Leadership Skills – Page 15 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Leadership Minute: Let It Go!

Posted March 14, 2014
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Don’t sweat the small stuff…and it’s all small stuff. – Richard Carlson

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

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Leadership Minute: Working Together

Posted March 13, 2014
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2 Comments on Leadership Minute: Working Together

There is nothing wrong with competition. The problem for many leaders is that thy end up competing against their peers in their organization in a way that hurts the team and them. – John Maxwell

Hopefully within your organization are a group of committed individuals who have a strong desire to succeed. The energy they generate is vital to your future. The more of them you have the better positioned you are going forward. But be careful not to allow that energy to be used in a negative way. Healthy competition is good but it can be counterproductive when it turns friends into enemies or colleagues into adversaries. Don’t allow factions to emerge because of the actions of a few. Your team must be reminded that you are all working toward the same goals and everyone’s success must be celebrated. When you work together you can succeed together.

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Four Ways Following a Leader Can Be Difficult

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. – John Maxwell

An old woodsman gives this advice about catching a porcupine: “Watch for the slapping tail as you dash in and drop a large washtub over him. The washtub will give you something to sit on while you ponder your next move.”

Inspiring leadership is needed now more than ever. What’s not inspiring, however, is watching reactionary leaders who are chasing porcupines with washtubs who never seem to be ahead of the game. What’s even more frustrating is trying to follow this type of leader.

A few years back Forbes contributor Eric Jackson wrote an article on the top ten reasons why large companies fail to keep their best talent. In a nutshell they are baldy managed, send mixed signals, and have misplaced priorities. These things not only drive away your best talent but are the things that also undermine your ability to lead. Here are four ways following a leader can be difficult and why it matters.

When there is no clear vision and purpose.

Simply put, if you don’t know where you are going as a leader what makes you think anyone will want to follow you? A chief hallmark of a leader in any organization is one who knows where he is going and why, and has convinced you of the same. If the vision and purpose of your organization is not clear among the leadership then you can be assured it is unclear to everyone else. If your vision or purpose is not known internally then those who have the most to gain from your service or product will be the ones who lose out. This is a Leadership 101 issue. You will never succeed personally or as an organization if you can’t define your vision or purpose. What can you do about it? Define it. Share it. Do it.

When communication is not clear and consistent.

Communication is the lifeblood of your organization. It’s not something you leave to chance. Think for a moment of the measurable things within your organization that are important to you such as sales projections, budgets, or employee performance reviews. These are important things that you track and rightfully so. Communication deserves the same treatment. Nothing will frustrate the people in your organization more than poor communication. If they are in the dark about what is going on or they find out information second- hand then you are dropping the ball. Be clear, consistent, and frequent with your communications and always be ahead of the curve. Getting information late can have the same negative consequences as not finding out at all.

When team members are not valued or respected.

Not all team members are equal in terms of responsibility, skills, or assignments. But all are worthy of being valued for what they contribute and are worthy of respect. This is a fundamental leadership practice that you should not even have to ponder. But leaders can be hard to follow when they fail to recognize the hard work and efforts that each person brings to the table. Not everyone’s experiences will be the same but everyone’s input has value. Leaders can be hard to follow (and rightfully so) when they allow unprofessional conduct such as bullying to go unchallenged. Leaders worthy of being followed will take a stand and not allow it. Smart leaders give their team members respect and value their expertise. They make following a pleasure.

When leaders are inconsistent and fail to set the right example.

What followers of any leader want more than anything else is a leader who is consistent. They want to follow a leader who knows who they are, where they are going, and have made a compelling case for their leadership. Followers don’t mind weathering the storms. They will follow you through good times and bad so long as you remain true to your values and do the right thing. Yes, leadership can be hard, but even more so for followers who want a leader who says what he means and does what he says.

What do you say?

I invite your feedback!

1. Which point was the most troublesome for you as a follower?

2. As a leader, which point do you need to work on the most?

3. What would you add to the list?

4. What are some tangible things you can do to develop your followership skills?

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Leadership Minute: Dodging Bricks

Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. – Steve Jobs

All leaders know this. Life has a way at times of being harsh. Things don’t go the way you plan, a friend betrays you, the deal falls through. It’s called life. But leaders also know the power of resiliency and look for ways to move forward despite the hurt. When trials and setbacks come your way and it would seem you are being hit upside the head with bricks; don’t despair. Don’t give up. You will rise to fight another day; win another battle, and lead with your character intact. Fight through the discouragement. Don’t let your confidence be shaken. You can do this!

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Three Ways to Map Your Future

Posted February 16, 2014
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1 Comment on Three Ways to Map Your Future

Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreaming meet. – Victor Hugo

A story is told of an old map on display in the British Museum in London. It’s an old mariner’s chart, drawn in 1525, outlining the North American coastline and adjacent waters. The cartographer made some intriguing notations on areas of the map that represented regions not yet explored.

