When we think of great leaders, we often think of CEOs, entrepreneurs, innovators, or historical figures, but like I always say, leadership isn’t defined by a title.
Sometimes, the greatest lessons in leadership come from people who simply live their values so consistently that others can’t help but be influenced by them.
Dolly Parton was one of those people.
For decades, Dolly built an extraordinary career while remaining remarkably grounded in who she was. She crossed generations, genres, backgrounds, beliefs, and differences, and somehow through her magic and brilliance, she managed to bring people together rather than push them apart.
And while we may remember her most for the music, the rhinestones, the big hair, and that unmistakable and darling sense of humor, there’s something much deeper behind her enduring legacy. To me, there are a few important lessons that we as Leaders can all learn from Dolly…
1. Acceptance: U Don’t Have to Agree to Respect
One of the most powerful qualities Dolly demonstrated throughout her life was acceptance…not acceptance when the cameras were on her or when a microphone was in her face, rather…RADICAL acceptance.
Dolly had an incredible ability to connect with people who came from very different backgrounds, perspectives, and beliefs. She didn’t seem particularly interested in putting people into boxes. Instead, throughout her beautiful life, she chose to lead with kindness, curiosity, and respect.
There is a tremendous leadership lesson in that.
Great leaders understand that acceptance does not require agreement.
We can disagree with someone’s ideas and still value the person behind them. We can challenge a perspective without diminishing the individual. And we can create workplaces where people feel safe bringing different opinions, experiences, and ways of thinking to the table.
In fact, the strongest teams aren’t necessarily the ones where everyone thinks alike but rather the ones where people can think differently and still trust, respect, and support one another.
As leaders, perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is:
Do the people around me feel accepted for who they are, or only when they think, behave, and communicate the way I do?
Acceptance creates belonging. And belonging creates the kind of environment where people are willing to speak up, contribute, take risks, and give their best.
2. Giving: Leadership Is About What U Give, Not Just What U Achieve
Dolly’s level of success was extraordinary, that’s undeniable, however perhaps even more impressive is what she chose to do with her success.
Through her philanthropy, she invested heavily in education, literacy, communities, and people. Her Imagination Library put hundreds of millions of books into the hands of children. HUNDREDS of MILLIONS! She supported disaster relief, education, healthcare, and numerous other causes…quietly…often without making herself the center of the story.
That’s a powerful picture of leadership.
Because ultimately, leadership isn’t about how much we accumulate, it’s about what becomes possible for other people because we were there.
Giving as a leader doesn’t always mean writing a check. We give when we invest our time in developing someone…or when we share knowledge rather than guard it. We give when we recognize someone who rarely gets recognized, or even when we open a door, make an introduction, offer encouragement, or see potential in someone before they can see it in themselves. That’s truly giving and contributing to others.
The best leaders don’t spend their careers asking, “What can I get from my people?” They ask, “What can I give to my people that helps them become MORE?”
More confident, more capable, more courageous, more appreciated, or more prepared for whatever comes next. Leadership is not measured solely by what we accomplish ourselves. In fact, in my opinion, it’s the exact opposite. Leadership, to me, is measured by what we help others accomplish.
3. Authenticity: Know Who U Are, and Have the Courage to BE It
There may be no better word to describe Dolly Parton than authentic, and as one of my core values, this one hits another really strong chord for me.
Dolly never wanted to fit someone else’s definition of who she should be. She knew exactly who she was.
She could laugh at herself, openly acknowledged her larger-than-life image, and she certainly didn’t pretend to be perfect. And despite the enormous fame and success she earned, she managed to maintain a beautiful sense of humility coupled with humanity.
That kind of authenticity is incredibly powerful in leadership.
So many leaders I have met over my 27 years in working in the leadership development space, believe they need to have all the answers, project constant confidence, or become some polished version of what they think a “leader” is supposed to look like.
I’m here to tell U, just as I told them…people don’t connect with perfection, they connect with people.
Authentic leaders know their strengths and their shortcomings. They are willing to say, “I don’t know” and own their mistakes. They allow their personality to show, and they lead from their values instead of changing who they are depending on the room they’re in. And perhaps most importantly, authenticity gives other people permission to be authentic too, and that’s one heck of a gift.
When leaders stop performing, their people stop feeling as though they need to perform as well, and that’s when real conversations happen. That’s also when trust grows and when relationships deepen.
Dolly’s Legacy as a Leader
Dolly Parton will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most successful entertainers of our time, however I believe her legacy reaches far beyond her music.
Dolly’s real legacy reminds us that influence doesn’t have to come with arrogance. Success doesn’t have to separate us from others. Differences don’t have to divide us. And leadership doesn’t have to be so dang complicated. Maybe some of the most important leadership lessons are actually quite simple:
Accept people.
Give generously.
Be unapologetically, and authentically…U.
At the end of the day, and at the end of our lives, leadership is far less about the title we held, and more about the experience people had because we were in their lives. And perhaps that is one of the greatest legacies any leader, Dolly included, can ever leave.
Keep leading with heart, dear Leaders. And today, and every day, let’s all lead and live like Dolly did.
With love & gratitude,
Jodi