Attitude – Page 16 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Control the Controllable

Posted January 20, 2013
by dougdickerson

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it – Charles R. Swindoll

A story is told of two men who lived in a small village who got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they went to the town sage. The first man went to the sage’s home and told his version of what happened. When he finished, the sage said, “You’re absolutely right.”

The next night, the second man called on the sage and told his side of the story. The sage responded, “You’re absolutely right.” Afterward, the sage’s wife scolded her husband. “Those men told you two different stories and you told them they were absolutely right. That’s impossible—they can’t both be absolutely right.” The sage turned to his wife and said, “You’re absolutely right.” The sage controlled how each man approached their dispute by the simple power of agreement. How nice it would be if things really were so simple.

The humor from that story is not lost on CEO’s who look at their prospects for 2013 and how the global economy will affect their bottom line. A recent study released by The Conference Board (http://ow.ly/gXDaN) highlights their thinking and how they plan to approach this New Year with a different strategy. The point being, external global economic factors may be out of their control but not everything internally.

In data collected between September and November 2012, over 700 senior executives were asked to identify and rank the most pressing challenges they face, and their strategies for addressing each one. Worldwide, human capital – how to best develop, engage, manage, and retain talent- was named the leading challenge. Operational excellence stood in second place, followed by innovation and customer relationships. This new shift among CEO’s worldwide quite possibly fits the running narrative for your company in 2013.

American theologian Reinhold Niebur penned the words to what is commonly known as the Prayer of Serenity. It reads, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Like many CEO’s worldwide who participated in the survey your plans may have shifted from the uncontrollable to the controllable. The uncontrollable can be difficult to accept, but as you focus on what you can your perspective begins to change. Here are a few tips to help you chart the course and three questions you must answer going forward.

Bloom where you are planted with an eye to the future. What is out of your control now can be a bright spot in your future. Prepare today in order to prosper tomorrow. As you ride out external cycles you can train your talent, develop their skills, and raise up your leaders. When you bloom where you are planted you are putting down roots that will position you for the long term. The future can be promising but only if you are prepared.

Perfect your craft. Well within your control is the quality of your product and how it is delivered. Take the time while you have it to improve quality, delivery, and shore up customer relationships. Now is not the time to stress over things out of your control. Take the initiative and evaluate your systems, streamline for efficiency, and build your brand. It is only as you prefect that which you can control you will be prepared for what is now out of your control.

Create a culture of innovation. The survey highlights how important innovation is to your success. Rebecca Ray, Senior Vice President, Human Capital with The Conference Board said, “As CEO Challenge 2013 shows, human capital is not only a critical function in itself, but is also intimately connected with innovation, operational excellence and other challenges.”

Encourage and promote a culture of innovation with your team. Welcome ideas, reward innovation, and reap the benefits. Remove any and all barriers that stifle create thinking and improvement. Being prepared for what’s next can’t be achieved with narrow minds and lack of vision.

As a leader, you have to answer these three questions: What is out of my control? And then release it. What do I control? And then embrace it. What is the plan? And do it.

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4 Attitudes in Adversity that Define Your Leadership

Posted October 27, 2012
by dougdickerson

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit. – Napoleon Hill

Lou Holtz shares the story of a blind man who was being led down the street by a guide dog. When they came of the corner of a busy intersection, the dog crossed against the light. The blind man had no choice but to follow. Cars swerved to avoid them; drivers honked their horns and swore loudly.

Somehow, the duo reached the other side unharmed. As they stopped on the corner, the blind man reached into his pocket, pulled out a dog biscuit, and offered it to the reckless canine. Having just watched the two as they crossed, a bystander tapped the blind man on the shoulder and said, “Sir, that dog almost got you killed. The last thing you should do is give him a biscuit as a reward.” The blind man smiled and said, “I’m not giving him a reward. I’m trying to find his mouth so I can kick him in the rear.”

The attitude we adapt in times of adversity will not only define the moment but will determine the future. Winston Churchill was right when he said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Your attitude in adversity will either demote you or promote you. Here are four common attitude approaches when times are tough. Which one will be yours?

‘Why me, why now?’ A common reaction when adversity comes is to ask the age old question of “why me?” No one likes adversity and it would be nice to live life without it. But in leadership as in life, adversity is a reality. When a leader begins to entertain these early negative thoughts the seeds of doubt are being planted. Be careful.

‘This is not fair.’ This attitude is not only a snapshot of your current state of mind but is the framework of how you are prepared to deal with it at least in the short term. Brian Tracy writes, “You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to happen to you.”

The attitude formula looks like this: WR (wrong reaction) +NE (negative energy) = BE (bad ending). Before you kick your bad attitude too far down the road take Tracy’s words to heart. It’s not too late to turn around a bad ending, but you better hurry.

‘Why not me?’ At first read this might sound like arrogance. I prefer confidence. The difference maker between a leader with less skill who succeeds and a leader with more skill who fails comes down to attitude. A good attitude is the tipping point. Zig Ziglar was right when he said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”

The attitude of the leader who says ‘why not me?’ is the one who does not shy away from adversity but confidently believes that these are defining moments of his leadership. A good attitude gives way to confidence.

‘Everyone together’ Compare and contrast the attitude choices in play. Notice the difference between the leader with the positive attitude and the leader with the negative one. The leader with the bad attitude is focused on himself and the bad hand he was dealt. The positive leader chooses to see his opportunity and how together with his team it can be overcome.

The attitude formula in play looks like this: GA (good attitude) + RA (right actions) = GO (Great Opportunity). A good attitude gives you a distinct advantage as a leader. It is the single greatest asset you have when facing the challenges of leadership.

