Office Dynamics – Page 6 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Leadership Minute: An Eye For Potential

Posted July 1, 2014
by admin

Do you see more potential in people than they do in themselves? – Adam Grant

This is one of the hallmarks of a good leader. Seeing more potential in others than they do in themselves can turn into a life-changing moment for the other person when you act on it. When you can help another person discover a talent or skill and help awaken that gift it can be a most rewarding experience. Having an eye for such potential requires looking beyond the surface. Now you are focusing on the other person’s passions, skills, talents, and giving voice to your recognition of it. Chances are the other person is aware of it also but perhaps hasn’t been ready to step out and act on it. Maybe fear has held them back. You can’t motivate them beyond what they are willing to do themselves, but you can encourage, challenge, and inspire them to put their gift into action. You could very well be the encourager someone needs today.

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On Becoming Better at Failing

Posted June 28, 2014
by admin
1 Comment on On Becoming Better at Failing

Am I failing different each time? – David Kelley

In his book, “The Power of Optimism”, Alan Loy McGinnis wrote of the great fire Thomas Edison experienced at his lab. Edison’s manufacturing facilities were heavily damaged by fire one night in December, 1914. Edison lost almost $1 million worth of equipment and the record of much of his work. The next morning, walking about the charred embers of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year old inventor said, “There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew.”

Edison’s attitude in the face of his disaster serves as a reminder and as encouragement to those who have ever experienced a setback or failure. As a leader the question is not whether you will have failures, but when you do, how will you respond? As you grow as a leader the types of failures and the way you fail will grow with you. Are you getting better? Here’s how you can tell.

You fail better when you are not afraid to take risks

Taking risks is part of your growth as a leader. Without risks you are in a rut and the view will never change. It’s as you dare to venture out and try new things that you can maximize your potential and reach new goals. Failures will come when you take risks but anything worth having will require it.

You fail better when your dreams are big

This is where you put your risks into action. Failure in pursuit of a big dream is much better feeling than the feeling of complacency where you are. You have big dreams for a reason. And big dreams require action. And along the way of fulfilling those dreams you will experience setbacks. Failure is a part of your growth and through every difficulty along the way you are one step closer to seeing your dream fulfilled.

You fail better when you do your very best

Big dreams and goals require more out of you than what you gave a year ago or five years ago. It’s the payoff of your growth and the reward of your hard work. A failure at this stage in your life is still many steps ahead of where you were in the past. Each step, each setback, and every failure is the result of putting your best foot forward even if you stumble.

You fail better when you fail with others

Your path to success as a leader will be easier to navigate when you have others to share it with. Smart leaders understand the power of teamwork and the rewards of collaborative effort. You can enhance and accelerate your work, dreams, goals and aspirations when others are involved. Setbacks and failures hurt less when shared by others and your recovery will be quicker. There’s nothing like sharing a few failures with your team and there’s nothing like the celebration at the end when together you achieve your goals.

You fail better when you don’t give up

Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” When failures come your way don’t give up. Failing successfully happens when you get up, dust yourself off, reassess, and get moving. You wouldn’t be where you are today if deep down you didn’t already know this. But perhaps you just need the reminder so here it is; don’t give up!

You fail better when you show others how

There is no failure or setback that you go through that is in vain if you react the right way, learn from it, and care enough to help others. Your life lessons – all of the bumps and bruises along the way can serve as invaluable teaching moments. The way you fail today is not the way you failed five years ago and it will not be the way you will fail five years from now.

The way you fail is important. As you come through your failures you are learning, applying new lessons, being more creative, and making wiser decisions. What you learn you should share. Show others that failure is not fatal, that there is triumph in adversity, and most of all it is worth it if you don’t give up.

What do you say?

I welcome your feedback:

1. Does failure look different to you now as compared to five or ten years ago?

2. What additional advice would you give to aspiring leaders who have experienced failure or a setback?

3. What life lessons have you learned though failure?

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‘Us’ vs. ‘Them’ and the 5 Questions You Need to Answer

Posted June 22, 2014
by admin

You can observe a lot by just watching. – Yogi Berra

The story is told of a golfer who had been playing so bad that he went to see a psychiatrist who told him to relax by playing a round of golf without the ball. “Do everything you normally would do, but use an imaginary ball,” advised the psychiatrist.

The round went well and as he approached the 18^th hole, he met another golfer playing the same way. They decided to play the last hole together and bet $10 on the outcome. The first golfer swung at his imaginary ball and announced that it had gone 280 yards right down the middle of the fairway. The second golfer matched his drive. The first man took out his 5-iron and after swinging at his imaginary ball, exclaimed, “Look at that shot! It went right over the pin and the reverse spin brought it right back into the hole. I win!” “No you don’t,” said the second golfer, “you hit my ball.”

