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When Your Team Locks Horns

Credit: Doug Dickerson

Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners. – Laurence Sterne

Last year, I set out in the pre-dawn hours to photograph some elk in the mountains of East Tennessee. It was fascinating to watch the elk slowly make their way to this meadow and begin grazing. It was a perfect morning to be there, and the elk were plentiful.

One fascinating thing to watch with the elk is when they lock antlers. I have seen this on occasion before, but in the morning fog at sunrise, it was picture-perfect. This is not an uncommon thing to see during mating season, as they are fighting to establish dominance and breeding rights.

As you picture what this morning might have looked like in person, think in real time about the daily culture you experience in your workplace.

There will be times when the people on your team clash over ideas, opinions, and decisions about the direction things should go. If this is your experience, then good for you. You want engaged and thinking people working it out.

One of the most important things for you as a leader to understand is the difference between conflict and accountability. “Conflict is about issues and ideas,” says Patrick Lencioni, “while accountability is about performance and behavior.” As a leader, when you understand this difference, you can lead your team more effectively towards your shared goals and mission.

Along the way, there are a few things that are important to understand for your team’s sake. Allow me to share a few of them with you.

The cost of winning

A leader can readily understand the cost of losing and its immediate impact. That’s an easy one for the most part. But how many leaders understand the cost of winning? This happens when personal wins become more important than team wins. The team pays the price when personal victories become more important than shared success.

On the other hand, when trust is at the forefront of all decisions, constructive conflict and debate can occur within that environment to reach shared goals. One must not confuse personal victories for the sake of ego with shared wins for the team.

Leadership Tip: Leaders and team members need to check their ego at the door if they want to stay healthy.

The cost of holding back

Most leaders can identify unhealthy debate and conflict. And most just want peace and everyone to get along. I get it. They see it as bad for morale and as contributing to an unhealthy culture. But is it?

What if you were to change your perspective and understand that it’s when your team stops pushing back that you should be concerned? Your organization will rarely stall for lack of talent or ideas, but will stall when those talents and ideas are suppressed by those who do not understand the value of healthy debate. 

Leadership Tip: Your team can’t get better if they aren’t given permission to lock horns with each other with integrity and respect.

The cost of accountability 

A misconception for leaders on your team is that their personal wins are good for the team. In some cases, it may be true, but attaining victories at all costs for the sake of a personal win can be damaging. Healthy workplace cultures don’t eliminate disagreement; they encourage it through honest conversations and mutual respect.

“Building a cohesive leadership team is the first critical step that an organization must take if it is to have the best chance at success,” said Lencioni. He is right, and it begins with accountability. 

Leadership Tip: Leaders must get comfortable with what at first seems uncomfortable. It’s the pathway to your success.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

What the Battle of Shiloh Teaches About Leadership

 

Canons at Shiloh, Credit: Doug Dickerson

Battles are won in the hearts of men. – Vince Lombardi

I was back in my home state of Tennessee recently and spent an afternoon at Shiloh National Military Park. I have been there numerous times, but it has been many years since my last visit. As a history buff, I found it fun to be back and walk the grounds of this significant Civil War battle.

The Battle of Shiloh took place on April 6-7, 1862, and, due to the high casualties, it is considered a turning point in the war. Among the most significant losses in the war was that of Confederate General Albert Johnston, who died from a gunshot wound to the knee. During the battle, nearly twenty-four thousand soldiers from both sides lost their lives. 

The South’s defeat at Shiloh ended the Confederacy’s hopes of blocking the Union advance into Mississippi and ended the Confederates military initiative in the West. With the death of General Johnston, morale plummeted.

The Battle of Shiloh demonstrated courage, decision-making, communication, resilience, and the cost of leadership failures. That hot afternoon reminded me of a few leadership lessons worth sharing.

Never mistake quiet for safety

The Union army camped around Pittsburg Landing, believing Confederate forces were too far away to attack. They relaxed their vigilance and were caught completely by surprise.

Leadership Lesson: Success can create complacency. Good leaders never confuse a lack of current problems with the absence of future threats. Good leaders will ask, “What are we missing?”, stay prepared, and continually evaluate risks. 

