leadership development – Page 10 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Burnout: Is There More to it Than Meets the Eye?

Posted March 22, 2021
by admin

Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long. – Michael Gungor

A first-grader became curious because her father brought home stacks of work from the office each night. Her mother explained, “Daddy has so much to do that he can’t finish it all at the office. That’s why he has to bring work home at night.”

“Well then,” asked the child innocently, “why don’t they put him in a slower group?”

While meant to be humorous, that story is a reflection of reality for many. The work never ends. There never seem to be enough hours in the day to get it all done. The stress is real. Burnout is inevitable. Can you relate?

But is it really the daily number of hours a day that you work that is the primary contributing factor to the source of your burnout?

The results from a Gallup report indicate that while the number of hours people work each week does matter, burnout risks increase significantly when employees exceed 50 hours and climbing even higher after 60 hours. A foregone conclusion, right?

Would you be surprised to learn that the survey found that it wasn’t the number of hours worked that caused the burnout? It was how people experienced their workload that had a stronger influence on burnout than hours worked.

According to the survey, engaged employees who have job flexibility tend to work more hours per week than the average employee, while reporting higher well-being. When people feel inspired, motivated, and supported in their work, they do more work and that work is significantly less on their overall health and wellbeing.

The top five factors that correlate most highly with burnout in the Gallup survey are:

Unfair treatment at work
Unmanageable workload
Unclear communication from managers
Lack of manager support
Unreasonable time pressure

We know that burnout is real. 76% of the respondents to the survey report experiencing burnout on the job at least some time. Have you?

Leaders can make a real difference when it comes to how their people experience their work and as a result improve their personal wellbeing. Here are a few considerations.

Make the environment a priority

It’s not the work that your people shy away from. They shy away from toxic environments that hinder them. When you make the environment in which your people work a priority then you will cut down on the stress, burnout, and the other negative effects that flow from it.

Rightfully empower your people

Take a holistic approach to leading your people. There’s more to your people than their skill sets and the work that they produce. Think in terms of the whole person and seek out additional ways to serve them. When your people are empowered to work in a healthy environment and live healthier lives (mentally, physically, spiritually) they will thrive.

Intentionally be aware

Your degree of awareness makes a difference. But unfortunately, it’s a trap many leaders fall into. Most leaders are not wired to notice warning signs of burnout and by the time they do, it can be too late. As a leader, you can better serve your people by being more proactive not just about the environment that you create but in the relationships you develop. Don’t leave it to chance, make it a priority.

Share accountability

When one suffers, all suffer. When everyone on your team takes responsibility for the well-being of your workplace environment and the well-being of its people, then the cases of burnout and stress can be reduced. In order for that to happen, everyone must take ownership. Shared accountability equals shared responsibility. When you have each others’ backs you can have everyone at their best.

How are you improving your work experience?

Employee Engagement: Creating Space for Engaged Employees and a Healthy Culture

A new e-book from Doug Dickerson and Dr. Elizabeth Stincelli

This new e-book is a collaborative effort of our shared passion for healthy workplaces and engaged employees. Stay tuned for more details!

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Embracing Courageous Leadership (Part 3) – Developing a Courageous Leadership Mindset

Posted March 14, 2021March 14, 2021
by admin

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. – E.E. Cummings

I read a story about Leonidas, the King of Sparta. He was preparing to take a stand with his Greek troops against the Persian army in 480 B.C. when a Persian envoy arrived. The man urged on Leonidas of the futility of resisting the advance of the huge Persian army. “Our archers are so numerous”, said the envoy, “that the flight of their arrows darkens the sun.”

“So much the better,” replied Leonidas, “for we shall fight them in the shade.” Leonidas made his stand and died with 300 of his men. Needless to say, his courage was misplaced.

In this series, I’ve made the case for embracing courageous leadership. We’ve looked at what it is not, what it is, and now, developing a courageous leadership mindset. With it the possibilities of your leadership are unlimited. Without a proper understanding of it, you could go down like Leonidas. In short, we need to get it right.

In her acclaimed book, Mindset, Carol S. Dweck writes, “When you enter a mindset, you enter a new world. In one world (the world of fixed traits) success is about proving you’re smart or talented. Validating yourself. In the other (the world of changing qualities) it’s about stretching yourself to learn something new. Developing yourself.” And this is where the first steps of developing a courageous leadership mindset begin.

