Leadership coach – Page 3 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Embracing the Hard Things in Leadership

Posted June 5, 2020June 6, 2020
by admin

We all have an unsuspected reserve of strength inside that emerges when life puts us to the test. – Isabel Allende

A story is told about three military recruiters who went to address a group of high school seniors. Each recruiter represented a branch of the military and each was given fifteen minutes to speak.

The Army and Navy recruiters got carried away, so when it came time for the Marine to speak, he had just two minutes. He walked up and stood utterly silent for a full sixty seconds, half of his time. Then he said, “I doubt whether there are two or three of you in this room who would even stand a chance in the Marine Corps. But I want to see those two or three immediately in the dining hall when we are dismissed.” He turned smartly and sat down.

When he arrived in the dining hall, there was a crowd of students interested in the Marines. The recruiter knew that commitment cannot take place without recognizing the potential for difficulty.

As a leader, you are familiar with difficulty. It comes with the territory. Not everything about being in positions of leadership is as glamorous as they are sometimes perceived. There’s a big gap between the perceptions and the reality. And sometimes the gap is wide.

But despite the fact that difficulties are common among leaders, they don’t have to be fatal, permanent, or avoided. You can succeed-even thrive in the face of them. Here are three things you need to know about facing your difficulties in leadership.

The hard things today are preparing you for greater successes tomorrow

Your life in leadership will often be met with difficulties. Nothing worth achieving or accomplishment worth attaining is ever going to come without challenges along the way. That being said, your attitude towards your difficulty today is what will keep you where you are or move you forward.

Earl Nightingale said it this way, “When we set an important goal for ourselves, we present to our minds a problem to be solved, a challenge to be successfully fulfilled.” And this is the essence of the challenges you face today. The greater the accomplishment you want to have tomorrow will have to be met with a greater determination today to achieve it. Click To TweetOnce you do, you will create a momentum that will carry you to greater success.

The hard things bring you new lessons to learn

With each set of difficulties that you encounter come new opportunities to grow and learn as a leader. The hard things you are dealing with today may not be the ones you dealt with a year ago. And they will look different a year from now. With each new season in your leadership, you are equipped with new and better ways to handle them.

It was Thomas Edison that said, “ I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” And this highlights the value of difficulties or obstacles. They are great teachers. The question is – what are we learning from them and are we properly applying those lessons?

The hard things take your leadership to new levels

Your growth as a leader is important and at times it comes with some friction. It’s just part of the process. As a leader, you’re not going to be exempt from facing the hard things. But when you embrace them for what they are – opportunities to learn and grow, you will then discover that they are hindering you, they are now empowering you. And this is when the tide begins to turn in your favor.

Rumi framed it this way, “Seek the wisdom that will untie your knot. Seek the path that demands your whole being.” And herein lies the challenge. In order to untie your knot, you must seek the right path. What are we prone to do? Our human nature wants the path of least resistance. But it’s when we embrace the hard things that we grow as a person and as a leader.

Final Thoughts

Embracing the hard things that come your way is not always easy. I get it. But let me encourage you to rise to the challenge and embrace them with a renewed determination and attitude. You will be a better leader for it.

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Embrace The Interruptions

Posted May 28, 2020May 28, 2020
by admin

The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life–the life God is sending one day by day. – C.S. Lewis

I have a small collection of autographed baseballs. Aside from being a fan of baseball, I’m not exactly sure how I got started on the collection. But several autographed baseballs from Hall of Famers are set atop one of my office bookshelves.

The most prized baseball I have was given to me by my father. It was a birthday present. Growing up a St. Louis Cardinal fan, the autograph ball is from none other than Stan “The Man” Musial.

Musial broke into the Major Leagues at the age of 20. His 22-year stint with the Cardinals, the only team he played for, earned him a spot in Cooperstown. Musial ended his career with a .331 batting average, 3,630 hits, 475 home runs, and 1,951 runs batted in.

