I just finished reading “The Mentor Leader” by Tony Dungy. I have listed some of my takeaways in this post.

If you are interested in finding out more about the book or reading a sample, you can do so on the Amazon web site by clicking on the book cover on the left.

• The Colts placed character at the forefront of the player-selection process. They eliminated players—even talented “difference-makers”—from consideration in the draft if they possessed questionable character flaws.
• The team is committed to purposeful, effective communication.
• Dungy rarely displays a visible reaction to uncomfortable situations.
• Assistant Jim Caldwell asked him whether he was inclined to demonstrate a show of force in response to a discipline incident. Dungy’s reply – “It is not about me” – Caldwell stated that Dungy’s response “Resonated with my spirit, and it is one of the most profound lessons I learned from him.”
• Tony was more interested in what was most important for the team and the franchise than himself.

• According to Caldwell The Level 5 leadership concept from Jim Collins Book “Good to Great” sums up Dungy’s DNA as a leader: The qualities of a level 5 leaders are: Embody a paradoxical mix of personal humility and professional will, Display a compelling modesty, are self-effacing and understated. Attribute success to factors other than themselves., Display a workmanlike diligence—more plow horse than show horse. Set up their successors for even greater success.
• Dungy was an active participant in the development of the players and assistant coaches, He checked his ego at the door each day.
• Coach Dungy nurtured and cultivated both players and coaches, molding without pressing, nudging without pushing, and leading without dragging.

• Don’t be fearful of empowering those around you.
• “If all you’re about is winning, it’s really not worth it. I’m after things that last.” – Keli McGregor
• It isn’t a structured program that makes the difference. The difference is made moment by moment by leaders who care for others,
• Positive, life-changing leadership is an acquired trait, learned from interaction with others who know how to lead and lead well.
• Leadership is not an innate, mystical gift; rather, it’s a learned ability to influence the attitudes and behavior of others.

• Mentor leaders seek to have a direct, intentional, and positive impact on those they lead. Mentoring is about building character into the lives of others, modeling and teaching attitudes and behaviors, and creating a constructive legacy to be passed along to future generations of leaders.,
• Its not possible to be an accidental mentor.
• The primary focus of mentor leadership is to shape the lives of people right in front of them, as they lead, guide, inspire, and encourage those people.
• Coaches often model the behavior of successful coaches—sometimes with detrimental results.
• Mentor leadership focuses on developing the strengths of individuals.
• People are watching us and learning from us whether we’re aware of it or not.

• Mentor leadership is about shaping, nurturing, empowering, growing, relationships, integrity, and perpetual learning. Success is measured in changed lives, strong character, and eternal values rather than in material gain, temporal achievement, or status.
• It is primarily concerned with building and adding value to the lives of people in the process.
• Unity of purpose and a desire to make other people better must start at the top if these goals are going to ripple through an entire organization.
• After a while, people see through the talk when it doesn’t line up with the walk.
• Shortsighted leadership focuses primarily on the bottom line.

• Influence, involvement, improvement, and impact are core principles of mentor leadership.
• Simply stated, leadership is influence. By influencing another person, we lead that person.
• When it comes to effective leadership, it’s not about you and what makes you comfortable or helps you get ahead. It’s about other people.
• Mentor leaders look beyond themselves, focusing on the people they lead and where they should be going together.
• Keep the vision out front. Don’t let your team – wherever it is – quit early.

• Craft a mission to the best of your ability, encapsulating the items that make your family or team unique, and then run with it.
• Values tell us and others what is important to us – as leaders, as an organization, and as individuals.
• Truly serving others requires putting ourselves and our desires aside while looking for ways and opportunities to do what is best for others.
• Mentor leaders desire to help those they are privileged to lead to be better in whatever roles and responsibilities they have.
• Servant leadership flips the world’s model upside down: leaders who serve – not just when it’s convenient, neat, and acceptable, but when it’s timely, needed, and right.

Kevin Eastman is a Worldwide Speaker on Leadership & Team Building. The lessons he teaches are applicable everywhere. These area few of his tweets. You can follow him at https://twitter.com/#!/kevineastman

• Part of leadership is motivating those you lead. So you must know what actually motivates each person. The critical part is tapping into that!
• What you “expect” is not often what you get. What you “earn” is certainly more apt to get you going in that direction. Earning trumps expecting!
• DO you ever think: why him or her? My thought is “if them; then why not me”. Put it on yourself to make it YOU – not THEM (or anyone else)!
• What you do; how you do it; and who you associate with on a daily basis will determine your image and your impact!
• The most important list you need to make: the list of things you need to do to become what you want to become…. Get the paper out now!

 

• It’s ok to be at a loss of words, but we should never be at a loss of ideas or vision of ourselves!
• Decisions to make on your problems: make excuses for them; feel sorry for yourself; or work to solve them????
• A great weekend personal assignment: read as much as you can this weekend. See how much you can learn. Then apply it in this upcoming week!
• The most successful people in life control the controllable things in their life. Those that stay on top of these have a chance to be on top!
• Learn from life by evaluating backwards (what happened); progress with life by living life forward (what can happen)! Don’t live in past!

 

• Today is always a great day to get something done that you DO NOT FEEL LIKE DOING. Usually this leads to great momentum on other things!
• Observing & absorbing: so important to be a keen observer. But equally important to absorb what you learn. Need both steps to succeed!
• One of the best qualities we can possess is the ability to “bring energy” every day. Energy is a multiplier – it pulls others in.
• Looking for excuses is easy because there are lots of them out there. Fighting through challenges is hard — BUT: it usually leads to success!
• Successful people have a willingness to dig in when times are tough. The alternative is to give in-definitely much easier but never successful!

 

• Do what you do best; do it that way all the time; continue to learn–and accept nothing less of yourself. This is how you continue to climb.
• Everyone need to understand that talent is a “gift”; but attitude, focus, spirit, discipline, and character are “choices”!
• Potential or production? Best teams & companies love potential but value & need production. Potential must become production at some point!
• Best organizations in sports or business have: the resources needed; the environment that fosters success; people w/ character/team mindset!
• Seeking counsel from those who came before you is on of the most intelligent things you can do for your future success. Find those people!

 

• Leadership begins as a title but the best leaders turn it into a position of nurturing, guiding, helping, encouraging, changing, & creating!
• Two groups you must pay 100% attention to: 1) the group of people (your circle) you travel in; 2) the group of thoughts you allow into your mind!
• An important question I as myself: what do I want to become? My answer drives me each day. “Becoming”, to me, is very, very powerful!
• What if you said: I’m going to do this religiously for 10 days & begin the habit forming process. Think how many habits you could create in a year!
• Mistakes are always going to be made. It’s simply a part of many things we are trying to do. The key is to make “new” mistakes.

 

• What you say as a leader has the power to strengthen or weaken those you lead. There is power in words. Leaders must use them wisely!
• When times are most tough and your self doubt may be kicking in: that is when you have to rely on your mind/work/spirit–knowing you have invested all 3!
• People ask me all the time what’s the single most important thing I do every day. It’s actually 2 things: 1) I read —- 2) I think. A must!
• Introspection is the key ingredient of growth, development, and improvement. But true introspection takes well thought out questions!
• So often we all come to a point where we can’t seem to make a final decision. That is the time where we have to get away & just think.
• What you put on paper is most powerful when you put it in front of you on a daily basis. Seeing it makes it become a part of you everyday.