Developing a courageous leadership mindset is a growth process that begins in your comfort zone and stretches you into something new. The process and journey must be embraced to go there. Here are a few ways how.

Acknowledge where you are in this moment

As you begin to develop a courageous leadership mindset, you must first acknowledge where you are on the journey. Everyone has a starting point and for each of one, the view is different.

As a young leader, I remember making the transition from what I studied and prepared for and putting it into practice in the marketplace. It was intimidating at times. But I was out to prove that I was smart and talented. But I also lacked a certain amount of courage to find my own voice because I was part of a culture of fixed traits. It was stifling.

Embrace a different mindset

If you are ever going to get out of your comfort zone and develop a courageous leadership mindset, you will have to begin to make some shifts. In our world of fixed traits and familiar ways of doing things as leaders, there must come a time in which you take responsibility for your growth, not look back, and burn the ships.

Your courageous leadership mindset is first and foremost an inside job. From there, it impacts every decision you make as a leader. Click To Tweet With a courageous leadership mindset, you are taking responsibility for your growth and development and the outcomes you desire.

Become a courageous leader

The point I want to emphasize here is that your growth and path to developing a courageous leadership mindset is a process. It takes time. As you move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset things for you as a leader will begin to look different.

Becoming a courageous leader will be subtle at first but before too long your attitude will be different and how you look at things will change. The people who intimidated you before will no longer have that power over you. Courage will begin to take root.

Final Thoughts

Growth is liberating and having a courageous leadership mindset is powerful. Combine these two and your potential is unlimited. Believe in yourself. Embrace the mindset. Trust the process.

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Embracing Courageous Leadership (Part 1)

Posted February 28, 2021March 1, 2021
by admin

You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. – Aristotle

It was the Roman statesman and scholar Marcus Cicero who said, “More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity. It will steal you blind”. The words of Cicero are as true today as they’ve ever been.

Is it possible that the lack of courageous leadership is creating a leadership vacuum marked not by the lack of great ideas and ability, but characterized by inaction and a lack of courage?

Former President Ronald Reagan told a story about the time when he was a little boy buying a pair of shoes and the cost of indecision. An aunt had taken him to a cobbler to have a pair of shoes made for him.

The shoemaker asked him, “Do you want a square toe or a round toe?” The young Reagan hemmed and hawed. So the cobbler told him, “Come back in a day or two and let me know what you want.”

A few days later the shoemaker saw Reagan on the street and asked what he had decided about his shoes. “I still haven’t made up my mind,” he answered. “Very well,” said the cobbler.

When Reagan received the shoes, he was shocked to see that one shoe had a square toe and one shoe had a round toe. “Looking at those shoes every day taught me a lesson,” said Reagan years later. “If you don’t make your own decisions, somebody else will make them for you!”

Lacking courage as a leader at times is nothing new. But the consequences of it must be clear. Ryan Pendell did a great job diving into the topic not long ago in an article for Gallup entitled Do Your Managers Lack Courage?

In it, he makes the point that while low-courage leaders can be held in high regard by both leaders and team members-mostly because they never stir up problems. But ultimately, they do not serve their teams well–and they don’t serve their leaders well either–because they aren’t being honest with anyone. Pendell says, “Low-courage managers fail to provide the kinds of support that employees need to get their work done.”

And herein lies the need for courageous leaders. In this first part, I will shed light on what courageous leadership isn’t. In part two, I will share insights on what it is. In part three I will share insights on how to develop a courageous leadership mindset.

Courageous leadership–what it isn’t:

Courageous leadership is not placing your popularity over your principles

Courageous leadership is grounded in your principles and values, not the whims of those you serve. Your first obligation is to affirm your core values, not your ego.

Courageous leadership is not passing the buck

Courageous leaders accept the responsibility that comes with the territory. They make difficult decisions and are willing to face the music.

Courageous leadership is not always about playing it safe

Courageous leaders understand that sometimes to move forward you have to set your fears aside and take that first step.