Unfortunately, I never got to see Stan Musial play. His days in the game preceded my birth, but as a Cardinals fan, his legacy is still sacred.

Musial was off to a fast start in his career. In 1943 he won the first of seven batting titles. His career was on a fast track–until it wasn’t.

Like many of his teammates in that era, duty called and in 1945, Musial joined the Navy. While that season was lost. He rejoined the Cardinals in 1946 and went on to play a stellar career.

Life, like Musial’s and countless thousands of others, is filled with curveballs that are thrown our way. Things that we didn’t see coming. Interruptions, if you will.

The past few months may seem like one colossal interruption that you’d soon rather forget. I get it. Yet, here we are.

As a leader, how you handle interruptions is important. Consider this the next time you are faced with interruptions.

Interruptions give you time to regroup

It’s easy to see interruptions as a nuisance and get frustrated. But it’s how you react during this time that will cause it to be beneficial or a waste of time. As a leader, it’s up to you to make it happen.

Interruptions give you time to rethink

What you learn and the lessons you apply during times of interruption can be invaluable going forward. It’s exactly what many have had to do during this pandemic. Learning how to pivot and make adjustments have caused many to get out of ruts and old ways of doing things that they may not have been comfortable doing prior. Click To Tweet Not all interruptions are setbacks if you use them to your advantage.

Interruptions give you a chance to re-emerge stronger

While your interruptions may have been seen as delay and loss, maybe now you can see it as a part of a greater plan to position you to be stronger than before. How you use your time of interruption can be beneficial only as you change your attitude towards it. Click To Tweet

Final Thoughts

What have you learned during these past few months? How have you learned to pivot and what other lessons have you learned? Permit me to encourage you to embrace the interruptions that come your way. What you can learn and how you re-engage will make all the difference.

For Musial, his interruption was a call to duty. When his service ended, he returned as strong as ever and finished a Hall of Fame career. Your interruption is not the end, it’s just a pause. Embrace it and learn from it.

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Why Sacrifice Matters to Your Leadership

Posted April 21, 2020
by admin

The most important decision about your goals is not what you’re willing to do to achieve them, but what you’re willing to give up”. – Dave Ramsey

It took less than ten seconds for Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt to cover the one hundred meter distance on the Olympic track and win the gold medal in London. Those few seconds cemented his status as the “fastest man alive” and placed him on the winner’s podium once again.

But the race wasn’t won in those seconds- it was won by hours and hours of practice, workouts, weightlifting, special diet, and coaching. The race was not won in the performance but in the preparation. It is our desire for something greater that causes us to sacrifice some things, even for some good things, for the sake of things that are better.

Many who’ve achieved great successes in their respective fields be it as a musician, artist, doctor, nurse, writer, etc. have done so not as “overnight sensations” but as those with their nose to the grind. We see the byproduct of that hard work and discipline- the fame, notoriety, etc., we don’t see the blood, sweat, and tears that were shed for years to get to that point.

The same holds true for you as a leader. Your capacity as a leader is something that is developed over years, not days. Click To TweetThis happens in part simply because there are just things about leadership that you can’t learn in a book. It’s real-world experiences that makes the difference.

On your leadership journey, there are sacrifices to be made – trade-offs if you will, that unless you are willing to make, will only limit your capacity as a leader. But if you are willing to make them, your future as a leader is bright. What do those sacrifices look like? Here are a few to consider.

The sacrifice of your ego for authenticity

If your desire is to become a leader worthy of following, you are going to have to sacrifice your ego for authenticity. People can care less about your ego or how great you think you are. People do care about authenticity – being real. So long as you think the world revolves around you then your capacity for leadership is limited to how far your over-inflated ego can take you. Click To Tweet

Leadership Tip – Drop the ego and pretense. The sooner you learn it’s not about you the better off you’ll be.

The sacrifice of your pride for humility

The vernacular of a prideful leader is saturated with a lot of “I”, and “me” talk. It’s quite telling. If you have a genuine desire to be a leader, you must sacrifice your pride for humility. You need to learn the vocabulary of “we”, “let us”, and “how can I help you?”. Until you learn that the secret to being a good leader is found in the role of servant leadership you’ll go only as far as your pride will take you.

