Embracing the Opportunity to Lead Seven Simple Steps Towards Embracing Team Leadership VCCS Classified Staff Leadership Academy Dave UrsoJune 7, 2005

Embracing the Embracing the Opportunity to LeadOpportunity to Lead

Seven Simple Steps TowardsSeven Simple Steps TowardsEmbracing Team LeadershipEmbracing Team Leadership

VCCS Classified Staff Leadership VCCS Classified Staff Leadership AcademyAcademy

Dave UrsoDave Urso June 7, 2005June 7, 2005

6. Commit to Success; 6. Commit to Success; But Don’t Be Afraid to FailBut Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

““Leadership is not Leadership is not

the absence of mistakes. the absence of mistakes.

It is the ability to It is the ability to

acknowledge your mistakes acknowledge your mistakes

and move forward.”and move forward.”

3. Provide Others With the 3. Provide Others With the Opportunity to ShineOpportunity to Shine

““As leaders, we must As leaders, we must

share our passions share our passions

with those that we work with. with those that we work with.

Once we successfully connect with Once we successfully connect with them them as a personas a person, ,

they can move towards better they can move towards better understanding our perspective.”understanding our perspective.”

7. Dream of the Impossible7. Dream of the Impossible

How are you currently How are you currently

Challenging yourself to grow?Challenging yourself to grow?

4. Feedback, Feedback, Feedback4. Feedback, Feedback, Feedback

““Don’t ignore poor performance.Don’t ignore poor performance.

Return to the goal-setting processReturn to the goal-setting process

And say, ‘I made a mistake.’”And say, ‘I made a mistake.’”

The One Minute ManagerThe One Minute Manager


Albert Einstein’s parents thought he was Albert Einstein’s parents thought he was retarded.retarded.

Charles Darwin’s father told him he would Charles Darwin’s father told him he would be a disgrace to the family.be a disgrace to the family.

Henry Ford failed out of high school.Henry Ford failed out of high school.Spike Lee couldn’t get into a graduate Spike Lee couldn’t get into a graduate

school for film study.school for film study.Charles Darrow’s boardgame, Charles Darrow’s boardgame, MonopolyMonopoly wasn’t printed by several toy companies wasn’t printed by several toy companies

due to it’s 52 “fundamental errors.”due to it’s 52 “fundamental errors.”

1.1. Don’t Miss an Don’t Miss an Opportunity for LeadershipOpportunity for Leadership

““Your leadership style is not Your leadership style is not

how you THINK you behave; how you THINK you behave;

it is the way that it is the way that

OTHERS say you behave.”OTHERS say you behave.”

5. Excel When 5. Excel When Dealing with ChangeDealing with Change

““Are you willing to let someone else Are you willing to let someone else come in and take what’s yours come in and take what’s yours

because they were willing to work because they were willing to work harder?”harder?”

Cal Ripken, Jr. Cal Ripken, Jr.


““A dream is not a luxury. A dream is not a luxury.

It is a necessity.”It is a necessity.”

1. Don’t Miss An Opportunity1. Don’t Miss An Opportunity

““Success is not hocus pocus. Success is not hocus pocus.

It is focus focus.”It is focus focus.”Willie JolleyWillie Jolley

2. Believe in the 2. Believe in the Inherent Good of PeopleInherent Good of People

What positive thing do you do What positive thing do you do

just for youjust for you

in the first 20 minutes in the first 20 minutes

of your day?of your day?


The worst of all sins is not failure;The worst of all sins is not failure;

It IS low aim.It IS low aim.

5. Excel When 5. Excel When Dealing With ChangeDealing With Change

If you want things to be betterIf you want things to be better

in the future, than something in the future, than something

needs to needs to changechange. .

Improvements don’t come Improvements don’t come

from things staying from things staying

exactly the same.”exactly the same.”


““You are a product of You are a product of

your environment. So your environment. So

choose the environment choose the environment

that will best develop youthat will best develop you

toward your objective.”toward your objective.”W. Clement StoneW. Clement Stone


““We live in cynical times, and one We live in cynical times, and one aspect of that cynicism is the aspect of that cynicism is the

corrosive notion that individuals are corrosive notion that individuals are powerless to make a difference. But powerless to make a difference. But history is still made by people, one history is still made by people, one

person at a time.”person at a time.”Teresa HeinzTeresa Heinz

1.1. Don’t Miss anDon’t Miss anOpportunity for LeadershipOpportunity for Leadership

““Thank God – every morning when you Thank God – every morning when you get up – that you have something to get up – that you have something to do which must be done, whether you do which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work, like it or not. Being forced to work,

and forced to do your best, will breed and forced to do your best, will breed a hundred virtues which the idle will a hundred virtues which the idle will

never know.”never know.”Charles KingsleyCharles Kingsley


““There’s no such thing as a self-made man. There’s no such thing as a self-made man. We are made up of thousands of others. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed Everyone who has ever done a kind deed

for us, or spoken a word of encouragement for us, or spoken a word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as character and of our thoughts, as well as

our success.”our success.”

