Leadership Lessons from My Dad

The biggest influence on my own leadership style is not my Kellogg MBA, a former boss, or a famous author or guru. It is my dad!I want to highlight what he has taught me about leadership in honor of Father’s Day.

Banks Swan (my dad) grew up in a low-income blue-collar home and was the first in his family to receive a college degree. He paid his way by earning a wrestling scholarship and working several odd jobs and went on to receive his masters degree. He spent over 30 years in education as a teacher, coach, administrator, and principal. Those experiences shaped him as a leader and became an example to me. Here are 5 important things that I have learned from him.

1. Hard Work and Discipline

My dad has always been invested in everything he does . As a leader, anything he asked of others, he was always willing to do himself. As a young athlete, he wasn’t the biggest guy (in fact, he was the smallest), but he outworked them all and set the bar high for others to follow.

2. The Importance of Impacting People

In my youth, we were always amazed that no matter where we went (including out of state vacations), we ran into someone who knew my dad! Why? Because he positively impacted so many people. My dad is an influencer, and he is committed to help others be better versions of themselves.

3. Humility

My Dad’s humble beginnings are a part of his character, and wrestling taught him to walk in humility. He learned to be confident, but not arrogant - because the arrogant usually fall hard (quite literally in wrestling). His leadership style is one that could be considered “behind the scenes” because he was always more interested in helping others than getting credit for it.

4. Sacrifice and Discipline

As a leader, my dad didn’t avoid difficult decisions, even when they caused significant criticism. He was willing to sacrifice his personal comfort and reputation to do the right thing. This is not to mention the discipline he has shown throughout his career to keep himself performing at his best. Amazingly, at age 81 he has done 60 sit-ups and 15 push-ups every day.

5. Follow Your Passions and Use Your Gifts

This one is my favorite. My dad embraced the idea of multiple learning styles way before it was “a thing.” He always encouraged others to pursue the things they were gifted in and develop their strengths. One example is a young African American high school student who he coached and mentored – helping him to learn discipline, how to increase his athletic ability, work ethic, and to help others in need (like when my dad intervened when he was treated poorly by an employer). This man, Roger Craig, turned out to be a 3-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers and still credits my dad as a major influencer in his journey.

Thanks, Dad, for your invaluable leadership lessons.

If you’d like to learn more about how I help leaders, schedule a call at https://lnkd.in/gzsdi7M .