Inspiration – Page 15 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Leadership Minute: Take Your Stand

Posted March 20, 2014
by admin
2 Comments on Leadership Minute: Take Your Stand

You cannot run away from weakness; you must sometime fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?” –Robert Louis Stevenson

As leaders we know this to be true; some days are just tough. It’s called life. But like most obstacles we face, a great deal of the struggle is with our attitudes. We struggle to say optimistic. Optimism does not prevent difficulties or make you immune from them. It does, however, empower you to face difficulties with a confidence that gives you an advantage in overcoming them. Now is the time to rise up with courage and fight the good fight. Your circumstances do not define you as a leader. Your struggles are not meant to overtake you. Stand up. Be strong. Lead with courage!

Please follow and like us:

Leadership Minute: Who’s Your Mentor?

Because mentors see our potential, they believe in us and help us believe in ourselves. – Joe Land, (Lessons from a Dream Maker)

An essential component of your growth and development as a leader is to have mentors. Mentors can give wise counsel, encouragement, correction, and affirmation while being an invaluable resource in your life. The truth is, leaders never stop learning and growing. When you get to a place where you think you know it all then you are in a dangerous place. One absolute truth I’ve learned in leadership over the years is this: the more I learn the more I realize how much I don’t know. When you surround yourself with mentors you can draw from their knowledge and experiences and apply them to your own life. The secret to your growth as a leader is to never stop being a student.

Please follow and like us:

Leadership Minute: Let It Go!

Posted March 14, 2014
by admin

Don’t sweat the small stuff…and it’s all small stuff. – Richard Carlson

It’s no secret that life can get complicated and we all have our fair share of stress to contend with. Leaders are not exempt. Couple the many daily decisions you make along with your other responsibilities and you can see why it can take a toll. How do you handle the stress? Some of the most stressed people I’ve met over the years are that way because they don’t know how to let things go. Inventory the major stress points in your life right now- which ones are really not your battles? Why are you fighting them? There comes a point in time when you just have to let go of battles that are not yours and reclaim your peace of mind. Simply put: let it go!

Please follow and like us:

Leadership Minute: Practice Kindness

Be kind to one another, because most of us are fighting a hard battle. – Ian McLaren

One of the misconceptions about leadership is that once you are a leader you have fewer problems. One of the truisms of leadership is that leaders are no different from anyone else. We all have our share of hardships and troubles. What will separate you as a leader is when you go out of your way to show kindness to those in the battle. Going through the battles of life is not uncommon, but you shouldn’t go through them alone. While it’s not your place to solve everyone else’s problems, you can show acts of kindness and give encouragement. Be the type of leader that has not only open eyes; but also an open heart.

Please follow and like us:

Leadership Minute: Proper Perceptions

Posted March 5, 2014
by admin
1 Comment on Leadership Minute: Proper Perceptions

Any person who selects a goal in life which can be fully achieved, has already defined his own limitations. – Cavett Robert

As you weigh your goals, dreams, and aspirations be sure not to sell yourself short. By that I mean your goals should stretch you to a place of challenging your own self-imposed limitations. We tend to play it safe by staking our claim to that which we feel we can comfortably achieve. But why settle? Why not set goals and dreams that are out of your present capacity to attain and see how you can grow to the challenge? You will only risk what your perceptions of yourself will allow. Simply put; aim high, remove the lids that would hold you back, and grow to new levels you thought were not possible.

Please follow and like us:

Leadership Minute: Team Unity

Posted March 4, 2014
by admin
4 Comments on Leadership Minute: Team Unity

A house divided against itself cannot stand. – Abraham Lincoln

In leadership circles we hear a lot about teamwork and team building, but not as much about team unity. Unity of your team does not mean checking your individuality at the door and not having differing views and opinions. Team unity simply means that once all the views have been aired, differences expressed, and a consensus reached, then it’s time to move forward with a united front. Teams need diversity of thought, creative minds, and fresh eyes taking a look at things from every angle. Promoting team unity begins when the leader acknowledges and values everyone’s input. Unity breaks down when voices are squelched. Build unity by building relationships. Never underestimate the value that each person brings to the table.

Please follow and like us:

Three Boundary-Busters Every Leader Must Face

You’re the same today as you will be in five years except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read. – Charlie “Tremendous” Jones

About 350 years ago, as the story is told, a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.

In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?

Here we had people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there but in a few short years were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. They were unable to move beyond their current boundaries.

If not careful, we too can get stagnant where we are and not move forward with fresh thinking and ideas. Expanding your borders as a leader and as an organization is about growth. Will your current way of thinking cause you to move forward in a positive way? Are you placing limits on the possibilities that could be yours? Here are three boundary busters that I think held the people back 350 plus years ago that could be holding you back today.

