By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA
The recent passing of Dolly Parton triggered an avalanche of media coverage and surprisingly, outlets ranging from ultra conservative to progressive liberal all had positive memories of this iconic personality. Across the board, social media remembered the wit, wisdom and success of Dolly embellished with memories of her influence on American society. She was a truly unique character who managed to be highly successful and make very few (if any) enemies along the way. What was the key to her success and how can we apply her philosophy of life to the modern workplace?
Dolly was born in a log cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, a small home with no running water or other amenities. By all standards, she was born into poverty, however, rather than focusing on what she did not have, she always had a vision for what could be accomplished. Her back woods upbringing instilled a sense of humility and when she became successful, she never lost the connection to her roots. When Barbara Walters asked her if she was a hillbilly, Dolly owned it and went on to define hillbillies as being kind and respectful people who look out for one another and are always there when others need help. She not only owned her past, but she also took the initiative to redefine the image of hillbilly. Humility and affirming her past rather than denying it, opened the door for transparency and authenticity. In the workplace, those who demonstrate humility, transparency, and authenticity in their interactions with others open the door for trust among the work team and create a foundation for success.
Success was not thrown at Dolly, she had to visualize the possibilities and then work hard to achieve them. At a young age she recognized that risk and reward go hand in hand and was not afraid to forge ahead. She recognized that one seldom progresses in one’s career without setbacks, failures, and periods of uncertainty. Her commitment to perseverance and her resilience allowed her to achieve things that others would not even attempt. Her vision of Dollywood was a high-risk venture that was brought into existence through years of sustained fucus on the goal. In the workplace, setbacks are common and things don’t always go smoothly. Like Dolly, high functioning leaders have a vision and a commitment to persist until the goal is achieved. Setbacks are a test of one’s resilience and successful leaders view them as lessons rather than roadblocks.
In addition to her other qualities, Dolly was known for her kindness and had a reputation for respectfully treating people well. Having come from humble backgrounds, she emphasized the importance of treating people politely regardless of their background, position, or status in life. She role modeled a respect for diversity and inclusion with every interaction in her daily life. In the workplace, leaders use emotional intelligence to guide kindness and a sensitivity to the emotional needs of colleagues.
Dolly passed from this world leaving behind lessons for life that will enhance collaborative teamwork across the board regardless of the type of workplace. The culture of the workplace is created by the behaviors of the leader and Dolly recognized the relationship between individual values and organizational culture. Her emphasis on kindness promotes respectful communication. Her fucus on perseverance promotes resilience. Her authenticity supports individuality. Her humility encourages collaboration. The leadership lessons role modeled by Dolly Parton establish a framework for success in life and in the workplace.
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