Leadership isn’t built during a crisis; it is revealed

The Confederate attack initially overwhelmed the Union forces because many Union camps weren’t prepared for an assault. 

Your advantage as a leader lies in your preparation before pressure arrives. So as a leader, you need to ask yourself: Am I preparing my team for problems before they occur? Are we practicing difficult conversations before we need them? Once the pressure comes, you will either be prepared or you will face certain setbacks. 

One decision can change everything

General Johnston was considered the Confederacy’s finest general. He suffered a gunshot wound behind his right knee and bled out and died.

His death dramatically altered the Confederates’ momentum and was a turning point in the war. 

His death is a reminder that in leadership organizations are often only one decision- or one leader- away from a completely different outcome. This is a reminder of the importance of developing leaders and why leadership development at all levels in your organization is not optional. Neither is succession planning. Are you raising up and training leaders, or are you just hoping for the best? Remember, you are only one decision away from an event that can change everything.

Communication wins or loses momentum

In the 164 years since the Battle of Shiloh, modern communication has advanced dramatically, yet many still struggle with poor communication. 

At Shiloh, commanders struggled with delayed reports, confusion, and incomplete information. Without modern communication equipment, many leaders fought almost blindly.

The issue here isn’t about having more information. It is about making sure the right information reaches the right people at the right time.

A good leader recognizes the value and importance of communication and how it drives momentum. 

“The single biggest problem in communication,” said George Bernard Shaw, “is the illusion that it has taken place”. A good leader knows this and prioritizes strong communication skills to advance momentum.

Leadership lessons are all around us, and the Battle of Shiloh reminds us of what can happen when we lose sight of the basics.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

What Shrimpers Teach Us About Leadership

 

May be an image of boat
Credit: Doug Dickerson

You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust the sails. – Jimmy Dean

Not long ago, I was back in McClellanville, one of my favorite fishing villages here in South Carolina. This small village boasts a population of around 600-700 residents and is one of the most charming places you will ever visit.

Drive down past the quaint homes, and you will make your way down to a row of shrimp boats moored along Jeremy Creek. Named for a local Sewee Native American chief, Jeremy Creek and its waterfront serve as the community’s primary working waterfront and deep water access to the ocean. The waterfront is the heart of the fishing district and home to some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

As a photographer and history buff, I never get tired of coming to McClellanville. Its charm, history, people, and waters make this a special place.

My visits have also included conversations with the local shrimpers. They are hard-working, weather-worn, rugged, and are preserving a way of life handed down through the generations. I always enjoy my conversations with them. And it’s from them that I glean a few leadership lessons worth sharing.

Navigate the waters you’re given, not the waters you want

Shrimpers don’t determine the tides, currents, or shrimp movements. Successful shrimpers focus on what they can control: preparation, maintenance, equipment, and instincts gained from being out on the water. Not every day is going to be a perfect day, but every day can be a good day when you plan accordingly.

Leadership Tip: Smart leaders don’t waste much time on things beyond their control. They learn to adapt and find another way. They know that not everything will go their way, and they prepare in advance for the unexpected.

Persistence matters

Shrimpers may spend hours dragging nets with little to show for it before finding a productive area. Persistence and patience are key to playing the long game out on the water. It may not always be glamorous, but persistence makes all the difference in shrimping.

Leadership Tip: Persistence is crucial. Good leaders encourage consistent effort and trust the process over time for results. 

Preventive maintenance prepares you for the unavoidable 

During my time taking pictures, several of the men were working on trawl warps (tow cables) and conducting other inspections on their boat. A shrimp boat will undergo numerous maintenance checks before heading out to the ocean. This would include, but not be limited to, nets, hydraulics, engines, belts, etc.

Leadership Tip: A good leader will invest in people, culture, training, systems, and more. When a crisis occurs, they will be ready. Smart leaders know that the unexpected can and will happen. When it does, they are ready and prepared because they have run through this scenario many times before it ever happened. Smart leaders are prepared to act, not react.

