Personal Growth – Page 7 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

The Power of Your Tribe: Who Belongs In It and Why

Posted July 14, 2022July 14, 2022
by admin

Some people will hear you louder in silence. Those are your tribe- they’ll get you through the tough days and give you something to laugh about on the way. – Nikki Rowe

In one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues, the Crispen’s Day speech from Henry V, King Henry inspires his soldiers in the face of grim odds with a rousing speech about how the men who fight this battle with him will be forever united as a “band of brothers.” This is a king speaking to peasants, and yet he’s saying that what they are about to go through will unite them all as brothers.

We don’t always get to choose the battles life throws our way, but we do choose our response. And just as important, we choose the tribe we run with.

While you may not always have control over the people who surround you in your organization, you do choose your inner circle in life that has a way of completing you. These are the people that walk with you through the good and bad and are there when the dust settles and the smoke clears.

Finding friends and acquaintances is not hard work for the most part, but your tribe is a different breed of people that you discover along the way. Who are they? What are their characteristics?

Charlie “Tremendous” Jones once said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” And to that, I would include those who you make part of your tribe. So let’s find out who belongs in your tribe.

Your tribe sees the best in you and keeps you humble; they see the worst in you and still love you

This characteristic of people in your tribe is so important. And quite frankly, you wouldn’t have much of a tribe without them.

They will be quick to celebrate your accomplishments and wins. And when you feel like you’re invincible they will keep you grounded by not being overly impressed by you. When they see you at your worst they will have your back, speak the truth you need to hear, and will walk patiently with you.

In your tribe you need loyalty.

With your tribe, you share common values

While it’s common to have many friends and acquaintances, not all of them will share your values and priorities. It’s not a deal-breaker in terms of friendship, but in your tribe, you need those who share and understand the values that drive you and the priorities that guide you.

When the bond among your tribe is driven by shared values it provides the clarity that you need. When your people understand the significance of your priorities it keeps everyone focused and accountable. It’s why knowing who belongs in your tribe, and those who don’t, is so important. While many may be impressed with what you’re doing and where you’re going, not all are willing to make the sacrifices and pay the same price as you to go there. Click To Tweet

In your tribe you need purpose.

With your tribe, you travel higher and farther

With a shared mindset and values, your growth potential is multiplied. It’s why each person must find their tribe. You can only travel so far by yourself but can travel higher and farther when part of a tribe of like-minded people.

When you are committed to your personal growth and are surrounded by those who share that passion you position yourself and your tribe for greater opportunities and greater impact. Pick your tribe wisely because with them you can go far, but the wrong tribe will hold you back.

In your tribe you need clarity.

With your tribe, you have greater balance and perspective

As you settle in with your tribe of like-minded people, you begin to develop a certain vibe and develop an understanding that is the product of being in a genuine relationship. Over time, you begin to know one another better, and before too long a comradery forms that Shakespeare wrote about.

One of the great benefits of finding your tribe is that those people bring balance and perspective to your life that you may not have with anyone else. Having a close tribe is a game-changer and one that every leader should seek.

In your tribe you need community.

Final Thoughts

Having a tribe of like-minded people is one of the most consequential things you can have as a leader. But you must be intentional in finding them. When it’s built on loyalty, purpose, clarity, and community you will be part of a powerful community.

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Building a Culture of Respect

Posted June 27, 2022
by admin

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. – Mother Teresa

Building and maintaining a healthy workplace culture is a challenge within any organization. Creating and sustaining a healthy culture where comradery thrives begins with respect and trust. With it, there is such potential for great things; without it, there’s always going to be tension between that potential and the disappointment of unfulfilled goals.

If there’s ever been a time for building a culture of respect it’s now. A great tension exists between our culture as a whole and how that plays out day-to-day in the workplace. Whatever stands you take and positions you subscribe to in our current culture at large, those can and do inevitability carry over into the workplace.

So how does a leader set the tone for a healthy workplace culture when the people within it bring such diverse and strong points of view regarding the things that are taking place outside of it?