Your perceptions go a long way in determining what and how you think. But can you always trust those perceptions? Sadly, and much too often, in many organizations there is the proverbial “us vs. them” mentality that exists. And too often we are more concerned about being heard than understood. So here are five questions that I believe are fitting for leaders to ask and answer. They can set you on a course of better communication and understanding that will make you a more effective leader and create a better work environment.

What do I see?

What you see taking place in your organization is a perspective unique to you as the leader. Of course you will have a better understanding and answer the more you are out among your people. What do you see taking place? Do you see your people with all the tools they need to be their best? Do you see collaboration and camaraderie? What are the strengths of the organization and what are the weaknesses? Who are your heavy-lifters and who are your slackers?

What do I know?

Next is the formation of your perceptions based upon what you see. It may or may not be an accurate assessment based in part on the amount of time you spend with your people. If this is not something you do on a regular basis it may not be very accurate. But based upon what you do see – what do you know? Are you where you need to be? Are you getting the most from your people where they are? What do you know now that you wish you had known six months ago? What do you need to change?

What do my people see?

The first two questions are about your perceptions. Your perceptions are needed and important but the puzzle is still incomplete. Now, put yourself in the shoes of your people. Look at things from where they sit and work – now what do you see? This is about their perceptions. How do they see your leadership? Do they see you as an obstacle to progress or a facilitator of it? Do they see a fine-tuned operation or one that is mired down somewhere? If you want to be a more effective leader then you need to see what they see.

What do my people know (that I should)?

Throughout your organization are talented and highly skilled sales people, PA’s, marketing professionals, accountants, executives, volunteers, and the list goes on. What they know is a treasure trove of valuable information. But that information is of no worth to you if you do not tap into it. Your people are the most valuable asset you have as a leader. Get to know them and what they know. You can make better decisions that affect your organization when you listen to the people on the ground who have the most at stake by your decision. Listen to them and give value to their input.

How can we come together?

It’s time to put an end to the “Us vs. Them” mentality and the walls and isolation it creates. You best build and grow your organization when you build and grow it together. What you have to do is figure out the best and most practical way for you and your people to come together, get to know one another, build relationships, share information, and work together for a brighter future. Good leaders will do this. It’s time to ask, answer, and listen. Are you game?

1. What additional steps would you suggest to overcome the “Us vs. Them” mentality?

2. What other things should leaders look for from the perspective of their people?

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Leadership Minute: Are You Having Fun?

People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing. – Dale Carnegie

How important is it to you to have fun at what you do? As leaders we tend to be task oriented and focused on getting the job done. We tend to be restless at times and are ready to tackle new projects once one is completed. Clearly we understand the importance of our work and take pride in it. But can you attach the label of ‘fun’ to what you do? While you may not be able to label your work as ‘fun’ you should have a sense of enjoyment and fun executing it. Life is hard, work is hard, and leadership is hard. But your level of success will only increase if you can find and take pleasure in what you do. A personal leadership inventory would look like this: is my work rewarding and fulfilling, and do I enjoy it? Fun is not your primary concern but it sure helps. Are you having fun?

[polldaddy poll=8136199]

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Leadership Minute: Be Careful Where You Sit

Posted June 16, 2014
by admin

The world is full of cactus, but we don’t have to sit on it. – Will Foley

As a leader you will encounter your fair share of prickly people. Sometimes there is no escaping them. But how the behaviors and actions of others affect you is your choice. It’s a given that we all can have a bad day now and then and be a little prickly ourselves. But then there are those “special” people- you know the ones, they are just not happy unless they are unhappy. When life handed them a lemon instead of making lemonade they planted more lemons. But that is their choice. You will run across these people now and then. My advice? As best you can, keep running. You don’t have to sit there with them. Your happiness and disposition is one of the most important leadership decisions you will make so don’t surrender it to anyone. Be careful where you sit.

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Six Ways to Enhance Organizational Structure – with guest co-author Elizabeth Stincelli

Posted June 13, 2014
by admin

The productivity of a work group seems to depend on how the group members see their own goals in relation to the goals of the organization. – Ken Blanchard

When was the last time you took a hard look at the effectiveness of your organizational structure? While most organizations have one, do the people in your organization know it or understand it? The time may be ripe for you to take a fresh look at yours and consider these six ways to enhance it.

