Shelley Simpson, President of J. B. Hunt Transport Services, is cited often and quoted frequently in Why It Matters: Reflections on Practical Leadership. Shelley met frequently with my leadership class and provided frank, honest, and thoughtful responses to a wide range of questions from students. Page limits for the book resulted in the following advice being excluded. I found her wisdom to be valuable, regardless of whether you find yourself in a leadership position or in a follower position.
- “In your absence, will anyone speak for you?”
- “Although there are many things in life you don’t control, there’s one thing you control completely, the effort you put into being successful in whatever you choose to pursue.”
- “If you are going to do something, do it with one hundred percent effort.”
- “Take advice from everyone.”
- “Treat every job like it is your last job.”
- “If your intention is pure and good, people will listen.”
- “Don’t be afraid to conquer your fears.”
- “Don’t talk about people behind their backs.”
- “I didn’t have to be the best athlete on the team. I just had to be the most coachable.”
- “Be on time. Don’t be late.”
- “Work hard and play hard.”
- “It’s not about what you can do for me. It’s about what I can do for you to succeed.”
- “If I say I’ll do it, I do it.”
- “Do what you say.”
- “The best kept secret of leadership is walking the talk and being real with people.”
- “It’s easy to be a leader when things are great, but we find out who can lead when times are tough.”
- “Sometimes people don’t realize how great they can be. A leader’s responsibility is to help them realize their potential.”
- “Be like a dog with a bone. Keep chewing.”
- “Problems with diversity stem from a lack of knowledge and education.”
- “We don’t want diversity in integrity.”
- “Being a change agent and being adaptable are essential attributes for leaders.”
- “What makes leadership worthwhile? The people!”
- “Adapt and embrace our changing world.”
- “Be honest with your team. Share the good and the bad. Then, communicate the path forward.”
- “Ask each team member, ‘What do you need from me?’”
- “Your number one opportunity is influence.”
- “Leaders sometimes make decisions they can’t share with everyone. I hope someday you understand.”
- “Be the bridge between an employee’s current and potential performance levels.”
- “People want to know what is expected of them. Most people want to exceed those expectations.”
- “Build your foundation. Don’t jump from job to job purely for financial reasons.”
- “If you are unhappy at work, ask yourself four questions: Is it the company or organization? Is it the boss or supervisor? Is it me? Or, am I having a moment?”
