A Little Dolly Leadership Wisdom

Like so many people, I was saddened to hear about the passing of Dolly Parton. Being at a women-focused event (Women + Wealth) to support the SHERO fund, it rippled through the rooms of the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga. I think many believed that there are certain people you somehow expect will just always be here, and Dolly was one of them.

As I thought about her life when driving home last night at 8:30 pm (having sung 9 to 5 and danced like crazy at the conference celebration after-party), I realized how many things she stood for directly connect to the conversations we have at Integra about leadership, growth, resilience, and believing in human potential.

Dolly came from very humble beginnings. Her Coat of Many Colors wasn't simply a song about a coat her mother made from scraps. It was a story about perspective. Her family didn't have much, but that coat was made with love, and she chose to see its value even when others didn't. There is a leadership lesson in that. Our circumstances don't determine the value of what we carry with us.

Years later, 9 to 5 gave a voice to something else.  The frustration of people who felt undervalued, overlooked, and powerless at work. Long before the "employee experience" became part of our professional vocabulary, Dolly was singing about dignity, fairness, opportunity, and what happens when people feel that their contributions don't matter. That's a pretty good reminder for those of us who work in people-centered roles.

However, perhaps what I admire most about Dolly is that she seemed to understand something we talk about often. You have to know who you are before you can lead authentically, and it takes time to find your clarity. One of my favorite Dolly sayings is: "Find out who you are and do it on purpose."  I want you to take a moment and think about the power of that saying.  It is:

• Not who someone else thinks you should be.

• Not who the room expects you to be.

• Not who you think you need to become to be successful.

  
  

Who are YOU? Are you showing up as that person intentionally?

When watching the Today Show this morning, they ran a clip of Dolly. She was talking about how you are invited into the room, so they must have wanted you there.  I think she was talking about imposter syndrome and the fear that haunts many people. It is remembering that if they invite you, they want you there; however, you need to believe in yourself first.

Dolly often said, "I can walk in any room, knowing I'm going to be myself, and that'll just have to do". She was clear on who she was, and her authenticity made her beloved globally. 

Dolly also talked about The Little Engine That Could, saying she viewed herself as "the little engine that did." I love her distinction and the power in it. "I think I can" gets us started. "I did" means we kept going. For those of us who are vision board certified, talking about it in the affirmative helps us to manifest it.  However, sometimes the track we are on isn't taking us where we want to go. Dolly had wisdom in that too. Her quote: "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one."

That may be one of my favorite leadership lessons, because we know leadership isn't always about finding the right road. Sometimes it's having the courage, creativity, and persistence to build the one that doesn't exist just yet.

Dolly Parton's life could have looked very different if she had allowed where she came from, what she didn't have, what others thought, or the obstacles in front of her to determine where she could go. Instead, she built something extraordinary while being herself. That is the leadership lesson I want us to carry forward:

• Know who you are.

• Believe you belong.

• Value what you bring.

• Keep climbing.

• And, when the road doesn't take you where you need to go, have the courage to start paving a new one.

  
  

Most importantly, when success finally lets you, try to make the road a little easier for someone coming behind you.  This is an Integra value, and it might be one of Dolly's greatest lessons. Remember, she ultimately gave more than 300 million books to children through her Imagination Library. She understood the power of literacy and storytelling. 

In closing, thank you, Dolly!  Here is to a great rest of your week and to all of us always being the little engines that did.