William James said, “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.” Adversity in leadership is not unique, but the right attitude will give you the advantage. How is your attitude?

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

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Encouragement on the Road to Success

Posted June 20, 2012
by dougdickerson

It is said that Thomas Edison performed 50,000 experiments before he succeeded in producing a storage battery. We might assume the famous inventor would have had some serious doubts along the way. But when asked if he ever became discouraged working so long without results, Edison replied, “Results? Why, I know 50,000 things that won’t work.”

I like Edison’s attitude. His determination in the face of obstacles and countless setbacks serves to remind us that we are one attempt away from success before we give up. Whatever the challenge you face today on your road to success, do not let your setbacks hold you back. Stay focused. Be determined. Don’t give up!

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Guard Your Attitude

Posted June 13, 2012
by dougdickerson

Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation’s deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.

Your attitude, like that of the respective birds, formulates the way in which you see things. How you see things shapes the way in which you react, the decisions you make, and ultimately the leadership style that defines you.

Guard your attitude. Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” He’s right. Your viewpoint is the product of your attitude. How is your view?

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What Meghan Vogel Taught Us About Leadership

Posted June 9, 2012
by dougdickerson

A good measure of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better. – Jim Rohn

Chronicled in countless newspapers across the country including ESPN, we were all inspired by the recent act of kindness of high school junior Meghan Vogel. At the recent Division III girls state track meet at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, a high school junior by the name of Meghan Vogel captured the hearts thousands around the country.

In the finals Meghan had won the girls 1,600 meters race. In a personal best, she posted a time of 4:58:31, the first time she had broken the five minute mark. After an awards ceremony Meghan had time to take a short break to rest and get ready for the 3,200 in which she was seeded seventh.

Three laps into the eight lap race, Vogel was falling off the pace. As she rounded the final turn she could see that another runner, Arden McMath, who hadn’t finished yet either, was struggling and then fell to the track.

When Vogel reached McMath she stopped and helped her up. With an arm around her shoulder and to the cheers of a standing ovation, they finished the race together. And if this act of sportsmanship was not enough already, when they reached the finish line, Vogel made sure that McMath crossed first because she had been ahead of her in the race.

The inspiration we draw from this remarkable story and the act of kindness by Meghan Vogel is a leadership lesson for all of us. What this young lady demonstrated at her track meet are transferable principles that will make you a better leader. Here are a few take-away lessons from Meghan.

How you finish is more important than where you finish. At that point in the race it was already a foregone conclusion that neither of the girls was going to win the race. In the competitive marketplace that is all some are concerned with. Yet, as Vogel demonstrated, where you finish is not nearly as important as how.

How are you running your race? Do you notice when others around you stumble or fall? Are you ready to lend a hand? Audrey Hepburn said, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” That’s wisdom worth practicing.

Kindness matters and people notice. After Meghan stopped to help Arden and continue the race it was up on the video board for all to see. The crowd stood and began to cheer. It was a touching moment and fitting tribute for a selfless act of sportsmanship.

The late Princess Diana said, “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” Your act of kindness may not be on a video screen for the world to see, but as Meghan said, “I just did what I knew what right and what I was supposed to do.”

Your character shines in the face of adversity. Faced with her own struggle to finish the race, Meghan noticed that a fellow competitor was struggling and falls to the track. If we have learned anything the past few years in leadership and in business, we’ve learned this; times are tough and people are stressed.

How will you respond in the face of adversity? Arthur Golden said, “Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.” On the track at Jesse Owens stadium, Meghan Vogel’s character was not discovered, it was revealed.

Moments of destiny are rarely scripted. For Meghan Vogel and Arden McMath, it was just another day at the track running another set of races. I am sure neither one could have predicted the events that would unfold nor how their lives would connect in such a powerful way. But our moments of destiny are not always appointments we make in advance.

In leadership as in life, the choices we make-those random acts of kindness, our attitude in the face of adversity, in placing our principles above position, are valuable lessons going forward. Meghan taught us well.

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Change is on the Way

Posted April 17, 2012
by dougdickerson

Today the Space Shuttle Discovery took its final flight atop a 747 enroute to Washington, D.C. for its final destination at the Smithsonian. I had the opportunity on a number of occasions over the years to witness Shuttle launches from Cape Canaveral which was always a spectacular show.

Many today bemoan the end of an era with the Shuttle program and wonder just what the future holds for the space program. And granted, as much as the space program has been a part of our national experience the past number of decades, I understand the sentiment.

The events of today cause me to think of an important leadership lesson that can be hard to embrace at times: change. I am reminded of what John Maxwell wrote about change when he said, “Once the leader has personally changed and discerned the difference between novel change and needed change, then that leader must become a change agent.” So, what about you? Do you embrace change and are you a change agent?

To be sure, nothing stays the same as we witnessed this morning. But unless you are willing to change for the sake of the future, you will always be living in the past with no clear vision for the future.

How do you embrace change? I’d like to hear your thoughts.

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

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What an Attitude!

Posted April 13, 2012
by dougdickerson

Over the years I have been convinced that the attitude we have goes a long in determining our success as leaders. We may not always control what happens to us, but we are in charge of how we react.

My friend Mark Sanborn says, “”Freds know that one of the most exciting things about life is that we awake each day with the ability to reinvent ourselves. No matter what happened yesterday, today is a new day. While we can’t deny the struggles and setbacks, neither should we be restrained by them.” What a powerful thought.

That we will face struggles is a given. But our attitude should be predictably positive! How is your attitude?

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