Management Skill – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

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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Taking ‘No’ Out of Your Playbook and Why it Matters

Posted March 4, 2017
by dougdickerson

Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome – Samuel Johnson

Leaders understand that obstacles are a part of the landscape on the road to success. But how many leaders are self-aware enough to realize that some of the obstacles blocking their desired success are self-inflicted?

When what stands between your employees or volunteers and potential success is a constant drumbeat of “no” or the good ole standby of, “We’ve never done it this way before,” then you are capping your talent and are hindering your chances of success.

In his book, It’s Not About the Coffee, past Starbucks International president Howard Behar writes of the necessity of taking ‘no’ out of your playbook. His thought was that we can grow so accustomed to saying no to our customers or employees that soon these roadblocks take on a life of their own and become the unspoken rules, the No Book, that stands between you and your potential success.

One example Behar shared about Starbucks turning an everyday ‘no’ into a ‘yes’ was by opening the door early in the morning. Customers would come by ten minutes before the store opened and were routinely turned away. The message the prospective customer would get was, “No, we’re not open yet.” When they realized they could say yes they began to open ten minutes before the posted opening to serve their customers.

To be sure, not every yes will guarantee success and not every no will deny it. But what you must realize is that until you release the power of possibilities in your people they will never have a chance to find out. Taking ‘no’ out of your playbook will unlock their potential and give them much-needed freedom to grow. That is critical to your success. Here is why taking ‘no’ out of your playbook matters to you as a leader.

It empowers your people.

There is no better way to empower your people than to release their creative ingenuity with a ‘yes’ attitude. It signals that you believe in them and want them to reach their full potential. Empowered people are driven people and are more invested in the product and outcomes. When you remove ‘no’ from the playbook and replace it with a yes then you elevate everyone to a new level.

It puts the focus where it belongs.

When ‘no’ is replaced with a ‘yes’ then the playbook becomes a different document. The paradigm shifts. You go from playing defense to playing offense. Now, instead of the focus being inward it’s outward. Where once it was all about you, now it’s about those you serve. When your purpose revolves around a “yes we can” mentality then there is no room for “no we can’t” detractors. When your people are free to focus on what they can do instead of what they can’t do it will make a world of difference.

It creates momentum.

Some leaders exert a lot of energy and waste a lot of time trying to figure out the secret to creating a culture of momentum. Sadly, what some do not realize is that they are the reason why it’s lacking. Why? They haven’t taken ‘no’ out of their playbooks and consequently their much-needed momentum lies dormant.

What would it take to motivate you? Former Miami Dolphin’s great Bob Kuechenberg shares how he got his. He tells the story of his father and uncle who were human cannonballs in carnivals. His father told him, “go to college or be a cannonball,” said Kuechenberg. Then one day his uncle came out of the cannon and missed the net and hit the Ferris wheel. It was then that Kuechenberg decided to go to college.

As a leader, you can either take ‘no’ out of your playbook and put in a resounding ‘yes’, or be shot out of a cannon. Why not release the potential of your people, focus on those you serve, and generate the momentum you need? Say yes!

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Life, Work, and Discovering Your ‘Why’: Finding Balance in an Unstable World

Posted January 21, 2016
by admin

lifework

In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was 9, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow’s flight, and then young Frank’s tracks meandering all over the field.

“Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again,” his uncle said. “And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that.”

Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his philosophy in life. “I determined right then,” he’d say with a twinkle in his eye, “not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had.”

Many people often miss the most important things in life because they fail at this essential skill as a leader- work/life balance. It’s a struggle for many leaders. Could it be yours?

In research conducted by EY (http://bit.ly/1QjTJZ8) it was reported that, “33% of full-time employees globally say it has gotten more difficult to manage work/family in the last five years. The most common reasons cited 49% “my salary has not increased much, but my expenses have” and 48% “my responsibilities at work have increased.” Sound familiar?

Having a good work/life balance is essential to your success. As a leader you are not immune from the challenge. In fact, it may be more problematic for you. So what is the solution? Here are a few tips to help you recapture some of that much needed balance.

Begin with your priorities

Almost every article I read on work/life balance begins with work. It goes without saying that work is important. But how would things be different for you if you looked at it from the viewpoint of a life/work balance? If the priorities of your life are not in order then how can work? Get life’s priorities in order first then you can take care of the rest.

Discover your ‘why’

I’m a firm believer that you should do what you love and love what you do. When you do, it’s not work but your passion. Understanding your ‘why’ is essential to you as a leader. John Maxwell framed it this way, “People who know their why can keep their heads while everything around them is in turmoil. And that draws others to them.” Life and work makes sense when you know why you are here.

Get flexible with schedules

Fortunately, many companies are seeing the benefit of flexible work schedules which allows for greater productivity, greater teamwork, and happier employees, etc. (http://huff.to/1SxzdV1). Creating a work/life balance does not have to be an either/or proposition where one is good and the other is not. Smart leaders can create a culture where both can thrive.

Define your borders

As a leader many things compete for your time and attention. If not careful you can get caught up in solving problems that are not yours to solve, involved in details that easily can be handled by someone else, and otherwise distracted from having the work/life balance you desire. This is an area in which you will need to stand firm. Define your borders and stick to it.

