Inspiration – Page 7 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Leadership Minute: Don’t Be Bitter

Posted September 8, 2014
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Some guys leave a place after a long time, and they’re bitter. Not me. – Peyton Manning

If there was ever a person who led by example on this issue it was Peyton Manning. When he left the Indianapolis Colts for the Denver Broncos he did it with as much class and style as anyone could. He modeled the way it can be done. But in your leadership journey I am sure you’ve come across those who left a place after a long career who didn’t leave on such good terms. Perhaps their journey didn’t go as planned. Maybe their dreams went unfulfilled and they left bitter and beat down. In leadership you will always have challenges. You don’t always choose your circumstances or how people will treat you. But you do own your attitudes and reactions. So regardless of what you are facing today – know this, you are there for a purpose. Make up your mind to guard your heart and your attitude at all costs. When it’s time to move on you will know it- not because you are bitter, but because you are at peace.

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Leadership Minute: A Life of Gratitude

Posted September 4, 2014
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As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. – John F. Kennedy

As leaders we have much to be thankful for. No amount of words will ever suffice to express the gratitude we have for those in our life- past and present who helped us along the way. While kind expressions should be expressed it’s how we live our life that truly counts. Living a life of gratitude ultimately leads to a different way of leading. When we remember with gratitude those who gave us that first break, or those who welcomed us not just as colleagues but as friends, we tend to understand that those were defining moments in our leadership development. It’s from those experiences and many more that we learn how to live a life of gratitude and pass down those expressions of gratitude to those coming along behind us. Are you living a life of gratitude?

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Leadership Minute: Live Fearlessly

Posted September 3, 2014
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I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly. – Oprah Winfrey

Leadership is not for the faint of heart. And if you are going to live your life fearlessly then there are some choices you are going to have to make. The life of a leader is not characterized by avoiding fearful things or circumstances. It is however; living in the presence of fear without being afraid. It’s about choosing not to allow those fears to hold you back or control you. Living fearlessly is having a greater confidence in your faith and abilities than any threat that fear can pose. To be sure, fear is a motivator. As a leader it will push you to achieve and overcome seemingly great obstacles, or it will paralyze you. Living fearlessly is not the absence of fear but is the stronger belief that you are equipped to handle anything that comes your way. Are you living fearlessly?

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Leadership Minute: Don’t Be a Hater

Posted September 2, 2014
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Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too. – Will Smith

Being a leader can be tough. To be sure, it is filled with many wonderful opportunities to use your influence to make positive changes and do a lot of good. But along the way you will have to contend with people who will make you mad, disrespect you, and treat you bad. It comes with the territory. How you respond to those people is what will set you apart as a leader. Regardless of how civil and nice you are you will not win over everyone. Unfortunately, some people go through life being a jerk. But as far as it depends on you – be nice. You may not win over that difficult person over today, tomorrow, or ever for that matter. But that’s not on you. Let God deal with the haters – let your focus be on doing good and not allowing hate to fill your heart. When you allow good to overcome hate you will always come out ahead.

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Leadership Minute: Embrace Your Gift

Posted August 28, 2014
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You have something to offer this world that nobody else has. –Joel Osteen

Just as no two snowflakes are alike; neither are two people the same. You have been created with a special purpose and mission to fulfill in life. Your DNA has divine fingerprints. What I have to offer the world will differ from what you offer. We each run our own race. But regardless of what your gift or talent may be; it is important that you embrace it. Fulfilling your mission and purpose is your duty. You are not here just to occupy space. The world is waiting for what you have to offer. Let me encourage you today to step up to the plate. Don’t worry about how it compares to what someone else has or if it will make a difference. It will. The world needs your leadership and what you have to offer. Are you ready to embrace your gift and engage your world?

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Leadership Minute: Learn From Your Trials

Posted August 27, 2014
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Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of. – Charles Spurgeon

No one likes to go through trails. I don’t; do you? But as leaders we are not immune from them. The truth is- bad things happen to good people and if you hang around in leadership long enough you will go through trails and testing. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s during trails and testing that the soil of your leadership is being dug up. It’s during these times that you learn what you are made of. Times of testing are not always pleasant but what you can learn from them can be invaluable. Granted, we’d prefer to learn about who we are in more pleasant circumstances than trials or difficulties, but if we did, our learning would be incomplete. Your trials will teach you what you are made of but most importantly they will help you put down deeper roots. When you come through your trials you will be a stronger leader. Are you ready to learn?

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Leadership Minute: Taking the Journey

Posted August 25, 2014
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Leadership is all about taking people on a journey. The challenge is that most of the time, we are asking people to follow us to places we ourselves have never been. – Andy Stanley

Intuitively we know that leadership is a journey. So much of where we go as leaders is a journey of the heart as much as it is the head. But when you invite other people to take the journey with you it changes things. If as a leader you have no idea as to where you are going then convincing others to follow will be a more difficult proposition. Knowing where you are going and why you are going there are two critical fundamentals for any follower. People will follow a leader who can confidently articulate a vision, but it’s incomplete information. The follower must know why taking the journey matters to them and what their involvement will be. As a leader you have to make the case for the journey, lead with authority, and communicate with clarity.

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Leadership Minute: Reign in Your Ego

Posted August 22, 2014
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You need enough ego to believe you matter but not so much that you ignore others. –Dan Rockwell

One of the dangers of your leadership is that of an over-inflated ego. If not careful, leaders who achieve a certain level of success can make the mistake of believing that everything revolves around them. The danger worsens when you believe you matter more than you do and by ignoring others in the process. While it’s good to believe in yourself you should not be writing your own biased headlines. Strive to make a difference and be grateful for your success. Your accomplishments matter but not nearly as much as the people around you. Don’t let your ego be the stumbling block as it relates to your growth as a leader. Remember, it’s not about you. You will keep your ego in check when you seek to elevate those around you and serve with humility.

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Leadership Minute: Learn All You Can

Posted August 21, 2014
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I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him. – Galileo Galilei

Leadership is a life-long learning process. Class is always in session; it never ends. As leaders we have the ability to tap into many streams of learning opportunities. Be it a book, a workshop or seminar, or webcast. The point here is simple and direct –learn all that you can from as many sources as possible. Working around you are many people from whom you can learn. Some may be more beneficial to you than others, but from everyone you can learn something. A little humility is in order as it relates to what you can learn from your peers or others in your circle of influence. If you come across as a “know it all” then it might be a challenge to think you can learn from those around you. The question is – are you willing to learn? Don’t try be so above everyone around you that you can’t learn something new. You can. A smart leader realizes he doesn’t know it all and is humble enough to learn.

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Leadership Minute: Risk and Recognition

Posted August 20, 2014
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Today, I will remember that if there is no risk there is no recognition. – Jimmy Collins

Risk is part of a leader’s life. Does it always pay off? No. But one thing is certain – without risk there is no recognition. Risk-takers are peculiar. They had rather take big risks and fail than to play it safe and succeed. Risk-takers are those who see the same opportunity-in-waiting as the next person but with one major difference. The risk-taker will act. The risk-taker will dare to believe that what the other person deemed as impossible is actually possible. Pride in one’s work and the desire for achievement comes with measured risk, there is no recognition for the one who remains safe in the harbor. Are you ready to step out and take a risk? Are you ready to cast your sails and set out on an improbable journey of success? It’s not about throwing caution to the wind, but sometimes you have to put your sails into the wind if you want to succeed.

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