Leadership Tip – Expressions of servant leadership are found when you concede being in the spotlight by putting others in it.

The sacrifice of your rights for your responsibilities

We live in a day and time characterized by people demanding their rights. After all, you don’t see people marching and demanding their responsibilities. For you to grow and develop into the leader you’d like to one day become then you must set aside your rights and take up your responsibilities. Click To Tweet Until you understand this, you’ll only go as far as your power grabs will take you. As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is required.

Leadership Tip – Be willing to embrace your responsibilities as a leader. When you do, you will genuinely be a leader worth following.

Final Thoughts

All of us owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to all who have made and continue to make sacrifices on the front lines of the Coronavirus front. Our first responders, nurses, and doctors are doing God’s work no doubt. Just know that your sacrifices are noted and genuinely appreciated. We all thank you!

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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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When Things Aren’t Always Clear

Posted November 10, 2019
by admin

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. – George Bernard Shaw

Communication is the lifeblood of any good organization. With it, things run smoothly. Without it, it’s a constant struggle.

Consider this humorous story I came across not long ago. It was about a man who lacked tact. He was the type of person who just couldn’t say anything graciously.

He and his wife owned a poodle. They loved this dog. It was the object of their affection. The wife was to take a trip abroad, and she made it to New York on the first day. She called home and asked her husband, “How are things?”

He said, “The dog’s dead!”

She was devastated. After collecting her thoughts, she asked, “Why do you do that? Why can’t you be more tactful?”

He said, “Well, what do you want me to say? The dog died.”

She said, “Well, you can give it to me in stages. For example, you could have said, ‘The dog went out on the roof.’ And then when I travel to London the next day and call, you could tell me, ‘Honey, the dog fell and had to be taken to the vet. In fact, he’s in the hospital, not doing well.’ And finally, when I call you from Rome, ‘Honey, brace yourself. Our dog died.’ I could handle that.”

The husband paused and said, “Oh, I see.”

Then she asked, “By the way, how’s Mother?”

He said, “She’s on the roof.”

Communication. How would you rate it in your organization? Is it good? Bad? Why is that? If it’s bad, is that a reflection of the culture at large or is it more random? Regardless of your answers, one thing is for certain – good communication matters.

As a leader, you want to make sure that your communication systems are working. It needs to be C.L.E.A.R.

C – Correct.

It’s not enough that communication in your organization is taking place. The information that is flowing within and out of your organization needs to be accurate. Expediency serves no purpose if the information is wrong Click To Tweet. Make sure it’s correct. Nothing is more frustrating than inaccurate information being disseminated. It makes you look bad and frustrates the very people you are trying to serve.

L – Logical

A necessary ingredient to good communication is that it’s logical. Make sure that it serves a useful purpose and is beneficial to those who receive it. If the information you are trying to communicate is important enough to be distributed to those in your organization and beyond, then it’s important that it’s done right. Don’t put forth information that is irrelevant or hard to understand.

E – Essential

It’s one thing to communicate regularly, but how much of that communication is essential? How would a communication audit look for you and your organization? How much of what you communicate in a meeting could have been handled in an email? Click To TweetHow do you recoup that lost time in productivity? What about those unnecessary emails that clutter up the inbox? Good communication is necessary but make sure that what you are communicating is essential. Don’t waste people’s time with the trivial.

A – Accessible

Information that your people need should be accessible through good communication channels. Make sure that people who are supposed to be in the loop are in the loop. Don’t make access to information difficult or make assumptions that it’s been received. Nothing will frustrate your people more than being in the dark on matters that they should know about. Be intentional with your communication and make it accessible. Click To Tweet

R – Regular

Good communication within your organization should be regular. In other words, good communication practices should be a part of the routine of your organization. It’s dependable, it’s reliable, it’s accurate, and you’ve built a reputation upon it. Avoid the pitfalls of poor communication and poor morale by good communication a priority. Too much is at stake not to.