Read the signs others miss

Over time, experienced shrimpers have learned what sets them apart. Novice shrimpers may rely more heavily on sonar and GPS, whereas experienced shrimpers understand water color changes, bird activity, and surface slicks. They build mental maps of mud bottoms, hard shell bottoms, oyster beds, and more. And most importantly, they can handle the weather better. They understand wind shifts and wave formations and can decide to move haul gear or head home hours before a novice realizes that conditions are changing.

Leadership Tip: Good leaders develop situational awareness. They see trends, morale issues, opportunities, and risks before they become obvious to others. 

In many ways, leadership and adaptability go hand in hand. In your leadership, you learn that not every plan is set in stone; conditions change, and if you are going to be successful, you will have to adapt. It’s what smart leaders do. 

 

©2026 Doug  Dickerson

Leadership Lessons From The ‘Alae’ Ula

The ‘Alae’ Ula Courtesy: Doug Dickerson

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe. – Marilyn vos Savant

I have been asked over the years how I manage to come up with so many examples and illustrations in my leadership posts. It’s a fair question, considering I’ve been doing this weekly or near weekly for around 20 years. “How do you come up with fresh content?” is the common question. 

The answer, at least to me, is fairly simple. I observe and listen. I’ve combined these two skills into hundreds of articles and examples to show how leadership lessons integrate into our lives, often from the most unexpected places.

A few weeks ago, I was in Hawaii. We were hiking to Waimea Falls on Oahu. This is a beautiful place, and one thing in particular that caught my eye was a sign that read “Slow ‘Alae’Ula Crossing”. This is an endangered bird species found only in Hawaii. 

That sign was all I needed, as the birder and the photographer in me had a collision of epic proportions. Now, I am not only interested in seeing one; I have made it a quest to find one. Luckily, for me, I did just that. I was able to fire off numerous photos of this waterbird and now have them for posterity.

The simple act of capturing the pictures of “Alae” Ula was one of great satisfaction and a little perseverance. My group was about ready to leave, but made allowances for my search. From this, come a few leadership insights that can be helpful in your leadership. Here are a few for your consideration.

Value what others miss

The ‘Alae’ Ula is often overlooked simply because of its environment. Since it lives in marshes and wetlands, people can easily pass by without even noticing it, or, if they do, they may think it’s no different from any other bird, not realizing how rare and special it is.

Good leaders are always on the lookout for the value in others, those who may be overlooked or passed over. The greatest asset in your organization may be the quiet contributor who isn’t seeking all the attention but lies low in the marshes and brings great value to all they do. Don’t overlook them. 

The difference between extinction and survivability requires adaptability

Despite many ecological and environmental changes, the “Alae’ Ula has survived. Its population is down to around 700, but local programs are endeavoring to help this bird survive. Because of these proactive steps, one can hope that the “Alae’ Ula will survive and thrive in the years ahead.

In leadership, organizations that endure are not necessarily the strongest but the most adaptable. A key strength in your leadership is understanding timing and knowing when to make the moves you need to make.

Healthy cultures matter

Just as the fate of the ‘Alae’ Ula depends on healthy ecosystems, so too does the health of your organization. As a leader, you have to be proactive in creating and stewarding it. The fate of the bird is tied to the health of the wetlands around it. When the ecosystem thrives, the bird has a greater chance of survival. 

In leadership, the same holds true with the people you lead. They will always perform better in a healthy culture. When they do, they thrive and reach their potential, and so does the team. Protect your culture.

Seeing the ‘Alae’ Ula was a thrill for me. But it was also a teachable moment in that, as leaders, we must notice those not clamoring for the spotlight, be intentional about adaptability, and protect our culture. 

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Leadership Lessons From Diamond Head

Doug at the top of Diamond Head

It’s not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves. – Sir Edmund Hillary

I was recently on vacation on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It was a splendid vacation and exceeded every expectation. As one who enjoys the outdoors, Hawaii is a paradise. In addition to exploring a cave, hiking to numerous waterfalls, and lighthouses, I also made the notorious climb to the top of Diamond Head.

In my younger years, this would not have been one of the harder climbs that I have taken. But at my age now, it was more of a challenge than I expected. On top of that, I was fighting a bad head cold and congestion. Our reservation time for the hike was in the middle of the afternoon, so, with the heat added to the mix, I had my work cut out for me.