Courageous leadership is not about kicking the can down the road

Courageous leaders understand that eventually, decisions have to be made. You can only kick the can down the road so far until you reach a dead end. There must come a time for action.

Final Thoughts

Indecisive leaders can paralyze organizations and harm morale. But with courage, a leader can be a catalyst for change and progress. It’s time to be courageous!

Click here to listen to The Cardinal Point Leadership Podcast

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Seeing The Best in Others

Posted February 19, 2021February 20, 2021
by admin

She had a way of seeing the beauty in others, even, and perhaps most especially, when that person couldn’t see it in themselves. – J. K. Rowling

I read the story of a young boy who worked in a factory, but he had an intense desire to be a singer. When he turned ten years old, he took his first voice lesson which procured a less than encouraging remark from his teacher, “You can’t sing. You haven’t any voice at all. Your voice sounds like a wind in the shutters.”

His mother, however, believed that he could learn to sing. She was very poor, but she hugged him and said, “My boy, I’m going to make every sacrifice to pay for your voice lessons.”

Her encouragement and sacrifice for her son proved to be invaluable. He became known as one of the world’s greatest singers. His name is Enrico Caruso.

I like this story because it represents such an important leadership quality that is needed today. On a personal level, we know that we will never rise above the way in which we see ourselves. But contrast this in how you view others. Do you make it a practice to see the best or are you only finding fault?

When I was a young boy in grade school, I struggled as a student. I was diagnosed with dyslexia which made learning a challenge on many levels. The diagnosis was helpful in getting to the root causes for my academic struggles and receiving the help I needed.

One person responsible for that help was Mrs. Strong- my 4th-grade teacher. She instilled a confidence in me that was lacking along with an inferiority complex to match. But it was her perseverance in working with me that began a process of helping me to change my mindset which subsequently helped me academically. The changes didn’t happen overnight, but the seeds were planted that brought me to where I am today.

Seeing the best in your people is an important first step in adding value to them. Your people will never be moved or helped by your silent observations. So what can you do as a leader not just to see the best in others but to help move them from where they are today to a place of greater meaning and purpose in the future? Here are a few suggestions.

Build relationships

You can only see the best in others up close. When you build relationships with your people you will be more prone to see the best and finer qualities in them. It’s also through that relationship that you can identify areas that need improvement. But because you first built a relationship, you now have the credibility to see both and add value.

Build trust

The relationships that you have with your people will be different from person to person. But when it comes to calling out the best in your people it must be based on trust. Seeing the best in others is just the beginning Helping people grow to new levels begins when they trust you because trust is the currency of relationships Click To Tweet. Don’t ever underestimate the importance of trust. It’s the best way forward.

Build with patience

Seeing the best in others and calling it out is invaluable to your people. It’s a morale booster and confidence builder that’s always appreciated. However, you must think long-term and pack your patience as you help your people grow. Seeing the best qualities in your people doesn’t mean those qualities are polished or perfected - it simply means you recognize them. Click To Tweet As a leader, your job is akin to seeing the diamond in the rough. Now that you’ve found it, you can begin to refine it. Be patient with the process.

Build for the right reasons

Growing and developing leaders around you-seeing the best in them, should never be done with selfish motives or intentions. If your angle in seeing the best in your people and developing them is for your own benefit down the road, then perhaps you should reassess your motives. Seeing and wanting the best for your people should first and foremost be about making them a better leader. The residual effects that come ought to be secondary to helping that person reach his or her full potential.

Are you seeing the best in others?

Listen to Doug’s podcast at https://anchor.fm/cardinalpointleadership

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Be a Leader That Lifts

Posted February 1, 2021February 19, 2021
by admin

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. – C.S. Lewis

In the washroom of a place of business in London, British newspaper publisher Willaim Beaverbrook happened to meet Edward Heath, a young member of Parliament, about whom Beaverbrook had printed an insulting article a few days earlier. “My dear chap,” said the publisher, embarrassed by the meeting, “I’ve been thinking it over, and I was wrong. Here and now, I wish to apologize.”

“Very well,” grunted Heath, “but next time, I wish you’d insult me in the washroom and apologize in your newspaper.”

If you hang around in leadership long enough, you will eventually have moments when you are on the receiving end of critics and toxic people. It comes with the territory. My friend Ron Ward explains it this way. “ The tallest trees catch the most wind. Leadership can make you a target.” This is so true.