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Don’t Throw Your People Under The Bus

Posted September 8, 2019September 8, 2019
by admin

See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see. – Wayne Dyer

I read a story about a farm boy who accidentally overturned his wagon-load of corn in the road. The farmer who lived nearby came to investigate. “Hey, Willis,” he called out, “forget your troubles for a spell and come on in and have dinner with us. Then I’ll help you get the wagon up.”

“That’s mighty nice of you,” Willis answered, “but I don’t think Pa would like me to.”

“Aw, come on, son!” the farmer insisted.

“Well, okay,” the boy finally agreed. “But Pa won’t like it.”

After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. “I feel a lot better now, but I just know Pa is going to be really upset.”

“Don’t be foolish!” exclaimed the neighbor. “By the way, where is he?”

“Under the wagon,” replied the boy.

Being under the wagon is not a fun place to find yourself. Sadly, that’s exactly where too many have found themselves as it relates to their boss.

A study reported on in HR Drive says that three out of four people have had a toxic boss. According to a Monster survey they cite, more than one-quarter have described their bosses as “power-hungry” who are looking out only for themselves.

With survey results like this, is it any wonder that many employees feel being thrown under the bus is just part of the culture?

As a leader, how you treat your people speaks volumes about your leadership. While it’s a given that your people don’t want to be thrown under the bus as a result of poor leadership skills, let’s not assume that you understand this.

Here are a few essentials you need to remember going forward.

Your people are the greatest appreciable asset you have

As a leader, your people are the greatest appreciable assets you have. How you treat them, equip them, empower them, invest in them, and serve them reflects on the integrity of your leadership like nothing else will. If you think that I am overstating this, then answer this question – where would you be without them?

Your people want your loyalty and respect

Loyalty is a two-way street. You can’t rightfully expect your people to extend loyalty to you if it’s not been given by you.If all your people do is doctor the wounds from the tire prints left by the bus you’ve thrown them under then don’t expect their loyalty in return. Click To Tweet The respect that you show is the respect you deserve.

Your people don’t care how much you know

You’ve heard the old adage, “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. And that much is true. But beyond how much you know, they want to know that you are authentic and real. They want to know that you are not only there for them in the good times, but that you will be right there in the trenches with them in the bad times. Your people don’t care as much about the facts and figures in your head, they want to know what’s in your heart. Click To Tweet

Your people are invested in what they help create

More than anything else, your people want to know that they are a part of something greater than themselves. They want to be on a team with like-minded people and know that they are valued. This leadership mindset begins with relationships and is sustained by trust.

In short, your people don’t want to be thrown under the bus by an insecure, ego-driven leader. They want to be on the bus – in the driver’s seat, delivering excellence every day. Don’t be an obstacle to the progress that could be yours. Your people are more valuable as contributors on the bus, not when they are being dragged beneath it.

Additional Resources:

Check out these articles from my archives:

7 Things You Do As A Leader That Your People Can’t Stand

How To Defeat A Culture Of Apathy

Get Off Your High Horse

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The Pressures of Leadership

Posted May 5, 2019May 5, 2019
by admin

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. – 2 Corinthians 4: 8 (NLT)

I read a story about King Henry III of Bavaria, who in the eleventh century, grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made an application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. “Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”

“I understand,” said Henry. “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”

“Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.” When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.”

Hang around in leadership long enough and there will come a time when you may feel like King Henry of Bavaria – just plain tired of all the pressures of being a leader and ready to walk away from it all.

Let’s be real, there are times when, as John Maxwell has said that “leadership sucks”. It’s when the glamour has worn off, the lights have faded, others have all gone home, that the weight and responsibility of leadership weigh heavy on you.

The pressures and stress in leaders also have a ripple effect. In research that I came across, it suggested that when leaders are adept at managing stress, only about 10% of their employees harbor such negative opinions. The study also found that when employees see their leaders as unable to manage stress, they report lesser ambitions to advance in their organization.

