The following contains excerpts from the book, The Leader In You (Dale Carnegie & Associates).
At our music school in Odessa, Texas we believe that music is more than sound, it is relationships. At the top of understanding how relationships work is the subject of Leadership. We believe that in order to be successful in music and the arts, one must understand and apply successful attributes of leadership.
This is one of the most comprehensive Dale Carnegie books I have come across regarding Leadership. Although echoes of these ides can be heard in much of today’s leadership materials, it is enjoyable to find the original source of many of these ideas, which are presented in their ‘rawest’ and most simplistic form.
In the introduction, the author admonishes, “Keep your mind open to change all the time. Welcome it. Court it. It is only by examining and reexamining your opinions and ideas that you can progress…The winners will be the organizations with smart and creative leaders who know how to communicate and motivate effectively- inside the organization and out. Good human-relations skills have the ability to change people from managing others to leading others.”
In Chapter 7, ‘Teaming Up for Tomorrow’, the importance of including people is discussed. “The modern organization cannot be an organization of boss and subordinate, it must be organized as a team.” Following are strategies to accomplish this:
- Create a shared sense of purpose- The ideas, the creativity, the intelligent sparks will ultimately have to come from the group itself.
- Make the goals team goals- “Together we have to get this new product smoothly to market.”
- Treat people like the individuals they are- A talented leader will recognize differences, appreciate them, and use them to the advantage of the team.
- Make each member responsible for the team product- Let as many decisions as possible bubble up from the group. Invite participation. Don’t dictate solutions. Don’t insist that things be done a certain way.
- Share the glory, accept the blame- It’s the leader’s responsibility to spread the benefits around. A public pat on the back, a bonus from the top.
- Take every opportunity to build confidence on the team- A great leader will believe firmly in the team and will share that belief with every member.
- Be involved, stay involved- you’ve got to have the experience, and you’ve got to listen.
- Be a mentor- It’s the leader’s job to develop the talents and strengthen the people on the team.
At our music school in Odessa, Texas we value students enough to listen to their aspirations, hopes, and dreams and with a collaborative attitude help them to pursue them, giving them the tools they will need to succeed.
In Chapter 8, ‘Respecting the Dignity of Others’, the author clearly states, “Talents aren’t enough, not by a long-shot. To win, you need more. To win, you have to know the secret and live by it. It’s that simple. What is this magical secret? It’s this: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” He goes on, “There is one final way to create the workplace of dignity: Humanize the organization in ways big and small…The unvarnished truth is almost all the people you meet feel superior to you in some way. And a sure way to their hears is let them realize in some subtle way that you recognize their importance in the world and recognize it sincerely.”
We insist on a culture of respect at our music school in Odessa, Texas, where parent, teacher, and student are secure, knowing that each person in this equation is valued and will be listened to appropriately.
In Chapter 9, ‘Recognition, Praise, and Rewards’, the author show that, “Two items are at the very top of the reward list- self-respect and the respect of others. People love to look good, so part of what you want to do is to create an environment for people to look good…Reward, recognition, praise. It doesn’t matter how you do it; what matter is that you do it, again and again and again.” The author tells a story about Florence Littauer, as she was teaching children in her church, “Our words really should be like a present. A little gift. Something that we give to other people. Something that they want. Something that they reach out for. They grab our words, and they take them in, and they love them. Because our words made them feel so good.”
As teachers in our music school in Odessa, Texas we are continuously giving encouragement to students in their progress, whether in their weekly lessons or subsequent to a major performance date.
Chapter 10, ‘Handling Mistakes, Complaints, and Criticism’ shows the value of quickly admitting fault. “The first step is to create an environment where people are open to receiving advice or constructive criticism. Spread the word again and again that mistakes are a natural part of life. On sure way to get this message across is to admit your own mistakes…Admit your own mistakes before anyone else has a chance to point them out. Laugh about them is you can. Never seek to minimize the impact they’ve had. A leader has to be responsible and accountable for his or her own mistakes…At the end of the day, what you want to do is create effective action that makes the place better. And talking about who was wrong or what’s to blame is not it.” The author goes on, “Sometimes the easiest people to correct are those who are at the top of the league. They’re the people who are going for the extra five percent and welcome constructive criticism. One of the advantages of the Japanese is their notion of treasuring errors. They consider the discovery of a mistake of error as a treasure because it’s a key toward further improvement.” How we give criticism is important. The author asserts, “There is only one way under high heaven to get the best of an argument- and that is to avoid it. Avoid it as you would avoid rattlesnakes and earthquakes. Let the person save face at all costs. However you choose to do it, the goal is the same: be gentle, underplay, don’t attack.”