Most likely by now, you’ve heard the popular expression, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind”. The message is simple but profound. I think it’s time more people live it, especially leaders.

One of the most lasting things you can do as a leader is to lift others- to see people where they are not with a condescending eye, but with a lifting hand. As a leader, you are either lifting people or leaving people, your choice will make all the difference.

What qualities or attitudes do lifting leaders possess? What sets apart leaders that lift as compared to leaders that hold others down? Let’s consider these five for starters.

Leaders that lift look at potential

When you look for and see the potential in people it becomes the starting place for lifting. It’s a principle that I learned many years ago from John Maxwell. He always saw people as a 10. In reality, they were not 10’s. They may only be a 2, 3, or 4, but he looked upon them as 10’s. He saw them not as they were in that moment but who they could become. As a leader that lifts, don’t just look at the dirt that surrounds that diamond in the rough, look at their intrinsic value and worth.

Leaders that lift set aside their insecurities

This perhaps is one of the most common causes as to why some leaders don’t lift others. So long as you are insecure you will always be looking upon others with a suspicious eye. This posture puts a lid on your leadership. What’s worse, in the process, you hold others back. Don’t allow your insecurities and pettiness to hold others back. People around you need your best, not your baggage. Click To Tweet As a leader that lifts, be willing to call out the best in people. At the end of the day, all people want and deserve is a leader that believes in them and is not intimidated by their rise.

Leaders that lift build relationships

A leader that lifts knows the power of connections and relationship building. While you may have the ability to lift those around you, it may be another that takes them further on the journey than you. Make those connections anyway. The people you lift may just be one connection away from reaching their dream and realizing their destiny. That journey begins with a simple act of kindness and offering a hand that lifts.

Leaders that lift build momentum

The compound effect of leaders that lift is that it creates an energy and momentum that is fueled by those who have been lifted to fulfill their dreams. Would you rather fuel momentum in your organization by coercion or by passion? When you commit to being a leader that lifts you unleash a momentum that you couldn’t do on your own.

Leaders that lift build the future

This is the lasting contribution of leaders that lift. When you lift others, you are not just improving the lives of others today, you are helping build the next generation of leaders. In the end, it’s not about what you did for yourself. How can you make the world a better place? It begins when you are not looking down on others, but when you lift them up. A promising future is built one lifting hand at a time.

Are you a leader that lifts?

Listen to Doug’s leadership podcast at https://anchor.fm/cardinalpointleadership

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The Example of Your Leadership

Posted January 25, 2021
by admin

If not me, who? And if not now, when? – Rabbi Hillel

A story is told of the late Harland “Colonel” Sanders on an airplane when an infant screamed and would not stop even though the mother and flight attendants tried every trick they could think of. Finally, the Colonel asked if he could hold the baby. He gently rocked it to sleep.

Later, a passenger said, “We appreciate what you did for us.”

Colonel Sanders replied, “I didn’t do it for us. I did it for the baby.”

The story is a reminder of a principle that all leaders need to remember – it’s not about you. It never has been.

Standing in the way of an otherwise good leader that’s setting a bad example is:

A sense of entitlement – So long as you feel entitled by your position or power, you will continue to set a bad example.
Pride – So long as you feel as if serving is beneath you then leading will be beyond you.
Ego – If you are thinking too highly of yourself then it will be difficult to set an example or lead others.

In more than three decades in leadership, I’ve been exposed to some leaders who were great examples and I’ve been around those whom I had just soon forgotten about. Chances are, so have you.

So what qualities or characteristics are essential in times like these if we are to set a good leadership example? Here are a few for consideration.

A leader with humility

It’s been said that humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. A leader with humility is comfortable in his own skin and places the needs of others ahead of his own.

A leader with integrity

At the end of the day, all you have is your name. Before a person buys into your vision they first must buy-in to you. It won’t matter how good your vision or dreams are, you can only travel as far as your integrity allows.

A leader with a servant’s heart

You will never set a more powerful example than when you exemplify the qualities of servant leadership. When you serve others and are committed to their growth and when you are empathetic to their needs, you then model a style of leadership that’s worth following.