Here’s what I know to be true and what everyone needs to remember - there is a difference between people being divided and being divisive. Click To Tweet And as a leader, you have to know the difference and set up healthy boundaries. People will have differing views on all sorts of issues. That’s to be expected and normal. But people choose to be divisive by their actions and behaviors.

The other day I called my friend Tom. He and I have been friends for more than 30 years. He was one of the first ones to visit my wife and me in the hospital after our children were born. He was very instrumental in some of my early career choices and he is a valued and trusted friend.

Our friendship transcends the different ways in which we see the world. And after some of the recent major headlines, it was Tom whom I wanted to talk with. Why is that?

While we have our different convictions and differences of opinion our friendship transcends them. The fact that we don’t always agree is precisely why I called him. I didn’t want an echo chamber conversation. I wanted to talk, ask questions, listen, and broaden my perspective and understanding. And this is what we’ve been doing for more than 30 years.

Over the years our friendship has lasted because of one word – respect. Our friendship is not defined by our political points of view, by a label, by always having to be right, or by the need to get in the last word. We listen to each other with respect and do not allow any disagreement to come between us.

As a leader, how you walk this tightrope and how it plays out in your workplace is vital to the health of your organization.

On a practical level, what can you do as a leader? How can you help build a culture of respect? Here are a few ideas.

Model it

Having the kind of workplace culture that you want as a leader begins with you. If respect is what’s needed, then respect has to be shown. Never insist on any action or behavior that you are not taking the lead on. Respect, as with any other value within your organization, begins with leadership. It succeeds or fails by your example.

Make it a priority

As a leader, you are not responsible for the beliefs and actions of the masses outside of your organization. But you do have a say about what takes place within it. Building a respectful culture within your organization not only has to be modeled by you but must be made a priority. Once values and behaviors are communicated they must be made a priority that your people embrace.

Hold people accountable

Within the context of building a culture of respect within your organization, there have to be accountability measures in place. The culture of the organization does not rest on the shoulders of one person- everyone shares that responsibility.

Hold diversity in high regard

Benjamin Franklin said, “When everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking.” And this is when you run the risk of getting stuck. You need people who see things differently and who think differently from you. Your diversity is not the problem, it’s your strength and you need to recognize and celebrate it. Mutual respect and trust must be the glue that holds it all together.

Final Thoughts

Building a healthy culture in your organization begins with respect. Along with trust, it’s the foundation upon which everything else is built. It takes a commitment on your part to model it and make it a value and when you do and it takes hold, you will have a culture worth emulating.

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Authenticating Your Leadership

Posted June 20, 2022
by admin

Authenticity is your most precious commodity as a leader. – Marcus Buckingham

The painting was named the Sunset at Montmajour and depicted trees, bushes, and the sky that was later confirmed to be inspired by the landscape at Montmajour hill, near Arles, France, near where the artist Vincent van Gogh lived. The painting had spent years in the attic of a Norwegian private collector.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam had previously rejected the painting’s authenticity in the 1990s partly because it was not signed. Was it truly an original by the renowned painter?

Thanks to new research at the time (2013), and an extensive two-year investigation, it was concluded that the artwork was indeed by the artist Vincent van Gogh. It was called a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” at the unveiling ceremony.

The painting was authenticated by letters, style, and the physical materials used. The investigation into the authenticity of the painting took two years.

The authentication process is one that was done with a great deal of research and care. There could be no doubts or reservations before making such a bold declaration.

This leads me to the question of how we go about authenticating leaders.

Many people desire to be leaders. Many people claim to be leaders. Some are the real deal and, of course, there are pretenders. But how can you be certain? How do you authenticate or validate one’s leadership?

Over time many things will ultimately reveal whether a person is truly a leader – whether that person is just starting or has been around for a long time. So what are those distinguishing characteristics? Here are a few ways to know.

