Leadership Wisdom – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Four Things All Humble Leaders Do

Posted November 4, 2018November 6, 2018
by admin

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. – C.S. Lewis

Pride and arrogance. It’s been the Achilles-heel for leaders it seems for as long as anyone can remember. There’s a fine line and big difference between a leader who instills pride among his or her people and in doing so lifts morale across the board throughout the organization.

But then there’s the leader who is simply arrogant and prideful in that they are haughty, think they know it all, look down on others, ignores input, is condescending, and are basically just jerks. Chances are, you already have a visual image of this person in mind, don’t you?

Yet one of the most endearing qualities of leadership is found in the person who genuinely walks in humility.

But what sets this leader apart? How can you spot them? What are their characteristics? Here are four that are obvious.

They ask a lot of questions

Humble leaders are not afraid to ask questions. It’s a leadership hack that is lost on many aspiring leaders due to pride. The proud and arrogant leader had rather make you think they know it all by not asking a question. The humble leader had rather ask questions and be sure of it.

In his book, Good Leaders Ask Great Questions, John Maxwell writes, “Any leader who asks the right questions of the right people has the potential to discover and develop great ideas”. And this is true of you.

Your road to success as a leader is not achieved through pride and a know-it-all attitude. It comes from a humble attitude and by asking questions. Click To Tweet

They put others first

In an age when so many are only looking out for themselves, the humble leader knows how to put others first.

Putting others first is all about putting the needs of the team ahead of your own. It’s not just about making decisions within your organization that best fits your needs, but is about empowering all people across the board. The humble leader is willing to make sacrifices others won’t. It’s done out of service and duty to a cause, purpose, and mission greater than self.

They bring people together

This characteristic of a humble leader is worth highlighting because this leader understands that they alone are not the source of all knowledge.

The humble leader is smart enough to know that the way forward is not alone, but with others. Click To Tweet The humble leader knows that in order to sustain momentum and move forward it takes everyone working together. The humble leader is all about bringing people to the table for all voices to be heard.

The humble leader taps into the wisdom and knowledge of all his or her people in order to move the team forward. He does so not by feeling threatened by those voices but by appreciating them. Click To Tweet

They speak less and listen more

The one with the title talks- a lot. The humble leader is prone to speaking less and listening more.

Stephen Covey said, “It takes humility to seek feedback. It takes wisdom to understand it, analyze it and appropriately act on it.” And this is what humble leaders desire to do. Humble leaders are like sponges- learning all they can.

Humble leaders are like a breath of fresh air. They are confident in who they are, what they know, and the skills they have. But they are not so arrogant that they are afraid to ask questions, put others first, bring people together, and speak less (or as Simon Sinek suggests – speak last) and listen more. In this day and time, we could use some humble leaders.

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Leadership Tested By Fire

Posted October 2, 2017
by dougdickerson

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
-Provided by the author.

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows your true colors”. – James 1:2-3 (The Message)

In November 2016, terrible fires raged through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fires ripped through popular destinations such as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in Tennessee. It was reported that roughly 10,000 acres of land were burned.

Many thought at the time that the recovery of the forests would be years in the making. But to the amazement of many, life is returning sooner than many predicted.

In a local CBS news story, the headline reads, “New Life Sprouting In The Smokies”. Highlights of the story are given by Dr. Andrew Miller, a mycologist from the University of Illinois working in conjunction with the University of Tennessee and Savannah State University to study the effects of the fire.

Dr. Miller states, “It’s only been a few months, but we can already see fungi are growing back again”. He added with this incredible observation, “They’ve basically been sitting in the soil as spores waiting for the fires to come along, and as soon as that happens they fruit in abundance and they’re basically all over the place”.

If you hang around in leadership long enough, you will go through the fire and times of testing. It comes with the territory. So the greater question I’d like to explore with you is this: How do you plan to come through it? Your leadership can, like the fungi, rise from the ashes stronger, or it’s the place where it will die.

After 30 plus years of leadership, here are a few things I’ve learned and some encouragement I’d like to pass along.