A leader who listens to his people

When the people you lead know that they can come to you and that you will listen to them, you will have their hearts. It’s a great example of leadership when your people know that you are attentive to their concerns and that their voices are heard. I’ve said it before and it’s worth repeating here again – often the best ideas don’t flow out of your office, they flow into it.

A leader who elevates others

It’s sad to see leaders who elevate themselves off the backs of their people. It’s an abuse of leadership. You will set a positive example in leadership when you learn how to elevate your people, help them grow, and allow them to succeed. When you get your ego out of the way, your people can shine.

Final Thoughts

These are but a few ways in which you can set an example as a leader. It’s up to you to never stop growing, learning, and improving as a leader. Abraham Lincoln said, “ I do the very best I know how- the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.” And this is our calling as leaders. Because if not me, who? And if not now, when?

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Elevating Your Leadership Influence

Posted January 19, 2021
by admin

Think twice before you speak because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. – Napoleon Hill

One day a farmer grabbed his shotgun to shoot at a flock of pesky crows. Unfortunately, he didn’t see his sociable parrot that had joined the crows. After firing a few shots, he walked over to the fallen birds and was surprised to find his parrot badly ruffled with a broken wing.

When the farmer’s children saw the injured bird, they asked, “Dad, what happened?” The farmer simply replied, “Bad company.”

In leadership, one of the greatest responsibilities you have is to add value to your people and to increase the level of your influence in a positive way. As a leader, this ought to be top of mind in your thinking, but also in your actions. Are they lining up?

As you consider how to elevate your leadership influence, perhaps a good place to start is with these questions.

Are you investing in yourself as a leader?

After 30+ years in leadership here’s what I have learned – growing as a leader is a lifelong process. There’s never been a time in which I can say that I’ve learned it all. Before you can be a leader of influence in the life of those around you, you must first invest in your own personal growth and development as a leader. You have to grow yourself before you can grow others. Click To Tweet

Do you see the intrinsic value and worth of the people you lead?

It’s a simple leadership principle but one that needs to be established – if you don’t place value in the people that you lead, you will be unable to add value to them. Not everyone you lead has the same potential, but everyone has potential. Make sure that you value and respect the people that you lead, if not, your influence will be marginal at best.

Are you aware of the power of your words and actions?

The overwhelming influence you have as a leader comes from your words and actions. There’s no escaping it. The Biblical advice, “…let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…” (James 1:19) is advice we can all learn from. Your words, actions, and temperament as a leader will go a long way in determining how much influence you will ultimately have. Click To Tweet

Do you have the right motives?

In leadership, it’s important that you are using your influence for the right reasons. There’s no greater joy for a leader than to add value, build relationships, and help others grow and develop in their leadership. But sadly, not every leader has unselfish motives. Your influence as a leader is proportional to your motives and integrity.

So long as you see relationships as transactional – what’s in it for me- then your influence as a leader will be scarce and eventually people will see through it. Be genuine and authentic and your influence will increase.

Can you keep your ego in check?

I’ve said it many times over the years and it still rings true today – expressions of servant leadership are found when you concede being in the spotlight by putting someone else in it. And this cuts to the heart of what leadership is all about. The day you and I discover that it’s not about us is the day we truly understand leadership. When your influence as a leader puts someone else in the spotlight is a time of celebration, not jealousy. So long as you hold onto your ego, you will have a hard time being an influential leader.

Who’s in your circle of influence?

Elevating your leadership influence begins with identifying who is in your circle of influence and being intentional with it. Who are you reaching? How are you adding value to them? In what ways can you improve upon what you are doing? How can you expand your circle and be a more productive leader? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you increase your influence.

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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Reimagining the Heart of Leadership

Posted January 11, 2021January 11, 2021
by admin

People will follow a leader with a heart faster than a leader with a title – Craig Groeschel

I once read the story about a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application that asked, “Are you a leader?” Being honest and conscientious, she wrote, “No”, and returned the application, expecting the worst.

To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: “Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower.”

One of the hardest things for new and aspiring leaders to learn is that leadership is not about titles or positions. It’s one of the hardest things for veteran leaders to remember.

