Leadershipbydesign
News From LBD

June 2014 Volume 6 Issue 6
 

  

  LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM FATHERS


As Father's Day approaches it probably comes as no surprise to you that the best leaders have a few things in common with dad. Inspired by the Disney Institute, here are five of those instances:

1. Leading by Example: It's every child's go-to retort, "But why don't YOU have to drink milk with dinner?" Leadership choices may not always regard a dinnertime beverage choice, but leaders who enact a "Do as I say, not as I do" policy are inviting distrust and uncertainty into their circles. Remember, your behaviors tell a story about what you value as a leader.

2. Recognition: You knew you messed up because dad probably told you so. But also remember the exhilarating feeling you had when your father said something like,"You done good, partner." It's all too easy to point out missteps - the best leaders take the time to recognize employees for a job well done.

3. Seeing the Bigger Picture: Did you ever do or say something that was stupid or embarrassing and you felt you would be ostracized by your friends and your social life would be over? Did your father say things like: "Are they really friends worth having" "There is more to life than..." "Someday you will..." ?  In times of turbulence, leaders resist the temptation for short-term expediency. Their ability to "see the forest through the trees" refocuses a situation that could otherwise detract from the overall goals and values of the collective group.

4. Making 1-on-1 Time a Priority: Do you remember times when it was just you and your father, fishing, reading, or just running an errand? What made those moments special was that he had dedicated time just for you. Leaders who set aside regular time for their employees show their commitment to that employee's well-being and personal development. Don't think that time is unappreciated; employees know all too well how busy their leaders truly can be.

5. The Ability to Inspire: We all have our moments of doubt, the ones where our goals and ambitions begin to feel out of reach. Like dad, leaders remind you of the work you have accomplished to get to where you are, they point out the unique qualities that set you apart from the crowd, and ultimately, they inspire you to get back on your feet and tackle each new day as an individual challenge just waiting for you to conquer it.

I'll leave you with one final thought as we head into the Father's Day weekend regarding a leader's legacy: The best legacy is not one that is only fondly remembered, but one that is actively emulated.

What leadership characteristics did you learn from your father?

 

 


What Leaders are Reading   

 

Stories of Fatherhood - Diana Secker Tesdale 

If you favor the time and tested literary greats, "Stories of Fatherhood" belongs on your bookshelf. Secker Tesdale  compiled some of literature's best tales about dads, written by authors such as D.H. Lawrence, Edith Wharton, and Katherine Mansfield. That's right, plenty of women have written poignant scenes taking place between fathers and their offspring. But of course, so have men. There's a sad, touching story about Christmas written by Vladimir Nabokov, James Joyce's short story "A Little Cloud" is about a man who still does not feel complete, even after having a son, and Franz Kafka's "The Judgement" explores the complex relationship between a man and his father. Not all of the stories compiled are "feel good" reads, but they prove that complicated feelings about parenthood are not a side effect of modern life.

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Leadership Tip of the Month

A dad is what a leader should be.

 

A dad is... someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.

A dad is... someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.

A dad is... someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail.

 

A dad is...someone that encourages you, pushes you, wants you to be the best you can be.

 

A dad is...someone that will always believe in you.

 

A dad is... the driving force who is always ready to take a back seat. 

 

A dad is... there for you through "thick and thin."

 

A dad is...always there with a  word of encouragement or timely kiss.

 

A dad is...someone you respect and admire.

 

A dad is...someone you want to please.

 

A dad is...someone you want to be proud of you.

 

A dad is...a leader!

   

To learn more, contact LBD.   

John Branstad

John Branstad
 
Quote of the Month  
 
"That's the way of a Father. To teach and inspire his children to do good of their own free will rather than fear of somebody else. That's the difference between a slave's Master and a child's Father."

- Terence (160BC)
John Branstad
www.leadershipbydesign.org
763-213-5267