Servant Leadership – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Are You Thinking About Your Legacy?

Posted September 17, 2024September 17, 2024
by admin

At your funeral, people shouldn’t have to guess the kind of life you lead or the legacy you left behind, what you stood for should be evident by your actions. – John Maxwell

Recently I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. It was a beautiful day with just an ever-so-slight hint of autumn in the air. The sun was shining bright and there was a cool breeze.

The tour was intriguing on many levels. Walking through the various stages of Graham’s life from his humble beginnings to the massive crusades around the world, the tour was both historical and inspirational.

One of the pictures that captured my attention was one that perhaps you might not expect. Sure, there were pictures of the massive crowds at the Crusades, pictures with presidents, and pictures with his family. But the one that jumped out to me oddly enough was of the Charlotte Coliseum billboard advertising an upcoming crusade. Below the crusade dates were the next attractions: Wrestling, Elvis Presley, and Ice Hockey.

In the grand scheme of things, I suppose it would take Elvis, wrestling, and ice hockey to come close to the impact of Billy Graham.

When it comes to your impact, and leaving your legacy, what thoughts come to mind? What is important to you? What’s the “one thing” you want on your marquee?

For each person, it will look different, but for you as a leader, it will always come down to the things that you are most intentional about. As I reflect upon my visit to the Billy Graham Library and what legacy is all about, here are my three takeaways.

His legacy was built on his faith

Today we remember Billy Graham as a man of faith – an evangelist. The bedrock of his legacy was an enduring faith that spanned many decades.

Reflecting on his legacy and life, Graham said, “The greatest inheritance you can pass on to your children and grandchildren is more than money or material possessions you get. It’s a legacy of both character and faith.” And this is exactly what Graham did.

Building your legacy on faith is to build it on something that will outlive you. Faith is that foundation. Click To Tweet

His legacy was built on family

Graham’s most enduring legacy, aside from his evangelistic work, was undoubtedly his family. He was married to his wife Ruth for 63 years. They had five children, and a slew of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. Family meant more to him than anything else.

Graham once said, “Nothing is closer to my heart than my family.” And this was a core value that also defined his legacy.

Many opportunities and accomplishments will help define you as a leader. For Graham, he knew what was the most important.

His legacy was built on humility

Billy Graham exemplified what it meant to be a servant-leader. He understood that his life and leadership were about something greater than himself and he passionately lived it out.

One of Graham’s longtime associates observed, “Billy always saw himself as just a farm boy from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He was amazed that God could use him like he did.”

One of the most enduring qualities of any leader is that of humility. Humility will keep you grounded when your ego gets too big and will instill a deeper sense of gratitude for all that you have. I believe Graham lived a life marked by a true sense of humility and awareness of the gift that he had.

As you consider your legacy and what it will mean to those you love, consider the role of faith, family, family, and humility. It’s a good starting place for a life well lived.

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Fly-by Leadership

Posted May 16, 2024
by admin

Seagull managers fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, and then fly away. – Ken Blanchard

Living in coastal South Carolina and thoroughly enjoying time at the beach, I have come to get acquainted with seagulls.

I have had a love-hate relationship with seagulls over the years. I have been fascinated by watching them at the beach whether in flight or walking along in the sand in search of food. I have been annoyed by their dive-bombing in attempts to partake in my snacks at the beach or interrupting my outdoor dining at local seafood restaurants. It just comes with the territory when you live along the coast.

Seagulls are interesting birds. In my research, I have learned that they can detect food from as far as three miles away, can fly as fast as 28 mph, and can fly long distances and glide over open ocean for hours in search of food.

In the quote above, Ken Blanchard humorously sums up what it is like to be around seagulls. Seagulls tend to fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on things, and then fly away. From experience, I can tell you that this is not too far-fetched.

Marshall Goldsmith observed, “One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate, committed, dedicated, and motivated, you go first!”. As a leader, you have to be out front leading the way in the things that matter most to you and those you lead.

I would like to share my leadership takeaways from Blanchard’s quote and the actual approach you should take as a leader.

Fly-in vs. being present and approachable

As a leader, you can fly in and fly out and be all over the place. Or, you can take a more deliberative approach and be a leader who is present among his/her people and is recognized as a stabilizing influence. This is not to be confused with micromanaging. Instead, you are a steady and reliable leader who leads with passion and influence.