Empower your leaders

Regardless of what your present organizational structure looks like its functionality should empower its leaders. Successful leaders thrive in an organizational structure that fosters creativity, unleashes potential, and doesn’t stifle progress. This happens when less emphasis is placed on hierarchical structure and more emphasis is placed on empowering the right people in the right places. Empowerment elevates the performance of leaders and encourages behavior that earns the respect of followers. This respect allows leaders to build partnerships within the organization that encourage open, two-way communication and foster a sense of loyalty.

Give ownership

Ownership occurs within your organizational structure when there is buy-in from the bottom up and system wide. If ownership is not shared then the structure is self-serving and not empowering. People want ownership and sense of belonging to a great cause. Without ownership that can’t happen. Ownership holds everyone on the team accountable for their decisions and actions. In order for employees to take successful ownership of their work they must clearly understand expectations. They must also have milestones where progress is evaluated. Ensure that employees are serving in the right roles, give ownership, and celebrate their victories.

Expand borders

Organizational structures don’t define you, you define them. As such, your organizational structure should not be a document of containment but a blueprint of open boundaries to grow and succeed. It should not box people in but should free them to do what they do best. As your organization grows so should your structure but in a way that facilities your growth and not in ways that impede it. Provide employees with the opportunity to be more flexible about how, when, where, and with whom the work gets done. Employees want to be involved in designing and managing their work tasks. Offer employees choices and the ability to personalize work. Allow employees to share ideas and be involved in the implementation of these ideas. As you expand your borders, provide opportunities for employee growth and focus your energies on the results that really matter.

Think lateral

Employees need to have a level of control over their work tasks. A top-down organizational structure hinders the ability of decision-making at the lowest level possible. Decision making on the front-lines allows issues to be identified and addressed quickly. In a lateral structure, employees understand where they fit and how they impact the success of the organization. A flat organizational structure allows employees at all levels of the organization to be empowered and given autonomy over their work. This less rigid structure allows for flexibility and promotes a feeling of equality and inclusiveness. When lateral thinking is put into action it allows for swifter response times that can translate into happier customers, gratified clients, and a healthy bottom line. Lateral thinking is empowering, efficient, and very effective.

Build trust

The support needed to successfully achieve organizational goals is gained by developing relationships based on trust and commitment. The organizational structure can enhance or impede factors such as open communication, management follow-through, accountability, consistency, and concern for employee interests all of which foster a sense of trust. Therefore, building trust is a deliberate action, not something left to chance. It happens as relationships are given priority, it grows in an atmosphere of community, and it pays huge dividends when everyone is engaged. Without trust you have nothing. With it your potential is unlimited.

Find common ground

Employees prefer to work with others they see as similar to themselves. When the organizational structure provides an inclusive environment with common goals a sense of community is developed. Finding common ground helps in the successful pursuit of these shared goals. The organization must foster a shared purpose so that employees understand why the organization exists and why they do what they do. Finding common ground is a fundamental condition of your success. You need to define, share it, but most of all; your team needs to own it. Common ground is your path forward.

Does your organizational structure support the goals you trying to reach? The continued success of your organization is dependent on your ability to continually evaluate and enhance your organizational structure. You can enhance your effectiveness by taking these steps to ensure that your organization is ready to succeed in the 21st century.

* Elizabeth Stincelli is passionate about recognizing and inspiring the leader in each of us. She is the CEO of Stincelli Advisors where she focuses on helping organizations engage employees and improve organizational structure. Elizabeth holds a Doctor of Management degree with an emphasis on organizational leadership. Learn more about Elizabeth by visiting her websites, www.stincelliadvisors.com and http://lizstincelli.wordpress.com/

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Leadership Minute: Channeling Your Anger

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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New Book Promotions

Posted June 1, 2014
by admin

I have great news to share with you! Now you can order PDF versions of my books, Leaders Without Borders and Great Leaders Wanted to download to your tablet or smartphone. When you visit my blogger website and place your order the PDF will be emailed to you. At just $3.99 each now is a great time to order your copies! Thank you so much for your support as we encourage and develop great leaders like you!

Go to www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com and order today!

Leaders Without Borders: 9 Essentials for Everyday Leaders – Whether you are the CEO of your business or serve elsewhere in the organizational structure, the boundaries of your leadership are limitless if you are devoted to developing your personal leadership skills. Leaders Without Borders will help you embrace the challenge of personal leadership in order to expand your influence. In order to reach your potential as a leader, you will also be inspired to not only embrace your passion but to identify it. Finding your one thing – your passion- as a leader- is life-transforming. Leaders Without Borders will provide answers to help you in the discovery process of understanding what your passion is.