It’s in the fire you are pruned

Dr. Miller stated, “These fungi are the first to come in, they decompose all the other stuff until the rest of the growth comes in”. What a powerful statement.

The fires you go through in your leadership are the necessary times of pruning you need for future growth. Just as the fungi decompose all the other stuff in order for the rest of the growth to come in, so too, are the times of testing that comes your way. Growth will not occur until all the things that don’t belong like bitterness, jealousy, and unforgiveness- things that you need to let go of, are gone.

Right now you may not like going through the fire, but it could the best thing to happen to you in the long run.

It’s in the fire you are prepared

Another highlight from the story is that the tiny pyro-nema fungi that they’ve discovered only grow after a fire. It’s job? The tiny particles are the food for the plants and trees to grow again.

When you go through the fire, you will learn and discover new things about your leadership that you may not have known before. The fire can expose things that may not have otherwise surfaced had you not gone through it

It’s after we come through the fire we can be more empathetic, more understanding, and more mindful of growing and developing the leaders around us. How do we get new growth and new skills? By going through the fire.

It’s in the fire you are proven

I’ll be honest with you – I don’t like going through the fire any more than the next person. It’s painful and it hurts. But it’s in the fire that your leadership is proven.

Dr. Andy Methven, a biologist at Savannah State said, “It was a high-intensity burn and pretty much everything was burned down to the ground, and to see things coming up in that area just a few months after the fires is impressive,” He added, “I’ve been impressed with how quickly the plants have sprouted, even in the last month, it’s amazing how quickly it’s recovering.”

How will you recover after going through the fire in leadership? What will be the observations others make about you and your growth? What differences will they see in you? It’s in the fire that your leadership is proven and will shine.

It’s in the fire that you are productive

It’s when we’ve successfully come through the fires in leadership that we have new growth, a new perspective, a new outlook. Your leadership will take an incredible turn for the good if you keep the right attitude.

Regarding the fires, Dr. Miller made one last remarkable statement, “Probably this time next year you’re going to have a hard time telling a fire even came through this area. The soil is going to be pretty much back to the way it was before”.

I don’t know what fires and testing you are going through right now – but I do know this much- it’s a time of great challenge to your leadership. There will be times you will want to walk away, throw in the towel, and move on to something else.

But if you will keep your heart right, your faith strong, and see it for what it is – a season in your leadership when you are being pruned, prepared, proven, and productive – God will bring you through, and you will come through it stronger than ever before.

Let the fire, as painful as it is, do its work and don’t let the ashes bury you. Your destiny as a leader depends on it.

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Is Your Leadership Adrift?

Posted May 3, 2017
by dougdickerson

Set your course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship. – Omar N. Bradley

One of the dangers I have observed over my years in leadership is the leader who tends to stray off course. It’s an easy trap to fall victim to and I have been there myself a few times.

It tends to happen when we are not focused on our “one thing” and are chasing rabbits down trails where we have no business going. And because we are distracted and we didn’t say no when we should have, we drift off course. It’s usually never intentional, but we are adrift nonetheless and we need to correct our course.

Writing in his book, Simplify, author Bill Hybels poses an intriguing set of questions that started me thinking about this. He writes:

Are you in the right race? Or have you accidentally drifted into a race that is mostly in vain? Are your best efforts going toward a race that results in fleeting applause? Or do you strive for material gain, which rusts, rots, and depreciates? Or for passing pleasures that don’t amount to a hill of beans in the eternal scheme of things?

Those are some powerful and thought provoking questions. Staying on course requires intentionality on your part as a leader. What does being adrift look like as a leader? How do you know if you are adrift? Let’s explore five possibilities.

Your leadership is adrift when you try to run someone else’s race

When the race ceases to be your own you are adrift. This happens when you are not being true to yourself. Each of us has our own race and our own lane in which to run it. Quit trying to be the person in the lane next to you and be the person God created you to be. When you do this you will stop drifting.

Your leadership is adrift when you mistake all that glitters for your true north

As the quote above mentions, you must not set your course by the lights of the passing ships, but by the stars. Leaders who are adrift are frustrated because they didn’t keep their sights set on the star that is guiding them in their race. Forget about the other glimmering lights and get your focus back to where it belongs.

