Leadership Development

This June I am speaking at the DTIA Leadership in Motion 2007 workshop in Niagara Falls Canada for Reg Goulding of Smile Science.   I tell you this for three important reasons.

   1. This group promotes laboratory technology
   2. It is focused on a myriad of leadership issues for dental laboratories, owners and managers
   3. It is a truly delightful place to be in June.

The Dental Technicians International Association is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to define and promote the accomplishments of dental technician professionals and to increase awareness of the profession of dental technology, whose passion and commitment is to serve society through the creation of dental prosthetics.

I will be doing a short version of my communications workshop that I have presented at the Vision meeting a few years back.  Our own Bennett Napier, CAE, is speaking as well.  I thought I would use my column this month to share some thoughts about leadership. In my mind, the keys to leadership greatness are:

1.  Integrity.

To be a leader you much maintain your integrity 100 percent.  Anything else will not work.   Do what you say, and say what you do.  Walk the talk!

2.  Overcome adversity.

When Michael Jordan was cut from his varsity basketball team in his sophomore year of high school, he worked on his game and developed some skills that led to too many record to count.  He applied those skills to teams that won the national championship and several NBA titles.

3.  Vision.

Lead your people towards a well-defined, clear and preferred future, individually, professionally and as an enterprise.  Help them have hope for the future and their role in shaping it.

4.  Focus.

Understand your core business and focus on it.   Figure out what really drives the economic engine of your laboratory and be passionate about it.

5.  Optimism

Take a disadvantage and turn it into an advantage. Within every disadvantage or obstacle lay an equally powerful opportunity.  A successful leader will look for those opportunities.

6. Take care of your people.

You want to earn the loyalty and engagement of your team.  Empower them to support the execution of your strategic plans and vision.