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    You are here Home » leadership

    Leadership Tips from Mankind’s Best Friend, the Dog

    Last updated on Jun 22, 2017 by Dan McCarthy · This post may contain affiliate links

    Guest post from Dr. Garry McDaniel:

    For over three
    decades, the Gallup organization has been conducting surveys to illuminate the
    role leader’s play in creating a workforce of engaged employees to
    organizational leadership. While this is admirable, it is even more impressive
    to note that for over fifteen thousand
    years, dogs have been humankind’s constant companion and an observer of our
    progress from the epochs of hunter-gatherer, agriculturalist, industrialism, to
    the current knowledge era.  Since dogs
    have been our close companions for so many millennia, let’s consider what
    advice they might give us to serve as more effective leaders.
    1.   
    Demonstrate
    loyalty
    .  When we ask dog owners what
    they like about dogs, one of the first qualities they identify is that dogs are
    unfailingly loyal. Dogs bond with their families and stick with them through
    thick and thin. Loyalty is also of key importance to leaders and organizational
    success. In fact, the mark of an effective leader is the ability to influence
    others to accomplish worthy goals; this requires loyalty to the desired
    outcome.  Tip from Fido: Don’t gossip
    about others who are not present and treat all employees fairly and with
    respect. 
     

    2.   
    Maintain
    a positive attitude
    . Dogs are just about the most positive creature on Earth. My
    dog Panda views every outing as an opportunity to explore the world. An
    effective leader is definitely more of the ‘glass half full’ instead of the
    ‘glass half empty’ kind of person who projects a sincere positive attitude that
    others find contagious and inspiring. Tip from Fido: Starting tomorrow, begin
    each day or meeting not by bemoaning what went wrong, but by recognizing what
    is working well and for what you are grateful.
     

    3.   
    Communicate
    clearly
    .  A friend observed that dogs
    have ‘crystal hearts.’ By this, he meant that dogs communicate clearly and
    without guile; what you see is what you get. Humans, on the other hand, often intentionally
    say one thing and mean something else. Effective leaders communicate clearly
    and ensure that the message is offered in the right tone, through the most
    effective medium, and is received accurately. Tip from Fido: Don’t wag your
    tail as you growl, and don’t whimper when you need to bark. Say what you mean;
    don’t obfuscate your message intentionally deceive and mislead. Ensure there
    are clear channels for accurate communication up and down the chain of command. 
     

    4.   
    Be
    playful
    . One of the qualities we admire most in our dogs is their unconcealed
    joy in engaging with us in play. Whether it is going for a walk, throwing a
    ball, playing tug-of-war, swimming, or jogging, our dogs love playing with us. Research
    is clear that happy, playful work environments are more productive than those
    that are drab and dreary. Employees respond far better to the carrot than the
    stick. Tip from Fido: Encourage creative, playful problem-solving and
    brainstorming.  Actively support employee
    play in the form of bowling, softball, fun runs, ping pong, dress-up days, and
    other fun events that foster connection and engagement.
     

    5.   
    Be
    forgiving
    . Step on your dog’s tail and they will yelp, but forgive you
    immediately. Is that true in your workplace? When someone feels slighted (whether
    real or imagined) does the resulting animosity fester and destroy productivity,
    communication, and efficiency? Good leaders ‘get over it’ and recognize that
    people- themselves included- make mistakes. Tip from Fido: Recognize that no
    one is perfect; learn from and forgive mistakes. Be humble and apologize when
    you are wrong and accept apologies from others.

    6.   
    Love
    what you do
    . Unconditional love; it is the hallmark of what makes a dog
    humankind’s best friend. Race, creed, color, sexual preference, religion, body
    type, and age don’t matter to your dog; they still love being with you. Effective
    leaders demonstrate clear passion for what they do and appreciate the passion
    and success of others. Tips from Fido: Pay attention, reward and recognize the
    achievements of others. Let them know both publically and privately what they
    did and how much you value their contribution. Demonstrate an honest
    appreciation for diversity in everything you do.
     

    7.   
    Live
    a balanced life
    . Dogs seem particularly adept at living a balanced life. Panda
    appears to have a wonderful sense for knowing when to transition between
    sleeping, playing, eating, or just engaging with other dogs and people.  Our culture tends to demand that we focus on
    ‘getting results’ at the expense of all other aspects of our lives. Great
    leaders recognize that ‘results’ are important, but how one attains those results is vital to long term creativity,
    productivity, and effectiveness. Tip from Fido: Reflect on how you are spending
    your time; set aside adequate time for family, friends, your own personal
    health, professional and spiritual growth?  Intervene when you notice a well intentioned
    employee is burning themselves out trying to contribute to the organization.
     

    You may have seen the magic
    trick called the Chinese Locking Rings in which a magician holds up several
    separate rings and then ‘magically’ appears to link them all together. Our dogs
    would remind us that truly effective leaders recognize that the seven qualities
    discussed above may appear separate, but in reality, they are all highly
    interconnected. Separately, each has value; together they define the difference
    between mediocre and outstanding leadership. Perhaps dogs know us better than
    Gallup! 
     
    Garry McDaniel and Sharon Massen are professors at
    Franklin University and speak nationally on what individuals and organizations
    can learn from dogs about leadership, team building, and customer service. Their
    latest book is,
    The Dog’s Guide to Your Happiness: Seven
    Secrets for a Better Life from Man’s Best Friend
    .

     Garry and Sharon invite
    you to contribute stories about what you have learned from your dog that has
    positively enhanced your view on personal, family or professional
    relationships. Please send your stories or insights to Garry and Sharon at http://www.happydogsecrets.com or by
    calling 614-657-8524.
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