George Matthew AdamsGeorge Matthew Adams

5. Excel in Dealing with Change5. Excel in Dealing with Change

““There is one thing stronger than all There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world; and that is the armies in the world; and that is

an idea whose time has come.”an idea whose time has come.”Victor HugoVictor Hugo

2. Don’t Miss an2. Don’t Miss anOpportunity for LeadershipOpportunity for Leadership

““There is no such thing as luck. We There is no such thing as luck. We make our own, good or bad. We make our own, good or bad. We make it by our attitudes and our make it by our attitudes and our

actions. We make it by keeping out actions. We make it by keeping out eyes open for opportunities.”eyes open for opportunities.”

Lily DacheLily Dache


““A man desires praise that he may be A man desires praise that he may be reassured, and quit his doubting of reassured, and quit his doubting of

himself; he is indifferent to applause himself; he is indifferent to applause when he is confident of success.”when he is confident of success.”

Alec WaughAlec Waugh


Contentment is not Contentment is not

the fulfillment of what you want, the fulfillment of what you want,

it is it is

the realization of how much the realization of how much

you already have.you already have.


Success in life is not so much a matter Success in life is not so much a matter of talent or opportunity as of of talent or opportunity as of

concentration and perseverance.concentration and perseverance.

1.1. Don’t Miss An Don’t Miss An Opportunity for LeadershipOpportunity for Leadership

At the end of your life, what will matter is At the end of your life, what will matter is what you gave—every act of integrity, what you gave—every act of integrity,

compassion, courage, and sacrifice that compassion, courage, and sacrifice that enriched, empowered, or encouraged enriched, empowered, or encouraged

others to emulate your example. others to emulate your example.

Consider how long you will be Consider how long you will be

remembered, by whom and for what. remembered, by whom and for what. Choose a life that matters.Choose a life that matters.

3. Provide Others with the 3. Provide Others with the Opportunity to ShineOpportunity to Shine

““The mark of a true professional is The mark of a true professional is giving more than you get.”giving more than you get.”

Robert KirbyRobert Kirby

5. Excel when Dealing with Change5. Excel when Dealing with Change

““I discovered I always have choices; I discovered I always have choices; sometimes it’s only sometimes it’s only

a choice of attitude.”a choice of attitude.”Judith M. KnowltonJudith M. Knowlton


““Resolve to be tender with the young, Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, compassionate with the aged,

sympathetic with the striving, and sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the wrong.tolerant of the weak and the wrong.

Sometime in your life you will have Sometime in your life you will have been all of these.”been all of these.”

Lloyd ShearerLloyd Shearer


““Looking back, Looking back,

I have this regret, I have this regret,

that too often when I loved, that too often when I loved,

I did not say so.”I did not say so.”David GraysonDavid Grayson


““Of all the forces that make for a Of all the forces that make for a better world, none is so better world, none is so

indispensable, none so powerful, indispensable, none so powerful, as hope. Without hope, as hope. Without hope, men are only half alive. men are only half alive. With hope, they dream With hope, they dream

and think and work.”and think and work.”Charles SawyerCharles Sawyer


““To know that even one life has To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have breathed easier because you have lived…this is to have succeeded.”lived…this is to have succeeded.”

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson


““People may forget what you said,People may forget what you said,

but they will never forget but they will never forget

how you made them how you made them feelfeel.”.”Carl W. BuechnerCarl W. Buechner


““Our American tradition of Our American tradition of

neighbor helping neighbor neighbor helping neighbor

has always been one of our has always been one of our

greatest strengths and greatest strengths and

most noble traditions.”most noble traditions.”Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan

2. Believe in the2. Believe in theInherent Good of PeopleInherent Good of People

““Character isn’t inherited. Character isn’t inherited.

One builds it daily One builds it daily

by the way one thinks and acts, by the way one thinks and acts,

thought by thought, action by action. thought by thought, action by action.

If one lets fear, hate or anger If one lets fear, hate or anger

take possession of the mind, take possession of the mind,

they become self-forged chains.”they become self-forged chains.”Helen DouglasHelen Douglas


““Most people think that if they were only in Most people think that if they were only in some other place, some other place,

or had some other job, or had some other job, they would be happy. they would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. Well, that is doubtful.

So get as much happiness out of what you So get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don’t put off are doing as you can and don’t put off being happy until some future date.”being happy until some future date.”

Dale CarnegieDale Carnegie


Be generous with praise…Be generous with praise…

but cautiousbut cautious

With criticism.With criticism.

3. Provide Others with the3. Provide Others with theOpportunity to ShineOpportunity to Shine

““People want to know People want to know

how much you care how much you care

before they care before they care

how much you know.”how much you know.”James F. HindJames F. Hind


““Success doesn’t come to you. Success doesn’t come to you.