As a leader, you need to be aware not only of the impact that pressure and stress have on you but also on the people you lead. It’s far more reaching than you realize. Click To Tweet

There’s just no way to address the myriad of issues surrounding the pressures and stress of leadership in this post. It’s way more involved than time or space allows. But for now, allow me to share what I call my “4 K Everyday” tips to help you as a leader.

Know your limits

It doesn’t matter how good a leader you are, you have limits. You have knowledge limits, time limits, boundary limits, physical limits, emotional limits, etc. Know them. Don’t expect other people to know them much less guard them for you. Sometimes the pressures and stress you endure as leaders are self-inflicted. When you know your limits you will be less inclined to try and exceed them. Click To Tweet

Know your priorities

This simple, yet powerful tip can save you a world of stress. Rather than being the “jack of all trades and the master of none”, why not prioritize what’s on your plate. You don’t have to do it all. Nor should you. It’s when you learn to delegate and empower your people that you can relieve a lot of stress. When you manage your time you marginalize your stress and reduce it. Make this a daily practice of your leadership.

Know your people

Much of the stress and pressure in leadership is culture driven. Simply put – leaders set the tone. You can’t expect your people to have buy-in when you are disengaged. If your people are marginalized or have one foot out the door, what do you think is happening to your stress levels? By knowing your people you are discovering their passions, their talents, their hopes, and their dreams. By knowing your people you also know what is troubling them and what their concerns are. What’s out in the open serves you much better than what’s kept in the dark. Get to know your people! Click To Tweet

Know your values

At the end of the day, it’s your values – your faith, family, etc., that will sustain you. As a leader, you are not immune to stress and pressures. But you don’t have to be the victim of it either. When your values are clear it makes everything else about your leadership much more manageable and delightful.

Leadership is a privilege and a responsibility. The “4 K Everyday” tips can set you on a good path when you put them into practice.

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7 Things You Do As A Leader That Your Team Can’t Stand

Posted January 21, 2019January 21, 2019
by admin

Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh since there is less cleaning up to do afterward. – Kurt Vonnegut

I read a report in Lighthouse of a survey of 1,000 American employees conducted by Michelle McQuaid, which revealed that 65% of respondents would take a new boss over a pay raise.

In the same article, they cited another survey that found that 75% of employees consider their direct manager to be the worst part of their job. Ouch!

Are you surprised by this?

Many factors contribute to the attitudes and behaviors that exist in the workplace. And while every workplace is unique unto itself, I believe there are some common characteristics of leaders, who for better or worse, contribute to the culture of the organizations that they lead.

If you are a leader on any level in your organization, then you need to pay attention to my list of seven things you do as a leader that your team can’t stand. It’s not an exhaustive list, but these are certainly the more common ones. And just to be fair, in next week’s space the script will be flipped so stay tuned.

You are out of touch with your people

Any leader who is worth his or her salt knows that it’s your people who are the stars of the show. Do you know their hopes, their dreams, their fears, their joys, their concerns, their needs? If your people do not believe you are connected to them on any level, then what do you think motivates them to be invested in you as their leader? Click To Tweet

Your team can’t stand being out of sight and out of mind.

You don’t communicate values and vision

The connection of your people to your organization’s values and vision is not transferred to them by a piece of paper framed on the wall in the break room. It’s communicated and transferred from your heart to theirs. Your people need to see the big picture and hear how their part plays a role in attaining it. Your people need a clear understanding of where they are going and why. Click To Tweet

Your team can’t stand being in the dark.

You don’t have their backs

Let’s be clear- loyalty is a two-way street. Your people need to know that you not only believe in them but when the chips are down and the stakes are high, you have their backs. They need to know that you are a leader who is willing to go to the mat for them. You can do this by taking a little bit more of the blame and little less of the credit.

Your team can’t stand being thrown under the bus.