I don’t have to tell you that we live in a divisive culture on many fronts. My focus in leadership is not to get into the weeds of what divides us, but rather in the context of those things, point us in a better direction.

Reimagining the heart of leadership begins when we make shifts to the following five areas in our lives. This list is not an exhaustive one but rather a starting place on the journey.

Reimagining the heart of leadership begins with humility

In my 30+ years in leadership, the most inspiring and most memorable leaders I’ve come to know are those who lead with humility. During this time, I have met my fair share of leaders who live it, and I’ve met those who talk about it but whose actions are far from it. How about you?

I like the way Paul David Tripp defines humility. He puts it this way, “Humility means you love serving more than you crave leading.” The day your desire to serve others is greater than your desire for recognition, power, or a position, is the day you can reimagine what the possibilities of your leadership are. Click To Tweet

Reimagining the heart of leadership begins with empathy

One of the defining characteristics of your leadership is the ability to translate empathy into action with your people. A seasoned leader can relate to the one just starting out and can serve a valuable role in his or her leadership development.

“Empathy is about standing in someone else’s shoes,” said Daniel Pink, “feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes.” As an empathetic leader, your possibilities are endless.

Reimagining the heart of leadership through empathy will move you from being an observer of your people to being a developer of your people. Empathy is a great instrument in your leadership toolkit.

Reimaging the heart of leadership begins with your attitude

The game-changer in your leadership has been and always will be your attitude. In the culture in which we live it’s easy to be cynical or discouraged. Many have lost hope.

Reimagining the heart of leadership happens when you realize that you will never rise above the attitude you have. As John Maxwell said, “The greatest day in your life and mine is the day we take total responsibility for our attitudes. It’s the day we truly grow up.”

You and I have a choice as it relates to our attitudes and we must do everything within our power to protect it. No one can do it for you. It’s an inside job so be intentional when it comes to attitude changes you need to make.

Reimagining the heart of leadership begins with relationships

Relationships are essential in leadership. They matter now more than ever. If we’ve learned anything in the last year during this pandemic, we’ve learned that people have an innate desire to be together.

Relationships certainly look a lot different now as compared to a year ago. But the need for them is greater than ever. Click To Tweet

Reimagining the heart of leadership begins when we all remember that it is through relationships that we grow, reach our potential, and accomplish more than we could ever have imagined by ourselves.

Reimagining the heart of leadership begins with transparency

One of the greatest challenges you will deal with as a leader is that of transparency. Many leaders tend to be guarded. They don’t like the vulnerability that comes with it and tend to build walls that too few are able to see above.

Mother Teresa gave us this advice, “Honesty and transparency make us vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway.” And this is the call to leadership that we need today.

Reimagining the heart of leadership begins with an understanding that we are all works-in-progress. And so long as we remain humble and teachable our transparency will set us free to be who we are as we strive to be all God created us to become.

Are you ready to reimagine the heart of your leadership?

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Building a Culture of Empowerment

Posted December 28, 2020
by admin

The greatest leaders aren’t necessarily the ones who do the greatest things. They are the ones who empower others to do great things.- John Maxwell

When the great singer Enrico Caruso had his first voice lesson, his teacher was less than impressed. “You can’t sing.” his teacher exclaimed, “Your voice sounds like a wind in the shutters”.

Not deterred by the review, Caruso’s mother believed that her young son indeed could sing. She was very poor, but she scraped up enough money to pay for his voice lessons. She believed in her son and made great personal sacrifices to help him along.

In order for your organization to move forward and succeed it needs a leader at the helm who will dare to defy the words of its critics and believe in its people. For an aspiring singer like Caruso, he had a mother who believed in him and made sacrifices for his success. Who do your people have?

Building a culture of empowerment is one of the single most important roles you have as a leader. In order to get it right, you have to be intentional. Here are four ways to begin.

Encourage Ownership

Chances are, within your organization are individuals who have a ‘take the bull by the horn’ mentality- those who contribute in significant ways to moving your organization forward. Then again, there are those who simply need encouragement to embrace their skills and overcome their fears in order to rise to their potential.

As a leader, make it your priority to empower your people to own their work, make decisions in real-time, and to act in harmony with your values. When ownership increases so does morale which leads to greater wins for everyone.

