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LEADERSHIP LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE BACK OF A DOG SLED
B Y T E R I LY N N K I S S
Introduction
My story
◦ 20+ years with dogs OR it’s surprising
what you learn when you least expect it
Leadership
◦ Requirements for being a leader
Characteristics
• Clear
communication
• Understanding
team dynamics
• Developing strong
relationships
• Thinking
strategically
• Creating a positive
environment
• Being persistent
• Possessing
resilience
• Walking the talk
Having a vision
Seeing beyond the immediate
◦ Where am I
Imagining the future
◦ What do I hope to accomplish
Dream a dream
◦ How to make it happen
Creating a Team
Starting with one
Deciding on characteristics
◦ Conformation
◦ How they present
◦ What to look for
◦ Attitude
◦ Good, bad, indifferent
◦ Teachability
◦ Ability to learn
Developing Connection
Start with heart
◦ Find the common ground
◦ Have a passion
◦ Come from caring
Trust is essential
◦ May not be touched, but can be felt
◦ Need to demonstrate the character and ability
to gain it
◦ Four actions: listening, patience, appreciating
uniqueness, gratefulness
Respect is paramount
◦ Requires proof of performance
◦ What it takes to earn it
The importance of discipline
Discipline defined
◦ The ability to behave in a controlled and calm
way even in difficult or stressful situations
Don’t shoot the dog
◦ The art of training: using reinforcement to create
positive patterns
Pursuit as a discipline
Focus on priorities
◦ You have to decide what your highest
priorities are and have the courage –
pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically – to
say “no” to other things. And the way you
do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning
inside. The enemy of the “best” is often the
“good.”
~ Stephen Covey
Understanding sportsmanship
◦ Competition can be mean & dirty
or classy & dignified
Richard Frank: 1927 -2012
Creating a learning environment
Celebrating success
What is winning?
◦ Defining the concept, defining the situation
The metaphor of the red lantern
◦ The reality of being last
Conclusion
Lessons learned
"The adventure of life is to
learn. The purpose of life is to grow.
The nature of life is to change. The
challenge of life is to overcome. The
essence of life is to care. The
opportunity of life is to serve. The
secret of life is to dare. The spice of
life is to befriend. The beauty of life
is to give."
--William Arthur Ward
Thank You!
Resources
Freedman, L. (1993). George Attla: the legend of the sled-dog trail. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books.
Maxwell, J. and Dornan, J. (1997). Becoming a person of influence: how to positively impact the lives
of others. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Maxwell, J. (2007). The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership: follow them and people will follow you (10th
ed.) Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Pryor, K. (1984). Don’t shoot the dog. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Sergiovanni, T. (2007). Rethinking leadership: a collection of articles (2nd ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin Press.
Welch, J. (1989). The speed mushing manual: how to train racing sled dogs. Eagle River, AK: Sirius
Publishing.
Wheatley, M. and Kellner-Rogers, M. (1999). A simpler way. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers,
Inc
Wheatley, M. (2006). Leadership and the new science: discovering order in a chaotic world (3rd ed.)
San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.