He knows what monotonous moments of happiness are and why a full bank account means a lack of imagination. Dieter Lange has found fulfillment in his work as a success coach and trainer. The coach is certain that to be a good leader, you have to be able to do one thing above all: lead yourself! Dieter Lange in an interview: "I see time and again in my coaching sessions that many managers can't do that. They fake it and burn out at some point." But how do you prevent burnout? And what makes a good leader in the first place? Dieter Lange reveals it in the third part of the interview.
"A good leader should first be at ease with themselves and have an awareness of their impact on others." A certain grounding is also useful, according to the expert. Accordingly, a leader should know where he or she belongs. Dieter Lange: "Then, of course, it also plays Charisma a role. Everyone is charismatic, the charisma is just unfortunately sometimes buried. The many layers of dust have to be cleared away first."
For Dieter Lange, humor is also one of the strengths of a good leader - and leads to moments of happiness. He says: "Not fun, but humor. This inner distance, being able to laugh at oneself. Charm is also part of it, of course, just like a cheerful Serenity. For me, these are the basic requirements par excellence. Apart from the fact that he or she has to know his or her homework, of course."
According to Dieter Lange managers have six tasks. The first is: Ideas rule the world. The expert tells us: "A leader must get up every morning with this thought in mind. The vision forms the guiding star and remains constant. But the ideas must always be renewed. Leaders must always set new impulses and constantly create new Questions put." The second task is to be a brilliant communicator. The expert finds, "A manager doesn't need to answer more than four or five emails a day. Managers need to do that, but not executives. They don't need to inform, discuss or monologue - they need to create power." Create moments of happiness within the team.
The third task is to gain approval. Dieter Lange: "As a good manager, you have to find out whether your employees are wholeheartedly on board. And if they're not, you have to ask them what needs to happen so that they are." Task number four is empowerment. The expert says, "It means I transfer from myself to others, and has a lot to do with trust. You delegate, you empower others, and you take a big step back yourself." Point five is execution, which remains the responsibility of the manager. Last but not least is point six: make decisions. Dieter Lange: "Of course, you're also responsible for what you haven't decided. And that automatically brings us back to point one, because every decision requires new impetus and new ideas."
The success coach knows that our minds are constantly under tension in this day and age. In the interview, he tells us, "When the tension, the tone, is taken out, the mind is not at work. Every monotonous moment that you and I experience is a moment of happiness." That can be looking at the sunset, across the ocean or at the snow-covered mountains. Even a walk or sport can lead to monotony. Dieter Lange: "Whenever we experience monotony, we feel happy. You have to give people the complete inner peace experience. That's why I always make sure in my seminars that we don't just learn pure theory, but also experience it."
However, there are addictions such as alcohol and cigarettes with which we also associate happiness. Dieter Lange: "It's a certain thrill, it's called anxiety protection in psychology. This also includes workaholics. Unfortunately, the truth is quite different. These people don't dare to stop for a moment in their lives because they would then be looking into abysses. That is why they always want to stay agitated. This can also be proven biochemically, because very specific hormones come into play. Their immune system lasts for a long time for exactly this reason - but when workaholics go on vacation, they immediately get sick. This agitation remains an addiction: there must always be something going on, just no silence, because then you would have to look inside. And that's where people experience abysses."
Dieter Lange has his own theory on the subject of money. He thinks: "Money in the account is a lack of imagination. Money doesn't make you rich - that's what all millionaires experience. It is a potential energy. I have nothing at all against money, not even against a lot of money. The ability to use that energy in the best way possible is what brings fulfillment. We always think that money means happiness. It doesn't. I never have money in my bank account and if I do, something is wrong. Money is immediately transformed into experiences for me."
The successful coach doesn't think much of old-age provision. Dieter Lange: "That's a big danger. The Indians say: If you stop working, you dig your grave. Because then you give the universe the feeling: that's it, that's all you have to give me. Apart from that, with money you can also give an incredible amount. If you have money in your account, you are unimaginative and program yourself to fear. Then comes the so-called self-fulfilling prophecy, because fear is always the mother of fear. If you are afraid that something might happen to you, it will happen to you. I give the universe the feeling that I trust it. That's my basic attitude in life."
