leadership development – Page 22 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Five Ways Leaders Lose Their Focus

Posted February 1, 2014
by admin
1 Comment on Five Ways Leaders Lose Their Focus

The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear. – Brian Tracy

Writing in Reader’s Digest, Carol Mann tells the story of golf immortal Arnold Palmer as he recalled an important lesson about self-confidence. It was the final hole of the 1961 Master’s tournament, and Palmer had a one-stroke lead and just hit a very satisfying tee shot. Palmer felt that he was in pretty good shape. As he approached the ball, he saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. The friend motioned him over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” Palmer recalls that as soon as he took his hand and shook it, he lost his focus.

The next two shots he hit the ball into the sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. He missed a putt and lost the Master’s. “You don’t forget a mistake like that,” Palmer recalled, “you just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again.”

Learning how to keep your focus is an important leadership skill to develop. But yet it is one of the hardest to master. Countless distractions coupled with the never ending demands on your time make it a challenge. How leaders lose their focus is important information. Being aware of these common distractions can help you be a better leader. Here are five ways leaders lose their focus and why it matters to you.

Bogged down in the details

It can be hard to focus on the big picture if you are mired down in the micro details of all of your operations. While it is important to be in the loop you have to empower and trust capable people to help you with the details. It’s normal to want to be informed but when you are mired down in the smallest of details it begs the questions – who’s steering the ship?

Improper delegation

This is where many leaders fall short and where most of them burn out. When the leader is of the opinion that he or she can do the job better by themselves it could be causing more harm than good. Let’s make the assumption that you have surrounded yourself with quality people who are capable of doing the work associated with your organization. Leaders lose focus when they do not empower these people to do their jobs. Delegation at its best will allow you to focus your time and energies where they are most needed. The secret is to empower and release the people around you.

Lack of organization

An unorganized leader is an unfocused leader. It is not so much about the proverbial cluttered desk as it is the personal disciplines that bring order to your life. If you tend to fly by the seat of your pants, if you are reactionary instead of proactive then these are all problematic traits that cause you to lose focus. You can overcome this by bringing order to your day. Keep a calendar. Schedule important calls and appointments and stick to it. Beware of the “tyranny of the urgent” and do not fall into the traps that can easily disrupt your day. Strong organizational skills will keep you focused and serve you well.

The need to be a people pleaser

In all fairness we all want to be liked. But if you are consumed by a need to be liked, you will quickly lose your focus as a leader. Your job is not to be liked. Your job is to lead. That being said; be friendly. But be careful not to get to the place where you are consumed about your popularity so much that it is affecting the decisions you make and it causes you to lose your focus on what is most important. You can’t lead with integrity if you make decisions based upon whom it pleases or displeases.

Gadgets

Technology is great isn’t it? The progress we have made in recent years has made our world much smaller and our work a lot easier. I am sold on the wonders of our technology. But take a look around your place of business or glance around the conference table the next time you are in a meeting. We are all wired up but in many ways are very disconnected. Our technology for all of its benefits has contributed to a strong lack of focus on many fronts. Let your technology serve you but do not be subservient to your technology.

What do you say?

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Leadership Minute: Customer Service and the Leadership Connection

Posted January 21, 2014
by admin

Whether you are big or small, you cannot give good customer service if your employees don’t feel good about coming to work. – Martin Oliver

The mistake some managers in business make is found in not understanding the connection between good customer service and sound leadership skills. They see it as two separate entities when really it’s one. You can’t provide good customer service to the people you are most dependent upon for your success without understanding how it all depends on strong leadership skills. They are interdependent skills that have to be taught. If your employees don’t feel good about coming to work why should your customers feel good about doing business with you? Take care of your leadership needs and you will take care of your customer service needs. Happy customers make happy employees.

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Three Ways to Push Back Against Negative People

Posted January 18, 2014
by admin

The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up. – John C. Maxwell

The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question: “What are you doing?”

