Salem-News.com Management articles

Everyday Leaders

As an everyday leader, you are the guardians of servitude and the custodians of courage in the time of need. You tap the resources of your leadership not out of impulse, but from what you have nurtured all along.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - On a cold wintry day in January 2009, US Airways flight 1549 taxied down the runway at New York’s LaGuardia airport. The flight, bound for Charlotte, N.C., was a familiar flight for Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. Within a matter of minutes after takeoff, flight 1543 was floating in the Hudson River, mechanical failure from a bird shot brought the plane down.

In his book, Highest Duty, My Search for What Really Matters, Sullenberger shares not only his life story, but the heroic actions he and his crew took to ensure that not one passenger was lost.

Are We Communicating?

Good communication is a reflection of your commitment to it. Don’t take it for granted, work hard at it, and reap the rewards.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - “What we’ve got here…is failure to communicate.” The line is from the movie Cool Hand Luke and ranks number 11 among the phrases on the American Film Institutes’ list of top 100 movie quotes.

The movie features Paul Newman who plays the role of Luke, a non-conformist, anti-hero loner who defies authority and the establishment. His nemesis, the Captain, is played by Strother Martin who first delivers the famous line.

Support Pillars and Optical Illusions

The Management Moments series by Doug Dickerson is a weekly column designed to bring inspiration to those in the workplace and beyond.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - Within every organization is a need for pillars – they are the go-to people who are steadfast and committed to success. These pillars are grounded in the qualities that inspire confidence and shape an in-house culture of excellence.

Support pillars are not hard to spot. Their qualities are indispensable, transferable, and attainable. Pillars rise to the top. A pillar not only represents the foundation of a building or organization, but symbolically represents its potential.

The Power of Simplicity

The Management Moments series by Doug Dickerson is a weekly column designed to bring inspiration to those in the workplace and beyond.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - The story is told of a man flying in a hot air balloon who realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below.

He lowers the balloon and shouts, “Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?” The man below says, “Yes, you are in a hot air balloon, hovering 30 feet above this field.”

Who`s Got Your Back?

The simple truth is – you can go farther than you ever imagined when someone has your back.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - It’s an amazing story that perhaps you have heard. I read it again recently in a story by Rick Reilly for Sports Illustrated. The Father-son duo of Rick and Dick Hoyt are an amazing team.

Together they have competed in marathons and triathlons. They have competed together and finished hundreds of races together. Each time they cross the finish line they do so at the same time- every time.

Industrial Strength Leadership

Unleash your inspiration and imagination to do the impossible. The time is now for a leadership revolution.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - The industrial revolution was a transformational time in American history. Without question, the technologies of the twenty first century have dramatically improved upon the inventions that the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries gave us.

Can you imagine the look on the face of Alexander Graham Bell if he were to hold an i-phone today? Imagine the Wright brothers flying first class on a Boeing 777? I can only imagine what Samuel F.B. Morse would think of the internet, email, and instant messaging.

Making Your Mark

Like Churchill, we will all leave a mark by which our leadership will be defined.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - One of the highlights of my first trip to England was a tour through the House of Commons in London. My good friend Martin arranged the tour for us. To walk the halls of the House of Commons and take in all of its history was an amazing experience.

The House of Commons is where the members come to debate the issues of the day and where the Prime Minister holds his question and answer sessions which can be quite entertaining.

The Power of a Grateful Leader

Lou Gehrig set many records that stood for decades.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - Last week a milestone took place that was seven decades in the making. Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees broke Lou Gehrig’s hit record with a single to right field. Gehrig’s record for the most hits by a Yankee player stood at 2,721 for a little more than seventy years.

While not a Yankees fan by any stretch, no one can deny that Jeter has rightfully taken his place among Yankee greats. His work ethic and talent makes for a successful combination and without question a team leader.

Hitting the Reset Button

The Management Moments series by Doug Dickerson is a weekly column designed to bring inspiration to those in the workplace and beyond.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - The story is told of a young Greek artist named Timanthes who studied under a respected tutor some 2,000 years ago.

After several years the teacher’s efforts seemed to have paid off when Timanthes painted an exquisite work of art. Unfortunately, he became so enraptured with the painting that he spent days gazing at it.

Growing to the Top

The Management Moments series by Doug Dickerson is a weekly column designed to bring inspiration to those in the workplace and beyond.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - In his book, The 360° Leader, John Maxwell shares a humorous story of a turkey that was chatting with a bull. “I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,” sighed the turkey, “but I haven’t got the energy.”

“Well,” replied the bull, “why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings? They’re packed with nutrients.”