The Leadership Lesson My Dad Taught Me

Why Flexibility Matters More Than Perfection

The Leadership Lesson My Dad Taught Me

“You never tighten things up when building something untilthe very end.”

My dad must have said that a hundred times when I was growing up. I can still hear his voice, steady and sure, as we worked side by side on projects in the garage. At the time, it seemed like a simple rule for construction; a lesson about bolts, beams, and making sure everything fits before locking it into place. But as the years passed, I realized he wasn’t just teaching me about building structures; he was teaching me about building ideas, businesses, and relationships.

It took me a while to see the deeper meaning in his words. When you're young, you want everything to be certain, concrete, set in stone. You want the plan laid out and the path ahead to be clear. But life, leadership, and business don’t work that way. The best leaders I know, the ones who build lasting success, understand that flexibility is key. They leave room for adjustments. They know that the first version of an idea isn’t always the best version. They recognize that true leadership isn’t about having all the answers immediately, its about being willing to adapt, listen, and refine.

The Leadership Lesson My Dad Taught Me

Staying Flexible in Leadership

Too often, we rush to lock things in too early; whether it’s a strategy, a decision, or even a message. It’s tempting to want to have everything perfectly in place from the start, but that’s not how the strongest foundations are built. If you bolt everything down too soon, you don’t leave space for adjustments. And when the inevitable challenges arise, you don’t have the flexibility to adapt.

I’ve carried my dad’s wisdom with me throughout my career. At Alabama Farm Credit, we see this every day. Farmers don’t have the luxury of rigid, unchanging plans. A farmer can plan for a perfect season, but if a storm comes, if the market shifts, if new technology offers a better way, the best ones pivot. They adjust, they tweak, they stay open to what’s happening around them.

The same applies to leadership. I’ve seen great leaders thrive because they stayed open to new ideas, and I’ve seen others struggle because they tried to force a plan that no longer made sense. Whether in agriculture, finance, or any industry, success isn’t about setting a plan in stone too soon. It’s about communicating, adjusting, and fine-tuning until everything is just right.

"The best leaders I know, the ones who build lasting success, understand that flexibility is key." - Mel Koller

Listening Before Finalizing

Another thing my dad taught me, whether he meant to or not, is that great builders, like great leaders, listen. They don’t just charge ahead with their first idea. They measure, they test, they seek input. Leadership is the same way. It’s not just about talking. it’s about truly hearing the people around you. It’s about understanding the concerns of your team, your clients, and your community before you make a final decision.

I’ve learned that if you tighten everything up too soon, you limit your ability to respond to change. You miss opportunities to improve. You close yourself off from perspectives that might have made your idea, your company, or your relationships even stronger. Some of the best decisions I’ve made weren’t my first instinct, they were the result of taking a step back, listening, and refining my approach based on what I learned.

Refining the Details Over Time

Clarity comes with iteration. Every great leader, every innovator, every builder understands this. Whether we’re talking about a farm operation, a financial strategy, or an industry innovation, the best results come from leaving space to adjust and improve.

At Alabama Farm Credit, we work with businesses and farmers who understand that success isn’t built overnight. It’s built through experience, through trial and error, through learning what works and what doesn’t. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs I know didn’t start with a perfect plan. They started with an idea, a willingness to work hard, and an openness to adjust as they went.

So, what about you? What’s a lesson you’ve learned about staying flexible in leadership and communication? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment below.

#Leadership #Communication #AgBusiness #FlexibilityInLeadership

The Leadership Lesson My Dad Taught Me

The Leadership Lesson My Dad Taught Me

"I’ve learned that if you tighten everything up too soon, you limit your ability to respond to change." - Mel Koller

The Leadership Lesson My Dad Taught Me

- Mel

The Leadership Lesson My Dad Taught Me