Leadership Tip: Don’t flit and fly. Be present.

Make a lot of noise vs. being humble and listening

If you have ever worked with a leader who flies in and flies out and makes a lot of noise, you know how unsettling that can be at times. In your leadership, strive to lead with humility, and be in touch with your people. Take time to listen and be engaged with them and build relationships.

Leadership Tip: Don’t be a loudmouth and bark orders. Be approachable and a good listener.

Dump on everyone vs. adding value to everyone

When your presence is a disruption because of your words and actions, you need to rethink your leadership. If all you are doing is dumping on people, barking orders, and flying away, you are only making things unbearable for your people. That style of leadership sinks morale along with the ship. Consequently, your best and brightest will soon be leading an exodus. If instead, your presence adds value, meaning, and purpose to your people, you will see your leadership style transform from that of a seagull to that of an eagle – soaring to new heights.

Final Thoughts

Your leadership development is a work in progress. Leading and lifting others begins when you develop the right leadership mindset and attitude that is attractive and uplifting, not disruptive and ugly.

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Leadership Lessons From Mr. Bates

Posted October 17, 2022January 13, 2023
by admin

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. – Matthew 5:5

In the hit television series Downton Abbey – and in the subsequent movie, there is a character by the name of John Bates. He is the valet to Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham.

When Mr. Bates arrives he is not exactly welcomed by all the staff. He’s given the cold shoulder and it proves to be quite challenging at times. The staff does not believe that he is up for the challenges of the job as he has to use a cane due to injuries suffered in the Boer War. These challenges include having to climb stairs, carry luggage, serve trays of food, etc. In addition to all this, the butler – Thomas Carson has hoped to be promoted to valet himself and is offended to lose the job to “Long John Silver”.

To make matters worse, the staff severely mistreat him and looked for opportunities to embarrass him. They were known to kick his cane out from under him causing him to fall, or encouraging him to carry a tray that he can’t carry – causing him to drop it. The staff did all that they could to make his life miserable. Despite these setbacks, Mr. Bates refuses to criticize them or defend himself.

Quite some time goes by before the rest of the staff learn that Bates is an old friend and served Lord Grantham in the war and is where he received his leg injury.

While these antics take place in a television drama, is it too far removed from the dynamics of organizations where the culture is marked by jealousies, rivalries, and turf wars? Does it sound like a place that you are familiar with?

There are a few leadership lessons to be learned from Mr. Bates’ character and I’d like to explore a few of them with you.

You can be confident in the face of adversity

For Mr. Bates, the adversity was relentless and at times cruel. But he didn’t allow the way he was treated to be an excuse for not doing his job or doing his best.

Facing adversity is the price you pay for being a leader and humility is your leadership superpower. Humility is about having the courage to show up and be your best when everyone around you is being their worst. Click To Tweet When the adversity you face comes from those who ought to be in your corner it can sting, but you can be confident that you will ultimately outlast it.

You can set an example or make excuses

Mr. Bates’ leg injury came about while serving in the Boer War. While he didn’t let it stop him from performing his duties, it did make it harder. Those around him tried to exploit his condition and did all they could it make his challenges worse.

In your leadership, you will face obstacles, challenges, and even those who will overtly work against you. And it’s in these moments that your leadership metal will be tested. And in these moments you have choices to make. You can be an example or make excuses. You can serve with distinction or be distracted. You can walk in humility or stoop down to their level. As far as it depends on you – be an example of servant leadership.

You can pull rank or pull your weight

A good amount of time went by before the rest of the staff learned that Mr. Bates was indeed an old friend of the Earl of Grantham. It was a knowledge that, if Mr. Bates had shared, could very well have spared him much of the adversity that he endured. But that was not the path he chose in the beginning. Perhaps he wanted to make it known that he was the right person for the job not because of a connection but because of his qualification.

In leadership and especially in times of adversity, it will be tempting to pull rank and “put people in their place”. It’s a quick fix that is beneficial in the moment, but what about how it serves you in the long run?

The longer you hang around in leadership the more you will learn that you take on more responsibilities and lay aside your rights. Click To Tweet It’s not about taking the path of least resistance, it’s about taking the path of responsible leadership.

