“The sooner you fall behind, the more time you’ll have to catch up.”
Stephen Wright
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One of my volunteer passions has been to be a puppy raiser for a wonderful organization called Guide Dogs of America. My wife and I have, since the early 1990’s, raised four guide dogs and our latest one was turned in for his “final journey” and technical training this last weekend (yes–it’s very hard to say “goodbye”).
Raising these dogs has allowed me to learn quite a bit about leadership and through Rocco and our last guide dog puppy Ajax I have written an entire series of lessons that each of our dogs has taught me that might be useful for current and aspiring leaders.
I’ve decided to provide a quick summary of 32 Blog postings of these leadership lessons all in one place….So here they are:
- Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #1 Leaders are Ineffective without Sleep
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-the-seeing-eye-dog-1/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #2 Managing Energy and Not Time
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-the-seeing-eye-dog-2/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #3: The Importance of Basic Skills https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-the-seeing-eye-dog-3-basic-skills/
- Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #4: Predicting Future Success
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-the-seeing-eye-dog-4-predicting-success/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #5: What’s Your Career Path?
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-the-seeing-eye-dog-5-whats-your-career-path/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #6: The Neurobiology of Followership
https://blog.envisialearning.com/the-neurobiology-of-followership/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #7: Seeing Yourself Accurately
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-the-seeing-eye-dog-7-seeing-yourself-accurately/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #8: Leaders Need Friends Too
https://blog.envisialearning.com/529/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #9: Who Turns Out to Be a Leader in Groups?
https://blog.envisialearning.com/who-turns-out-to-be-a-leader-in-groups/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #10: Morning Risers and Performance
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-the-seeing-eye-dog-10-morning-risers-and-performance/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #11: What Causes the Most Stress for You?
https://blog.envisialearning.com/what-stresses-you-more-work-family-finances-or-health/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax the Seeing Eye Dog #12: Developmental Challenges
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-the-seeing-eye-dog-12-orchestrating-developmental-challenges-for-success/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #13: Leading Talent During Times of Stress and Uncertainty I
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-13-leading-talent-during-times-of-stress-and-uncertainty-i/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #14: Leading Talent During Times of Stress and Uncertainty II
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-14-leading-talent-during-times-of-stress-and-uncertainty-ii/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #15: Predicting Future Leader Success
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-15-predicting-future-leader-success/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #16: Staying
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-16-staying/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #17: How Long Does it Take to Form a Habit?
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-16-how-long-does-it-take-to-form-a-habit/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #18: Resilience–the Art of Bouncing Back
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-18-resilience-the-art-of-bouncing-back/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #19: Do You Live in the Past, Present or Future?
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-19-do-you-live-in-the-past-present-or-future/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #20: Performance Coaching
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-20-performance-coaching/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #21: Performance Enhancement Coaching
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-21-performance-enhancement-coaching/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #22: Performance Improvement Coaching
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-22-performance-improvement-coaching/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #23: Performance Acceleration Coaching
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-23-performance-acceleration-coaching/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #24: Performance Management Coaching
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-24-performance-management-coaching/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #25: Performance Coaching Case Study
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-25-performance-coaching-case-study/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #26: The Necessary Conditions for Behavior Change
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-26-the-necessary-conditions-for-behavior-change/ - Leadership Lessons from Ajax #27: New 360 Feedback Research Findings
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-from-ajax-27-new-360-feedback-research-findings/ - Leadership Lessons Raising a Guide Dog Puppy #28: Do Names Matter in Work and Life Success?
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-raising-a-gude-dog-do-names-matter-in-work-and-life-success/ - Leadership Lessons Raising a Guide Dog #29: Saying Goodbye
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-raising-a-guide-dog-29-climbing-the-goal-ladder/ - Leadership Lesson Raising a Guide Dog #30: Letting Go
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lesson-raising-a-guide-dog-30-letting-go/ - Leadership Lessons in Raising a New Guide Dog #31: Lack of Sleep and Emotional Intelligence
https://blog.envisialearning.com/leadership-lessons-in-raising-a-new-guide-dog-1-lack-of-sleep-and-emotional-intelligence/ - Can Old Dogs Really Learn New Tricks? https://blog.envisialearning.com/can-old-dogs-really-learn-new-tricks/Â
I will keep you posted on Rocco’s progress in his guide dog training program each time get one of his “postcards” updating us. My wife and I have worked hard each day with him to become the leader for someone who needs his ability to open their life to greater autonomy, freedom and confidence–all the things that I often ignore and take for granted each day.
Off for my morning run and to reflect more on what I’ve learned about leadership through my volunteer activities over the last 18 months with him….Be well…..
Ken Nowack
Kenneth Nowack, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist (PSY13758) and President & Chief Research Officer/Co-Founder of Envisia Learning, is a member of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations. Ken also serves as the Associate Editor of Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research. His recent book Clueless: Coaching People Who Just Don’t Get It is available for free for a limited time by signing up for free blog updates (Learn more at our website)
