Back to blog

Evolve by Defining and Accomplishing Your Goals | Think Cloud

Hosts Leon and Paul are joined by Dan Scott IT Nation Community Director

With - Dan Scott IT Nation Community Director

In our latest podcast, our hosts Leon and Paul are joined by Dan Scott, Director of IT Nation Community - EMEA at ConnectWise. Dan has over 15 years of experience in the UK technology community and knows a thing or two about leadership.

A recent study shows that people who report to positive leaders are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and less likely to leave their companies. But what does it mean to be an effective leader and accomplish your goals?

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

What’s discussed?

A Fish Stinks from the Head Down

We all know the saying, "A fish stinks from the head down." meaning that when something is wrong with an organisation, it's typically because of poor leadership. But what does it takes to be a great leader?

Dan believes that “people who don't feel as though they've got a vision, mission, strategy, appreciation, recognition, encouragement and someone who believes in them and challenges them, and it makes them far more of a flight risk.”

He says, “We must focus on the people, then we focus on the services we build, then we focus on the clients, and the pounds will take care of themselves.”

Positive leaders believe in their team's ability to do great things. They know that every team member has the potential to contribute in a meaningful way, and they work to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be nurtured to grow, be supported and appreciated.

Conquering the World

Dan explains how a great leader believes their team can do more than they think they are, and when you get to a whole team in that kind of place, that company, that group of people, they'll conquer the world. They're capable of anything; nothing can stop them!

This positivity and faith in one's team are essential for greatness. After all, if you don't believe in your team, how can you expect them to achieve anything?

Dan’s number one recommended book is Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell. It contains ten common sense leadership strategies from Cockerell's life at Disney, and it's a must-read for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and easy-to-follow strategy.

A favourite quote of Dan’s also comes from the book “it's not the magic that makes it work. It's the way we work. That makes it magic.” he says how it underlines the common sense and simplicity of that entire book. It's simply about doing, focusing on the right things, doing the right things and making sure that everybody around you knows how brilliant they are at doing the right things!

Another annual read of Dan's is The Go-Giver by Bob Berg. The book talks about how giving is the best way to receive. It's a book dear to those in the evolved community because it underpins our culture.

Dan believes, “If you come into the room with everybody else in the front of your mind, then you will do well as a result.” The book echo’s his personality in that he loves helping others, and he gets gratitude from and personal satisfaction from seeing others succeed. And so the book's principle tells you to just focus on everyone else in the room.

This combination of believing in your people and giving more back than you receive is what it means to have a purpose, to be a part of something larger than yourself, and in turn, you will accomplish and conquer your goals!

Investing in Yourself

The habit or belief that has had the most profound effect on Dan’s life would be the ongoing journey of getting to know himself and Investing in himself, by working out what he likes, who he is, what he values and what his strengths are as well as blind spots equally because we all have them.

He doesn't call them weaknesses because they're making you who you are, he quotes “if it weren't for the things you need to be careful of, then you wouldn't be creating the things you are brilliant at.”

When you're clear about who you are and what you stand for, it becomes so much easier to make decisions - both in your personal and professional life. You know what feels right for you, and what doesn't.

Making the decision to invest in yourself is one of the best decisions you can make. It's an investment that will pay off again and again, in every area of your life.

How to become a great leader

Great leaders have several qualities that set them apart from the rest. They have faith in their team's ability to achieve greatness and see potential that others may not yet see, they're always looking for ways to continuously develop themselves and improve their skills, and they're focused on giving more than they receive. It is also essential to have shared values within an organisation to succeed - without common values; there can be no trust or respect.

Takeaway points:

Believe in your team's ability to do great things.

Know that every team member has the potential to contribute in a meaningful way and work to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to do so.

Create an environment where people feel valued, appreciated, and motivated to do their best work.

Set the tone for the entire team and foster a culture of positivity, respect, and collaboration.

Lead by example and inspire others to be their best selves.

Enjoy personal satisfaction from seeing others succeed.

Succeed as a team, don’t cross the finishing line on your own.

Recognise when you are holding on to things too tightly, and learn to let go!

Invest in continuous development.

Believe in yourself.

Embrace change!

The power of a positive leader should not be underestimated. When you have outstanding leadership in your corner, you can conquer the world because they believe in your ability to do great things. They will also push you to be the best version of yourself and to always strive for excellence in everything that you do.

Conclusion

It is essential that you have a clear vision for what you want to achieve. This means setting goals and then creating a plan of action to make them happen. Without a clear sense of purpose, it will be difficult to inspire others to follow you, remember that no goal is too small or too big. You can set your sights high and accomplish great things, or you can focus on the smaller details and make a big impact in your own way.