Podcasts

Season 1 | People You Should Know in Forestry and Natural Resources | Episode 16

#16 | Align personal success with the organization’s success

January 11, 2017 | Dr. Richard Porterfield

Dr. Richard Porterfield is retired from at least two careers, including Dean of the Warner School of Forestry and Natural Resources at UGA and Champion International. Dick’s forestry and business education is just as impressive, including a BS in forestry and economics from Ohio State, a MS from North Carolina State and a Ph.D. from and Yale. In this episode, Dick shares an important leadership lesson that he almost got fired for! Also, he notes that there is a big difference between management and leadership, and he describes how individuals and organizations will benefit the most when people are personally aligned with the mission.

Key Takeaways:

[2:50] How did Dick get started in forestry?

[3:40] What was Dick’s first leadership position?

[5:10] What does Dick mean by ‘Sideboards’?

[10:20] How do we discover what the sideboards in an organization are?

[17:35] Understanding ‘why,’ plays a big part in your success, and the success of others.

[19:15] Individual contributors are indispensable.

[20:50] You don’t have to be a leader, in order to be invaluable. We always NEED experts!

[21:15] What’s the most fun job Dick has ever had in forestry?

[21:55] Dick has been fired twice in his career.

[26:55] What is Dick most proud of in his career?

[27:45] Be respectful towards everyone. You might be working for them one day!

[28:55] What’s the big difference between frontline positions vs, the more senior ones?

[35:35] Where does Dick see forestry going in the future?

[40:35] What piece of advice did Dick wish he got a little sooner?

[44:20] Dick recommends some of his favorite books.

[47:35] Good employees are too hard on themselves.

[51:15] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Dick Porterfield, Board of Directors at the Longleaf Alliance: http://www.longleafalliance.org/overview/board-of-directors

One Way, by John Nora

The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement, by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox

www.LeadershipNature.com