Words of Wisdom

I am still enjoying a few days off with Dena (and loving every minute of it).  So today's blog is going  to be a cheat of sorts.  As many of you know, I have been reading a book, The Mentor Leader, written by Tony Dungy.  Instead of formulating a story or writing about a personal experience, I thought it may be helpful to quote some of the book.  Whether you are the Captain of a group of firefighters, an office manager, a roofer, or a stay-at-home mom, I think we can all benefit from the wisdom that Tony shares with all of us.  Some of the quotes from his book are as follows:

"As critically important as I believe a shared vision is for leadership in an organization, character is even more fundamental and essential.  If people aren't comfortable with their leaders-who they are and what they stand for- they won't stick around long enough to hear about the vision.  Vision matters, but character matters more."

"To succeed in any endeavor, we have to know what we're doing and why we're doing it.  That doesn't mean we have to have all the answers, but it does mean we must have a solid foundation of skill, ability, and knowledge."

"If people in  your organization can't rely on you- whether on the big things or the little things-how are they going to follow you?  They may follow you for a little while, but it won't be with passion or full commitment."

"When a leader creates an appropriately healthy, stimulating, and nurturing culture and is dedicated to mentoring people, valuing them, and giving them the tools to succeed, the organization's vision and mission are not only achievable but also sustainable."

"God created us each with different talents, abilities, and strengths.  We are also unique in our life experiences, outlooks and personalities.  Because of our differences, we will excel in different ways.  Some things that are simple or obvious to me won't be for you and vice versa.  It's the combination of our diverse strengths that makes the team stronger."

"Every team member is important to the whole, yet the team can move on without any individual.  "Important but not indispensable" is how Coach Noll put it.  He used to say, "We need every man on this roster to win, but no player is so important that we can't win without him." He encouraged everyone to work hard because each one's contributions were valuable, but no single player was the primary reason for our success."

"Our world is rapidly changing and complex.  New ideas and situations come flying at us.  Are we able to adjust and adapt, to learn and grow and be prepared?  If we're not sure, then we must read to broaden our understanding and deepen our knowledge.  Even if we think we have a handle on things, we should read anyway.  We also need to listen to and engage with others as we embark on the path of mentor leadership.  Success is something we will achieve together."

I hope these words of wisdom from Tony Dungy are as inspirational and challenging to you as they are to me.