fallen victim to despair. But his optimism would one day lead to victory. I don’t know the challenges you face today but I do know this much – being optimistic is a choice that will put you on the right path.

Lady Astor: “Winston, if I were your wife I’d put poison in your coffee.” Winston Churchill: “Nancy, if I were your husband I’d drink it.”

Humor was one of Churchill’s endearing qualities. His quick wit and sense of humor were a reflection of the total man who took his work seriously but knew the importance of enjoying a light moment. His humor was as much an integral part of his leadership style as any other trait. Your life in leadership will be marked by important decisions and things that will define your legacy. Churchill reminds us that having a sense of humor makes it all bearable. So remember this important principle in your leadership – it’s okay to smile, laugh; especially at yourself, and enjoy the journey.

This week’s column is courtesy of the vault. It was originally published in 2015.

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