For those unfamiliar with the Diamond Head hike, you make your climb on a paved trail that eventually turns into switchbacks on the ascent to the top. The final section is a steep set of stairs that takes you to the summit.

A few times on the climb, I was offered the sympathetic “It’s OK if you want to go back down and not do it,” knowing that my breathing was difficult at times. But I was determined to finish the climb and reach the summit. I certainly didn’t set any record for the best time getting there, but I did. And it was worth it!

The climb to the top of Diamond Head reminded me of a few important leadership lessons that I benefited from. Perhaps they will speak to you as well. 

Great views come after great challenges

The views from the peak of Diamond Head are breathtaking. The view was worth every step, every stop, every pause to catch my breath, and every opportunity given to turn back.

In life and in leadership, here’s what I know: significant impact and making a difference come not by taking the easy path, but by taking the hard ones. 

Some decisions you make are hard, some conversations are difficult, and at times your perseverance will be tested. It comes with the territory. But you will never experience the reward of the summit view if you give up. It’s when you embrace the challenge that you get the reward of the view from the top.

Getting to the top will be hard

I chose to hike to the top of Diamond Head not because it was hard but because of what I knew awaited me when I got there.

I could have been discouraged by little kids outpacing me, the heat, or the fact that the climb exposed the uncomfortable truth that I am no longer in the athletic shape of my youth. 

In leadership, distractions are a constant companion. We have to prioritize our day, make important decisions, and not get distracted from keeping our eye on the mission before us. In other words, the struggle is real. And sometimes the obstacles and struggles appear larger than they truly are. 

As I made the climb, I had to keep reminding myself that it would all be worth it when I reached the top. I had to tune out the distractions around me and the physical discomfort inside me and press on. Once I was at the top and enjoying the view, the struggles were out of mind.

We are better together

At the summit, the view is spectacular. But another part worth noting is the encouragement hikers gave each other along the way, and the celebrations with families and friends, taking pictures together at the top. 

Leadership is not about reaching the top alone. Successful leaders help and encourage one another, and go out of their way to create a culture where everyone reaches the top. Click To TweetIt’s not a competition, it’s a shared journey where leaders want to see everyone win.

It’s been said that a true leader measures success not by how high they climb, but by how many people they bring with them. 

Diamond Head reminded me that leadership is, in many ways, a climb; it can be hard and steep, and not everyone will want to make it with you. But when you persevere, you will enjoy a view unlike any other.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Have You Stopped To Smell The Roses?

Photo Credit: Doug Dickerson

As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round. – Ben Hogan

Part of my morning routine before heading to work each morning is to stop and look at the roses in the flower bed at the front of my house. I do this every morning. It’s a ritual.

My fascination with roses began decades ago, when, as a teenager, I worked at a garden center. Each winter, we built a large greenhouse on the property, and we spent those months preparing for spring. In the greenhouse, we potted roses by the thousands. Come spring, we were ready, and our customers would come from far and near to purchase our roses. As did I. It was then that my affection for roses began, and I’ve always maintained an abundance of them in our flower beds.

It seems like I have known the phrase “stop and smell the roses” for as long as I can remember. But I’ve never given much thought to the origin of the phrase.

It seems to be a fairly modern phrase. The core idea of stopping to appreciate life’s pleasures dates back centuries. The Latin phrase carpe diem, “seize the day”, or as the 17th-century poet Robert Herrick wrote: “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…” conveys the idea of pausing on life’s journey.

The exact phrasing “stop and smell the roses” seems to have originated in the early to mid-twentieth century. Ironically enough, the phrase became popular in golf culture when professional golfer Walter Hagen was often associated with sentiments encouraging people to enjoy life beyond work.

Speaking of enjoying life beyond work, I don’t have to be the one to tell you how hectic life can be. It seems life is busier now for most than ever before. Which brings me back to my title question: Have you stopped to smell the roses? There’s nothing magical about my morning routine to observe the roses in the flower bed. But here are a few things I’ve learned.