Final Thoughts

Life in leadership will always be filled with challenges. Seek to be a leader that is confident in the face of adversity, one that seeks to set an example, and one that pulls your own weight. The world needs this kind of leadership now more than ever.

Note to the Downton Abbey enthusiasts and critics- the leadership lessons that I pull here from Mr. Bates’s character are not meant to either embellish his character or gloss over any character flaw.

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This is Your Time

Posted June 5, 2022
by admin

Prosper ISD Graduation / Homepage

“…And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

I’d like to dedicate this time and space to the Class of 2022. Whether you’ve just graduated from high school or college, your accomplishment is to be commended. Congratulations!

In the Netflix documentary, The Movies That Made Us, in the episode about the movie Back to the Future, screenwriter Bob Gale has this to say as he reflects on making the movie: “Time is the only thing money can’t buy. And it can’t be replaced in any way. Time only goes one way so far, and we never get it back. You never know what the future will bring.”

That time has been on your side and has brought you this far is a blessing. For that, you can be thankful. But the question that lingers that you need to ponder is what will you do with the time – the hours, days, weeks, months, and years that are before you? How will you use this time that is on loan to you?

I’d like to offer up a few suggestions and words of advice for you to consider. And my hope is that you will find a path forward with a purpose that makes wise use of your time.

Serve causes greater than yourself

One of the first lessons leaders has to learn and perhaps the hardest is that it’s not about you.

You live in a world that in many ways is broken, hurting, and divided. Use your time to serve people and causes greater than you so that when your days are over you can look back and say that you may not have changed the world but you helped change your world and you left it better than you found it.

Don’t be afraid to fail

The greatest accomplishments in your life more often than not are realized on the other side of failure. At an early age Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper for “lacking ideas,” Albert Einstein had the label “mentally slow” put on his permanent school record, and Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. No one looks at these individuals as failures, but rather they are remembered for their outstanding accomplishments.

Thomas Edison said, “ I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” In life, we come to expect failure. It will be a great teacher for you. The only thing that makes you a failure is after you get knocked down you don’t get back up. In life, learn to fail forward and you will be just fine.

Don’t let anyone define your worth or put a lid on your goals a dreams

Your purpose and destiny in life are just that – yours. And you must not allow anyone – especially your critics, to define your worth and dim the light of your dreams. You have not been placed on this earth by accident and you have a destiny to fulfill.

What God has spoken to you, placed in your heart, and the passion that’s been ignited in you was not a conference call. It was birthed in your heart. Not everyone will understand it, but always remain true to it.

Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly

As you embark on this new journey and season in your life, many will be looking at you. Some with a dose of skepticism and others with optimism. This is your time to step up – but not with arrogance or pride.

This is your opportunity to act justly – be a model to those around you by the way that you serve a broken world. It’s your time to step up and love mercy and show mercy to a world that can be so cruel. And finally, walk humbly (remember, it’s not about you).

Final Thoughts

None of us are promised tomorrow. We only have the time that we have been gifted each day to make a difference and change our world. My prayer for you, the Class of 2022, is that you will serve each day to the best of your God-given abilities and be a force for good.

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The Dirt on Leadership

Posted April 24, 2022April 26, 2022
by admin

The test of leadership is, is anyone or anything better because of you? – Mark Sanborn

For several years back in my high school days, I worked in a garden center. It was a fun job and I learned a lot. As a result, I have always had an eye for landscaping and enjoy getting my hands dirty- especially in the spring with the planting of flowers and various projects.

I vividly remember those days in the winter months at the garden center. Business was always slow but we were busy preparing for spring. We would build greenhouses to store the hundreds and hundreds of roses that we would spend countless hours potting.

The mixing of the soil was always fun- especially for the new guys. We would build mounds of soil mix for the potting process. The mix would include soil, fertilizers, manure, and other ingredients in order to pot and produce the best-looking roses you could find. This process required us to get shovels and mix it all together over and over until the consistency and balance were just right.

I often look back on those days and see how one’s growth and development as a leader have similar parallels. Here are a few lessons I learned from my days in the garden center that apply to leadership.

If you want to be a leader, be willing to pick up the shovel
One of the big drawbacks to mixing the fertilizer, of course, was the smell. It wasn’t pleasant. But the job had to be done. But before too long, it was something that we’d get used to over time. The potting process took a couple of months to complete. And while unpleasant in the beginning, after a while no one even talked about it. We just shoveled our way through it one rose at a time.

The Lesson: If you are not willing to humble yourself as a leader and pick up the shovel, then you forfeit the ability to lead. Leadership is not about the entitlements you think you deserve, but about the posture of your heart. As someone said, if serving is beneath you then leading is beyond you.

If you want to be a leader expect to get some cuts and thorns
After the greenhouses were built and the soil prepared, the potting process began. There was nothing really glamorous about it. We’d have stacks of one-gallon buckets and we would fill the bucket to the prescribed limit, prune the rose, and pot it. While the process was monotonous, there were always two things we could always count on – thorns and cuts. Despite the wearing of gloves it always happened and by the end of the day, our hands would be bloody and scarred.

The Lesson: Many aspiring leaders want the rewards of someone else’s labor but are not always willing to pay the price to grasp it for themselves. They want the smell and beauty of the rose that makes them look good, but not the smell of crap on their hands that made it possible. If you want to be a leader, you have to get your hands dirty and put up with a few thorns along the way.

If you want to be a leader, you must grow yourself daily
In the garden center, we worked tirelessly every day in those winter months because we knew spring was coming. We knew the payoff for our efforts was within our reach if we worked hard. The days were long and tiring but worth it in the end. Every part of the process was intentional and calculated and the outcome was profitable.

The Lesson: If you desire to grow as a leader, you must be intentional about your growth and daily do those things that move you in the right direction. Your growth and development as a leader are not accidental. It’s on purpose. And without a plan, you will never grow as a leader.

Final Thoughts
Make the commitments daily to grow in your leadership. Remember that it’s not about you and never has been. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and remember that before you can grow others, you must first grow yourself.

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Leadership For Such A Time As This

Posted March 13, 2022
by admin

And where were you?- Winston Churchill

A story is told that in the early days of World War II, Winston Churchill called Britain’s coal miners together. A great crisis had arisen. The miners were not getting out enough coal to fuel the factories that produced the planes and ships they so desperately needed.

When Churchill stood to speak he said, “I want to give it to you straight.” For an hour and forty minutes, he outlined the desperate situation confronting Britain.

Then in stirring language he said, “When at last it is all over, we’ll parade these streets again and as you go by, people will call out, “And where were you?” Someone will answer, ‘I marched with the Eighth Army,’ and someone else will say, ‘I was in the skies over Britain,’ Another will reply, ‘I was in the Merchant Maries pushing the ships through the sea up to Archangel,’ Then I shall be standing there and I will call out, ‘Where were you?’ I will hear your answer, ‘We were down in the black pits right up against the face of the coal.”

Then thousands of coal miners arose and with tears streaming down their faces, cheered the Prime Minister, and the coal came out. They had caught a fresh vision of the importance of their work.

We are challenged on every front right now. We see the horrific images coming out of Ukraine, our hearts are broken as we see the human suffering and senseless loss of life.

And just when we begin to see that we have turned the corner with COVID we are now facing an economic strain that we haven’t experienced in decades.

It’s in moments of historic significance we find ourselves living in right now, that we need to hear in the back of our minds the words Churchill invoked as he spoke to the miners when he said, “And where were you?”.

This is one of the most significant questions of our generation that we need to answer. I’m asking all leaders to search their hearts and ponder these questions:

In this time of adversity and trial – Where are you?
When our world cries out for leaders with backbone, clarity, and vision – Where are you?
When the world begs for leaders with integrity and true north – Where are you?
When there is brokenness and despair in the hearts of people around you – Where are you?
With the spiritual climate in decline and the moral vacuum has to be filled – Where are you?
When partisans at every turn try to divide us – Where you are?
When our neighbors are in distress and in need – Where are you?
When those without a voice need a voice to speak on their behalf – Where are you?
When our youth need mentors and a guiding hand – Where are you?

