LEADERSHIP MINUTE #1

How many of you have experienced times in your professional career where you know you have provided exceptional leadership? How about a time or two when you have failed miserably at leadership? I am the first to raise my hand, and I would guess there are many of you who have also gone through this experience.

Exceptional leadership feels great. It feels right. Everything is hitting on all cylinders. You have a great team. You have a fantastic plan. You are executing and delivering results. Failed leadership feels horrible. It can happen quickly, but often times failed leadership happens over time as the underpinnings slowly give way, and the leader reacts too late. Of course, as the leader there is no excuse for failure, and one must take full responsibility even if it means embarrassment or losing one’s position.

Many exceptional leaders have experienced failures in their career, but the ones who learn from their mistakes never repeat them again, and they once again become effective and successful leaders.

Dale M. Fagre has over 25 years of non-profit leadership experience and currently serves as Executive Director for the North Hennepin Community College Foundation, located in Brooklyn Park, MN. This institution was founded in 1966 and serves over 10,000 students while offering more than 70 different academic programs. In 2018, Dale created the 1st Annual BOLD Leadership Summit which is held annually on campus each February. This event lifts up leadership through education and sharing inspiring true life leadership stories, while offering an opportunity for NHCC Alumni to re-engage with their Alma Mater.