Get real about relationships

People are your greatest appreciable asset. Building strong relationships is the key to your growth as a leader and to the success of your organization. But surrounding yourself with the right people is more important than surrounding yourself with a lot of people. So here are some questions you need to answer: Are those closest to you adding value or subtracting? Do those closest to you share your vision and values and see the big picture or are they in it for themselves? Relationships are key to your work/life balance. If you are surrounded by the wrong people then it’s time to prune.

Lighten up

Ella Wheeler said, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone”. Creating a good work/life balance can be just one laugh away. It’s important to take your work seriously, but not yourself. Laugh. Lighten up. Learn to take things in stride. Don’t be wound up so tight that you can’t enjoy a light moment now and then.

Your work/life balance begins with these simple steps. Are you ready for some balance in your life?

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Announcing My New Book

Posted July 31, 2015
by admin

One leadership principle I have learned over the years is quite simple: leaders are readers! In my new book, It Only Takes a Minute: Daily Inspiration for Leaders on the Move, I take you on a 365 day leadership journey.

Each day begins with a quote from a current or past leadership thinker, sports figure, actor, minister, political figure, etc. followed by an inspirational leadership thought by me.

Leaders are busy people – I get it. In this daily reader you will be challenged in your leadership thinking and prodded to grow each day. As the title suggests, It Only Takes a Minute!

Click on the on the link below to order your copy today!

Click Here To Order

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Leadership Minute: Build Bridges

Posted September 23, 2014
by admin

I have no shortage of strong opinions, but I have tried all my life to be a bridge builder. – Bill Hybels

Bridge building is such an important leadership skill to develop. When leaders can build bridges and connect people with no regard for race, religion, political views, or personality types, it can be a most rewarding endeavor. Unfortunately, preconceived notions about people can prevent authentic relationships from developing and thus bridge building becomes nothing more than a good idea. Most leaders I know, including myself, have strong opinions. But when those strong opinions get in the way of relationships then we become isolated and only gather in flocks with like-minded people. While that is all good and well your circle of friends is smaller, your world view is narrower, and your sphere of influence is marginalized. You don’t have to compromise your opinions in order to befriend a person who thinks otherwise. Be approachable, be respectful, but most of all be authentic. Your opinions and values are what you will carry with you for a lifetime, and regardless of who comes and goes in your life, those beliefs will always guide you. Are you a builder?

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Connecting Your Organizational Dots and Why It Matters

Posted September 6, 2014
by admin

The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. – Vince Lombardi

In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.” “Which channel do you want?” asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”

Connecting the organizational dots is imperative if you want your business or organization to succeed. If your people are in the dark as to their understanding of your organizational goals then their buy-in to the mission (providing they know it) will be lacking. If you don’t think being engaged and connected with your employees doesn’t matter – think again.

According to Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workplace report,( http://ti.me/Wq0C4n) 30 percent of U.S. employees are “engaged” at work (enthusiastic about, and committed to their work and contribute to their organization in a positive manner). Gallup adds, “The rest of us are ‘emotionally disconnected’ for our workplaces, making us much less likely to be productive.” Is this an accurate reflection of your workplace? Gallup says “fifty-two percent of employees say they have basically “checked out” at work, and 18 percent say they are so unhappy they’re actually acting out their unhappiness in the workplace. What’s worse, “Every day, these workers undermine what their engaged coworkers accomplish,” the report says.

One of the essential functions for you as a leader is to help your people get connected with the mission of your organization. You are helping them pack for a journey of a lifetime. Before they embark on the trip here are four things they will need from you.

A destination

I enjoy travelling. Before departing for any new destination I will research all that I can and decide what I’d like to see and do once I get there. It builds up anticipation for the trip and helps to alleviate any potential surprises.

Essential to the success of your team is knowledge of your organizational identity. People will not buy-in to what they do not know or believe in. It is imperative for you as the leader to share your goals, vision, and mission. People want to know where they are going and a sense of what the future will look like. The first step to being connected to your mission and vision is to know where you are going.

A passport

A passport gives you access to where you want to go. It gives you the freedom to move about and enjoy new and exciting places, cultures, foods, and much more. In the same manner, your people need a passport in order to move about with the empowerment they need to do their work.

When your people have the clearance and access to move about freely to perform their jobs the possibilities are limitless as to what they can achieve. When restrictions are removed that would hold them back they can go farther, be more productive, and ultimately be more successful. Connected people are empowered people. Turn them loose and let them flourish.

A map

“If you don’t know where you are going,” Yogi Berra said, “you might end up going someplace else.” If you don’t know where you are going your people will be disconcerted or looking for the next exit. One of the greatest benefits to being connected with your mission and vision is that it keeps everyone grounded and on the right path. It lends itself to accountability.

Your map is your guide for the future- it is your business plan, your strategic plan; call it what you will- but you need one. A useful feature of the map is that it shows the intersections and how all the roads connect. Your people need to know the importance of being connected to one another. They need to know how what they do affects their colleague down the hall, the customers who come through the door, and ultimately your bottom line. Everyone must be moving not just in the right direction, but must be moving in harmony with one another.

A guide

As a leader you must make the case for the destination. You must sell the vision and get the buy-in from those who would travel with you. You must empower your people and give them their passports – the tools they will need for the journey. You have to map out the vision – break it down so that everyone knows their role and build a culture of cooperation so no one gets lost and everyone arrives at the destination together.

John Maxwell was right when he said, “A leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” As the leader, you are the guide. It’s time to get connected and show the way.

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Leadership Minute: A Life of Gratitude

Posted September 4, 2014
by admin

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

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

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