Set the tone for your day with intentionality

The first decision of my day, walking out the door, is to take in something positive and beautiful. It’s an intentional act that focuses me on something I really admire and appreciate that brings me a small degree of happiness.

Regardless of what the day brings, I begin it with something no one can take from me. What about you? What are you intentional about that guards your peace of mind and sets the tone for your day? Or do you just take it as it comes? 

Leadership Tip: The first decisions of your day will often set the tone for the rest of it. Choose wisely.

Don’t get distracted by the thorns

While working in the garden center, it was just part of the job to get cut by the thorns while potting the roses. Call it an occupational hazard.

In your daily leadership, you will deal with thorny situations from time to time. It comes with the territory. There may be times when you feel overwhelmed by the pressures of running your business and a myriad of other issues that cross your desk. But my pause each morning is not to admire the thorns, it’s to admire and appreciate what I see all around them. 

Leadership Tip: We can’t choose what happens to us, but we can choose our response. 

Pause with purpose

My morning routine works for me. It’s a deliberate pause. It forces me to hold off on the temptation to get in the car, fight the traffic, think about ten things on my mind that I need to do when I get there, etc. It’s a strategic pause.

As a leader, when you take time in your day to pause and take a few deep breaths, you can feel a reset. Regardless of how busy it can be, a pause with purpose can be refreshing.

Leadership Tip: When you embrace pausing during your day, you can gain fresh perspectives you might otherwise miss.

Have you stopped to smell the roses?

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Who Are You Cheering For?

 

Scottie Scheffeler on the practice range.
Photo Courtesy: Doug Dickerson

We rise by lifting others. – Robert Ingersoll

Not long ago, I was in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (not far from where I live) for the Pro-Am event at The Heritage golf tournament. It was the day before the actual competition began. I have been a golf fan all my life, and seeing many of the world’s top players up close was a lot of fun, including world #1 Scottie Scheffler.

What was also enjoyable to watch was the camaraderie among the players during a non-competitive day. Watching the players on the large putting green, talking and joking with one another, was entertaining. 

While I do have my favorite golfer that I cheer for most weeks, having those brief, friendly encounters with many of them has softened my perspective on them as I watch them on television going forward.

In far too many workplaces, we see cultures of unhealthy competition instead of healthy collaboration. Getting ahead is more important to some than getting along.

However, it will come as no surprise that productivity and workplace culture significantly improve with recognition and with seeing each other as colleagues rather than competitors.

In a Nectar State of the Workplace survey, respondents weighed in by affirming the following:

  • 83.6% of employees surveyed said that recognition drives their motivation to succeed at work
  • 77.9% of employees surveyed said they would be more productive if their employer recognized them more frequently
  • 81.9 % of employees said that recognition for contributions improves employee engagement

These statistics should not surprise any leader who sees, recognizes, and values their team members. Good leaders understand this and make it a practice.

Let me ask you, who are you cheering for? Can you celebrate the successes and wins of those around you, even when not experiencing one yourself? 

As a leader, your ability to cheer on those around you happens when these three things happen.

You can cheer others when you set aside your ego

The leadership lesson here is simple – it’s not about you. You will be a more secure leader when you acknowledge and embrace this fundamental premise of leadership. When you can check your ego at the door, you win and are now positioned to cheer those around you with no hidden agenda or motive. 

You can cheer others when you value the team over yourself

Your team will succeed when they see what they do as something greater than themselves. While roles, responsibilities, and contributions will vary, the team wins when each person values the team over self. When you work against a colleague, you work against your team, and ultimately, against yourself.

You can cheer others when you don’t care who gets the credit

Lao Tzu said, “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” And this is the beauty of your role as a leader- to shine the light on others as the wins are celebrated. When you come together as a team and work together, you can accomplish so much more when you are not concerned about who gets the credit. 

Who are you cheering for today?

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Understanding Your Legacy

Credit: Google Images

Legacy is not what you accomplish. Legacy is what others accomplish because of you. – Mark Batterson

For the longest time, I often associated legacy with something I build and how I’d like to be remembered once I’m gone. My thought process was somehow connected to my actions, compounded over time, and hopefully, all the good things outweighed the negative.