Your leadership is adrift when you fail to set proper boundaries

Leaders drift when they think they can be all things to all people and fail to set realistic, proper, and necessary boundaries. Without boundaries, there is no buffer in place to steer you back on course. You have to establish boundaries and stick by them. Otherwise, you will be drawn off course by every glittering light that comes along.

Your leadership is adrift when you chase applause and approval

This is one of the easiest traps to fall for as a leader. Afterall, who doesn’t enjoy the applause and approval that stokes our ego? But if this is your motivation for being a leader you are setting yourself up for disappointment and you will always be adrift. When you focus is on developing your character and integrity you will never have to worry about approval.

Your leadership is adrift when there is no accountability

Accountability is crucial to your success as a leader. It’s also what will keep you from drifting. When you have someone that has permission to speak truth into your life that person(s) can be an invaluable benefit to you as a leader. Do you have such a person? If not, let me encourage you to find one. The writer in Proverbs 22:15 said, “Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.” (The Message).

As a leader, there is nothing more frustrating than being adrift. The good news? You don’t have to be when you know the warning signs. Stop drifting and get your focus back on what matters most.

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Leadership Lessons from Pat Summitt

Posted June 30, 2016
by admin

patsummit

“She could have coached any team, any sport, men’s or women’s. It wouldn’t have mattered, because Pat could flat-out coach. I will miss her dearly, and I am honored to call her my friend.” – Peyton Manning

As a native Tennessean and a proud member of Vol Nation, I was deeply saddened by the recent passing of legendary Coach Pat Summitt. Her passing due to Alzheimer’s at the age of 64 was a great loss and it’s hard to put into words how deeply she will be missed.

There is no doubt Pat Summitt made her mark on the game of women’s basketball. For almost 40 years as the head coach she led the Lady Vols to 8 national championships, 31 consecutive NCAA tournaments, and amassed along the way a record of 1,098 wins.

I had the honor of meeting Pat Summitt a few times and she was always gracious and a class act. Her leadership on and off the court was truly inspiring. Her legacy will live on in her players and in the coaches who served alongside of her and through the work of her foundation.

I’d like to share with you a few of my favorite Pat Summitt quotes for your consideration and how they might be a source of inspiration for you.

“It’s harder to stay on top than it is to make the climb. Continue to seek now goals.”

“Success is a project that’s always under construction.”

“Here’s how I am going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.”

“There is always someone better than you. Whatever it is that you for a living, chances are, you will run into a situation in which you are not as talented as the person next to you. That’s when being a competitor can make a difference in your fortunes.”

“Teamwork is what makes common people capable of achieving uncommon results.”

“You can’t always be the most talented person in the room. But you can be the most competitive.”

“If you don’t want responsibility, don’t sit in the big chair. To be successful, you must accept full responsibility.”

“I’m someone who will push you beyond all reasonable limits. Someone who will ask you not to just fulfill your potential but to exceed it. Someone who will expect more from you than you may believe you are capable of.”

“When a player makes a mistake, you always want to put them back in quickly — you don’t just berate them and sit them down with no chance of redemption.”

“Quit? Quit? We keep score in life because it matters. It counts. Too many people opt out and never discover their own abilities, because they fear failure. They don’t understand commitment. When you learn to keep fighting in the face of potential failure, it gives you a larger skill set to do what you want to do.”

When reading her quotes you get a glimpse into what made her not only a great coach but a great mentor, friend, and inspiration to so many.

In honor or her legacy I’d like to encourage my readers who are so inclined in joining me in making a donation to The Pat Summitt Foundation. The foundation works in partnership with the University of Tennessee Medical Center for research in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Visit the website at: http://www.patsummitt.org/

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25 Leadership Quotes to Live and Lead By

Posted February 11, 2016
by admin

top25

I’ve been a student of leadership for more than 30 years. I’ve written four books on leadership. It’s my passion and it runs deep.

This week I’d like to share some of my favorite leadership quotes with you. Narrowing it down to just 25 was a challenge because there are so many good ones. In no particular order here they are- enjoy.