He wrote: “Here be giants,” “Here be fiery scorpions,” and “Here be dragons.” Eventually, the map came into the possession of Sir John Franklin, a British explorer in the early 1800’s. Scratching out the fearful inscriptions, he wrote these words across the map; “Here be God.”

Your rise as a leader is marked by a future you choose for yourself. Although it’s not a guarantee, you can take great strides to attaining it through big dreams, hard work, and a willingness to pay the price to achieve it. From the old mariner’s chart come three leadership lessons for your consideration as you map your future as a leader.

A future with a clean slate.

Regardless of how others may have labeled you in the past your future is yours to write. Have you made mistakes in the past? Have you been unfairly criticized? Have others tried to marginalize you or overlooked your potential? Well, let me encourage you to know that who you are today and where you are headed as a leader is not decided by what others think or believe but in the way you now choose to behave. It’s decided by the truth you choose to believe and accept about who you are now. Ignore the labels and refuse to be defined by your past. You have a clean slate with which to work. Now is your time to chart a new course.

A future with fresh thinking.

By embracing your future and working with a clean slate you can now go to work with fresh thinking that can propel you to a new level. Are you comfortable enough in your own skin to be made uncomfortable with new ideas? When you map your future you must do so with new and improved ways of thinking. Throw off the shackles of old thinking and stale ways of doing things. It won’t happen by chance. Moving forward with new disciplines will require an open mind and right attitudes. Fresh thinking deserves a chance but it will only work when you cross out the old inscriptions of the past and chart a new future.

A future with unlimited potential.

Mapping out your future has little to do with past labels. It has everything to do with what you believe about yourself, how you choose to act upon that belief, and what actions you are willing to take to go there. In as much as you don’t have to be defined by your past, only you can choose your future. You have all the makings of a strong leader when you believe the truth of today over the definitions of yesterday. Embrace your potential. What goals or dreams do you need to resurrect and dust off? What past inscription do you need to cross out? It’s time for a new entry on the map of your future and it needs to be the one you write. Dare to believe that you have unlimited potential and a future full of possibilities. Just remember, those who have tried to contain you in your past won’t be part of your success in the future. Your story is yours for the making. Dream big. Work hard. Don’t look back.

1. Which point hit home with you the most?

2. What are some tangible ways one can cross out the impressions of others in the past so that you can move forward with your future?

3. What goals and dreams are you inspired to pursue with a renewed passion?

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Three Ways to Push Back Against Negative People

Posted January 18, 2014
by admin

The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up. – John C. Maxwell

The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question: “What are you doing?”

The first replied, “I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day.” The next answered, “I’m putting in 10 hours a day on this job.” But the third said, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals.”

As a leader it is important to understand how important your attitude is as it relates to your success. How high and how far you go often has less to do with your talent or skills and has more to do with the attitude you have in navigating those skills. Attitudes can lift you or ground you. It’s a choice we all make.

While you may be fine with that scenario you may have more of an issue with other people and their negative attitudes. How do you handle those perpetually negative or toxic people in your office who always see the glass half empty and usually have something negative to say about most everything?

How can you push back against negative people in your life? Is it really possible? For starters, here are three tips to help you learn how.

Hit your personal reset button.

Hitting your reset button is about recalibrating your own set of personal standards. Consider for a moment the type of people whom you have tolerated or have entertained in the past. How many of those were the negative or toxic types? The reason they were around, excluding professional necessity, is because you chose to have them around. Hitting the reset button is about choosing whom you keep and who you cut loose. I will have more to say about that in a moment. Suffice to say; in order to push back against negative people you have to reset your standards and this means making some really important choices going forward.

Choose your inner circle more carefully.

The reason this is so important is that we tend to become like those we most closely associate with. If you want high standards for yourself then you will have to be more selective about those you keep close. That’s not to say you can’t be cordial to all, but you must be more selective with the few you keep close. Your standards are reflected in your associations. Negative people tend to attract negative people in the same way positive people tend to attract positive people. The good thing is that those closest to you will tend to be of the same mindset and attitude. Be careful about who you keep close because they can be the lifters in your life or the ones who drag you down.

Stay above the fray.

Simply put, there are times when you cannot escape the reach of negative people. They are in your office, they sit at the same conference table as you, and they share the same break room. Sharing the same space is not the same as sharing the same mindset. Your positive attitude can make the difference and give hope to those who share your same beliefs. Stay above the fray by staying true to your values. Staying above the fray means that others will have to come up to your level and not the other way around. When you stay above the fray you are setting a higher standard for everyone.

These three tips all have one thing in common. Did you figure it out? They are not tips on how to change the other person. They are all about the things you can do to improve your own attitude. You can’t change the other person, but you can be a good example to them. Pushing back against negative people is about improving yourself.