You don’t call out bad behaviors

If you are turning a blind eye or a deaf ear to toxic behaviors and attitudes, then- simply put, you are demoralizing your team. And you can rest assured the good ones whom you can’t afford to lose are probably already looking to make their exit. And why not? If you are not calling out bad behaviors then why should your team place their confidence in you as a leader? What you tolerate you promote.

Your team can’t stand you not having a backbone.

You don’t empower your people

There’s a fine line between being engaged and overreach as a leader. Engaged involves knowing and contributing and then stepping back and unleashing the talents of your people. Overreach is meddling and micromanaging. Sometimes the greatest hindrance to progress isn’t team members not doing their jobs, it’s team members not allowed to do their jobs because they are not empowered by their leader. Click To Tweet

Your team can’t stand you holding them back.

You don’t easily embrace change

Your ability to adapt as a leader is what gives you a competitive edge professionally. The same is true personally. But if you are a leader who is stuck in your ways and you are not able to adapt to your changing environment you are taking away your competitive edge. Your team can’t move forward and remain relevant if you are the last one on board. Click To Tweet In other words, the train will leave with or without you. Don’t give away your competitive edge because you are stuck in a mindset and way of doing things that only served you well twenty years ago.

Your team can’t stand waiting for you.

You don’t realize that everything rises and falls on leadership

This point is attributed to John Maxwell who coined the phrase. But as you read through my list you will see that at the heart of every issue that gives your team grief, at the core, is a leadership deficiency that drives it. While this is problematic, there is a silver lining to be found. You can right the ship and make corrections. But you must put yourself on a leadership track that will help you. In order to lead your people, you must first know how to lead yourself.

Your team can’t stand you not being a strong leader.

You don’t have to be the boss or leader that your team can’t stand. Are you ready to rise to the leadership challenge?

Resources: If you are new on your leadership journey then I’d like to suggest two books for you:

Developing The Leader Within You 2.0 by John Maxwell. Order it here from Amazon

Leaders Without Borders: 9 Essentials For Everyday Leaders by Doug Dickerson. Order it here from Amazon

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Rhythm Busters: The Four You Need To Tackle Today

Posted October 21, 2018October 21, 2018
by admin

The way is long if one follows precepts, but short if one follows patterns. – Seneca

Ask any artist, poet, or musician and they will talk to you of the importance of rhythm. The same goes for athletes. Getting into and establishing a rhythm is essential to success.

Unknowingly, however, many people are sabotaging their own success in leadership or in their organizations due to common rhythm busters. These are actions or behaviors that if left unchecked can disrupt the rhythm you need to sustain your momentum.

Think for a moment about the patterns and practices in your organization that work. The ones that create momentum and drive success. List them. Now picture what your organization would look like without them. What if that list was removed from your playbook, not by outside forces, but by self-inflicted wounds?

There are plenty of rhythm busters that can sabotage your momentum and hold you back. These four are ones you need to identify and tackle today. Click To Tweet

Turf wars

Nothing will kill the momentum of your organization any faster than territorial turf wars. It fosters distrust within your team and undermines your goals and mission.

Not understanding the destructive force of turf wars will render a leader ineffective in moving his or her organization forward. Allowed to continue, it won’t matter. The organization will crumble under the weight of its own arrogance.

Patrick Lencioni, in his acclaimed book, Silos, Politics and Turf Wars, writes, “There is perhaps no greater cause of exasperation-not to mention turnover-than employees having to fight with people in their own organization. Understandably and inevitably, this bleeds over into their personal lives, affecting family and friends in profound ways”.

Turf wars will disrupt the rhythm of your leadership and organizational life. It’s time to put a stop to it. Click To Tweet

Chasing the urgent, forsaking the important

Commonly referred to as “the tyranny of the urgent”, this behavior will always disrupt the rhythm of your organization. Study the patterns of most any successful organization or leader and you will see this clear distinction – knowing what is urgent and what is important.

The urgent bends toward pesky interruptions, phone calls, text messages, “need this right away” distractions that take team members away from the priorities that matter to tend to things that can wait. Unless you understand the difference between the urgent and the important you will always fight this battle with little success. Don’t let the urgent disrupt the rhythm of important.

