After the open house ceremony, I looked Doug (far left) in the eye and said, “I was thinking about you as I drove in. The difference between average and extraordinary isn’t power or money – its heart.”
“You’re a man with heart. I’m glad to know you.”
Heart means:
- Tender hearted compassion. When I want to help someone in the community, Doug says, “How much do you need, Dan?”
- Truthful transparency. It takes confidence, self-awareness, and honesty to share true feelings.
- Profound commitment to service. Every person who fills out a customer complaint, and there aren’t many, gets a call from Doug.
- Dedication to people. He enjoys pointing out how long “his people” have been with him.
- High standards.
- Curiosity. It’s not unusual for Doug to say, “Dan, tell me about your blog.”
- Weaknesses. Doug doesn’t pretend he has it all together.
I’ve seen childlike enthusiasm twinkle in his eyes and heard flashes of frustration in his voice. It’s all heart.
People with heart: (From the LF facebook page).
- Admit their mistakes.
- Understand feelings.
- Laugh at themselves.
- Protect relationships.
More at: Leadership Freak Coffee Shop.
Losing you:
Losing you is dangerously easy. Leaders who’ve lost themsleves:
- Are controlled by others. If you don’t know who you are someone else controls you.
- Feel pushed around by pressure.
- Pursue success rather than significance.
- Follow trends rather than principles.
- End up crushed by criticism or crushing their critics.
Finding a heartbeat:
- Take a walk and think your own thoughts; forget what others think.
- Explore your joys. What makes you deeply happy?
- Examine your anger. Values often drive anger.
- Love deeply.
- Serve wholeheartedly.
Richness of life and leadership depend on finding and living with heart.
How can leaders find heart?
How have you found heart?
