Leadership Lessons I Learned from my Dog

Leadership Lessons I Learned from my Dog

When my daughter came home with this obscure name for a breed of dog, we knew we were in for trouble. Her favorite television channel, at the time, was Animal Planet. She had been bugging us to get a dog, and we issued the parental warnings of responsibility in care, etc. It actually turned out to be one of her best ideas, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. More people than not ever heard of one either. We did all of the research and found a reputable breeder.  

Well, it has been over nine years since we had our pick of the litter, and our lovely Rosalita is struggling mightily. When we researched the breed, we found that they came with a lot of baggage in the area of health. We also found out that they are wonderful family pets. Our Rosie hasn’t disappointed in either area.

She is loyal, affectionate, cute, playful, and she loves us unconditionally. Rosie (named after a Springsteen song) also has a bad back, heart murmur, and skin condition but we love her unconditionally as well. She has given us many years of absolute joy and taught us much about life.

You see, unconditional love is a lot like unconditional leadership. In order for your organization to survive in the long term, you need to have both. Do not give it out love or leadership if you expect something in return. You will be more successful in both areas once you fully understand that concept. No matter what kind of day you or your dog had, she is happy to see you when you come home. You can tell her exactly the way you feel and she will love you just the same. The same should ring true for the leaders in your organization.

If you truly want to be a fruitful leader then do the same with your colleagues. Do not expect anything in return. You must lead and love your organization for the good of your vision and mission and anticipate nothing (personally) in return. It is amazing, however, what you will get though. Positive returns will come. Almost always honesty promotes trust except with those people that have personal and hidden agendas. As you create more leaders, trust will compliment your goals.

Right now, our poor Rosie can barely walk but she will never complain. She wags her tail, barks for your attention, and licks your hand in affection. All she wants is to be around people. Think about that the next time you hear someone complain about something insignificant then give them unconditional leadership. Let them know how you really feel about their complaint then tell them to do something about it! I will always be appreciative for Rosie teaching me about unconditional leadership. She reinforces our ability to do something about our complaints, choosing a positive attitude, and being visible leaders.