“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” —Max DePree Serving others is the cardinal point of leadership.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead Leaders can accomplish a lot more with a team than they can by themselves.

“Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position.” —Brian Tracy

True leaders understand that it’s not about titles.

“A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” —Max Lucado

As a leader you have to be willing to stand alone.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” —John Quincy Adams

Your actions should always inspire and bring out the best in others.

“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.” —Norman Schwarzkopf

Character is the most important quality in leadership.

“The greatest leaders mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision.” —Ken Blanchard

When leaders put forth a compelling vision people will follow.

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” -Peter Drucker

Management is easy; leadership is hard. Be a leader.

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” -John F. Kennedy

Leaders never stop learning, growing, and developing.

“Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.” -John D. Rockefeller

Leaders inspire others to do great things.

“Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.” -Bill Bradley

Leaders inspire others to be better people.

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” -Warren Bennis

A leader will help others connect the dots and see where they are going.

“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” – John Wooden

The mark of a good leader is humility and in recognizing where all gifts come from.

“The leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the entire situation, and yells, “Wrong jungle!”” – Stephen R. Covey

Leaders are not afraid to admit their mistakes. Keep charging!

“I learned that if you aren’t willing to put yourself in “this is crazy” situations, you’ll never experience “this is awesome” moments.” – Mark Batterson

Leaders are willing to take risks to achieve their goals and dreams.

“The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants.” – Rick Warren

Servant leadership is the essence of true leadership.

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go, they merely determine where you start.” – Nido Qubein

Never underestimate your God-given talents and abilities.

“You’re the same today as you’ll be in five years except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read.” – Charlie “Tremendous” Jones

Broaden your circle and never stop growing.

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” – Nelson Mandela

It’s not always about what you know – it’s how you apply it and how you treat people.

“Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.” – Ronald Reagan

A smart leader will empower his or her people and get out of the way.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

What goal and dream are you pursuing?

“Don’t let the voice of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Steve Jobs

There is a lot of chatter out there. Be true to yourself and trust your instincts.

“Effective leaders know that you first have to touch people’s hearts before you ask them for a hand” – John Maxwell

Always connect with the heart first.

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar

Your attitude will make you or break you. Choose it wisely.

“As a leader sometimes you will have to defy the critics and ignore the experts and just do what’s in your heart.” –Doug Dickerson (Just for good measure)

What’s in your heart?

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On Becoming a Relevant Leader

Posted October 29, 2015
by admin

There are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way. – Nelson Mandela

When Irving S. Olds was chairman of the U.S. Steel Corporation, he arrived for a stockholders’ meeting and was confronted by a woman who asked, “Exactly who are you and what do you do?” Without batting an eye, Olds replied, “I am your chairman. Of course, you know the duties of a chairman–that’s someone who is roughly the equivalent of parsley on a platter of fish.”

The pretense in Irving S. Olds answer may have satisfied the inquisitive woman, but it is a relevant question for leaders today. Understandably, the people you lead need to know who you are and what you do. If not, they will not follow you. But beyond that, it’s imperative that you know the answer.

The fact is, every leader wants to be relevant. I’ve yet to meet a leader who did not want to be at his or her best and make an impact. The issue of relevance however is not about satisfying your ego or building yourself up at the expense of knocking someone else down.

The measure of your relevance as a leader may be open to subjective interpretation by some people. That being said, the measure of your relevance is not about how others see you but how you answer these four questions. It’s not an exhaustive set of questions by which to gauge your relevance as a leader but it’s a good place to start.

Do I know my “why?”

Simon Sinek popularized the idea in his book, Start With Why, and it has revolutionized the lives of many with the discovery. So the question is, “Why do I do what I do?” Put another way, “What drives and inspires you?” It’s a question every leader must answer.

Until you know the answer it will be hard to lead and consequently it will be hard to be relevant. Until you know the “why” of your life in leadership it will be difficult for others to know why they should follow you. Being relevant in the lives of the people you lead begins by being honest with yourself. Know your “why”.

Are my values clear?