Authentic leaders seek to serve

This is one of the most distinguishing differences that exist in leadership – those who chase after power and position, and those who seek out ways to serve others. A true leader understands that ultimately, it’s not about you.

Jim George put it this way, “Serving others prepares you to lead others.” And this is why it takes so long for so many to authenticate their leadership – they have it all backward. When you prioritize serving others, you are laying the stepping stones to your success as a leader.

Authentic leaders walk with humility

Since authentic leaders know that it’s not about them, they check their ego at the door. Authentic leaders know that the more they are entrusted to lead and influence those around them the more responsibility they assume.

Thomas Merton was correct when he said, “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.” Let that thought sink in for a moment. Grandstanding and self-promotion come across more times than not as being artificial and fake, but those who walk with humility demonstrate true characteristics of leadership that are appealing and worth emulating.

Authentic leaders are trustworthy

The great thing about authentic and trustworthy leaders is that you don’t have to question their motives. You don’t have to second-guess the validity of the relationship. Their word is their bond.

Authenticity in this area of your leadership is critical to your success as a leader whether you are just starting or have been around a while. You have to build trust and be trustworthy because with it anything is possible, and without it nothing is. Click To Tweet

Authentic leaders growing leaders

Authentic leaders are growing leaders. They are constantly learning, failing, re-evaluating, and re-entering. They are not afraid to make mistakes and fail and appear at times to not have it all together. They are comfortable in their skin because they know that this life and leadership journey is real and at times can get messy.

This tribe of leaders embrace the mess and had rather risk looking foolish than be a phony who never ventures and never learns and never grows. They’d rather be authentic- warts and all.

What sets this authentic leader apart from the rest is their insatiable desire to grow and be the best they can be and leave their mark on the world.

Final Thoughts

Authenticating your leadership is an important aspect of your leadership. And these characteristics listed here are a good place to start but certainly aren’t an exhaustive list. But you can begin by taking an honest assessment of where you are now with this list. Dare to challenge your beliefs and assumptions and dare to be authentic.

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Five Advantages of Connected Leaders

Posted May 23, 2022
by admin

Humans are social beings and we are happier, and better when we are connected to others. – Peter Bloom

I came across a story about how a tree stump in New Zealand keeps itself alive by holding onto the roots of its neighboring trees, exchanging water and resources through its grafted roots system.

Though the remnant appears dead, a grafting of roots underground connects the part that looks dead to the healthy trees.

I found this story to be inspiring by the way the tree stump stayed alive by being grafted to the other trees around it.

That story says a lot about the importance of how healthy leaders stay connected to the sources that give them the greatest opportunities for growth. In leadership, it’s imperative to learn this lesson early.

The late John Lennon once wrote, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality,” and that sums up the power of being connected to like-minded people who can move you from dreaming to achieving.

What does a connected leader look like? What sets them apart from other leaders? Consider these five advantages of being a connected leader.

A connected leader has greater momentum

Ask any leader or look at the one commodity of any organization and momentum is one of those things that once you have can lift you to new levels. By yourself, creating momentum is a challenge. Within the confines of being connected, it’s much easier to attain and keep going.

If you are a leader who’s lacking momentum, consider your level of connectedness to those around you who can give you that confidence that comes with momentum.

A connected leader has greater resources

A great advantage of being a connected leader is that you have greater resources at your disposal. It empowers and equips you in ways that you’d never experience otherwise.

If you are a leader who is lacking in resources, then consider the advantages of being a part of something larger than yourself and resources that can elevate your leadership.

A connected leader has greater accountability

One of the most important advantages you can have in leadership is to be surrounded and associated with a group of people that will support you and hold you accountable. While many may resist it, it’s the one thing that will help you the most.

A “Lone Ranger” leader who is not accountable is one that can easily squander their potential. Accountable leaders are growing leaders.

A connected leader has greater influence

Ultimately, a leader who is connected to a team of other like-minded people significantly increases their potential in ways never previously imagined. This kind of influence is a game-changer in how it impacts the lives of others, increases the mission and vision of their organization, and has the capacity to grow more leaders in the process.