Perhaps you have similar feelings about what it means to leave a legacy. It can be connected to being a good family person, leaving a nice inheritance, raising good children, etc. All of these and more are typical things we consider worthy of a memorable legacy.

When I consider the impact of legacies, I look to both my grandfathers. Both were survivors of the Great Depression and began their lives in humble circumstances. Both were hard workers and overcame a lot of adversity. Both were accomplished in their respective occupations – one a top executive in a fabric company, the other a minister. Both influenced me in various ways, and I think about them often.

One of the key rules of leadership that must be understood is that it’s not about you. It’s about others and serving others. If you think it’s about you or your title, you are not a leader – yet. And herein lies the dilemma about understanding what legacy building is all about. As a leader, if you want to build a legacy that matters, here are a few things you must consider.

Legacy is not reputation building; it’s people building

As a leader in the education space for more than three decades, there’s nothing more rewarding for me than those moments when students return to thank me for the impact I had on their lives in the brief time I had them. Or when former students walk their child through the doors of the same school, and those legacy moments become generational.

You and I can spend our lives building our reputations and hope that someone will remember us, or we can pour our lives into people, empowering them to accomplish more than we ever could.

“If you love and serve people,” said Emerson, “you cannot, by hiding or stratagem, escape the remuneration.” As you invest in others, serve them, and develop the leader within them, your legacy will be secure. Not in brick and mortar but in hearts and lives that will outlive you.

Legacy is not about your success; it’s about succession

A traditional understanding of leaving a legacy in many circles is measured by certain standards of success- wealth creation, etc. But a true and lasting legacy is about succession. 

What others accomplish because of you is the result of your leadership. In other words, how did you empower others? What investments in human capital did you make to equip and add value to those in your sphere of influence? Were other people your priority? Did you concede the spotlight by putting others in it?

“A legacy lives on in people, not things,” says John Maxwell, “Too often leaders put their energy into organizations, buildings, systems, or other lifeless objects. But only people live on after we are gone.” 

As you take a moment to reflect on your legacy, consider the high calling of leadership and what is important to you. Think about how you are building others and a leadership legacy that endures in them. 

How will your legacy be defined?

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Stay in Your Lane

The “Miralce Mile” race between Roger Banister and John Landy

Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. – Jack Canfield

I came across an interesting story about Roger Bannister not long ago. He was the first man in the world to run a mile in under 4 minutes. That was in May 1954. The next month, Australian John Landy broke that record by 1.4 seconds.

In August 1954, the two fastest runners in the world met for a historic race at the British Empire Games in Vancouver, Canada. The race was dubbed “The Miracle Mile,”  the “Race of the Century” and the “Dream Race.”

As Bannister and Landy turned for the last lap, Landy was ahead and looked certain to win, but as he neared the finish line, he lost focus and allowed his mind to wander about Bannister’s position. Unable to stand the strain, he finally looked back over his shoulder, and as he did, his stride faltered, and Bannister passed him to break the tape and win the race.

How that race ended is an example of what happens when we lose our focus. As leaders, it’s not how you start the race that matters, but it’s how you finish. 

 How you navigate the ins and outs of your leadership is important. In many respects, it’s about learning how to stay in your lane. Why is this important? Why should we be mindful of staying in our own lane? Here are a few tips that I think will help.

Staying in your lane keeps you focused

Staying in your lane keeps you focused on your priorities and responsibilities. As a leader, you have certain duties and things that fall under your purview that require your attention. But not everyone’s business is your business. Understanding what needs your expertise and work and what needs your opinion, is something you need to learn as a leader. Click To Tweet

When you drift out of your lane, you tend to be in places where you don’t belong and end up meddling in ways that are unhealthy. It can lead to resentment and cause more damage than good, and when the crash happens, it will be your fault. Stay in your lane!

Staying in your lane protects boundaries

Staying in your lane protects boundaries that must be respected. Just because you have an opinion on what’s happening two lanes over from you doesn’t mean that you need to swerve over and weigh in on it – unless you’re asked. Nothing will break down morale and hurt the culture in your organization faster than when someone gets out of their lane to barge in on someone else. And consider this: When you leave your lane of responsibility, what’s not getting done in yours that should be?  

