Tag: Attitude

Leadership Minute: Are You a Thankful Leader?

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Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life. – Robert Louis Stevenson

A thankful heart is an essential ingredient in the DNA of a leader. Daily you have to account for all the responsibilities that fall on your shoulders. Your leadership skills are constantly being sharpened as your challenges grow. But at the core of who you are as a leader should be a remembrance of just how far you’ve come and the blessings that you now enjoy. Don’t allow yourself to get so caught up in the pursuit of success that you don’t know how to live in the moment with a thankful heart. A leader with a thankful heart knows how to keep their eyes open to new mercies. Consider the sacredness that each day brings and with appreciation live it to its fullest. Who are you thankful for? What are you thankful for? Whatever your answer may be – don’t forget it!

Leadership Minute: Courage to Lead

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You will never do anything is this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. – Aristotle

When it comes to the naming of essential leadership traits, courage ranks high on the list. Courage is what it takes to stand by your values and convictions even if it means standing alone. Courage is what inspires you to act when all other indicators say it’s not a good idea. Courage is telling people what they need to hear and not just what they want to hear. Being courageous may not always be popular but it is essential. The confidence that springs from being courageous is the product of being careful. Courageous leadership comes about by being confident, considerate, and is never about being arrogant. The fuel that drives courageous leaders is not ego but humility. You need courage to lead. Courage is your secret weapon and with it you can go far. Let it be your silent partner and give you strength. The world needs courageous leaders like you.

Leadership Minute: What’s for Breakfast?

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Expect problems and eat them for breakfast. – Alfred A. Montapert

Leaders have problems. It just comes with the territory.  The fact that you have problems is not an indicator that you’ve done something wrong – in most cases it’s the opposite. The more you remain determined to move ahead, work hard, and do the right thing, the more problems you will acquire. So the issue is not about how to live a problem-free life as a leader. The issue is how to take control of your problems and use that energy to further your goals. Every successful person faces opposition and contends with problems. Don’t know where to begin? First and foremost it begins with your attitude. How you see your problems determines whether they will get the best of you or if you will eat them for breakfast. When your attitude is positive and your resolve is strong there is no problem that can overtake you. Problems – the breakfast of leaders!

Leadership Minute: Don’t Be Bitter

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Some guys leave a place after a long time, and they’re bitter. Not me. – Peyton Manning

If there was ever a person who led by example on this issue it was Peyton Manning. When he left the Indianapolis Colts for the Denver Broncos he did it with as much class and style as anyone could. He modeled the way it can be done. But in your leadership journey I am sure you’ve come across those who left a place after a long career who didn’t leave on such good terms. Perhaps their journey didn’t go as planned. Maybe their dreams went unfulfilled and they left bitter and beat down. In leadership you will always have challenges. You don’t always choose your circumstances or how people will treat you. But you do own your attitudes and reactions. So regardless of what you are facing today – know this, you are there for a purpose. Make up your mind to guard your heart and your attitude at all costs. When it’s time to move on you will know it- not because you are bitter, but because you are at peace.

Leadership Minute: A Life of Gratitude

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As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. – John F. Kennedy

As leaders we have much to be thankful for. No amount of words will ever suffice to express the gratitude we have for those in our life- past and present who helped us along the way. While kind expressions should be expressed it’s how we live our life that truly counts. Living a life of gratitude ultimately leads to a different way of leading. When we remember with gratitude those who gave us that first break, or those who welcomed us not just as colleagues but as friends, we tend to understand that those were defining moments in our leadership development. It’s from those experiences and many more that we learn how to live a life of gratitude and pass down those expressions of gratitude to those coming along behind us. Are you living a life of gratitude?

Leadership Minute: Live Fearlessly

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I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly. – Oprah Winfrey

Leadership is not for the faint of heart. And if you are going to live your life fearlessly then there are some choices you are going to have to make. The life of a leader is not characterized by avoiding fearful things or circumstances. It is however; living in the presence of fear without being afraid. It’s about choosing not to allow those fears to hold you back or control you. Living fearlessly is having a greater confidence in your faith and abilities than any threat that fear can pose. To be sure, fear is a motivator. As a leader it will push you to achieve and overcome seemingly great obstacles, or it will paralyze you. Living fearlessly is not the absence of fear but is the stronger belief that you are equipped to handle anything that comes your way. Are you living fearlessly?

 

Leadership Minute: Don’t Be a Hater

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Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too. – Will Smith

Being a leader can be tough. To be sure, it is filled with many wonderful opportunities to use your influence to make positive changes and do a lot of good. But along the way you will have to contend with people who will make you mad, disrespect you, and treat you bad. It comes with the territory. How you respond to those people is what will set you apart as a leader. Regardless of how civil and nice you are you will not win over everyone. Unfortunately, some people go through life being a jerk. But as far as it depends on you – be nice. You may not win over that difficult  person over today, tomorrow, or ever for that matter. But that’s not on you. Let God deal with the haters – let your focus be on doing good and not allowing hate to fill your heart. When you allow good to overcome hate you will always come out ahead.