If you are a leader who seriously wants to increase your influence then be a leader that’s connected to something greater than yourself. Click To Tweet

A connected leader has greater rewards

This is the culmination of what being a connected leader is all about. Ultimately, being a connected leader is not about what’s in it for you but rather what you, as a connected leader, can do for others. It’s about how you and your life-minded tribe can add value to others and be the leaders you were destined to become.

If you are a leader who has a desire for greater rewards, then consider the mindset of a leader connected to a cause and purpose greater than you.

Final Thoughts

What you stand to gain by being a connected leader is far greater than anything you think you might lose by going it alone. The truth is, we need each other, and leaders who are connected to one another have that advantage. You weren’t meant to do life alone- get connected and see the difference it can make in your leadership.

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The Power of Resistance in Leadership

Posted May 8, 2022May 11, 2022
by admin

Only a mediocre person is always at his best.- W. Somerset Maugham

I came across an interesting story not long ago about how our muscles grow and develop. According to medical research, “muscle size increases when a person continually challenges the muscles to deal with higher levels of resistance or weight. This process is known as hypertrophy. Muscle hypertrophy occurs when fibers sustain damage or injury. The body repairs damaged fibers by fusing them, which increases the mass and size of the muscles.”

Did you catch that? Muscles build when there is resistance. The process actually includes the tearing of muscle fibers. It sounds like a painful process but it is necessary for the bigger picture; gaining muscle strength and growth.

When it comes to our personal growth and our growth as leaders, we tend to stay away from things (or people) that cause us pain. And often, the very thing that will move us in the direction of more growth and development, is the very thing we try to avoid. Why? Because it’s painful or because we are unwilling to pay the price for that growth. It’s the ultimate catch-22.

In The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, here’s how John Maxwell defines the Law of the Rubber Band, “Growth stops when you lose the tension between where you are and where you could be.” There are many uses for a rubber band, but it’s of no use or value until it’s stretched.

As a leader, how willing and open are you to being stretched for the sake of growth? What sacrifices are you willing to make to become a better leader tomorrow? Unless you are stretched you will never reach your full leadership potential.

Your physical muscles grow as they are challenged to deal with higher levels of resistance. What does that look like in leadership? Let’s consider these two ways.

You grow in your leadership as you resist your comfort zones

When you begin moving out of your comfort zones – those familiar places where you routinely operate with a great degree of predictability, then you will begin to feel resistance. It’s akin to the feeling you had when the training wheels came off when learning how to ride a bike, or when learning to swim and you took the plunge into the deep end of the pool. All of your training and learning up to that point have prepared you for the next step. In order to grow, you must be willing to move in the direction of the things you’ve resisted the most up to this point. Click To Tweet

In the book Originals – How Non-Conformists Move the World, Adam Grant quotes John Kotter who sheds additional light here stating, “Without a sense of urgency, people…won’t make sacrifices. Instead, they cling to the status quo and resist.” Perhaps in your leadership, this is where you find yourself – with no sense of urgency. Here’s what you need to know – without embracing resistance that will develop you as a leader, you will stay right where you are. Without a sense of urgency, you will be at the same place a year from now as you find yourself today. Click To TweetYour personal growth and development will only happen when you are willing and prepared to make the sacrifices to get there.

You grow in your leadership when you embrace the tension of growth

Developing your leadership mettle happens when you embrace the tensions of growth. I’m not talking about the tension that arises due to strained relationships or conflict in the office. The tension that I am referring to is the tension that’s created when you recognize that your comfort zone is no longer serving you well and it’s time to get out of it. It’s the tension that takes place when you move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset and from a negative attitude to a positive attitude. It’s the tension that takes place as John Maxwell says when you are willing to give up security for significance and addition for multiplication.

Ultimately, by embracing the tension of growth you will develop a new set of leadership muscles and fortitude you didn’t have before.

