5 Leadership Lessons You Need Today

The following are 5 Things I Am Currently Learning About Leadership:

1. “The first thing I say is what people remember.” These were the brilliant words of INJOY Stewardship Solutions Executive Vice President Ken Friar. Great words for all communicators and anyone leading a meeting this Monday morning.
2. “True friends multiply your joys and divide your sorrows.” A true friend will celebrate with you when things go well. They want the best for you. Those who are envious or jealous of your success are not true friends. True friends also help carry your burdens.
3. Develop a System for Success – Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban recently made an interesting observation. He said, “Eighty-five percent of people who open restaurants fail. Ninety-five percent of the people that get a McDonald’s succeed. So there’s something about the system that must mean something.” To read all of Coach Saban’s recent comments, read “Let’s Don’t Waste The Failure” And 29 More Leadership Lessons From Nick Saban.
4.  How to Disrespect a Leader – If you want to disrespect a leader, do these two things: 1. Show up late for a meeting. 2. Keep looking at your phone during the meeting. What you are communicating is your time is more important than the leader’s and whatever is on your phone is more interesting and important than what he/she has to say.
5. Enjoy Every Season of Life – I will close this post with the following story:

Last night my wife, Sonya, daughter Anna and I were enjoying a Chick-Fil-A dinner. Because Anna will soon be going off to college for her freshman year, these times are becoming increasingly precious. She made an interesting observation while we were eating. Anna asked me if the table next to us was bringing back memories. I looked over and saw a young father spending time with his 2- or 3 year old daughter. It was clearly a daddy-daughter date. He was just asking her about her week and how she was enjoying your meal. I said to Anna, “Yes it does, the best moments of my life.” After a couple of minutes, I asked the young man, “Daddy-daughter date?” He smiled and said, “Yes.” I said, “I can tell. My daughter and I went on one every week for over 10 years. And now in a few weeks, she goes off to college.” We exchanged some more pleasantries and continued with our meal. Shortly afterward, just outside our window I noticed an elderly couple slowly (and I mean slowly) walking across the parking lot and into the restaurant to have dinner together. I said to Sonya and Anna, “That’s my past (daddy-daughter date) and that’s my future (elderly couple having dinner together).” My daughter, as only a teenager can, said, “That’s depressing.” I said, “Actually, I think it’s perfect.” I cannot think of anything better than 10 years of weekly daddy-daughter dates followed up by growing old with Sonya. Enjoy every season. Each one passes quickly and when it’s gone, you can’t get it back. This article originally appeared here.