Leadership My Dad’s Way

My dad, General (retired) James L. Anderson spent 24 years as the Master of the Sword at West Point. He currently speaks on leadership at the Lincoln Leadership Institute in Gettysburg, PA. He has dedicated his life to developing leaders of character wherever he serves. Click here to learn more about him.
The two of us will be sharing a father-son perspective on the leadership lessons he taught me, the lessons we both learned at West Point, and the unique perspectives we each have based on his lifetime in leadership in the Army, and my 20 years in the business world.

Leaders: Make A Decision!

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   0 Comments
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Ready - Shoot - Aim! Unfortunately that can be my decision-making process. On the other end of the spectrum are leaders who tend to be Ready - Aim - Aim - Aim….

Both styles can be problematic. One causes a lot of starting and a lot of stopping to happen. The other causes nothing to happen.

I may be tipping my hand and giving everyone an insight into my personality, but I also know I speak for a lot of people who are waiting on their leaders, when I say, “Pull the dang trigger!” Continue Reading…

What Is A New Leader’s Reward?

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   2 Comments
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The reward for leadership is the opportunity to make more sacrifices. I see many talented people become disillusioned leaders because they are not prepared for this fact.

I attended the National Council On Culture and Leadership Annual Summit (NCCL Website) last week and heard a fellow West Point graduate Steve Ingalls describe the sacrifices we all must make when we become leaders. Continue Reading…

Becoming An Uncommon Leader

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   2 Comments
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Early in my leadership career in Corporate America, I followed the pack. I did what others did. I remember watching my sales manager lead a certain way, and I emulated what he had done. Unfortunately by following what was commonly done, my teams consistently had very common results.

Like many people, being common was never one of my goals growing up. I came to the realization that I needed to change. If I wanted to be an uncommon leader, I needed to do things that the pack was not doing. Continue Reading…

Trust Before Trust Is Earned

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   6 Comments
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Trust in a relationship, whether it is at work or at home, is the foundation to the success of that relationship. Without trust between individuals or on a team, mediocrity and failure are the most likely results.

I have worked for people who told me I had to earn their trust. I have worked in organizations that made the same thing clear, without someone verbalizing it. In both situations, the team was dysfunctional and selfishness prevailed.

I believe the first thing a leader needs to establish on a team is trust. The fastest way to establish trust is to be the first one to trust! Continue Reading…

What Is A Low Maintenance Team?

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   1 Comment
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There are High Maintenance People and there are Low Maintenance People. The High Maintenance People wear me out. I like Low Maintenance People!

I believe you can have teams that are High Maintenance and teams that are Low Maintenance. I have led both types of teams. Again, I like Low Maintenance Teams!

What does a Low Maintenance Team look like? Why is a Low Maintenance Team the best team to lead? Continue Reading…

Leaders: Get Out Of The Way

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   2 Comments
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Get Out Of The Way

Lead, Follow AND Get Out of The Way! The famous bumper sticker actually reads Lead, Follow OR Get Out of The Way. But, for leaders the proper statement needs the AND instead of the OR.

For most people placed into leadership the call to lead is obvious. This is a no-brainer. A teacher’s job is to teach. A saleperson’s job is to sell. Also no-brainers.

But, what about following or even more confusing…getting out of the way? Continue Reading…

Teamwork: Rookies Versus Veterans

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   2 Comments
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“That’s not going to work.” Every time my most experienced people said this, I cringed. I had a team with eight veterans and four rookies. I soon realized that our team’s experience was killing innovation.

Each time a veteran spoke, it hurt us or helped us. Experience kept us from moving forward into new territory. At times, experience helped us make wise decisions and other times it kept us from growing. Continue Reading…

Leadership Depends On Character

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   2 Comments
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Leadership Philosophy

I believe leadership is inherently a positive term. Some well known experts whom I respect define leadership as influence, or influence towards a common objective. However, I believe these definitions do not go far enough.

In my mind, being a leader is a positive statement. There is a moral component to leadership. Leadership is not simply about influence. If I convince someone to perform immoral acts, I am influencing them, but I am not a leader. Therefore. I do not use the word leadership when discussing historical figures like Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin. Continue Reading…

3 Words That Prove I Own My Actions

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   6 Comments
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Who Owns It!

Ownership or excuses. One is the mark of a leader. The other is a sign that I am bound for mediocrity and failure. In the long run, people who make excuses stall out.

Making excuses is a habit. I wrote about how West Point deals with this habit in West Point: How Leaders Seize Accountability. But what are the results for me if I habitually make excuses?

Continue Reading…

My Un-Resume: I Failed My Team

By: Dave Anderson  |   Category: Leadership My Dad's Way   |   10 Comments
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My Un-Resume

My un-resume is my list of screw-ups. They are things I am not proud of.

Periodically I share my un-resume with the world. Most people who speak and consult on leadership are sure to present their successes to their clients. I’m doing something different.

Yes, I’ve had success through the years and received awards and recognition as a result. But rarely did my successes teach me as much as my failures. Rest assured, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to learn!

Continue Reading…

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