Simon Sinek remarked, “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.” And passion is the ultimate difference-maker when it comes to how you lead. It emboldens you with confidence and confidence is contagious.

Final Thoughts

Your personal growth and development and that of your leadership occur when you embrace the tension and put resistance to work. As you embrace the tension, you will grow as a leader. This is how you put resistance to good work.

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Why Every Leader Must Value Failure

Posted April 18, 2022
by admin

When achievers fail, they see it as a momentary event, not a lifelong epidemic. – John Maxwell

In 2014’s Oscar-winning film Birdman, Michael Keaton plays a washed-out actor trying to start his life again after a series of failed roles. But his efforts are haunted by the voice of the Birdman, the superhero role that had made him famous in his youth. The voice in his head tells him a story about his life- a story about failure and missed chances.

It taunts him with memories of what he was and what he could have been, but now isn’t. The continuing question running through the film is simple: Will he listen to that voice of a failure, or will he dare to believe that he can flourish again?

The story of the movie is one that plays out in the mind and imaginations of many leaders today.

You may relate to the character played by Michael Keaton and wonder if you have squandered too many opportunities in the past and doubt if or if you will ever flourish again.

In order to answer those lingering doubts and questions you may have, I believe it all hinges on your reaction to and outlook on failure. In other words, do you see the value in failure? Do you see the growth opportunities that come to you only because you did fail that otherwise, you may have missed out on? I want to explore two specific ways why valuing failure is important to you as a leader.

Value failure for what you learn

Tom Watson, Sr. is the man who founded IBM. Once, many years ago, he had a top junior executive who had spent $12 million of the company’s money on a venture that failed.

The executive put his resignation on Watson’s desk and said, “I’m sure you want my resignation.” Watson roared back, “No, I don’t want your resignation. I’ve just spent $12 million educating you. It’s about time you get to work.”

It’s been said that experience is a great teacher. So is failure. But most of us don’t like experiencing failures. I get it. But when you see failure as part of the stepping stones towards success your outlook will change. Failures and setbacks are part of your journey so the question becomes what will you learn when they happen.

One of the most valuable things you learn from your failures and mistakes is what you learn about yourself. When you know your strengths and weaknesses it helps you move forward in a smarter and more productive manner.

John Wooden said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts,” and to that end, never despise learning and know that as long as you have a pulse, you have an opportunity to grow and learn.

Value failure for your personal growth

In his book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John Maxwell states, “The greatest limitations people experience on their lives are usually the ones they impose upon themselves.” That statement is packed with so much truth and wisdom.

Let me ask you today – what limitations have you placed on your own personal growth and development that as a result is holding you back? What lies have you bought into that make you feel inferior?

Every leader I know has made mistakes and has experienced failure at some point in time. I know that I have made my fair share of mistakes and know what failure feels like. But here’s the truth you need to be reminded of: you experience failures – you are not a failure. You make mistakes – you are not a mistake.

The attitude you embrace and the mindset you establish fundamentally determine how failure will shape your leadership. When you welcome failure as your teacher it will help you grow and get better. But when you turn inward and see yourself as a failure then it will hold you back and defeat you.

Final Thoughts

Failure and learning go hand in hand. As leaders, it comes with the territory and is part of the journey. While we don’t intentionally or purposefully set out to fail we do know that it’s all a part of our humanity that we embrace. Especially as leaders. Welcome it. Learn from it. Grow from it.

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Five Signs Your Leadership Has a Settler’s Mentality

Posted March 28, 2022
by admin

There is no passion to be found in playing small- in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. – Nelson Mandela

About 350 years ago, the story is told, a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a townsite. The next year they elected a town government. In the third year, the town government planned to build a road five miles westward to the wilderness.

In the fourth year, the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?

Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision.

This story in some ways embodies what can happen to leaders when they “arrive” at certain levels of success or accomplishment and settle for where they are. And instead of blazing new trails and creating new opportunities, they are content to stop and smell the roses without any thought of moving forward.

