Dave Anderson | Tag Archive | Courage
“Fifteen years and she is still looking over my shoulder checking up on me. I have done this job for fifteen years without an incidents, and she still doesn’t trust me!”
Micromanagers often have employees who feel like they are not trusted. The micromanager creates an environment that hamstrings creativity and growth, while exasperating her employees.
Some say this is a trust issue. That may be what it looks like from the outside. But, inside the micromanager the issue is often plain old-fashioned fear. Continue Reading…
There is a war that rages inside most of us. The combatants are Fear and Character. The weapons used in this war are our hearts and our heads.
In my case, like in most wars, my character wins some of the battles and my fear wins some. But, which one will win the war?
The winner will be the one that is strongest, most prepared and most determined to win each battle. Continue Reading…
Titles mean something. Team Leader, Manager, Supervisor, Vice-President- they are all titles bestowed on those who are called by an organization to lead. They have the official duties and responsibilities that go with the title.
John Maxwell says leadership is influence. If that is true, are the people with the titles the only ones called to lead? No. The title gives them some positional authority, but leaders are needed at every level of an organization. Continue Reading…
I have no words. What can I do? This does not make any sense. It is not fair.
I agree. That is what I feel right now, plus so much more. I have anger and sadness.
People have died and there are people in pain in Texas and across the ocean to other countries because of a car wreck last night. There are 5 things I know I can do. Will you join me? Continue Reading…
Loyalty and integrity are two character traits I think we all desire in ourselves and in others. I like loyal people. They are friends and co-workers I know I can depend on. It does not matter how bad the situation may be. I know I can count on the loyal people in my life.
I like people of integrity as well. I like knowing I never have to question their words, actions, or motives. What you see is what you get. Their integrity makes trusting them easy.
But should loyalty ever trump integrity? Is there a time when that is appropriate? Continue Reading…
“I will do everything I can to help you be as successful as you want to be…right up to the point I realize I am working harder at it than your are.”
I developed this point of view as a result of hanging on to employees for too long. I believe everyone I work with deserves my best. But at times, my desire to help them goes way beyond their desire to improve.
I always use three checkpoints before I make the final decision to fire someone. If these three criteria are met, it is best for everyone – my company, my team, the individual and myself – to fire them. Continue Reading…
There was always a lot of talk, but there was rarely any progress. I was worn out at the end of every meeting. The leadership team was stuck. Therefore the whole company was stuck.
Leadership through risk avoidance inspires nobody! If a leader wants to have committed followers, the leader must be willing to take some risks. Otherwise, the whole organization will be stuck in a quagmire of fear and doubt. Continue Reading…
“Sorry. It’s policy.” This comment may be true, but it can also be a sign of a weak leader. Policies are not perfect – especially personnel policies. Leaders need to be willing to stand up and fight when needed.
Most companies have personnel policies, and the larger the company the more rigid the policies usually are. But, the rigidity of the policy does not always make it right. Continue Reading…
Be careful following a leader just because he has gray hair. The tenure or the age of a leader does not always signal wisdom. Here is the question:
Is the leader growing in wisdom or growing in fear?
A lot of people let the past keep them from moving forward. But when a leader is dominated by fear, everyone they lead focuses on the past and becomes stuck in the present as well. Continue Reading…
There was an upperclassman at West Point who I was sure was the worst leader I had ever met. Then I met a commander in the Army that jumped to the top of the list.
But, it was not until I hit the corporate world that I met someone who, to this day, ranks at the top of this dubious list. They were all bad. But, I learned a lot from each of them.
Continue Reading…