Reverse Your Org Chart with Dr. erik hoekstra
On this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, Dr. Erik Hoekstra, President at Dordt University, joins Tim to share his perspectives on leadership in the unique context of a small Christian University. It’s clear immediately that Erik’s deep faith has informed and shaped his approach to leadership. He believes in a human approach to leadership, not a utilitarian one, and is always eager to work back to this center when he gets off track. Erik is passionate about keeping himself accessible to his workers and students, inviting feedback, and pressing into equal parts humility and charisma
Show Notes
Transcript of the episode
In this episode you’ll Hear:
Leaders need to see their people as human beings.
Equal parts humility and confidence are necessary for exceptional leadership.
Leaders should be trying to bring joy at work to their people, and to help them think of their work as their masterpiece.
Things to listen for:
[03:25] The importance of leading human beings
[08:09] How seeing people as human beings affects Erik’s leadership
[9:45] Things are continually broken
[13:40] Erik is given humbling feedback
[17:25] How to handle being humbled
[18:56] Working to stay humble
[21:01] 100% humble; 100% confident
[23:02] Servant leadership
[25:21] Work as Opus
[27:14] How vision plays into leadership
[31:23] How Erik launches graduates into the world
[33:48] Who’s at the top of the org chart?
[35:52] Tim’s Take
Additional Resources
Connect with Tim on LinkedIn
Learn more about The Aperio
The Only Leaders Worth* Following
Connect with Erik on LinkedIn
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ltl.40619991110
Leadership is an Art, by Max DePree
The Toyota Way, by Jeffrey K. Liker
The Emotionally Healthy Leader, by Pete Scazzero
“The Trouble with Humility,” by Patrick Lencioni
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.”― Rick Warren (often credited to C.S. Lewis)
Robert Greenleaf, Center for Servant Leadership
East of Eden, by John Steinbeck
Full Time, by David L. Bahnsen
“Mr. Holland’s Opus”
The Highlands Abilities Battery Assessment
Larry Spears, Servant Leadership Scholar
Dr. Tasha Eurich
About Dr. Hoekstra . . .
Dr. Hoekstra obtained an undergraduate degree in History & Philosophy from Trinity Christian College, a Masters of Business Administration from the Rotterdam School of Management (NL), and a Ph.D. in Education from Iowa State University.
Dr. Hoekstra taught marketing & management at Dordt University from 1997 - 2000 after several managerial roles in wholesale distribution and retail management. From 2000 - 2008, he served on the leadership team of The Interstates Companies in industrial construction and engineering. He returned to Dordt University in 2008 as the college Provost and has served as President since 2012.
Dr. Hoekstra is passionate about bringing joy and meaning to work. In his work life, he strives to create an environment where those who are being led are being served. Doing so, he believes, not only creates the conditions where people can thrive in fulfilling their calling, but also makes a stronger institution.
Dr. Hoekstra is married to Dr. Barb Hoekstra, an education professor at Dordt University with a bachelors degree from Trinity, a masters from Western Michigan University, and an Ed.D. from the University of South Dakota. Their family includes sons--Arie, Max, Karl, and daughter--Zoe.