Having a clear set of values is what keeps you grounded as a leader. When your values are clear then decision-making becomes much easier. Values-based decisions are made not by what is expedient or popular but by a governing set of principles.

Unfortunately, some leaders fall into the trap of confusing being popular for being relevant. The two could not be more different. If you want to be relevant as a leader in the 21^st century then be a leader with a clear set of values and stick to them. If your values are not clear then your leadership will be uncertain. Relevance begins with clearly defined values.

Am I building relationships?

Leaders are busy people. I get it. But the day you become too busy to connect and build relationships with your people is the day you become irrelevant in their eyes. Building relationships is time consuming and is hard work. But consider the consequences if you don’t.

Your relevance as a leader is tied to your ability and desire to build relationships with the people you lead. The greater the desire and effort the greater relevance and impact you will have. It’s not complicated. I realize you will not have deep personal relationships with everyone on your team, but as a leader you should always remember that people are your most appreciable asset. How you connect and build relationships will make a world of difference. If you want to be relevant to your people get connected to them. There are no shortcuts.

Am I still growing?

Your ability to connect and be relevant with your people hinges on your growth and development as a leader. How are you growing the leader within you? The simple truth is this: you can’t give what you don’t have. If you are not growing as a leader your relevance as a leader will suffer

Be proactive and intentional in your growth as a leader. Make reading good leadership books a priority, find good leadership podcast to listen to, subscribe to good magazines to read such as Success. Your growth and development as a leader will set you apart as a leader. Your relevance as a leader depends on it.

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Cracked Mirrors: Embracing Your Humanity as a Leader

Posted October 2, 2015
by admin

“Out flew the web and floated wide; The mirror crack’d from side to side; ‘The curse is come upon me,’ cried The Lady of Shalott.” (From “The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred Lord Tennyson)

We all enjoy reading the stories of the likes of Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Steven Spielberg, and others who in spite of their setbacks and failures overcame their obstacles. The names and their accomplishments are too numerous to mention in this space. Suffice to say, all such stories are inspiring and serve as a source of encouragement and how that no amount adversity can overtake us if we persevere.

But I’d like to address a more personal issue as it pertains to our leadership. We are familiar with the personal characteristics of leadership that we strive for such as integrity, loyalty, trust, etc. But how do we reconcile our desire to live up to these virtues of leadership while embracing our humanity at the same time?

John Maxwell said, “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” And this is the challenge of personal leadership. The question is not whether we will fail, have errors in judgment, offend people, or otherwise not live up to our best as a leader. In short- we’re human. So here are a few tips going forward as you look at that cracked mirror of leadership.

Embrace your humanity

By embracing your humanity you are acknowledging that you are not perfect. As such you are also acknowledging that you are vulnerable and susceptible to shortcomings like anyone else. But this is not meant to be an “out” for bad behavior. As such you should have safeguards in place and surround yourself with trusted confidants to hold you accountable.

Be quick to forgive

Hang around in leadership long enough and you will come to know the value of forgiveness. As a leader you know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of criticism- fair or not. Life is just too short to hold grudges. In as much as you should forgive others their faults, be sure along the way to forgive yourself for the times you have blown it. And don’t be afraid to ask for it. When I understand the depth of forgiveness I need as a leader it’s much easier for me to look upon others through the lens of grace.

Keep the bar set high

That we as leaders may have come up short at times is no reason to lower the bar of excellence. Character still matters and striving to be better should be foremost in our endeavors. Don’t allow past mistakes to knock you off course. Don’t allow past failures to define you. Keep the bar set high and when you fall short don’t be discouraged. Your mistakes will overtake you only when you give up.

Walk humbly

Some might argue that walking humbly as a leader does not fit into the modern definition or understanding of leadership. Walking humbly is not abdicating your authority as a leader or otherwise exerting weakness. If anything, it’s the opposite.

Rick Warren said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Walking humbly is living each day with an awareness of my humanity with the understanding of my dependence upon my faith to form me and my friends to complete me. It’s lived out when I realize the leader I want to be tomorrow is being shaped by my actions today. Do we fall short? Yes. But what we see in the cracked mirror is more bearable when we face the truth.

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