You may be in a place in your leadership where you feel that you are in a rut or have grown stagnant. Would you even know that you have or what that looks like? What are some of the signs that you have a settler’s mentality when it comes to your leadership? Here are five for your consideration.

You stand in the way of change

A leader with a settler’s mentality stands in the way of change. He or she not just longs for the ‘good ole days’ but still has that mindset and to some extent prefers it. While one can certainly appreciate the past one must not live or stay there.

John Maxwell once said, “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” And so long as you stand in the way of change, you will be like the early settlers in the story above who made a three thousand mile journey across the ocean but lack the vision to move five miles out of town. You can stand in the way of change and be a settler, or change and be a pioneer.

You don’t have a personal growth plan

A leader with a settler’s mentality is in many ways a leader who has grown stagnant. In other words, they’ve stopped growing. Your growth and development as a leader have no endpoint where you’ve arrived and you know it all. If you are not learning and growing as a leader then you are settling.

When you embrace a growth mindset and have a personal growth plan you can break out of that settler’s mentality. It will invigorate you and it will add value to your team. If you’re not growing you are not moving forward. And as a leader, you can’t afford to settle. With growth comes more growth. Don’t settle for where you are, grow to where you want to go. Click To Tweet

Others have moved on without you

Another sure sign that you have a settler’s mentality as a leader is that, well, others have moved on from you. And this is not necessarily because you are not a likable person, but because they’ve outgrown you. They’ve outgrown you not necessarily because they are more talented or gifted, or possess a greater skillset. They’ve moved on because you’ve stopped growing.

Take a look around you. If those closest to you never stay close to you for long, this might be a sign that you’ve settled for too long.

You’re afraid to take risks

Settlers tend to only move when they know it’s safe. If you are a leader whose afraid to take risks then you might have been one of the townspeople opposing the road out of town. Life is full of risks and as a leader, you have to be willing to take them. Click To Tweet

This doesn’t mean that you throw caution to the wind and that you recklessly make decisions, but so long as you never make them, you will always be a settler. Dare to dream, dare to take risks, dare to bet on yourself.

You’ve stopped dreaming

The by-product of a settler’s mentality in your leadership is evidenced in that you’ve stopped dreaming. When was the last time your dreams kept you up at night? Have you lost the passion that you once knew? When you give up on a dream or when it begins to fade, you begin to settle.

When you stop dreaming, something inside you stops growing. A settler’s mentality has no vision of the future beyond their current surroundings.

Are you settling or moving forward?

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The Value of Adding Value

Posted February 13, 2022February 13, 2022
by admin

There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being, to help someone else succeed. – Alan Loy McGinnis

I read a story about Jan Paderewski when upon leaving his native Poland to play his first recital in London, had asked an influential compatriot for a letter of introduction to a leading figure in Britain’s musical world. He asked for this just in case anything should go amiss.

The letter was handed to him in a sealed envelope. He hoped that everything would proceed smoothly and he would not have to use it.

As it turned out, Padwereswski didn’t need the letter. His debut in London was a success. Some years later, while going through his papers he came upon the letter and opened it. It read: “This will introduce Jan Paderewski, who plays the piano, for which he demonstrates no conspicuous talent.” I wonder what went through Paderewsko’s mind when he read those words? I’d like to think he had a smile on his face.

As leaders, one of the most important things we can do is to add value to those around us. It’s when we understand this imperative leadership principle that it changes everything about how we view and exercise our leadership – it’s not about us.

In my span of years in leadership, I have intentionally applied four basic principles when it comes to adding value to the people around me. These are the four questions that I regularly ask myself.

How can I speak encouragement into someone’s life today?

If you are observant and take a look around, it’s not going to be hard to find someone who might need a word of encouragement. Your one word of encouragement can make all the difference to someone who is facing a struggle or a challenge.

