Name: Dallan Labrum

Title: EVP

Organisation: ProdataKey

I have been a sales leader for 20 years but I have cared about people forever.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Dallan's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Juggling the immediate, real-time effects of a decision vs the future effects.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I listened intently to good leaders. I always did way more than was expected and replaced less-effective processes and methods with better ones quickly.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Identification and Prioritization. I wake up at 5:10am every day. Then I review focuses and tasks from the previous day set for this day. Re-evaluate based on instincts and start working. I train Jiu Jitsu from 6-7pm. I always strive to attend my wife's and children's events.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

A leader must have an immovable set of personal core values. So many complex decisions must be made on a daily basis and if they are made on false pretenses or you go outside your values... it will always come back to bite you.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

"It's your ship". This book isn't going to blow your mind with the content but the overarching message is excellent. It is a conglomeration of successes found in letting your team come up with their own ideas and being empowered to implement them, even if they are different or out of the ordinary. While these concepts are not new to me, reading this book with my current team and making adjustments to ensure they are empowered to implement their own ideas was an excellent and recent exercise.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Find a mentor that has what you want and study them. Make changes quickly and efficiently.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

When I was younger I worked at my father's car dealership. I sold 2 Dodge Durangos to a lady starting a mobile dog grooming business. It was a great experience.

About 6 months later the same lady pulled in with her friend driving the other car. She proceeded to tell me how her husband had run off with all their money and that she needed to give the cars back. I explained that she needed to talk to the bank, not to us. At that moment I felt my fathers hand on my shoulder. He, understanding by looking at her that she was dealing with trauma, put his arm around her and led her to his office.

It was a big glass office and we all watched as he listened to her story for over an hour, holding her hands the whole time. They both eventually stood up and she came down stairs, hugged me without saying a word and got into a car that had been pulled around for her. My dad had given her car to drive and paid off both of her loans.

I was confused! How can you do business like this? You just lost a ton of money! I said to him. That lady proceeded to refer almost 100 people to us that year and almost half of them bought cars from us. Obviously you have to look out for your business and those that depend on it. That being said, if you can afford it, take care of people the best you can and it will come back to you 100 fold.