The "BRIGHT" side of leadership!

I want to thank you for reading this week's article. If this is your first time, please subscribe so you don't miss out! Also, share this article with someone who would benefit from it. Knowledge is a powerful gift.

Thank you, Dustin Dale

This week I picked the mind of a good friend and leader of the Toledo community. Most who know Curt would agree and I have always enjoyed his outlook on the positivity of Toledo. This is why the article is titled... "Bright" side of leadership.

This week I asked Curt four key questions about his life, career, and Toledo to learn from his perspective that might be beneficial to all. Enjoy!

1. What shift have you seen in leadership since you became a leader?

The biggest change I have noticed over my career is the move to a more inclusive and transparent form of leadership that has occurred over the last 10 years or so. When I started in leadership positions, the leader had a more autocratic style using fear as the motivator to get things accomplished. I believe this came from business use of a military style form of hierarchy and highlighted by the GE form of management.

Now, with a generational shift occurring in the workplace, that form of leadership is being replaced with leaders who are more open to building relationships with the staff. Being more open to knowing individuals and what their life needs are is becoming the norm. Understanding the life and work balance to enhance the employee’s experience. The days of the micro manager shadowing your every move is being replaced with leaders who trust that the work will be done, focusing on the finished work product and less on where or how it is accomplished. The autocratic, fear-based approach is becoming increasingly outdated, and modern leaders recognize the importance of building trust, understanding individual needs, and promoting work-life balance.

2. What are 2 things you’d tell your 20 yr. Old self?

This question is a difficult one for me. I took a couple of bold moves in my 20s that I had not planned on doing. I had focused my studies to eventually go to medical school and I had been accepted then took a right turn to go to business school instead. Then, after business school, I decided to spend time doing something I loved, which was skiing. I moved to a small town in the mountains to follow that passion. I would say that having a plan and allowing for change is normal. I sometimes feel like I missed out by not following the path I started earlier in life. Which is why I tell that story from my past.

The other, stretch yourself to try new things and don’t be shy about being a novice. I can remember not trying things because I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of other people. I had this belief of myself that if I failed miserably at something that people wouldn’t like me, but really, I was holding onto a view of myself that making a mistake made me a failure. That view of oneself is false and unhealthy. Leaders often need to take calculated risks and learn from mistakes.

3. How do you see leadership changing in the future for Toledo?

Toledo has been experiencing national media exposure because of infrastructure investment such as the Metroparks and the passing of a tax levy dedicated to roads. Toledo has good paying manufacturing jobs, low cost of living, and quite a few big city public amenities making it desirable.

With increased media attention, Toledo will attract new looks from investors chasing higher returns. These new investors will bring new and different ideas which will compete with the status quo. Leaders in Toledo will need to brace themselves for change. Transparency related to the difficult topics will be necessary to move Toledo in a positive direction. The community will eventually benefit from all the changes and bring Toledo forward!

4. How have you pioneered leadership in your specific industry?

I have been in several different industries in my career. The current industry in which I work is the staffing industry, specifically, the temporary staffing space focusing on light industrial manufacturing and food manufacturing. To answer the question, I will focus on several areas of leadership that I incorporate no matter which one I have previously worked. My insights are based on a couple of themes which I believe have aided me in being a proficient leader.

The first theme is to treat people with dignity and humanity. I believe that everyone shows up to work and wants to do a good job for you. There are always examples of those who do not, but those people are the outliers. Treating coworkers and staff with understanding that life gets in the way from time to time, from outside issues: health, family, transportation, and burnout. Being mindful of those as you work, those areas may affect you day to day. Hopefully, those are short term issues and if you have a good working relationship and open communication, can be overcome by being compassionate. Now, if the behaviors continue and disrupt the company’s ability to get work done, alternate conversations are necessary.

The second theme, always be willing to step in to work side by side with those you work with as a leader. One example, I used in my younger days as a leader in the food industry, I would always work side by side with new employees to train them and do the hard work together. I remember being next to people as we scrubbed garbage cans showing them that me, as a leader, is not above doing hard work as a team.

Lastly, as a leader, develop your talent to allow them to move on in their career. Provide opportunities for career development so that those which you lead can take what has been taught to them to move on successfully. As a leader, being prepared for the eventuality that good people will move on because you have allowed them to grow and take the skills provided is a great sign that you did your job.

Leading by example, providing career development opportunities, and understanding the personal challenges employees face can foster trust, loyalty, and a positive work environment.

You can book Dustin Dale as your leadership/motivational speaker!

• To submit your event, please do so here: Dustin Dale Motivational Speaker; ( dustin-dale.com )
• You can also work 1:1 with Dustin Dale through his executive leadership coaching program; please submit your information: Dustin Dale Motivational Speaker; ( dustin-dale.com )

Make sure to check out Dustin Dale's books on leadership and mindset, which are available on Amazon.

Learn to Lead by Serving & Learn to Lead by Serving 2

To learn more about Dustin Dale; dustin-dale.com