You go to it.”You go to it.”Marva CollinsMarva Collins

6. Commit to Success;6. Commit to Success;But Don’t Be Afraid to FailBut Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

““One of the hardest things One of the hardest things

in this world isin this world is

to admit you are wrong. to admit you are wrong.

And nothing is more helpful And nothing is more helpful

in resolving the situation in resolving the situation

than its frank admission.”than its frank admission.”Benjamin DisraeliBenjamin Disraeli


““Only those who Only those who

risk going too far risk going too far

can possibly find outcan possibly find out

how far one can go.”how far one can go.”T. S. EliotT. S. Eliot


““If we had no winter, If we had no winter,

the spring would not be so pleasant;the spring would not be so pleasant;

if we did not sometimes if we did not sometimes

taste of adversity, taste of adversity,

prosperity would not be so welcome.”prosperity would not be so welcome.”Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet


If it weren’t for the If it weren’t for the

really really good good people in the world, people in the world,

love and friendshiplove and friendship

would be an would be an

even harder quest.even harder quest.


““The will to believe is The will to believe is

perhaps the most powerful perhaps the most powerful

human attribute.”human attribute.”John P. GrierJohn P. Grier


““The most rewarding way The most rewarding way

to get to the top to get to the top

is by is by

lifting those beneath you.”lifting those beneath you.”Cullen HightowerCullen Hightower


If nothing ever changed, If nothing ever changed,

the world would havethe world would have

no butterflies.no butterflies.


““Nothing splendid has ever been Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except byachieved except by

those who dared those who dared

believe that something believe that something

inside of them inside of them

was superior to circumstance.”was superior to circumstance.”Bruce BartonBruce Barton


““Failure is the opportunity to Failure is the opportunity to

begin again more intelligently.”begin again more intelligently.”Moshe ArensMoshe Arens


““Opportunity is missed by Opportunity is missed by

most people because it is most people because it is

dressed in overalls dressed in overalls

and looks like work.”and looks like work.”Thomas EdisonThomas Edison


““It doesn’t really matter It doesn’t really matter

whether you grip the arms whether you grip the arms

of the dentist’s chair or of the dentist’s chair or

let them lie in your lap. let them lie in your lap.

The drill drills on.”The drill drills on.”C S LewisC S Lewis


““I am kind of paranoid in reverse. I am kind of paranoid in reverse.

I suspect people of I suspect people of

plotting plotting

to make me happy.”to make me happy.”J D SalingerJ D Salinger


It takes skill to be able toIt takes skill to be able to

give harsh feedback give harsh feedback

that does not sting.that does not sting.

3. Provide Others with the3. Provide Others with theOpportunity to ShineOpportunity to Shine

““Education is a sexual disease.Education is a sexual disease.

It makes you unsuitable It makes you unsuitable

for a lot of jobs, for a lot of jobs,

and then you have the urge and then you have the urge

to pass it on.”to pass it on.”-Terry Pratchett-Terry Pratchett


““What is now proved What is now proved

was once only imagined.”was once only imagined.”William BlakeWilliam Blake


““Lying to ourselves is Lying to ourselves is

more deeply ingrained more deeply ingrained

than lying to others.”than lying to others.”Fyodor DostoyevskyFyodor Dostoyevsky


““The fulfillment is always in the wish.”The fulfillment is always in the wish.”Soeren KierkegaardSoeren Kierkegaard

6. Commit to Success; 6. Commit to Success; But Don’t be Afraid to FailBut Don’t be Afraid to Fail

““If you are not failing every now and If you are not failing every now and then, than you are surely not doing then, than you are surely not doing

anything very innovative.”anything very innovative.”Woody AllenWoody Allen


““The dream is real my friends. The dream is real my friends.

The failure to realize it The failure to realize it

is the only unreality.”is the only unreality.”Toni Cade BamberaToni Cade Bambera

6. Commit to Success;6. Commit to Success;But Don’t Be Afraid to FailBut Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

Success breeds success;Success breeds success;

10 times out of 10.10 times out of 10.


““A wise man will make more A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.”opportunities than he finds.”

Sir Francis BaconSir Francis Bacon


““The key to successful leadership The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”today is influence, not authority.”

Kenneth Hartley BlanchardKenneth Hartley Blanchard


““Man’s mind, once stretched Man’s mind, once stretched

with a new idea, with a new idea,

never returns never returns

to its’ original dimensions.”to its’ original dimensions.”Sri da AvabhasSri da Avabhas


““Of all the properties Of all the properties

that belong to honorable men, that belong to honorable men,

not one is so highly prized not one is so highly prized

as that of as that of

a formidable character.”a formidable character.”Henry ClayHenry Clay

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Embracing the Opportunity to Lead Seven Simple Steps Towards Embracing Team Leadership VCCS Classified Staff Leadership Academy Dave UrsoJune 7, 2005