Leadership Lessons and Strategies I Learned From PBS

Leadership isn’t easy. Along with all the responsibilities that come with navigating the organization toward increased success and reduced risk, how leaders interact with others sets the tone for the rest of the company. Great leaders know that a big part of the job is building trust and connection and inspiring their teams to be passionate about the mission.

This is why it’s important for leaders to find resources and inspiration that can help them lead better, including developing a mindset conducive to impactful and effective leadership.

I recently found leadership inspiration from PBS. Specifically, I watched the 2018 documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” about Fred Rogers, creator and host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

Practice Mindfulness
The film prompted me to consider other sources of inspiration from PBS. For example, travel host Rick Steves often focuses on the importance of being present. He reminds us to seek quality over quantity and find joy in simple things. Per Steves, “As we experience new things, we pause, we reflect; we let the experience breathe.”

This is a powerful reminder that even when we have a million things on our plate and must think three steps ahead, it is critical to be present in the moment. Great leaders are tuned in, engaged and mindful about context and interactions.

Here are three ways to practice mindfulness:

• Implement “no meeting” blocks on calendars to allow staff uninterrupted time to focus on their work.
• Encourage employees to take a few minutes before starting a task to breathe and set an intention for the work ahead.
• Put your phone away when conversing with others, giving them your full attention.

Internal Fortitude
Bob Ross, creator and host of “The Joy of Painting,” encouraged viewers to believe in themselves and embrace the concept that out of darkness comes light. He also emphasized finding value in struggle.

“The very fact that you’re aware of suffering is enough reason to be overjoyed that you’re alive and can experience it,” he said.

Great leaders don’t allow challenging times to bring negativity into their organizations that can poison the healthy culture. They view obstacles as growth opportunities and inspire growth in others.

Here are a few ways leaders can practice fortitude:

• Encourage innovation by giving staff the freedom to take risks on low-stakes projects.
• When a project concludes, celebrate both successes and lessons learned.
• Strive to build a culture of positivity, teamwork and proactivity. Squash negativity that immediately threatens that culture. 

Inspiration is Valuable
Here’s another quote from Fred Rogers: “As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has – or ever will have – something inside that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression.”

Inspiring others is among a leader’s most important responsibilities – and it is no small feat. Every individual has a unique array of skills and personality traits and is driven by a range of motivators. Great leaders understand there is no one-size-fits-all approach to inspiring their teams. They are thoughtful, taking time to learn how to meaningfully inspire each employee.

Here are a few ways you can inspire your team:

• Regularly spend time with team members to build trust.
• Encourage constructive feedback, both good and bad.
• Take time each day to check in with your team. Is anyone struggling? What can you do to support them? Do they have ideas about how to improve the organization?

Rise to the Challenge
Seek the inspiration, knowledge and insight you need to ensure you are driving a culture that inspires greatness. Be present in the moment and mindful of your actions. Don’t let struggles inject toxic negativity into your organization; view them as opportunities to grow and evolve.

As Fred Rogers said, “Real strength has to do with helping others.” Leaders ultimately exist to serve their teams in ways that inspire growth, success and a healthy organizational culture.

About the Author: Shane Mark is assistant director of public works for the Town of Needham, Massachusetts.