The first replied, “I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day.” The next answered, “I’m putting in 10 hours a day on this job.” But the third said, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals.”

As a leader it is important to understand how important your attitude is as it relates to your success. How high and how far you go often has less to do with your talent or skills and has more to do with the attitude you have in navigating those skills. Attitudes can lift you or ground you. It’s a choice we all make.

While you may be fine with that scenario you may have more of an issue with other people and their negative attitudes. How do you handle those perpetually negative or toxic people in your office who always see the glass half empty and usually have something negative to say about most everything?

How can you push back against negative people in your life? Is it really possible? For starters, here are three tips to help you learn how.

Hit your personal reset button.

Hitting your reset button is about recalibrating your own set of personal standards. Consider for a moment the type of people whom you have tolerated or have entertained in the past. How many of those were the negative or toxic types? The reason they were around, excluding professional necessity, is because you chose to have them around. Hitting the reset button is about choosing whom you keep and who you cut loose. I will have more to say about that in a moment. Suffice to say; in order to push back against negative people you have to reset your standards and this means making some really important choices going forward.

Choose your inner circle more carefully.

The reason this is so important is that we tend to become like those we most closely associate with. If you want high standards for yourself then you will have to be more selective about those you keep close. That’s not to say you can’t be cordial to all, but you must be more selective with the few you keep close. Your standards are reflected in your associations. Negative people tend to attract negative people in the same way positive people tend to attract positive people. The good thing is that those closest to you will tend to be of the same mindset and attitude. Be careful about who you keep close because they can be the lifters in your life or the ones who drag you down.

Stay above the fray.

Simply put, there are times when you cannot escape the reach of negative people. They are in your office, they sit at the same conference table as you, and they share the same break room. Sharing the same space is not the same as sharing the same mindset. Your positive attitude can make the difference and give hope to those who share your same beliefs. Stay above the fray by staying true to your values. Staying above the fray means that others will have to come up to your level and not the other way around. When you stay above the fray you are setting a higher standard for everyone.

These three tips all have one thing in common. Did you figure it out? They are not tips on how to change the other person. They are all about the things you can do to improve your own attitude. You can’t change the other person, but you can be a good example to them. Pushing back against negative people is about improving yourself.

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Leadership Minute: The More You Read…

Posted November 14, 2013
by admin

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr. Seuss

It’s been said that leaders are readers. I agree. It’s one of the single greatest recommendations I can give to all leaders. It’s through the reading of books that your mind is awakened, your understanding is strengthened, and your knowledge is increased. Reading is one of the most productive leadership habits that you will develop. Have you read a good book lately?

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Go to the top of the page to order your books today.

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Leaders Without Borders

Posted September 6, 2013
by admin

Dear Friends,

Why “Leaders Without Borders?”

If you are like me, you’ve read hundreds of books on the topic of leadership. And like you, I’ve grown and benefited from them and continue to grow my library of leadership books.

When I first set out to write “Leaders Without Borders” I concerned myself with two essential questions as I began.

First, what do I say to the novice leader starting out? How would I communicate leadership principles garnered over nearly 30 years of leadership experience that could be clear and concise?

Second, how would this book speak to seasoned leaders? What would make it any different from what has already been said in so many different ways?

The finished product resulted in identifying nine essentials that I believe are pertinent to any leader in any stage of leadership development. These timeless leadership principles are crafted around stories that will inspire and challenge you and perhaps help you to see a timeless principle shared in a new light. They are as follows:

Passion
Priorities
Optimism
Teamwork
Attitude
Authenticity
Loyalty
Kindness
Legacy

I believe that these essentials are what make leadership work. It’s as you put these essentials into practice that your leadership can grow, expand, and make a difference not only in your life but in the lives of those you lead.

Since the release of “Leaders Without Borders” I’ve been blessed to partner with businesses, schools, and churches to promote these leadership essentials and to grow and develop future leaders and veteran leaders alike.