Staying in your lane accelerates progress

The logical outcome of staying in your lane is that everyone is moving forward at optimal speed. When you stay in your lane, focused on being your best where you are, doing what you do, means everyone else has the time, space, and energy to do the same. When you resist the temptation to change lanes or drift across drawn lines, it gives you and those around you the opportunity to move forward faster.

Final Thoughts

Staying in your lane can be hard. It’s too easy to get distracted and to lose focus. It doesn’t mean you walk around with blinders on and are oblivious to what’s going on around you. There may be times when a lane change is necessary to help in the moment, but then you get back in yours. There has to be a degree of flexibility here, but by and large, when you stay in your lane, crashes are avoided, and everyone moves forward together.

 

©2026 Doug Dickerson

Do You Have a Winning Attitude?

Credit: Google Images

Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude. – Zig Ziglar

I read a story once by Michael Hodgin about two Kentucky racing stable owners who had developed a rivalry.

Each spring, they both entered a horse in a local steeplechase. One of them thought that having a professional rider might give his horse an edge in the race, so he hired a hotshot jockey.

Well, the day of the race finally came, and as usual, their horses were leading the race right down to the last fence. But the final fence was too much for both of the horses. Both of them fell, and both riders were thrown. But that didn’t stop the professional jockey. He remounted and easily won the race.

When he got back to the stable, he found the horse owner fuming with rage. The jockey really didn’t understand the owner’s behavior, because he won the race. So the jockey asked, “What’s the matter with you? I won the race, didn’t I?” 

The red-faced owner nodded, “Oh yes, you won the race. But you won it on the wrong horse!”

The determination of the jockey is admirable despite the fact that he made that critical mistake. 

In leadership, you will be regularly challenged by your attitude. It comes with the territory. Sometimes the attitude challenges that we face are the result of our own poor choices. At other times, our attitude is challenged by external forces beyond our control.

In the book Winning The War in Your Mind, Craig Groescel writes, “Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. What we think shapes who we are.” And this is precisely why our attitudes matter. Our thoughts and attitudes are moving us in a certain direction. The question is: Are you headed in the right direction?

Poor attitude choices can be a detriment to your leadership. Your attitude is basically the thermostat by which your team members adjust. When you are upbeat and positive, others tend to adopt that attitude. The same holds true if it’s negative. So, as a leader, what posture should you take with your attitude? Here are a few simple approaches worth consideration.

Guard your thoughts

This first piece of advice is all about your discipline as a leader. It’s a profoundly simple piece of advice. And it’s a profoundly difficult discipline to master.  But much is riding on the outcome.

I would like for you to think of guarding your thoughts not from a defensive posture, which we’ve all been accustomed to, but from a proactive posture.

When it comes to guarding our thoughts, what does a proactive posture look like? Here are a few examples:

  • Practice gratitude and random acts of kindness
  • Prayer or meditation
  • Volunteer/ serve others
  • Exercise/walks 

When your thoughts and actions are others-centered and when you are intentional about what you choose to watch and listen to, then you are, in a proactive way, guarding your thoughts. You have less time to be self-absorbed and more time to focus on others.

Guard your company

We don’t always control what happens to us, but we do control how we will respond. This is crucial to understand. 

When you are proactive about guarding your mind in the ways that I have already outlined, the next thing you need to do is guard your company. Here’s a truth you must embrace: Not everyone belongs in your circle. 

As a leader, you will have many interactions with people within and outside your organization. These are generally tied to your specific duties as a leader. 

But when it comes to your inner circle- the people closest to you by choice- you must guard your company. To be clear, I am not advocating being a snob. I am, however, saying that to protect and guard your attitude, you can’t allow others with poor attitudes into your inner circle, who could potentially drag you down. Your winning attitude is too valuable and must be protected.

Final Thoughts

Possessing a winning attitude takes work, discipline, and determination. It is incumbent upon you to be proactive and wise in your choices. A winning attitude is attainable, but you must guard your thoughts and your company to maintain it.

©2026 Doug Dickerson