Our world needs leaders to step up and answer these questions and more with courage and conviction. When the world is broken all around us, may people look to you and me as a source of healing and strength. Click To Tweet

Final Thoughts

The Old Testament speaks of a woman named Esther who became queen. In Esther 4:14 it says, “…and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” This verse was spoken to her because she found herself in a position to rescue her people from death. In that season of her life, her faith was tested, just like your leadership is being tested today. Esther trusted and believed that God had put her in that position, in that time, to do what needed to be done. Her faith was tested, but God was working in her position.

I believe that this is our moment in time to step up be the leaders the world is looking for – for such a time as this.

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Becoming A Generous Leader

Posted March 6, 2022
by admin

Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is, there is your happiness. – Augustine

A story is told of a mother who wanted to teach her young daughter a lesson on giving. So she gave her daughter a quarter and a dollar just before going into church. “Put whichever one you want into the collection plate and keep the other for yourself,” she said.

When they were coming out of the church, the mother asked her daughter which amount she put into the collection plate. “Well,” said the little girl, “I was going to give the dollar, but just before the collection, the man in the pulpit said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I would be a lot more cheerful if I gave the quarter, so I did.”

At the heart of the lesson is a reminder all leaders need to hear. That the little girl might hold onto the dollar and only give the quarter might not be all that surprising considering her young age. But the expectation ought to be higher for leaders.

As a leader starting out, I’m thankful that I had mentors and other leaders who generously spoke into my life. I’m grateful for their influence and the wisdom that they shared. I’m where I am today because of their generosity.

If there’s ever been in a time in our world for cheerful and generous leaders it’s now. Our world is troubled and broken and in great need of leaders who can make significant contributions to those around them. But where do we start? Here are three simple ways to be a generous leader.

Be a generous encourager

It’s been said that everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. You may not know the battles, the struggles, the stress, the family situations, etc., of those around you. Your one word of encouragement can go a long way in making someone else’s day. It may not seem all that significant to you but it can make their day. Be an encourager.

Be a generous listener

Over the years I’ve come to the realization that I’ve helped more people not by what I ever had to say, but simply by listening. I’ve also learned that I don’t have to “fix” everyone’s problems and more times than not it’s not what people are after. People today want to be heard and have leaders in their life who will listen. Be a generous listener. It can a world of difference.

Be a generous resource

One of the great joys in life is giving. Living a generous lifestyle pays dividends in many ways. I challenge myself daily with this one question – what one generous act can I do for someone today that will add value to them or brighten their day? I do this for people that I know – I love resourcing people – especially with books and find other ways to add value to those around me. I do this for strangers – I like to pay it forward by picking up a check for someone’s dinner in a restaurant or for their beverage at the drive-thru. I don’t mention these things to boast but simply to illustrate that when generosity becomes a lifestyle it becomes contagious and makes the world just a little nicer place.

Final Thoughts

What generous things are you doing to add value to those around you? How might you become a more encouraging leader or a better listener? Our world could use a little more cheer. Let’s learn the joy of being generous leaders.

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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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Find The Leader

Posted September 6, 2021September 6, 2021
by admin

If you want to know the temperature of your organization, you should put a thermometer in the leader’s mouth – Rick Warren

Many years back when I was doing my chaplain residency in a hospital here in South Carolina, I learned an important leadership lesson that has stuck with me ever since.

The skill being taught was this – find the leader.

The exercise would prove to be an invaluable one not only in my chaplaincy experiences but in many others outside it.

In my chaplaincy work, when called to a room where a patient had died, often I would be asked to help clear the room. Clearing the room is a delicate balancing act. On the one hand, you have to be respectful of the grief and emotions that are being processed and on the other helping the nursing staff do their job.

In a room packed with people, upon entry into it, the goal would be to find and identify the leader of the room within the first minute. This person would be your ally in offering your services to the family while facilitating the needs of the hospital staff. The goal? To respectfully do this in a timely manner and to help transition the people in the room to a home. Finding the leader was essential for everyone involved.

The secret to pulling it all off successfully was made within the first minute. Get it right, and things more often than not would go smooth. Get it wrong, and it could end up being a very stressful experience.

Think about your workplace. If you were to walk into your break room, conference room, or in your area of work, who would stand out as the leader? Could you identify that person within a minute of your arrival into it?

The reality for the majority of you reading this is not about needing to find that person within one minute of walking into the room. But the underlying principle is this – people tend to gravitate to leaders.