By being observant and speaking words of encouragement to those around you it demonstrates that you are a leader who is in touch with your people. It says you are not so self-absorbed that you miss the cues. Click To Tweet

In what ways can you add value to those around you simply by speaking words of encouragement?

In what ways can I resource them?

Your words of encouragement are important and can certainly add value. But I’ve also discovered that I can also add value by finding ways to be a resource to those around me.

By this I mean, if I can find a book, an article, a podcast, etc., that I’ve come across that I know will add value to another person, then I will pass it along. People not only appreciate what you’ve done for them, but it shows that you are invested in them and want to see them grow. As an avid reader, I really enjoy giving books away. Being a resource is a simple way of planting seeds of growth in others that has many returns.

What introductions can I facilitate?

One way in which I try to add value to others is by helping facilitate introductions. I really enjoy bringing people together who share common values and interests.

I remember on one such occasion some ten or more years ago, I facilitated a connection for a friend (at my prompting) and that connection took her career to a new level because of it. As a result, she’s had doors open to speak and train all over the world. It all happened because in a conversation with her I said, “I need to introduce you to…”

As a leader, be mindful of your connections and how you can build bridges with the people you know. By doing so, you can add value in ways that can greatly benefit those around you.

In what ways can I challenge those around me to embrace their giftedness?

There are moments in your leadership when you see and recognize something uniquely special – a gifting, in someone else that needs to be embraced and called out. This person may have a story or perspective on life, leadership, or business that the rest of the world needs to hear.

When you do this, chances are you are only validating what they have already been thinking or feeling and your challenge gives them the confidence they need to step out.

Final Thoughts

Adding value to those around isn’t complicated. Be intentional by asking yourself, “How am I adding value to others today?”. Be a leader of value by adding value.

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Walking the Leadership Tightrope

Posted January 17, 2022
by admin

We must be courageous but also reasonable. The world admires us for walking a tightrope without falling off. It asks us to keep our balance. – Lech Walesa

Standing at only five feet and five inches and weighing in at only 140 pounds, by standards of stature, he was not that impressive. But Charles Blondin was a showman extraordinaire and people would come from all over the world to watch him perform.

Charles Blondin, also known as “The Great Blondin”, was a tightrope walker and was famous for his daredevil walks across Niagra Falls back in the 1800s.

On one such occasion, he called out to the crowd, “ I am the Great Blondin, who believes I can cross Niagra Falls on this tightrope?” The crowd would roar with approval and watch in amazement. On another occasion, Blondin reached in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, and called out, “I am the Great Blondin, who believes I can cross Niagra Falls on this tightrope, while blindfolded?”. The crowd roared with approval, “We believe!”.

Then Blondin pulled away a sheet revealing a wheelbarrow. Again he called out to the crowd, “I am the Great Blondin, who believes that I can walk this tightrope across Niagra Falls, while blindfolded, pushing this wheelbarrow?”. The crowd roared its approval, “We believe!”.

Finally, Blondin gave the ultimate challenge, “I am the Great Blondin, who wants to get in the wheelbarrow with me?”. With that, the crowd fell silent.

In many ways, leadership is like walking a tightrope. You will have a lot of spectators and people will come from all over to cheer you on- until you ask them to get in the wheelbarrow with you.

But what are some of the more common tightrope issues leaders have to deal with? Here, I’d like to point out a few of the most common ones and why they are tightrope issues.

Walking the tight rope between your principles and popularity

It’s a struggle many leaders wrestle with – the balancing act between wanting to be liked versus doing the right thing.

Walking this tightrope can lead to you making decisions based on the way the winds of popular opinion are blowing today is blowing today and your desire to be liked. When faced with this dilemma, always choose to stick to your principles over your popularity.

Walking the tightrope between putting the team above your personal success

This is another common tightrope leader’s walk- finding the balance between putting the good of the team ahead of your own personal success.

When your people see that you will put them first, they will go the extra mile not just for the team but for you. Click To Tweet

Walking the tightrope between what your people need to hear and what they want to hear

How you communicate is just as important as what you communicate. Learning how to walk the tightrope in your communication between what your people need to hear and what they want to hear can be a real balancing act.

