Leadership Minute: Signs of Leadership

sign

Max de Pree said, “The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers. Are the followers reaching their potential? Are they learning? Serving? Do they achieve the required results? Do they change with grace? Manage conflict?” These are all great questions worth examining because they have less to do with how many people you lead and has more to do with the quality of your leadership. As you consider the above questions as it relates to your leadership you can identify your strengths and your weaknesses and make adjustments as needed. Remember, leadership is a journey. Navigate with strength. Lead with clarity. Pay attention to the signs.

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Both will make great Father’s Day gifts! Visit Doug’s website and order your copies today!

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Leadership Minute: Never Too Old

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C.S. Lewis said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” I like Lewis’ optimism and I like the challenge. As leaders it is important to always believe in yourself and your abilities. In addition it is important to never buy-in to the belief that you are too old to set a new goal or embark upon a new dream. It is the creation of new goals and dreams that keep you vibrant and productive. Believe this truth today – your best days are not behind you they are before you. Dare to keep dreaming!

 

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Both will make great Father’s Day gifts! Visit Doug’s website and order your copies today!

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Leadership Minute: Don’t Forget to Laugh

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E.E. Cummings said, “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” I agree. Yes, the demands of leadership are ever present and the decisions we make have important consequences. But along the way we must learn to take our work seriously but not ourselves. Make it a point to carry yourself lightly and learn to laugh. Long after the seriousness and demands of leadership have subsided it is your ability to laugh that will be your most cherished companion. Loosen up. Enjoy the journey. Laugh!

 

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! They both will make great gifts as Father’s Day approaches. Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

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Leadership Minute: Lead by Example

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Tom Landry said, “Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how your react. If you’re in control, they’re in control.” This is one of the most important truisms of leadership. Leadership is most effective when you lead by example. When others see the consistency of your leadership they can gain confidence. When it comes to good leadership never underestimate the power of a good example. Because of it others will follow. Because of it you have a great influence. Leading by example is the high calling of leadership.

 

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! You can have both by Father’s Day by ordering them at Doug’s website!

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Leadership Minute: Live in the Moment

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Denis Waitley said, “Learn from the past, set vivid detailed for the future, and live in the moment of time over which you have any control: now.” Often times you will meet people who only live in the past. Others only talk of the future and “one day”. As a leader it is important to put the past in perspective and work toward future goals, but we must live in the moment. Don’t miss out on what is unique and special about this day. Make this day count for what it is: a gift that you will never receive again. Enjoy this moment and live it to the fullest.

 

 

If you enjoy reading the “Leadership Minute” you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Order them today in time for Father’s Day!

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Three Ways to Add Value as a Leader

value

People always move toward someone who increases them and away from anyone who decreases them – John Maxwell

I came across a story about renowned photographer Edward Steichen that has significant leadership application. His fame as a photographer was almost never realized as he nearly gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At 16, young Steichen bought a camera and took 50 pictures. Only one turned out—a portrait of his sister at the piano.

Edward’s father thought that was a poor showing. But his mother insisted that the photograph of his sister was so beautiful that it more than compensated for the 49 failures. Her encouragement convinced the youngster to stick with his new hobby. He stayed with it for the rest of his life, but it had been a close call. What tipped the scales? The vision to spot excellence in the midst of a lot of failure.

The opportunity you have as a leader to add value and encouragement has never been greater and never more needed. A recent Harvard Business Review blog (http://bit.ly/WQkqgG) reported the findings of a new American Psychological Association survey that reports that fifty-four percent of workers say they are not paid enough for their efforts and 61% say they don’t have sufficient opportunities for advancement. When you couple those findings with long work weeks, the endless answering of emails at all hours of the night, it contributes to one-third of U.S. workers reporting chronic stress.

As a leader who is committed to adding value to those around you it is important that you are aware of what is taking place among your team, the stress they are under, and your investment in their personal development. Here are three ways you can show it.

Recognition. The long hours, work and dedication of your team is the life-blood of your success. Their success is your success. Their achievement is your achievement. How do you adequately recognize the people in your organization who believe in you, who have embraced your vision, and work tirelessly to make it happen? You start with recognition.

It’s as you understand that recognition and loyalty go hand-in-hand that you will add value as a leader. When you give recognition to those around you it sends the message that you not only recognize their work but that you value them as individuals. Recognition adds value to the person and builds the morale of your team.

Respect.  Albert Schweitzer said, “Only those who respect the personality of others can be of real use to them.” Adding value to others is a matter of respect. Recognition is nice but if there is no accompanying respect attached to it then it is meaningless. Value is added as respect is shown.

Leaders who add value to others understand that respect is the basic premise by which a relationship is forged. It opens the door to all other possibilities. A leader who wants to add value to those around him begins by respecting the gifts, talents, and contributions of those he leads. To be sure, respect must be earned, but if never given, value will never be added.

Reinforcement. In adding value and moving your team forward it is important to understand the role that reinforcement plays as part of your leadership style. Your corporate culture is developed by implementing the formula of BP (best practices) + DE (daily execution) that = VBO (value based outcomes) for success. It’s as you reinforce your values that you will achieve the results you desire.

Consider the effects of low morale, high stress, and the general feeling of not being appreciated by many in today’s workplace. Certainly a lack of respect and recognition are factors. As you give recognition, show respect, and reinforce values you can be a leader that adds value to those around you.

 

© 2013 Doug Dickerson

 

If you enjoy reading Doug’s posts’ you will especially enjoy reading his books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted. They will make great Father’s Day gifts. Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today!

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Leadership Minute: Someone Like You

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Dr. Seuss said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” One of the joys of leadership is the ability to use your influence for good. It can be overwhelming to look at the needs around us but how often do you look within for a solution? Until someone like you steps up things will not get better. Finding a cause that you care about and working to improve it is the beginning of making it better. Don’t wait on someone else to take the initiative. All it takes is someone with a big heart. Someone like you!

 

 

 

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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Leadership Minute: Against the Wind

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Henry Ford said, “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” What head wind are you facing today? In order to take flight and to go to new heights you will have to face it. It’s when you continually prepare and put forth the effort that you will overcome it. It’s easy to get discouraged, but do not let the head winds you face today hold you back. See it as a pre-flight necessity that will take you to places you’ve never been before. Get ready to soar!

 

 

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 and order your copies today!

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Leadership Minute: More Than Meets the Eye

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Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Failures and setbacks happen on the road to success. It’s a given that you will experience them. But what is more important is how you look upon them. Having the right attitude toward your failures and setbacks goes a long way in determining your future. How do you look at them? Make it your practice to see them for what they are. Your failures are opportunities to make corrections and scratch things off of the list that don’t work. Don’t dwell on what went wrong but instead keep your focus on what you’ve done right!

 

 

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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Leadership Minute: Lose Yourself in Something Big

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Norman Vincent Peale said, “The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.” This is one of the great discoveries of leadership. It’s when you learn to pour yourself into causes greater than yourself that you find the joy of leadership. What big cause have you discovered? When you make this discovery you will find that you will have the energies to give more of yourself to causes greater than yourself. Need more energy? Stop looking inward and starting focusing on others and the ways you can serve. Lose yourself in something big!

 

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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