What do you say?

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Leadership Minute: At Ease

Posted December 27, 2013
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Try to be like the turtle- at ease in your own shell. – Bill Copeland

One of the finer points of successful leadership is learning how to be comfortable in your own skin. With so many demands and expectations it can be cumbersome at times to say the least. But an earmark of authentic leadership comes from authenticity and self-awareness. Finding your place of contentment and solitude can give you an advantage on many levels. When you are at ease it causes others to be at ease around you. Find your place of solitude and ease. You will be the better for it. So will others.

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4 Ways to Lead Complainers

Posted November 9, 2013
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Maturity is the ability to reap without apology and not complain when things don’t go well. – Jim Rohn

A story is told of a guide at Blarney Castle in Ireland who was explaining to some visitors that his job was not always as pleasant as it seemed. He told them about a group of disgruntled tourists he had taken to the castle earlier in the week.

“Those people were complaining about everything,” he said. “They didn’t like the weather, the food, their hotel accommodations, the prices, everything. Then to top it off, when we arrived at the castle, we found that the area around Blarney Stone was roped off. Workmen were making some kind of repairs.” “This is the last straw!” exclaimed one lady who seemed to be the chief faultfinder in the group. “I’ve come all this way, and now I can’t even kiss the Blarney Stone.”

“Well, you know,” the guide said, “according to legend, if you kiss someone who has kissed the stone, it’s the same as kissing the stone itself.” “And I suppose you’ve kissed the stone,” said the exasperated lady. “Better than that,” replied the guide, “I’ve sat on it.”

Like the lady in the story, I bet your office has a chief faultfinder. You know the one (hopefully it’s not you) I am talking about; nothing is ever right and this person feels that it’s his or her duty to criticize everything.

These people are not only a nuisance but they have a negative impact on the rest of your office and undercut morale. In a recent article put out by Seton Doctor Link (http://bit.ly/17Llub2), some 18% of U.S. employees are ‘actively disengaged,” negative, and likely to complain about their employers, according to a Gallup poll of 31, 265 employees. When this high a percentage are disengaged or complaining it can have serious consequences. Here are four tips to help you deal with the habitually complaining employee.

Engage

The purpose here is to get to the root of the problem as to why this person feels compelled to complain all the time. It could be completely legitimate but the employee simply has chosen the wrong vehicle to express their concerns. On the other hand it could just be an ill-content employee who is making noise. Regardless, get to the bottom of it quick before this person does any more damage. You can turn their poison into praise simply by engagement. But if the poison remains then keep on reading.

Encourage

On your hands is a person with passion that needs to be channeled in the right direction. Instead of just hearing their gripes you can commission them to bring viable solutions to the table. Don’t just give the person a forum to vent, convey your expectation that if they have something to complain about then you expect solutions from them. This will either cause them to step up and take responsibility to make things better or at the very least quiet them down. Either way, make your expectations clear.

Elevate

No one wants a complainer or whiner in the office. They drain the positive energy out of the office and their negative energy is toxic. If you feel that this person’s heart is in the right place (although their vocal chords may not be) and their contributions outweigh their complaining, then do what you can to elevate this person to a higher level. It could be that their complaining ways is a blind spot that needs to be pointed out. Let them know that being the office critic is not constructive and that there are better ways to channel their concerns. If all else fails then you may have no other choice than to do what’s next.

Eject

While this is a last option it is nevertheless an option that you should not take off the table. You cannot allow the constant critic to continue on with his or her toxic ways and bring down office morale and camaraderie. Go through these steps with every intention of a positive outcome and consider what’s best for everyone. It’s been said, “What you tolerate, you promote,” and so you must decide the type of environment and office culture you want to promote. If one bad apple is making everyone miserable then let the bad apple go.

On balance I must stress that there should be room for disagreement and open discussion in your workplace. That is healthy and necessary when done properly. But the constant whiner should be engaged, encouraged, elevated, and if all else fails, ejected.

What do you say?

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If you enjoy reading Doug’s leadership insight you will especially enjoy reading his books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website at www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com to order your copies today.

For speaking inquiries email Doug at [email protected]

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Leadership Minute: Be Consistent

Posted October 15, 2013
by admin

People value consistency in their leaders. Consistency removes uncertainty and leads to trust. Trust, in turn, leads to influence. – Bob Burg

One of the greatest qualities you can possess as a leader is consistency. In a time when waffling among some of our leaders is so common you can stand out from the pack when you are consistent in the manner on which in work with others. If you struggle in this leadership area then I would encourage you to begin today to identify and shore up those weak areas. By committing yourself to being a consistent leader you will pave the way for future success. Don’t hesitate, begin now. And be consistent!

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted. Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

Follow at: www.twitter.com/managemntmoment

Doug is available to speak for your business, civic, or church group. Email him at [email protected]

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