Make it a priority to learn how to genuinely communicate with your people and build off of a relationship of trust.

Walking the tightrope between empowering your people versus managing your people

Every good leader knows that you manage things and lead people. Your balancing act is usually found between how you empower your people and falling back on managing them. Understand this – your people want to be empowered, not managed.

The sooner you learn this lesson as a leade the better for you and better for your team. Your work as a leader is to empower your people to become the best they can be. Sometimes that happens by getting out of the way.

Final Thoughts

Walking the tightrope in leadership is nothing new. Keep your focus on what matters most and don’t allow yourself to lose your balance due to things that don’t matter. Keep your focus and always put others first.

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How Leaders Talk To Themselves

Posted January 9, 2022January 13, 2022
by admin

Talking about what you want focuses your mind on the outcome you desire rather than the one you fear and dread. – Valorie Burton

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” – Proverbs 23:7

I’ve been around long enough to know that how we see ourselves and how we talk to ourselves will ultimately chart the course for where we go in life. It’s inevitable and it’s predictable.

You see, your destination is all dependant upon the thoughts you entertain, and what you talk yourself into believing. You will never rise higher than the way you see or perceive yourself.

In his book, Power of the Plus Factor, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale shares a story about walking through the streets of Hong Kong. He came upon a tattoo shop and was looking at all of the available choices for tattoos in which a person could select. One, in particular, stood out – “Born to lose”. Taken aback, Dr. Peale asked the shop owner why anyone would ever choose to have that saying inked on their body.

In his broken English, the shop owner replied, “Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind.” And this is precisely what you have to be on guard against as a leader.

As a leader, you have to be intentional about how you talk to yourself. How you talk to yourself matters now more than ever. This is easier said than done, and so I want to break the process down for you. How you talk to yourself, in part, depends on the following questions.

Who do you allow to speak into your life?

There will be many voices who speak in your life but not every voice needs to speak into it. There’s a difference between those who speak in your life and those who speak into it and the sooner you learn who those people are the better. Click To Tweet Many voices and a lot of chatter take place on the margins of your life. Some of it is unavoidable. But not all of it.

Action step: Who are you allowing to speak into your life? Are they adding value and helping to move you in the right direction? Who do you need to stop listening to?

What are you listening to?

Our culture in many ways is toxic and divided. It’s red vs. blue, left vs. right, and people find it harder than ever to come together. We’ve lost the art of meaningful conversation and listening that’s coupled with mutual respect. It might be a given, but what you listen to matters just as much as who you listen to if not more.

Action Step: Think for a moment about what you listen to on any given day. Is it uplifting, positive, inspiring, and motivating? Is it bringing people together or driving the wedge of division further? What can you do today to change or improve what you are listening to?

What do you dwell on?

Of all the voices that speak in your life and into your life, which ones do you dwell on? What conversations and topics do you most find yourself returning to and entertaining? These are the ones that will more times than not be the source for the conversations that you have with yourself. It will always be a challenge to separate what you dwell on from the way you talk to yourself. What your mind dwells on the most is what will take root in your heart. Be careful.

Action Step: In what way can you begin to filter what you listen to and what you dwell on? What habits do you need to change?

What do you believe?

That you hear many voices on a daily basis isn’t the issue. That there are voices that may try to define who you are and define your worth is not the issue. That there are toxic people and much division around you isn’t the issue either. Ultimately, it comes down to what you believe and what you choose to entertain that will determine the way you talk to yourself and drive the behaviors that come from it. So, let me ask you, what do you believe?

Action Step: How can you better filter the voices that you hear? What one change can you make today that will help you?

Final Thoughts

It’s been said that the longest distance in the world is from your head to your heart. Be careful and wise about what gets in your head because you don’t want it getting into your heart. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” When it comes to how you talk to yourself as a leader, you must control the narrative.

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