For many, the leader in the room won’t be the flashiest or the most outspoken. But their qualities will be undeniable. The more important thing, of course, is not to find that leader but to be that leader.

In the book, Developing The Leader Within You 2.0, John Maxwell shares a heartfelt story about a prayer he wrote more than a decade ago before turning 60. It resonated with me as my 60th is on the horizon in a few months. Maxwell states, “I wrote the prayer for myself, even though it reveals some of my personal struggles. And I share it with you now in the hope that it helps you.”

I can find no better way to tell you how to find the leader or be the leader than to share his prayer with you:

Lord, as I grow older, I would like to be known as…

Available–rather than a hard worker.

Compassionate–more than competent.

Content-not driven.

Generous-nstead of rich

Gentle-over being powerful.

Listener-more than a great communicator.

Loving-versus quick or bright.

Reliable-not famous.

Sacrificial-nstead of successful.

Self-controlled–rather than exciting.

Thoughtful-more than gifted.

I want to be a foot washer!

Final Thoughts

In a world that longs for genuine and selfless leaders, finding the leader can often be hard. But if leaders are going to change the world, leaders need to set an example. Click To Tweet

Finding the leader may be a challenge. Being the leader begins by looking in the mirror with honest reflection. Before anything else, it’s an inside job. That’s where you will find and develop the leader.

My new book is now available on Amazon for download onto your Kindle!

Click here to order your copy!

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Who’s In Your Impact Zone?

Posted August 23, 2021August 23, 2021
by admin

You can impress people from a distance, but you can only impact up close. – Howard G. Hendricks

I will never forget the night of April 8, 1974. I was glued to the TV set in our den at home anxiously waiting to see if history would be made. And sure enough – it was! The Atlanta Braves were hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hank Aaron took a 4th inning pitch from Al Downing and hit home run #715 to surpass the record previously held by Babe Ruth.

As a kid growing up playing Little League, Hank Aaron was my idol. He was baseball royalty, and that night will forever be etched in my memory.

Fast forward to the early 1990s and I’m in Fulton County Stadium watching the warm-ups prior to a Braves game. I am on the far end of the first base dugout with a baseball in hand hoping for an autograph to add to my collection.

I was about to give up when I looked down toward the other end of the dugout where a crowd had swelled and cheers could be heard. Who could it be?

I began making my way toward the crowd to see what the excitement was all about. From the back of the crowd, I got my first glimpse – and there he was, my baseball idol in the flesh – Hank Aaron.

With a freshly purchased baseball in hand, I pressed my way through the crowd to the railing and eagerly handed him my baseball. I stood in awe as I watched him autograph it. I even took a picture of him signing it just for posterity.

To go from being a little boy idolizing Hank Aaron to having a moment of interaction with him signing a baseball for me, was the most unforgettable experience.

As a leader, you may never know or realize the impact that you have on other people. My leadership mentor, John Maxwell, said, “Leadership is influence,” and it’s true. You may never know the impact you have on others which is why it’s so important to be mindful of it.

In my early years after college, I worked with a few bad leaders who taught me some leadership lessons I’ve carried with me to this day – like how not to treat people. My careful attention to that leadership lesson was borne out of a bad leadership example and it caused me to pledge to never be like that.

But beyond the good or bad examples that you will observe, think of the impact and opportunity you have to be an example to those around you.

Ask yourself the question – who’s in your impact zone? As the opening quote by Howard G. Hendricks says, “You can impress people from a distance, but you can only impact up close.” And this is your leadership challenge. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Who is going to be most impacted by my leadership?
Will the impact of my leadership make them better leaders and better people?
Am I more concerned about impressing people from a distance or impacting them up close?

I’d like to challenge you today to pause for a moment and consider those questions and what you want your leadership legacy to look like.

Final Thoughts

I will never forget those two or three minutes of interaction with my baseball hero Hank Aaron. He was friendly and gracious. In those brief moments, he had no idea how special those moments were to me. But I knew. And in those brief moments, he confirmed everything I thought of him as a boy.

Shannon Alder said, “Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.” This is a powerful quote to ponder and a challenge for all leaders.

I don’t know who is in your impact zone, but let me leave you with this thought – don’t take it for granted. Do your best to be worthy of the privilege to lead.

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