vision – Page 2 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

What Five Old Ladies Teach Us About Leadership

Posted December 12, 2014
by admin

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. – Peter Drucker

Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State Trooper sees a car puttering along at 22 m.p.h. He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!”

So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over. Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies — two in the front seat and three in the back, wide eyed and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him, “Officer, I don’t understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?”

“Ma’am,” the officer replies, “you weren’t speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.” “Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly … twenty-two miles an hour!” the old woman says a bit proudly.

The State Trooper, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that 22 was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error. “But before I let you go, Ma’am, I have to ask… Is everyone in this car OK? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time,” the officer asks.

“Oh, they’ll be all right in a minute, officer. We just got off Route 119.”

The old lady driving the car had her fellow passengers terrified. She had mistaken the route number for the speed limit. Your actions as leader have an impact on those around you. You can lead and inspire your people in magnificent ways or you can scare them to death. Here are three things we can learn from the story.

Leaders set the pace

Mary Kay Ash said, “The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang.” She’s right. You set the pace as the leader. Getting everyone on the same page is important but getting everyone up to speed is critical. If the leader perceives that the people are going too slow then he or she will get frustrated. If the people sense that the leader is going too fast then they will get frustrated. See what’s wrong with this picture? As a leader it’s important to find the right speed so that everyone can succeed.

Leaders chart the course

Knowing where you are going is important. As the leader you set the course by clearly articulating the vision and by everyone understanding their mission in making it come together. Roy Disney wisely observed, “When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.” Chart the course, communicate the vision, and never confuse the route number with the speed limit.

Leaders can make adjustments

Once pulled over, the old lady realized the error of her way. As a leader it’s important not to let your pride or ego get in the way of making adjustments when necessary. Your plans may look great on paper with your team is solidly behind you, but when circumstances on the ground change you must be prepared to make adjustments when needed. It was William Arthur Ward who said, “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” As a leader it’s important that you know how to adjust the sails.

Closing questions for your consideration

Have you set the right tempo for everyone in your organization to follow? Are your team members up to speed as they should be? If not, why? How soon can they?
Is the vision and mission of your organization clear to everyone system-wide? How often is it being communicated? Does everyone know how their specific role contributes to the vision and mission being fulfilled?
Are there any adjustments in your organization that need to be made? What about blind spots and who can help you identify them?

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Leadership Minute: Breaking Down Big Thinking

Posted July 10, 2014
by admin

I like thinking big. If you’re going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big. – Donald Trump

Your achievement is proportional to your thinking. Until you embrace big thinking you will not see big results. Of course, big thinking doesn’t guarantee big results but it is the starting place. Big thinking, like big dreams, requires more. You can’t just think it or dream it. You have to devise a plan and go to work. But big thinking is foundational to your success. Big thinking or ideas is nothing more than a series of accumulated incremental steps in the process toward that end. Begin by asking the basic questions: What can I do today? Who can help me? What resources do I have? What resources do I need? What changes do I need to make? How soon?, etc. Start asking and start answering. Create your plan and work your plan. Think big, grow big, and work to be big. There is no other way. But it all starts with big thinking.

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Leadership Minute: Fresh Eyes

Posted June 6, 2014
by admin
1 Comment on Leadership Minute: Fresh Eyes

Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts. – Albert Einstein

Every now and then, leaders need fresh eyes in order to gain a little perspective. How you look at things over an extended period of time could possibly cause you to become complacent. It’s not that what you are looking at is wrong. Quite possibly it’s how you are looking at it. Perhaps it’s your goals, a personnel issue, or your business model that needs a fresh look. Whatever it is, why not ask for a fresh set of eyes from a wise counselor or friend to step in and help you out. Having an objective outsider take a look could be very helpful. A fresh set of eyes can be just the very thing you need to see things more clearly.

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Three Boundary-Busters Every Leader Must Face

You’re the same today as you will be in five years except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read. – Charlie “Tremendous” Jones

About 350 years ago, as the story is told, a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into 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 into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?

Here we had people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there but in a few short years were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. They were unable to move beyond their current boundaries.

If not careful, we too can get stagnant where we are and not move forward with fresh thinking and ideas. Expanding your borders as a leader and as an organization is about growth. Will your current way of thinking cause you to move forward in a positive way? Are you placing limits on the possibilities that could be yours? Here are three boundary busters that I think held the people back 350 plus years ago that could be holding you back today.

Having a big vision without the big picture.

Initially the people knew what they were signing up for and went along. But the vision that took them 3,000 miles at the start would not take them five additional miles at the end. Buy-in at the beginning of your vision is imperative but if there is no big picture to motivate your people to its completion it’s tragic.

An unfulfilled vision will frustrate you as a leader and disillusion your people. If you want to expand your boundaries beyond where you are today then your people must see the big picture. Open it up to them. Let them see the steps in the process and why they are needed. Do your people know your ten year plan? How about a five year plan? Do you know it? When your vision is clear then the big picture will make sense but not until then. If you want your followers to know it then it’s up to you as the leader to share it.

Limitless possibilities constrained by limited accomplishment.

The first few years these new travelers did what was necessary. They established a town site and government. By all accounts they were making progress. But a shift happened. Their thinking changed. What do you suppose happened? My guess is that the urgency of the vision that brought them there has now settled and they have become comfortable.

Complacency is a threat to any organization and leader. When you allow yourself and those you lead to “auto-pilot” their work, goals, or expectations then you have become settled. You may not be losing ground but you are certainly not gaining any. The townspeople could not see the big picture because they were comfortable. Never mind that they could have expanded their borders and improved their way of life. So long as you are comfortable where you are you will never expand your borders.

Small thinking in the face of great possibility.

Surely there was more to the 3,000 mile journey than a cozy little township. Was not surviving the hardships of sea now worth greater exploration? Expanding your borders is not about settling. Do you not have new trails to blaze? Do you not have new discoveries to make? Sadly, in the face of such great opportunity were those who were ready to obstruct progress.

The lesson learned here is this: Not everyone who starts with you will finish with you. Not everyone will pay the price to go to the next level. The greater the sacrifice the fewer your numbers will be. Many will want to bask in your accomplishments but not all will help you get there. But leaders understand this and will not hold it against them. It is the point of separation. If you want to expand your boundaries as a leader you must be willing to pay the price. Sometimes you will travel alone. But your possibilities are there for the taking if you are willing to lead the way.

What do you say?

I invite your feedback!

1. What boundary-busters are you challenged with?

2. How can you more effectively share your vision and big-picture with those you lead?

3. In what ways can you encourage those you lead to take the journey with you?

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Are You A Believer?

Posted August 11, 2012
by dougdickerson

It’s okay to let those you lead outshine you, for if they shine brightly enough, they reflect positively on you. – Billy Hornsby

Last year MarketTools, Inc. conducted a survey on employee satisfaction. The results revealed that most employees may not feel appreciated. Nearly 50 percent of employees surveyed have considered leaving their jobs. And 21 percent have applied for another job in the past six months.

According to the study, salary was by far the leading cause of employee dissatisfaction, cited by 47 percent of study participants. Other leading causes of dissatisfaction cited included workload, lack of opportunities for advancement, and the employee’s manager or supervisor. The study also found that 72 percent of surveyed employee’s companies do not have a formal program to regularly solicit feedback, or the study participants weren’t aware of such a program.

Exercising due diligence in hiring the best and brightest by companies is smart. But it is equally important that the same considerations be given to doing the right things that will keep them there. While there may be some dissatisfaction among the ranks over certain issues, the real difference maker is leadership. A strong leader sets the tone for the climate of the organization. When a leader believes in his people it can change that culture in a positive way. Here are four ways a leader can do it and why it matters.

Leaders are believers in the vision. One survey I read recently said that as many as 40 percent of employees do not know or understand their company’s mission. That is a disturbing percentage and it goes directly to the heart of leadership and why without it you are at a distinct disadvantage. If your vision is not known internally then it will be of no value to anyone externally. If your team is clueless then so are your customers.

When leaders believe in the vision of their organization and communicate it on a regular basis it gives your team the fuel they need to succeed. Sharing the vision of your organization is a necessary ingredient in establishing the right climate and is a minimizer of unnecessary negativity. Leaders not only believe in the vision of where they are going but willingly share it.

Leaders are believers in his people. The most appreciable asset you have as leader is your people. It’s a simple rule of leadership – loyalty to the leader always precedes loyalty to the vision. When you honor, respect, and empower your people you will have little worries about their loyalty to you.

Building your business or organization takes hard work and commitment. While it is important that your people buy-in to your vision it is equally important that as the leader you buy-in to them. Believe in your people and they will believe in you. Never miss an opportunity to express your confidence and to encourage your people. Where would you be without them?

Leaders are believers in your purpose. Similar in nature to vision; believing in your purpose goes deeper. In general, vision revolves around a shared set of goals and objectives for the organization. On the other hand, purpose has more to do with the dreams and aspirations of the people.

As a leader when you believe in the individual goals of each team member- goals that may transcend those of the company, you are exercising a high standard of leadership that few attain. The mark of leadership at this level signals your unselfish commitment to the purpose of investing long term in the life of others. Believing in the purpose of your people is the beginning of fulfilling your destiny.

Leaders are believers in destiny. The formula of V (vision) + P (people) + P (purpose) = D: destiny. As a leader you face many challenges as well as opportunities. Achieving your destiny is not by accident or happenstance. It is a combination of all parts of the formula working in harmony to see it come to pass.

I believe you can achieve your destiny. I believe when you apply this formula with your faith that your destiny is within reach. Your destiny awaits you. Are you a believer?

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Doug’s new book, Great Leaders Wanted! is now available. Visit www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com to order your copy today.

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