Writing in the foreword to “Leaders Without Borders” my friend and noted leadership authority Mark Sanborn, author of The Fred Factor writes, “I rarely like easy answers because they are usually unrealistic. I do, however, like books that challenge a leader’s thinking and provide him or her with new insights that prompt action. This book by Doug Dickerson is that kind of book.”

I would like to invite you to discover for yourself what makes “Leaders Without Borders: 9 Essentials for Everyday Leaders” a book worth your time to read and perhaps one you would consider sharing with a colleague, friend, boss, pastor, or your child’s teacher. Your purchase also helps support the Management Moment Leadership Foundation (http://bit.ly/WJ755v) whose featured cause is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Priced at just $10 per copy would you consider buying an extra one to share?

Thank you so much for your readership, for making your purchase, and for your commitment to grow as a leader. Simply click on this link to my website and click the “Buy Here” button at www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

Going forward my commitment to producing sound, practical and applicable leadership content remains my goal. Thank you for your support!

Leading with you!

Doug

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The 3 R’s of Service-based Leadership

Posted October 13, 2012
by dougdickerson

You can start right where you stand and apply the habit of going the extra mile by rendering more service and better service that you are now being paid for. – Napoleon Hill

In his book, Waking the American Dream, Don McCullough relates a story about Winston Churchill during World War II. England decided to increase its production of coal. Churchill called together labor leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade which he knew would be held in Piccadilly Circus after the war.

First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven Luftwaffe from the sky.

Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner’s caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, ‘And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?’ And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, ‘We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.’”

Needed within the ranks of your organization are team members playing to their strengths to make your business thrive. These positions cover the spectrum from high visibility to those with their faces to the coal, but nonetheless are extremely valuable in the service they deliver.

Service-based leadership is the life-blood of your organization. In his best-selling book, The Fred Factor, Mark Sanborn writes, “The best Freds are true artists at taking ordinary products or job responsibilities and services and making them extraordinary. They are real-world alchemists who practice the art and science of ‘value creation.’” He is right. Do you have a culture of service within your organization? Here are three tips to help you turn that picture of service-based leadership into a practice.

Re-create your culture. In a recent survey by Consumer Reports, consumers revealed their most irritating customer service gripes. Topping the list? Not being able to get a human on the phone, rude salespeople, many phone steps needed, long waits on hold, unhelpful solutions, and no apology for unsolved problems, just to name a few. What are yours?

If you are going to re-create your current culture and transform it into a service-based leadership culture, you must change your point of view. This is done when you quit your navel-gazing ways and look at your operation through the eyes of your customers. Solicit their feedback and audit their responses and see how you measure up. Re-creating the culture within your organization begins when you shift the focus off yourself and onto those you serve.

Refocus your priorities. Service-based leadership begins with fundamental shifts in attitudes and actions. This is characterized by making sure that your core values are clear to everyone within your organization and practiced with everyone outside of it. If your values are not clear internally they will not be known externally.

The responsibility for service-based leadership rests with the leader at the top of the organization. Ken Blanchard said, “True success in servant leadership depends on how clearly the values are defined, ordered, and lived by the leader.” How clear are your organizational values and how well have you communicated them?

Re-claim your purpose. What is the true meaning or purpose behind what you do? Billy Sunday said, “More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent.” He’s right. The secret of service-driven leadership is found in your purpose. When your purpose and passions are clear so is your mission.

Without purpose you may find yourself like Alice in the fairy tale Alice in Wonderland. In a conversation between her and the Cheshire Cat, Alice asked, “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat. “I don’t much care where,” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,”
said the cat.

Which way you go matters. Service-based leadership is deliberate, focused, and is crucial to your success. Service-based leadership is simply servant leadership principles lived out in the marketplace. In order for it to work, you must, like Churchill, paint the picture for others to see and put a plan into action. In order to get ahead you must be willing to serve.

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

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Are You a Difference Maker?

