leadership development – Page 20 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Leadership Minute: Channeling Your Anger

Posted June 9, 2014
by admin

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. – Buddha

You’d be hard pressed to find a leader who hasn’t been angry or doesn’t get angry at some time or another. It’s part of the human emotion and therefore is something you will deal with. It’s not that you won’t get angry; it’s more about what you will do when you are. Anger, like any emotion, can be positive if channeled the right way. How you direct your anger is important. Are you in control of it? Vented the wrong way it can be mean, hurtful, and counterproductive. When you are in control of your anger you can direct that energy and those passions in a way that motivates and raises expectations. Don’t ever let anger get the best of you. Even when angry you can be in control, you can channel it the right way, and you’ll never have to worry about apologizing for doing something dumb when you were.

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Leadership Minute: Do What You Can

Posted May 30, 2014
by admin

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. – Theodore Roosevelt

One of the great joys of leadership is giving. It’s about adding value to those around you and making your world a better place. It’s true; one person can’t do it all. But, one person can make a difference if he or she gets involved. Look beyond your own circumstances and consider what you can do. Through your words and actions you can be the answer to someone else’s prayer. Do you know of a colleague who has struggled this month? Why not write her a note of encouragement? Your local food bank could use some donations. Why not organize a food drive? There will always be needs and opportunities and leaders with a servant’s heart will always come through. You can’t change the world but you can change your world one random act of kindness at a time.

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Lighten Up!

Posted May 29, 2014
by admin

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Leadership Minute: Turn The Other Cheek

Posted May 28, 2014
by admin

Hurting people hurt other people. Once you learn this, it’s easier to “turn the other cheek”. – John Maxwell

As a leader you will encounter all types of people. Most encounters will be pleasant, some will be great, but a few will be uncomfortable. Of the various types of people that you will deal with there will be the hurtful type. It’s not your job to figure out why hurting people hurt others but your reaction to them is important. Over the years I’ve come to understand that while hurting people hurt people I don’t have to be their victim. But how do you turn the other cheek when you work alongside a hurtful person? Stand your ground; you are not a doormat. Take the high road and as best you can counter with kindness. Protect your boundaries and don’t allow their hurtful ways to escalate into something more severe such as bullying. If it does, then it becomes another issue altogether. But know this: your personal leadership skills in this area will be tested so your strength and resolve is vital.

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Leadership Minute: Change is an Opportunity

Posted May 23, 2014
by admin

Change is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. Survival is not the goal, transformative success is. – Seth Godin

What is your attitude towards change? Do you see it as a threat? How you embrace change as a leader will set the tone for how others in your organization embrace it. If you are not out front with the flexibility to change and grow then it will be hard for others to follow suit when it’s in your best interest to do so. By involving your people in the change process it can calm fears, create buy-in, and make the transition smooth. Not everyone will want to go there with you. Some are simply too comfortable where they are. But when transformative success is your goal change will be embraced by most. Change can be a celebration of where you’ve come from, where you are now, and where you are going in your future. But you have to embrace it. Welcome change and the possibilities that are before you.

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Leadership Minute: Be Yourself

Posted May 21, 2014
by admin

When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you. – Lao Tzu

When a leader understands this profoundly simple truth it can be very liberating. It’s when we believe the opposite that things get complicated. When we think that we have to compare ourselves to someone else in order to feel validated then we are missing the point. You are special and unique. Don’t worry about how you measure up to the next person or believe that you have to compete with them. Stop with all the comparisons and embrace your God-given gifts, talents, abilities, and all of the qualities that make you the wonderful person that you are. It’s when you do that you will earn your respect as a leader. There is no need to be a cheap imitation of someone else when you can be valuable version of you!

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Leadership Minute: Awesome Moments

Posted May 19, 2014
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I learned that if you aren’t willing to put yourself in “this is crazy” situations, you’ll never experience “this is awesome” moments. – Mark Batterson (The Circle Maker)

The destiny of your leadership is inevitably tied to your willingness to take risks. Sometimes you have to put yourself out there and take steps of faith that fly in the face of logic and reason. Big dreams require big risks. Yet it’s when you dare to believe for something so big and bold that “this is crazy” moments begin to become the norm. What dream do you have? What are you believing for that seems like a crazy idea? Let me encourage you today to put legs to your dreams. If you want to experience awesome moments be willing to put yourself in crazy situations. Your dreams and destiny are yours to know and live. Don’t settle for average when you can experience awesome!

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Leadership Minute: Hang in There

Posted May 16, 2014
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Perseverance, secret of all triumphs. – Victor Hugo

Perseverance is not one of the more glamorous leadership traits. In fact; it can be downright brutal. As leaders we are taught to take Frost’ advice and journey down the road less traveled. But what happens when the road less traveled is traveled less and less by those who are supposed to be leading the way? While perseverance may not be pretty it is a necessity. We need leaders today who have a stick-with-it attitude. We need leaders who are not afraid to put it all on the line and stay the course. The power of perseverance will see you through the good times and bad, but in the end you will be rewarded with a level of success others only dream about. Today you might be tempted to throw in the towel and give up. Don’t. Your leadership can go to a new level but only as you persevere.

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Leadership Minute: Embrace the Struggle

Posted May 14, 2014
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Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle – Napoleon Hill

The growth of a leader is never easy. I’m not sure it’s meant to be although many look for exemptions. The efforts and struggles you are going through right now are not in vain. They are not calisthenics of leadership that do not produce rewards for the effort. When you realize that leadership will require continuous effort and struggle then you are well on your way to growth and maturity as a leader. The pay-off occurs when you realize that there is a greater purpose behind the struggle. So regardless of what you are going through today let me encourage you to not give up. Don’t give in to discouragement. You will reap positive results when you stay the course.

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Leadership Minute: Show Respect

Posted May 8, 2014
by admin

Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners. – Laurence Sterne

One of the most noble leadership skills you can have and develop is that of respect. Respect for yourself establishes your guiding principles and sets the course for your leadership style. On that count, respect is very important. Once established internally you then begin to lead externally from those values. A great leader is a respectful leader. Clearly you will not like everyone, nor will you always approve of other people’s actions, but respect for them sets the framework for how you deal with them. Respect establishes your credibility as a leader and is the origin of your manners. Your leadership style will make you or break you. When respect is your guiding light you can’t go wrong.

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