Having a big vision without the big picture.

Initially the people knew what they were signing up for and went along. But the vision that took them 3,000 miles at the start would not take them five additional miles at the end. Buy-in at the beginning of your vision is imperative but if there is no big picture to motivate your people to its completion it’s tragic.

An unfulfilled vision will frustrate you as a leader and disillusion your people. If you want to expand your boundaries beyond where you are today then your people must see the big picture. Open it up to them. Let them see the steps in the process and why they are needed. Do your people know your ten year plan? How about a five year plan? Do you know it? When your vision is clear then the big picture will make sense but not until then. If you want your followers to know it then it’s up to you as the leader to share it.

Limitless possibilities constrained by limited accomplishment.

The first few years these new travelers did what was necessary. They established a town site and government. By all accounts they were making progress. But a shift happened. Their thinking changed. What do you suppose happened? My guess is that the urgency of the vision that brought them there has now settled and they have become comfortable.

Complacency is a threat to any organization and leader. When you allow yourself and those you lead to “auto-pilot” their work, goals, or expectations then you have become settled. You may not be losing ground but you are certainly not gaining any. The townspeople could not see the big picture because they were comfortable. Never mind that they could have expanded their borders and improved their way of life. So long as you are comfortable where you are you will never expand your borders.

Small thinking in the face of great possibility.

Surely there was more to the 3,000 mile journey than a cozy little township. Was not surviving the hardships of sea now worth greater exploration? Expanding your borders is not about settling. Do you not have new trails to blaze? Do you not have new discoveries to make? Sadly, in the face of such great opportunity were those who were ready to obstruct progress.

The lesson learned here is this: Not everyone who starts with you will finish with you. Not everyone will pay the price to go to the next level. The greater the sacrifice the fewer your numbers will be. Many will want to bask in your accomplishments but not all will help you get there. But leaders understand this and will not hold it against them. It is the point of separation. If you want to expand your boundaries as a leader you must be willing to pay the price. Sometimes you will travel alone. But your possibilities are there for the taking if you are willing to lead the way.

What do you say?

I invite your feedback!

1. What boundary-busters are you challenged with?

2. How can you more effectively share your vision and big-picture with those you lead?

3. In what ways can you encourage those you lead to take the journey with you?

Please follow and like us:

100 Books for 100 Teachers

Posted February 28, 2014
by admin

LEADERS WITHOUT BORDERS…

Over the past few years I’ve had the joy of going into many schools thanks to the generosity of individuals and businesses that have partnered with us to give copies of my book to teachers. Our teachers are the heroes of the classroom and our communities and our way to thanking them is by gifting them with copies my leadership book.

I am using my “Leadership Minute” space today to ask you for your help. My goal is to gift 100 books to 100 teachers in the coming days and I am asking for your help. If you would like to help me honor our teachers, perhaps in a small way to say thank you for the teachers who helped shape your life, then I’d like to hear from you. If you have been inspired, encouraged or motivated by the “Leadership Minute” then would you consider helping us in this worthy cause?

Here’s the challenge: Go to my website, www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com, and order one or more books for this challenge. As a thank you when you place your order I will email you a free PDF version of the book!

With your generosity and help I know that we can not only reach this goal but I am confident we can exceed it. The more books gifted the more teachers we can impact! At just $10 a copy this is simply a small investment to say thank you for all that our teachers do. Thank you for your generosity!

* You can read more by clicking on the “Leadership in Education” tab at the top of the page. Again, thank you for your help today!

Please follow and like us:

Leadership Minute: Prepare Your Victory Speech

I never expect to lose. Even when I’m the underdog, I still prepare a victory speech. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Your expectations as a leader are very important. They are reflective of your attitude which is a strong indicator of your mindset. When you have high expectations about your tasks at hand and the future you are working toward it sets you up for success. We all face obstacles and the path is not always smooth. Sometimes you may even be the underdog. But when you choose to embrace a positive attitude over a negative attitude you are more inclined to come out ahead. Control your thoughts and you control your attitude. Control your attitude and you control your destiny. Have you prepared your victory speech?

Please follow and like us:

Leadership Minute: At Ease

Posted February 26, 2014
by admin
2 Comments on Leadership Minute: At Ease

Try to be like the turtle- at ease in your own shell. – Bill Copeland

If not careful leaders can find the demands and expectations of leading to be a daunting challenge. The constant barrage of requests for time, critical decisions that must be made, and bouncing from one meeting to the next – it can all be a bit overwhelming. But when you learn to be comfortable in your own skin that’s where the much needed separation takes place. As you embrace the confidence you have in your abilities and when you set the pace for those around you it can generate the calming effect that others around you need. Are you comfortable in your own skin?

Please follow and like us: