Workplace Environment – Page 3 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Leadership Minute: What’s Your View?

Open expression of multiple points of view and vigorous discussion leads to unification of effort. – Jimmy Collins

When was the last time you had, by choice, open an honest feedback in your organization? It is imperative that honest feedback is not only given but encouraged. It is when everyone has a voice that everyone has ownership. Creating ownership happens when leaders are secure enough to hear the truth and when egos are checked at the door. A wise leader wants the truth and will foster feedback in a way that is constructive and beneficial for everyone involved. Welcome differing points of view. Welcome honest discussion. Grow and learn together.

Please follow and like us:

Five Priorities Every Leader Must Keep

When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier. – Roy E. Disney

A group of friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck. “Where’s Harry?” he was asked. “Harry had a spell of some kind. He’s a couple of miles back up the trail,” the man replied. “You left Harry lying there, and carried back the deer?” “Well,” said the hunter, “I figured no one was going to steal Harry.”

It would appear from the story that the eager hunter had misplaced his priorities. As a leader it’s easy to get sidetracked and fall into the trap of believing that you are invincible. It can be a slippery slope to travel and if you are not careful it can hurt you. Burnout at the office due to high demands and even higher self-imposed expectations can cause you to cut corners and make unhealthy personal choices. Here are five priorities that ought to be non –negotiable for every leader.

Family

Leaders understand the value of work and are certainly familiar with sacrifice. But when you sacrifice your family for your business then you are too close to the slippery slope and it’s time to reorder your priorities. Walt Disney said, “A man should never neglect his family for business.” That’s sound advice and should be your number one priority. No level of success is worth losing your family over. Besides, no one like family can give you the unvarnished truth you need to hear and keep your ego in check like family.

Faith

While your faith is primarily a personal matter it’s impact is far-reaching. Your faith gives you moral clarity that impacts the way you live and the decisions you make. The peace you receive from your faith is the foundation of your temperament in all walks of life- including your leadership style. Your faith is not your adversary as it relates to your leadership it’s your partner so embrace it and keep it close. The principles of your faith make for good leadership skills.

Time Management

Your ability to manage your team as a leader will make you or break you. If you don’t take control of your time then you can be assured someone else will. Your priorities are just that –yours. In his book, All You Have Is Now, my friend John Patrick Hickey (http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/) says, “It has never been about how much time we do or do not have. It is how we use our time that counts. Even more important is that we do use our time.” Use your time wisely because you will never get it back. It’s a top priority every leader must keep.

Self-Improvement

By nature, most leaders I know are generous and giving people. Most have a hard time saying no. But you must be careful not to get to the place where you are not growing and learning and nurturing your own sense of wonderment, curiosity, education, and personal development. If you do not make personal development a priority then chances are those around you will not do it for you. What new books are you reading in in 2014? What are you doing to keep your leadership skills sharp? Make self-improvement a priority and you will be the better for it and so will those around you.

Proper diet and exercise

Many leaders I know burn the candle at both ends. I understand it. But you are not invincible. And if you want to be a leader who lasts you must permit yourself to have some down time. Proper diet and exercise is essential to your ability to do the many tasks you are responsible for. I would include in this category another essential – sleep. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://1.usa.gov/Mc0f8P) did a study of the sleep habits of U.S. workers and discovered that thirty percent (about 40.6 million workers) get fewer than six hours of sleep a night. Leaders who make proper diet, exercise, and sleep a priority are going to be healthier and better equipped for the challenges of the day. If you don’t take care of your body how will you take of all of your leadership demands?

What do you say?

Please follow and like us:

Leadership Minute: Successful Habits

Posted January 22, 2014
by admin

Successful people are simply those with successful habits. – Brian Tracy

Your success as a leader is tied to your habits. Leadership successes are not the sum of random acts but rather the sum of consistent habits. Success with your clients, customers, employees or any other endeavor are proportional to your ability to identify the habits you need to develop, the discipline to carry them out, and the flexibility to adjust them as needed. What habits do you need in place to achieve the success you desire? When you work your habits you will soon begin to realize more success. Successful habits are the cornerstones of your success. When you build with confidence and consistency you are on the way up.

Please follow and like us:

Five Habits of Remarkably Kind Leaders

Posted January 11, 2014
by admin

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. – Emerson

British statesman and financier Cecil Rhodes, whose fortune was used to endow the world-famous Rhodes Scholarships, was a stickler for correct dress, but apparently not at the expense of someone else’s feelings.

A young man was invited to dine with Rhodes arrived by train and had to go directly to Rhodes’s home in his travel-stained clothes. Once there he was appalled to find the other guests already assembled, wearing full evening dress. After what seemed to be a long time Rhodes appeared, in a shabby old blue suit. Later the young man learned that his host had been dressed in evening clothes, but put on the old suit when he heard of his young guests’ dilemma.

Kindness is not a virtue that is typically high on the list when one thinks of leadership characteristics. Given the recent news of one well known politician it might be time to revisit the topic. Countless stories abound about bullying and dealing with difficult people at work. Unfortunately, these are issues that have been around for a long time and will only continue until more kind leaders step up.

When addressing the issue of kindness in leadership I am speaking more to the temperament of the person who happens to be a leader. Kindness is a disposition. It’s not something you put on and take off like your apparel. To be sure, in your place of business you are more attentive to the disposition that is needed to deal with your employees and customers. So what are some common characteristics of remarkably kind leaders? Here are five for your consideration.

They are considerate of the needs of others.

It sounds sound simple, right? Kind considerations are given when the leader realizes that he or she is not the center of the universe. Kind leaders make the needs and considerations of others a top priority and then execute their actions off of that premise. Yes, the habit is elementary but the payoff can be huge.

They find common ground.

Kind leaders have learned the secret of relational strength. They know that more positive things can be accomplished through kind words and actions than through negative ones. To that end, they will seek common ground whenever possible to fortify relationships. It’s much easier for people to come together through kindness than through adversity. Kind leaders find common ground and build from there.

They are remarkably confident.

This is perhaps where kind leaders are most underestimated. Kindness should never be misinterpreted for weakness. Kind leaders are confident enough to treat everyone with respect. They are kind enough to not allow others to be bullied or treated with disrespect, and care enough to confront when necessary. Kind and confident leaders are the ones you want in your corner and the type you should aspire to become.

They are relentless encouragers.

Kind leaders are encouragers. They know how to speak not just the words you want to hear but the words you need to hear. They know how to get in your head as well as your heart with the encouragement and inspiration you need. They will challenge you to be your best, reach your potential, and care enough to speak hard truths you need to hear. But at the end of the day, they always encourage.

They are game changers.

If bad bosses and bad employees can create negative or toxic work environments that makes it difficult for people to thrive in then I believe the opposite is true. Only kind people can be kind leaders. I believe it’s time for kind leaders to step up, be heard, be seen, be promoted, and be the game changers we need. Call it wishful thinking, call me naive, but I think it’s time we understand that the days of bullying and meanness has not and will not work. It’s time to shine the spotlight on the good and let kindness rule the day.

What do you say?

Please follow and like us:

5 Signs You Might Be a Bully

Posted October 19, 2013
by admin

Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town. – George Carlin

In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus.

“These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this in a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.”

“Which channel do you want?” asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”

While good organization is needed and commended in your office and place of business – bullying isn’t.

In trying to understand the rise in workplace bullying Shana Lebowitz wrote a piece in USA Today (http://usat.ly/1fYbxKB) and pointed out that according to a 2011 survey half of the employees said they were treated rudely at least once a week. Many said the experience of bullying had caused them to develop health issues such as anxiety and depression. Some had even left their jobs.

Bullying is a serious concern on many levels. Much has been written about being a victim of bullying, but not enough about or to the bullies. Bullying is an unfortunate issue that leaders must recognize and deal with.

Some people may pass off their bullying behavior with “it’s just my personality” not realizing that the person on the other end sees it quite different. What are some of the common bullying behaviors? What are some of the warning signs to look for? Here are five for your consideration.

You are oblivious to your meanness.

It may not be overtly intentional (although it might) but the words you choose and the way you vocalize them can rub others the wrong way. While you may feel you are only expressing the truth as you understand it, it’s not what you say but how you say it that leaves the lasting impression. Choose your words carefully and verbalize them with discretion.

You are a master manipulator.

You work behind the scenes and attempt to orchestrate things in your favor or desired outcome. It may be to freeze someone else out or get what you want by pitting one person or group against another. This type of behavior drives wedges and destroys trust. The philosophy is driven by a jealousy that says if you can’t get what you want then neither will the other person.

You are a gossip and a busybody.

While you may think you are just keeping up with the latest office news you might want to stop and consider the consequences. There is no virtue in gossiping about others and being up in everyone else’s business. If you can’t be trusted not to interfere with other people’s personal business what gives you the right to believe you can be trusted with company business?

You are a control freak.

Similar in style to the manipulator your objective is not so much about the performance of others as it is control. You are overbearing with expectations and demands and it’s simply a way to throw your weight around. If you are a leader who is displaying this type of behavior you only have a following because of your title and nothing more.

You are two-faced.

This is a common characteristic of a bully. You pretend to be one thing in public but are something else in private. You confide to a colleague in private and cut their legs out from under them in public. The end game is that it’s all about you and people are pawns.

Now that a few bullying behaviors have been identified it’s time for some honest evaluation. Have you in the past or are you now displaying any of the above mentioned behaviors? Do you notice that people tend to avoid you at work? Have you taken stock of how you treat others and look for ways to improve your people skills? Would you consider asking for help in identifying areas that need improvement?

Until you take ownership of a bullying past or present then being a bully will likely be a part of your future. Take steps now to stop it. You have a lot to lose if you don’t and everything to gain if you get it right.

What do you say?

####

Additional Resources:

Workplace Bullying Institute: http://www.workplacebullying.org/

Not in Our Town: http://www.niot.org/front

If you enjoy reading Doug’s leadership insights you will especially enjoy reading his books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted. Visit Doug’s website at www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com to order your copies today!

Please follow and like us: