Mother Teresa – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

What Floyd Dean-Shannon Taught Us About Leadership

Posted January 23, 2023
by admin

In a world where you can be anything, be kind. – Unknown

Perhaps you saw the story recently on social media. It was one of those feel-good stories that just restores faith in humanity on many levels.

It begins with a post showing Delta Airlines flight attendant Floyd Dean-Shannon sitting in the aisle on a flight from Charlotte, N.C. to New York City holding the hand of a nervous passenger.

“I’ve got you,” he’s quoted as saying as he gives comfort and reassures the nervous passenger that everything was going to be fine. He took the time to explain every noise and bump as he held her hand.

The beauty of the moment didn’t go unnoticed by fellow passengers who were so touched by this act of kindness that they couldn’t help but capture the moment to share with the rest of us.

It’s probably safe to say that Floyd Dean-Shannon didn’t set out that day to be declared a hero on social media for his act of kindness toward a total stranger. He’d probably just say that he was doing his job. But I hope that the rest of us won’t soon forget it.

John Maxwell said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” And this is precisely what Floyd Dean-Shannon modeled. Here are a few additional leadership lessons we can learn from his actions that day.

Acts of kindness don’t diminish your leadership, it elevates it

We must never embrace the false notion that strong leaders don’t have the capacity for being kind. Not only did Dean-Shannon prove it, but judging by the response, it’s refreshing to see. In leadership, being kind is an asset, not a liability.

People are your business

Howard Behar, the former vice president at Starbucks said, “We are not in the coffee business serving people, we are in the people business serving coffee.” And this is the leadership lesson found at this moment. It always has been and always will be about people and how best to serve them.

One person truly can make a difference

Perhaps the greatest lesson that Floyd Dean-Shannon taught us is that one random act of kindness by one person truly can make a difference. But when we couple random acts of kindness with intentional acts of kindness soon big changes are made.

Mother Teresa said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” As leaders, this is our challenge – to create ripples that make a difference. Thank you, Floyd Dean-Shannon for showing us how.

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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?

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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The Measure of Your Worth

Posted June 23, 2016
by admin

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. – Albert Einstein

Perhaps no composer has captured the musical heart and soul of America as did Irving Berlin. In addition to familiar favorites such as “God Bless America” and “Easter Parade,” he wrote, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” which still ranks as the all-time best-selling musical score. In an interview for the San Diego Union, Don Freemand asked Berlin, “Is there any question you’ve never been asked that you would like someone to ask you?” “Well, yes, there is one,” he replied. “‘What do you think of the many songs you’ve written that didn’t become hits?’ My reply would be that I still think they are wonderful.”

When it comes to the value that is placed upon you as a leader, regardless of the industry you are in, there is a formula for calculating your worth that is possibly being overlooked.

Certain things continually show up in the rubric of work that are measurements of success that people look to in order to prescribe your worth. Fair or not, that tends to be the norm. Performance reviews center around one’s ability to stay on task, how well he/she works with others, meeting specified goals, contributions to the bottom line etc. (all of which are important and are not meant to be diminished here).

Go back to the story for a moment. While Irving Berlin was famous for the songs we all know and love, he was equally as proud of the ones that did not become hits. It serves as a great reminder for us as leaders. Do you think anyone would think less of Berlin as a gifted singer for recording songs that did not make it to the top of the charts? No.

But herein lies the dilemma. There are countless leaders the world over who daily contribute in thousands of different ways to their respective organizations who do not get the recognition, notoriety, and fame like some do. Does that make them any less a leader in their own right? Certainly not!

Allow me to give you a word of encouragement and a few simple reminders of just how valuable you are as a leader and as a person even if you feel like no one sees, no one cares, or if no one is paying attention. I’d like to frame it from an excerpt from Mother Teresa’s “Do It Anyway” poem.

“If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.”

Your worth as a leader is not based upon what other people think or say about you. Be kind and find your lane to operate in and don’t allow yourself to be defined by your critics.

“If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.”

Your worth as a leader may be underestimated by those who mistake your honesty and character for weakness. It’s not. And when others try to deceive you they will soon learn that lesson the hard way.

“What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.”

Your worth as a leader is found in the value that you add to others. It is also reflective in the value that you bring to your organization. Others may by their actions and attitudes tear down or destroy, but keep building anyway.

“If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.”

Your worth as a leader is found in your ability to lay your head down at night and be at peace with yourself, with others, and with your Creator. The serenity in your heart the happiness on your countenance may make others jealous, but your worth is not measured by their unhappiness. You have happiness in your heart for a reason. Don’t give it up.

“Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.”

Your worth as a leader is not found it what you take but in what you give. Although in the grand scheme of things it may never be deemed enough, give your best anyway. The measure of your worth and your value as a leader is not defined by where others think you’ve come up short but by what’s in your heart. Keep giving your best!

“In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

Take this one last piece of encouragement to heart. At the end of the day this what you hang your hat on. Be encouraged. Stay strong. Keep serving. You now know who’s keeping score.

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Taming Your Inner Cynic

Posted June 11, 2015
by admin

Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one. – Sam Rayburn

The story is told of a judge who had been frequently ridiculed by a conceited lawyer. When asked by a friend why he didn’t rebuke his assailant, he replied, “In our town lives a widow who has a dog. And whenever the moon shines, it goes outside and barks all night.” Having said that, the magistrate shifted the conversation to another subject. Finally someone asked, “But Judge, what about the dog and the moon?” “Oh,” he replied, “the moon went on shining–that’s all.”

One of the dangers you face as a leader is in developing a cynical attitude. You try your best as a leader to keep a strong positive attitude; after all, you are the one setting the example for others. But we all know that the mental, physical, and emotional toll of being a leader can get to the best among us at times.

Symptoms of cynicism are obvious- if not to you, then to others around you. A cynical leader thinks worse-case scenarios, has an outlook that is more negative, and is too quick to notice the flaws in other people. He tends to second guess peoples motives and is increasingly insecure. This type of behavior can be viewed as “out of character” by those who know you best and are signs that cynicism has taken root.

Taming your inner cynic can be challenging. There are just some days and some people who will take you to your limit. I get it. So what is a leader to do? Here are five suggestions to help you come back to the bright side.

Choose to be thankful

Instead of being quick to complain about how bad things are why not choose a thankful attitude instead? When you shift your focus to all of the good in your life then your attitude will begin to change. It becomes harder to be negative with a thankful heart.

Choose to be quiet

Cynical people tend to not only be negative but often time very vocal. Instead of saying the first negative thing that comes to mind why not just pause; take a deep breath, and keep that thought to yourself. You never have to apologize for the words you don’t say.

Choose to listen

Cynical people can be that way because they are formulating thoughts, opinions, and attitudes often with incomplete information. A good idea for you as a leader is to listen to your people and gather facts before you speak or make a decision.

Choose to take some down time

There is an old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” that should be taken to heart. I’m convinced that most cynicism in leaders is attributed to this thought. It is important for all leaders to have quality down time to re-charge and re-connect– to rest and be restored mentally and physically. Leaders need rest.

Choose to make a difference

The attitude at the top of the organization tends to be the one throughout the organization. As a leader you carry that responsibility. The daily choices you make are critical not only for your well-being but for those you lead.

No leader is immune from stress and each battles the temptation to be cynical at times. But know this: cynicism is a choice and is a reflection upon your leadership style. The discipline of a good attitude over being cynical is winnable. The outcome rests in your daily choices.

In closing, let me leave you with some inspiration from the Anyway poem attributed to Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

Visit my new podcast page at: http://dougdickerson.buzzsprout.com/

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