Mark Sanborn, noted leadership speaker and bestselling author of The Fred Factor writes, “I rarely like easy answers because they’re unrealistic. I do, however, like books that challenge a leader’s thinking and provide him or her with new insights that prompt action. This book by Doug Dickerson is that kind of book.” The nine essentials from the book are: passion, priorities, optimism, teamwork, attitude, authenticity, authenticity, loyalty, kindness and legacy.

Great Leaders Wanted! In this second book Doug will answer the questions you have about leadership, building a great team, and achieving your best at your job, for your business, and in your community. The world wants leaders. It needs leaders. That could be you. Explore your full potential and become the leader that you want to be- and that your company, business, and community need you to be!

Writing in the foreword, Don Hutson, CEO of U.S. Learning writes, “In Great Leaders Wanted!, Doug Dickerson provides 56 short but potent chapters of wisdom and reflection that will help all of us regardless of where we may be in life’s journey or our current position in our leadership hierarchy…wherever you are on the leadership spectrum, Doug Dickerson’s book has something to offer you.”

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Five Passion-Busters Every Leader Must Face

Posted May 31, 2014
by admin

If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction or passion. – Mia Hamm

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to conquer Mt. Everest. When asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains he replied, “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” This is both the challenge and the reward for all leaders. It’s as we conquer ourselves that we are then able to conquer the challenges that are before us.

Passion is your life-blood as a leader. It’s what keeps you up late at night and gets you up early in the morning. It’s the fuel for your motivation and is the heartbeat of your purpose. But what happens when your passions begin to wane?

A recent survey reported on by ABC News (http://abcn.ws/1ruBIys) would suggest that many American workers feel overwhelmed and dream of a new job. The survey was conducted by the Families and Work Institute. They phone surveyed 1,003 U.S. adult workers. They report that 28 percent often or very often felt overworked. The same amount reported feeling overwhelmed by their jobs or very often, and 29 percent said they often felt they had no time to reflect on their work. It also revealed that 70 percent say they often dream of having a different job.

When these types of sentiments are commonplace in our work environments then the key ingredient of passion is rapidly becoming a rare commodity. Employers as well as employees need to be mindful of some of the warning signs before they take root and claim another victim. So what are some of the warning signs? There are many. Here are five for your consideration.

Uncharacteristic boredom

I am not talking about the run-of-the-mill boredom that high achievers are prone to experience or even that of some slackers. In this category would be those who once were all in but for whatever reason are now disengaged. The spark and creativity is gone. A disconnect has occurred. Perhaps the sense of accomplishment has passed and a new challenge is in order. Boredom will drain you of your passion so be sure not to let it linger for long.

Ambivalent attitude

When passion is declining and boredom has taken over then ambivalence will soon follow. If uncertainty or fluctuation in a team member’s level of commitment or enthusiasm exists then you best pay attention. Ambivalence is a red flag indicator and if left unchallenged it can be a negative force that can easily spread. In the case of ambivalence the energy source changes from a positive to a negative. If this is occurring then chances are passions are running low. Key here is to drill down and find out why.

Overly critical

You need positive passionate people on your team. A warning sign of decreased passion is when it changes from being constructive to being destructive. When what was once constructive criticism now becomes malicious then that is a sure sign that passion has eroded. This type of temperament within your organization must be contained. Passion that is channeled in the right direction can give your organization unprecedented opportunities but overly critical team members can kill its momentum.

Reduction of quality work

If a team member is bored, ambivalent, and overly critical then it will soon be reflected in their work. Your work is a reflection of your passion. When your passions are high and your morale is good then your performance will reflect it. Pay attention to subtle changes in these areas for warning signs that could indicate there are passion issues. If dealt with early it can stave off larger problems down the road.

Consistently unhappy

If any combination of the above signs is part of the mix for you or your team members then it would not be much of a stretch to conclude that there is a consistent level of unhappiness involved. It could be the result of conclusions expressed in the survey – being overworked, overwhelmed, stressed out – all factors that lead to varying degrees of diminished passion.

What’s important is to remove the stigma of diminished passions, recognize it for what it is, and then go to work on correcting it. Your passions are your greatest assets so protect them at all costs. Take time to recharge, refresh, and then re-enter with renewed passion.

What do you say?

I welcome your feedback:

1. Which signs did you most identify with?

2. What are some immediate corrective actions you can take?

3. What are some on-going preventive things you can to keep from falling victim to a lack of passion?

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Leadership Minute: Change is an Opportunity

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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