10 Courtesies Every Leader Should Remember

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Courtesy – Excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior. –Random House Dictionary

“Everything rises and falls on leadership,” says John Maxwell. He’s right. The temperament of a leader is an important ingredient that goes a long way in determining his or her success. In short; behaviors and attitudes matter.

Too often sadly, we hear the stories of workplace bullying and other behaviors that are contributing to poor morale and working conditions. As a leader it is important to be aware of your surroundings and your workplace culture. Now is a good time to be reminded of simple courtesies that make a difference. Here is a list of ten common courtesies every leader should remember. The list is not exhaustive but is a good place to start. They are in no particular order.

  1. How to say “thank you”, “please”, ‘you’re welcome”, etc.

It should go without saying but these polite yet simple forms of communication are essential words in the vocabulary of every leader. Use them often and use them with sincerity. They are still relevant and meaningful.

  1. Return your phone calls and emails.

How many times has this happened to you? You leave a voicemail or send an email and you go days or weeks without a response. How did it make you feel? Nothing screams “you don’t matter” any louder than the silence of being ignored. A courteous leader will return calls and emails. For a great resource I recommend my friend Dr. Monica Seeley (the Email Doctor) you can find her blog at http://bit.ly/1rF6FAr

  1. The timing of your words

One of the courteous things you can do as a leader is to speak words of encouragement to those around you. The timing of a kind word to a colleague can be just the thing he or she needs to make it through the day or through a difficult time. Be aware of the needs of those around you and don’t be afraid to speak a kind word.

  1. The timing of your silence

As the writer of Ecclesiastes says, there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak. As a leader, there will be times that the best thing you can do is to hold your tongue and not say a word. You can be just as courteous by what you don’t say as you can by what you do say. As a leader you have to learn the appropriateness of the moment.

  1. The value of time

A courteous leader is considerate of other people’s time and knows how to manage their own. Showing courtesy as a leader means that you value and respect other people’s time and won’t waste it. You’ll show up to meetings on time and you won’t waste it on trivial things that don’t matter.

  1. The giving of your undivided attention

On so many levels we are losing the art of being present in the moment. We are losing the art of conversation. The better connected we are through technology the more distant we’ve become relationally. Don’t believe me? Try having a 30-minute lunch with a group of friends without each person checking their mobile device repeatedly.  A courteous leader will put away the phone or any other distractions and give others their undivided attention.

  1. How to stay out of other people’s business

Gossip and office politics has been around for a long time. A courteous leader will stay out of it. If it’s not your business then don’t make it your business. If it is your business then use it as a teachable moment to show the proper way to handle it.

  1. How to let things go

Extending courtesies as a leader can be challenging. But one of the wisest things you can do is to learn how to let things go. Don’t be so hell bent on winning the battle that you lose the war. Consider the issue and measure your response.  Learn how to forgive and move on. You’ll be happier in the long run.

  1. Keep your word

Courteous leaders are reliable and keep their word. Be slow to make promises and if you do – follow through and do it. Reasonable people understand that circumstances change and things come up that you didn’t anticipate but as far as it depends on you do what you say you are going to do.

10. Be kind

It’s simply stated because it is. A courteous leader is kind, considerate, and helpful to others. It’s the little things you do as a leader that makes a big difference. It begins with common courtesy.

What do you say?

 

© 2014 Doug Dickerson

Leadership Minute: Learn From Your Trials

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Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of. – Charles Spurgeon

No one likes to go through trails. I don’t; do you? But as leaders we are not immune from them. The truth is- bad things happen to good people and if you hang around in leadership long enough you will go through trails and testing. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s during trails and testing that the soil of your leadership is being dug up. It’s during these times that you learn what you are made of. Times of testing are not always pleasant but what you can learn from them can be invaluable. Granted, we’d prefer to learn about who we are in more pleasant circumstances than trials or difficulties, but if we did, our learning would be incomplete. Your trials will teach you what you are made of but most importantly they will help you put down deeper roots.  When you come through your trials you will be a stronger leader. Are you ready to learn?

Leadership Minute: What If…?

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Trust that little voice in your head that says, ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if…’ And then do it. – Duane Michals

One of the fun things about people who live life without limits is their willingness to take risks. Playing ‘not to lose’ is no way to live. It’s when you dare to listen to the voice in your head (or your heart, if you will) and live the life you’ve imagined –  that life that changes for the better. Think how different your life would be if you embraced a ‘wouldn’t it be interesting if…’ mentality? Wouldn’t it be interesting of you stopped listening to dream robbers in your life? Wouldn’t it be interesting if you started writing that book, or opened that business, or took that trip? It’s not too late to turn a ‘one of these days’ mentality into a ‘wish I had done it sooner’ reality! Wouldn’t it be interesting if you started today? Trust that voice in your head and go for it. What are you waiting for?