Posted September 1, 2012
by dougdickerson

Make a difference about something other than yourselves. – Toni Morrison

In an interview with Open Forum (http://amex.co/SDQOLd), Johnny Rocket’s CEO John Fuller offered some fascinating business insights. Fuller says that one of their guiding principles is to be a difference maker verses a care taker. He explained that he wants people to feel that they can influence the department they are running in a proactive way. By this he means that if they are just a care taker and doing what someone else did before, or just doing the same thing, then they are not thinking and are not passionate about making it better.

Now in 32 states and 16 countries, this key concept among others is part of the formula for the success of Johnny Rockets. But make no mistake; the principles Fuller shares are not exclusive to the restaurant industry. Johnny Rockets is successful because the principles Fuller lays out are grounded squarely in smart leadership.

The strength of your organization or business will be determined by how well your team members carry out the same philosophy. Do you want your team members to be difference makers or care takers? When you embrace the difference maker philosophy it will change the culture of your organization. Here are three reasons why it matters.

Difference makers go the extra-mile. Difference makers are not content to settle for mediocre service or performance. Difference makers have one goal in mind and that is to consistently deliver exceptional service without excuses.

The leadership characteristic that drives the difference maker here is passion. When your team members are passionate about delivering value, and when they care about the company’s reputation, then they will go the extra mile and see to it personally that excellence is never sacrificed.

Difference makers turn problems into possibilities. Be it the restaurant industry or any other service-based business, good customer service is the life blood of your operation. How many potential possibilities are wasted every day because someone could not see past the problem or act to correct it?

The leadership skill in play here is empowerment. Think for a moment of the positive impact that can be made when team members are empowered to resolve problems and act in good faith on behalf of the organization. Face it; we are human and we all make mistakes. Do not make matters worse by not empowering your team to do the right thing, the right way, and right now. When you empower your difference makers you are unleashing the power of leadership.

Difference makers are the future of your organization. When difference makers are trained and understand the vision and expectations of your organization it is the best long term investment you can make. People are the most appreciable asset you have in the operation of your business. When you invest in them they will deliver for you.

The leadership model here is legacy. Difference makers build your brand not just for the benefit of today but secure it for the future. When you commit to the expectation of team members being difference makers you send the message loud and clear – we are not here to be care takers.

Are you a difference maker?

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

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A Postcard from the Beach

Posted July 24, 2012
by dougdickerson

John Wooden once said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” In life and leadership that is so true.

My family and I are currently in the middle of a vacation at the beach. Over the years I have enjoyed beaches in the Caribbean, Central America, and the Mediterranean to name a few. But when you live along the coast as I do, a long fancy trip to some distant isle is not necessary.

Leadership is about the big picture (vision), details (execution),and most importantly; people (relationships). And when it all comes together it is a beautiful thing.

As I have observed the ebb and flow of the tides, sunrise and sunset walks, I have come to once again appreciate the beauty of the journey. Remember, it’s the little things that make a big difference.

What little moments are you thankful for?

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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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Why Ground Truth Matters

Posted July 12, 2012
by dougdickerson

In his new and highly recommended book, It Worked For Me, In Life and Leadership, Colin Powell writes about the importance of having what he describes as ground truth.

Powell writes, “…surround yourself with sergeants-that is, people with ground truth experience whose thinking is not contaminated with grand theories.” This is excellent leadership advice for the leader just starting out or as a reminder to the seasoned leader in need of a refresher.

The “sergeants”, the bearers of the ground truth on your front lines are some of the most valuable people on your team. They are the ones by which potential clients form their first impressions of your company and what they can expect in terms of any relationship going forward.

The sergeants in your organization are also the ones who will tell it to you like it is and give you the unvarnished truth as you need it delivered. A wise leader is one who knows his or her sergeants well and places a high degree of confidence in them. In the marketplace today you need people with ground truth experience who can help you.

John Maxwell said, “Few people increase the credibility of leaders more than adding value to people around them.” And that is what people with ground experience do – add value. Ground truth in leadership matters because those with it are invaluable to your organization.

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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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