The Dallas Standard Advances Leadership Through Empowerment

DALLAS - Nov. 18, 2014 - PRLog -- Taylor, The Dallas Standard’s director of operations, embraces developing good team dynamics by emphasizing the unique abilities of each individual. “It is these attributes that help people stand out and not only perform their best work, but also evolve into leadership roles.” By creating a supportive and empowering atmosphere, the firm put the most recent leadership research into action.

The Dallas Standard on Leadership from Empowerment, Not Just Following Instructions

The Dallas Standard recently started a new approach to creating leaders. Taylor is big on making the firm a place that is in pursuit of growth and learning: "We strive to empower everyone to become leaders. Through skills training and knowledge, we bring team members to a level where these lessons can combine with passion, drive, and dedication to ensure maximum success."

According to the director, problems can arise with building leaders if people are not aware of their abilities. As Taylor explained, "Many people feel life is something that happens to them. There is no comprehension of control. We help team members get beyond this by teaching them empowerment so they can take control of their circumstances, rather than wait for things to happen. This way, our associates can set goals and make plans to achieve them.”

She went on to explain that the firm’s supervisors help team members become self-aware by understanding both their strengths and weaknesses. “There is knowledge about their contributions as an individual and as a team player. With this follows confidence and the willingness to pursue more opportunities for growth and learning."

Taylor noticed that teaching leadership often has two limitations. "It was interesting what I discovered," she stated. "The common mistake is to teach people to lead by making them followers. There is no emphasis on decision-making or discretion. No one really realizes what they are capable of. People end up as managers in title only – meaning they have a formal role but are really only awaiting orders. That is not how we want our own leaders to develop!"

"Another limitation," Taylor explains, "is an idea that power is finite. In reality, it can expand to as many people as needed. I would much rather have a team of many powerful individuals instead of one dominant person surrounded by minions. That does not allow for the best work or development. We prefer for people to find what they can do well and then do it – not just wait to be told what to do."

This information inspired Taylor to develop not only the best but also unique leadership talents: "We emphasize communication skills, product knowledge, and confidence building. The first step is to help people realize their abilities.”

She continued, “Once associates grasp that, we move to the second step – defining parameters of decision-making so they can act on discretion but also have some limits. The next step is to remove these limitations as work quality improves while raising expectations at the same time. Allowing them to experiment means they can practice their skills, gain confidence, and push themselves, while also under careful guidance to continue learning."

Taylor finds that this leader-centered approach works well for creating individual contributors and effective teams. "Associates are more confident and producing better work as a result. They are all prepared to be the best in this industry and offer their leadership to new professionals in the future. This all leads to long term success for our firm!"

About The Dallas Standard

The Dallas Standard is a premier consulting and marketing services provider with a dedicated team of exceptional professionals. By applying in-depth market analysis and demographic research, their promotional experts infuse each interactive promotional campaign they produce with a customized feel. This approach leads to meaningful connections between companies and their ideal customers. The Dallas Standard has built a reputation as an industry leader by forming these connections while providing a high return on investment for a diverse portfolio of clients. Whether working with a small local start-up or Fortune 500 giant, The Dallas Standard delivers sustained growth to bottom lines and brand awareness.