Complacent attitudes

One of the dangers of a well-oiled machine is the belief that it runs by itself. If not careful, members on your team can settle into an attitude of believing that success is automatic if they keep doing the same things over time. While there is much to be said for regular patterns that work, it’s never a good idea to settle into a complacent mindset and take success for granted.

Leaders must always be on guard against anything that would disrupt organizational rhythms. Be it poor attitudes, complacent mindsets, or dated thinking Click To Tweet. As Pat Riley said, “When a great team loses through complacency, it will constantly search for a new and more intricate explanation to explain away defeat”. Don’t allow complacent attitudes to disrupt your rhythm.

Mistaking movement for progress

Mistaking movement for progress is the byproduct of complacent attitudes. This mindset lulls your people into believing that as long as the team is moving then all is well. But not all movement is progress. And smart leaders will recognize this.

As a leader, you must have keen eyes to see whether you are moving in the direction of your goals and vision. You must have ears to the ground to filter thru the noise of those, who despite their best intentions, may be giving bad advice.

Too much is at stake for you as a leader and for the direction of your organization to allow your rhythm to be derailed. Rhythm busters are a constant threat. You must be diligent and stop them before they stop you.

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Why Indecisive Leaders Hurt Morale

Posted October 7, 2018October 7, 2018
by admin

Indecision may or may not be my problem – Jimmy Buffett

A story is told of former president Ronald Reagan once had an aunt who took him to a cobbler for a pair of new shoes. The cobbler asked young Reagan, “Do you want square toes or round toes?” Unable to decide, Reagan didn’t answer, so the cobbler gave him a few days.

Several days later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked him again what kind of toes he wanted on his shoes. Reagan still couldn’t decide, so the shoemaker replied, “Well, come by in a couple of days. Your shoes will be ready.” When the future president did so, he found one square-toed and one round-toed shoe! “This will teach you to never let people make decisions for you,” the cobbler said to his indecisive customer. “I learned right then and there,” Reagan said later, “if you don’t make your own decisions, someone else will.”

Indecisive leadership is a crippling character trait for leaders. When your organization needs clear direction and decisive action, a waffling leader can cause more harm than good. Click To Tweet

With so much at stake, why do leaders waffle and struggle with decision making? Three primary reasons come to mind.

They lack clarity

Leaders who struggle with decision making may lack the necessary clarity needed to make the necessary decision. Rather than making the wrong decision, they make no decision at all.

They lack confidence

In some situations, leaders withhold decision making because they are not confident enough in their own instincts. Rather than take a risk and make a decision, they play it safe and everyone is left dangling.

They lack consensus

In some cases, leaders withhold decision making because they don’t have a consensus on the best path forward. Rather than offend a few with a decision, the leader demoralizes everyone by not making one.

So what is a leader to do? How can a leader overcome this agonizing dilemma? Here are a few ideas.

Trust your instincts

A confident leader will trust his or her instincts in times of decision. Deep down you have a strong intuition that guides you. Trust it.

Welcome input

Decisive leaders are informed leaders. Those most affected by your decisions should be the first at the table of discussion. As it’s been said, “the person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom”. Welcome input, but make your decisions on principle, not politics.

Clarify your values

The worst thing you can do as a leader is to make a decision for the sake of making one. Roy Disney was right when he said, “When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier”. When making a decision make sure it aligns with your values. If not, don’t do it. Click To Tweet

Check your motives

First and foremost in your decision making should be what’s best for your organization and people. If you are making decisions to gain popularity or to gain favor with some to the detriment of others you are sowing the seeds of low morale. You must have the best interest of the team at heart and not just a few.

Leadership is about making hard decisions. Indecisive leaders make it harder--on themselves and those they lead. Click To Tweet Your path forward begins by acknowledging what your indecisive tendencies are doing to your leadership and how it’s impacting the morale of those you lead.

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