In Chapter 11, ‘Setting Goals’ the author shows that, “Goals give us something to shoot for. They keep our efforts focused. They allow us to measure our success. So set goals- goals that are challenging but also realistic, goals that are clear and measurable, goals for the short term and goals for the long term…A goal is a dream with a deadline…Those who fail to establish independent goals for themselves become the ‘mee-toos’ of the world. The me-toos, the people who follow but won’t lead, do fine when times are good. But when times get tough, they inevitable get left behind…People who set goals- challenging goals, but goals that are also achievable- are the ones with solid grips on their futures, the ones who end up accomplishing extraordinary things…Most big challenges are best faced with a series of interim goals. That’s a far more encouraging process- far more motivating too…Without specific goals it’s far too easy just to drift, never really taking charge of your life. Time gets wasted because noting has a sense of urgency. There’s no deadline. Nothing has to be done today. It’s possible to put off anything indefinitely. Goals are what can give us direction and keep us focused…Stand back and say, ‘What is it I really want to be? What kind of life do I really want to lead? Am I heading in the right direction now?…Once you establish what your goals are, prioritize them.”
At our music school in Odessa, Texas we help students set realistic goals, based on their unique development stage and ability. Setting appropriate goals is of paramount importance, in order for the student to feel successful as well as appropriately challenged.
In Chapter 12, ‘Focus and Discipline’, the author asserts, “Patience and perseverance will accomplish more in this world than a brilliant dash. Remember that when something goes wrong. Don’t’ let anything discourage you. Keep on. Never give up. That had been the policy of most of those who have succeeded. Of course, discouragement will come. The important thing is to surmount it. If you can do that, the world is yours…You have to train yourself to march through every step, to complete every detail of every job every time. That’s what makes people more valuable to a company, more crucial to an organization, more trustworthy to their colleagues and friends- following through on every detail…People who prove themselves dependable are given greater opportunities to show how dependable they can really be. They ask you to do something, and they don’t make a follow-up note. They know you’ll do it. That’s dependability.”
Perhaps one of the greatest life-lessons students in our music school in Odessa, Texas will glean is that of internal personal development through patient and persistent focus. Once the student has experienced this in musical acuity it can be easily transferred to all aspects of life.
In Chapter 13, ‘Achieving Balance’, the author encourages rest and reflection, quoting Walter A. Green, “What I would urge is that your life be a several-legged stool, with a dimension for your family, another for your friends, your avocations, your health. I have seen many examples of people in their thirties, forties, and fifties whose professions or careers did not materialize as they had expected. This spells trouble for those whose lives have been a one-legged stool.” The author quotes Tom Hartman, “I try in my life for an hour a day to do nothing. I waste time with God, with people, with nature, my job. It has transformed my eyes. Now I see the connection we have to each other.”
In Chapter 14, ‘Creating a Positive Mental Attitude’, the author states, “Contrary to what most people want to believe, outside influences do not usually determine personal happiness. What matters if how we react to those influences, good or bad.”
In Chapter 15, ‘Learning not to Worry’ he gives specific ways to beat worry:
- Live in day-tight compartments- The past is over, and the future hasn’t yet arrived. Try as we might, we are utterly unable to affect either one. There’s only one time we can possibly live in. That time is the present. That time today.
- Take comfort from the law of averages- By asking yourself just one question- and paying attention to what the answer is- you chase a good chunk of worry from your life. “How likely is this thing to happen, anyway?”
- Cooperate with the inevitable- Don’t waste time and energy worrying about the things you cannot control.
- Put a stop-loss order on your worries- Try asking yourself the question that Wall Street investors ask themselves whenever the market falls- How much of a loss am I willing to take on this investment? At what point do I just take the beating and walk away?
- Keep things in perspective- stepping up to help other people: that’s a terrific worry-fighting technique.
- Finally, get busy- If you’re finding yourself getting worried, take on a new project. Learn a new skill. Do something you believe in. Focus on the needs of others.
Asking the question, “What is there is good reason to worry?” the author gives these suggestions:
- Ask yourself, ‘What’s the worst that can possibly happen?’
- Prepare yourself to accept the worst, if necessary.
- Then work calmly and methodically to improve upon the worst.
In Chapter 16, ‘The Power of Enthusiasm’, he writes, “Here is the bottom line on enthusiasm: it’s infections, and it makes people respond. The best way to get someone excited about an idea- or a project or a campaign- is to be excited yourself. And show it…Enthusiasm is a feeling that has to come from inside. It’s not to be confused with boisterous hype…True enthusiasm is made of two parts: Eagerness and assurance. Be excited about something and express confidence in your ability to handle it. That’s all enthusiasm takes.” The author quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Every great and commanding movement is the triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it.” The author explains how to have enthusiasm, “By telling yourself what you like about what you are doing and passing on quickly form the part you don’t like to the part you do like…Enthusiasm is easiest to attain when you have real goals in your life, things you are genuinely looking forward to…You will never achieve real success if you cannot be excited by your life or your work.”