Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Eric Doden, CEO of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. We hope you enjoy Eric’s wisdom and perspective.
Do you inspire others? Are you passionate? Do you persevere through adversity? Are you grateful? Do you push yourself to failure in order to learn more? These are the questions I ask myself every day. These are the questions I ask those I am honored to lead as often as possible.
As our team at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation traveled the state of Indiana for two and a half years visiting all 92 counties, we had a front row seat to different kinds of leadership.
In far too many cases, we saw leaders who fear failure. They fear investing in themselves and taking risks—bold risks. With these leaders, we found eager ears until they discovered the price of leadership and success. They lack passion and perseverance, otherwise known as grit.
In some communities and organizations, leaders demand excellence. You can tell by the way they manage their business or city. These bold, visionary leaders challenge their businesses and community to stretch beyond their comfort zones to truly impact their people.
Leaders in Jasper, Ind., embody grit. Jasper, located twenty miles from any highway, defies all the economic development rules. So, by all accounts, they should have an anemic and struggling economy. But good luck finding that in Jasper—one of the most entrepreneurial communities we encountered. As we drove the streets, we could see that the citizens demanded excellence in even the most mundane of pursuits, down to mowing yards and painting fences.
Beyond grit, the importance of leaders demonstrating gratefulness cannot be overstated. We encountered local leaders throughout the state who were never satisfied, no matter how you tried to serve them. The most successful leadership teams, however, were grateful for their people, their resources, their relationships, and their opportunity to live out their purpose.
Finally, we discovered communities like Valparaiso, Ind., demonstrating a growth mindset. Their leaders are continually learning and growing. They understand the importance of effort rather than achievement. They seem to believe that if they do not stretch their community despite the risk of failure, they are not pushing hard enough.
What’s The Risk?
The more I learn about great leadership, the more I realize how much opportunity I have to become a better leader. Leadership is tough, but rewarding work. And the risk of poor leadership is that everyone loses. People lose, communities lose, companies lose, and nations lose. But with grit, gratitude, and growth, those losses become wins. So, as long as I am given the opportunity, I hope the teams I have the privilege of leading will inspire others to grit, gratitude, and growth.
This content was written and shared by guest blogger, Eric Doden.
Put simply, Eric is excited about the future of Fort Wayne and Allen County. Whether it’s attracting new businesses to the community, or building up businesses already here, Eric is committed to the area's economic future.
A graduate of Hillsdale College, and Valparaiso University School of Law, Eric champions continuous improvement and higher education. His prior experiences, both successes and failures, have built him into the leader he is today, casting a vision for our community, and bringing like-minded leaders, and even those who aren’t always like-minded, alongside to effect change.
A principal of the boutique private equity firm Domo Ventures since 2011, Eric took a leave of absence to answer the call of Indiana Governor Mike Pence to serve as President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation in January 2013. During his two years with the IEDC, Doden traveled to all 92 Hoosier counties, meeting with leaders in each county. He also led a talented team to study 11 regions across the US that led the country in economic development. That study led to the Regional Cities Initiative, a state-funded program that highlights regionalism and supports quality of life improvements.
Connect with Eric via LinkedIn. Connect with Greater Fort Wayne Inc. via rtheir website, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