Promote Collaboration

When the people within your organization learn how to work in collaboration with one another it builds a momentum you would not otherwise experience. This type of energy is not created alone nor is it sustained alone. It takes a group of dedicated people working together to make it happen.

As a leader, it’s important to understand the power of collaboration. When your people see each other as allies instead of competitors, it will change the dynamic of your organization Click To Tweet. When you promote collaboration and you promote empowerment.

Challenge Traditions

The most deadly words in any organization -’ this is the way we’ve always done it’, will have the same consequences for your organization if you do not challenge traditions. If 2020 has taught us anything in leadership, it’s taught us how to pivot and has upended many traditional ways of doing things. When your people have the freedom to shake things up a bit it creates new energy of empowerment that can move your team to a higher level.

As a leader, you must empower your people to challenge traditions that have lingered too long or serve no practical purpose now. Don’t forsake the values that brought you where you are, but be willing to take a fresh look at those practices going forward.

Elevate Everyone

Your people are the most appreciable asset you have as a leader. When you elevate your people with your words, your actions, and your daily decisions, you demonstrate their importance in tangible ways. This type of empowerment has a lasting impact that is an extension of your leadership.

While empowering your people is one of the most important things you can do for your organization, being the type of leader that adds value to others is your highest calling as a leader. Click To TweetMake it your practice to add value above all else.

Final Thoughts

One of the greatest returns on your leadership is not in what you can get others to do for you, but in what you can do for them. The day you realize that it’s not about you is the day you will begin to empower others.

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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A Season for Reflection

Posted December 7, 2020
by admin

Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action – Peter Drucker

Somewhere at the beginning of each day, you probably find yourself looking at your reflection in the mirror. Many of us never give a second thought as to how that reflection is produced. All surfaces reflect some light, but only a special type of surface reflects light in such a way that it can form a mirror.

In 1835, German chemist Justis von Liebig devised a process for coating plates of glass with metallic silver. This was the beginning of the mirror as we know it today and helped it become a household item. The mirrors in our homes are made in a similar fashion by evaporating a very thin layer of silver onto a glass.

If you’re like me, spending a lot of time in front of the mirror is not a good thing–for the mirror. But during the month of December in the lead up to Christmas and when thoughts turn toward the new year, it is a time of reflection.

What about you? What are you reflecting on? What are you thankful for? What are you celebrating? What are you mourning?

Times of reflection as a leader is important and every leader needs to do it. Here are a few ways it can help you grow in your leadership.

It puts your past in perspective

When you look back on 2020, it will generate mixed emotions and responses for sure. But the lessons you’ve learned serve a greater good when you stop to consider all that you’ve been through.

While you may not have chosen every event that came your way, you found a way to face it. You found a way to pivot, improvise, and adapt. Was it easy? Certainly not. Were their setbacks and disappointments? Yes. But here you are, and you are here for a purpose.

Reflect on this: You are not defined by your past. You have a purpose to fulfill.

It gives context to your present

Reflection gives you the opportunity to put your present situation into context. One year ago, many would not have imagined they would be in the situation they find themselves in today. In the past year, I have celebrated the birth of a new grandchild, mourned the passing of my mother, and faced the challenges of a pandemic with my fellow human race.

Nibo Qubein said, “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go, they merely determine where you start”. And this is the point of reflection – not to see how far you’ve come but to get a good look at the starting line going forward.

Reflect on this: What actions do you need to take today to get a fresh start on your future?

It provides clarity for your future

Richard Carlson was right when he said, “Reflection is one of the most underused yet powerful tools for success”. And this is one of the primary benefits of it. Not only does reflection give you the benefit of putting your past in perspective and context to your present, but it can give you a blueprint for your future. Click To Tweet

Every lesson you’ve learned this year has prepared you for this moment. You are not the sum of your failures, fears, or setbacks. I believe that you’ve been prepared by them for a future brighter than what you’ve imagined.

Reflect on this: What attitudes do I need to embrace and who are the people that I need to surround myself with going forward?

Final Thoughts

Times of reflection can be invaluable to you as a leader. It can give you the clarity you need as you lead your people who rely on it. Embrace times of reflection and develop it as a discipline. You will be the wiser leader for it.

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