You are a Leader!

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While I always operated as a leader with a certain amount of empathy, until I spent time first observing, and then actively receiving mentoring from Roy, I never understood that empathy is the basis of leadership, not simply a component. Processes, resource management, metrics, scheduling and strategic planning……all important, to be sure, but success in a team is contingent mostly on the ability to give individuals access to the ‘carrot’ they really need: personal motivation and realistic expectation that their ambitions are valid and attainable. To get there, you must invest time in people, not roles. You must continuously develop your ability to acknowledge and nurture the different cultures, dependencies, goals, and core motivators of colleagues and peers. When you are able to build these very real connections, you can unlock the potential of the various parts of an organization to move the whole forward under shared values.  My time working with, and as a subordinate to, Roy, was marked by abiding trust. Earned and demonstrated, Roy showed in actions, sacrificed time, public words, and empowerment, that my own ideas and methods were valued and valid. I understood clearly our guiding principles and goals, and was granted the freedom and reciprocal trust to run with my accountabilities and responsibilities to attain the best possible results. Roy’s hallmark is unambiguous, honest, and thoughtful guidance and discussion that is meaningful and shared, and he consistently makes folks in his orbit feel like a part of something rather than a cog. The rare ability to empathetically connect and enable is a deeply appreciated and incredibly effective tool that Roy helps develop, and I’ll carry it with me through my career and beyond. Leadership is service, not the culmination of personal ambition.

As a mentee and leader in training, I have learned a great deal from Pastor Roy. Few people approach leadership in a way that is individually based instead of it being a one size fits all formula. For me, that's what makes this endeavor so impactful. I've been continuously challenged to confront self-limiting beliefs that have affected the way I serve in years past. 

As a result, I can see opportunities to impact in any situation because as Pastor Roy would say "God will add His able, to your willing." This is paramount in my role and experience as an advocate for albinism, chronic illness, and disabilities. Through Pastor Roy's leadership and practical encouragement, I have gone from an advocate in the background to a full-fledged professional, mentor, community leader, a more confident speaker, and more.  

He has a way of bringing the Savage Truth that gets straight to the point of a solution while holding me accountable. If you want to grow, be challenged, and simply experience the need for Savage Truth, don't miss out. 

“There is no disciple greater than his mentor, for everyone who is perfected shall be like his mentor.” Luke 6:40 

Never has a scripture been more truthful in the secret to my growth, than this one. Picture a kid, sights set on, identified with, and measured by, his athletic performance.  More important things such as financial literacy, organization, prioritization, and you know, salvation, fall by the wayside growing up this way.  Enter Roy Dockery. 

Year 1 into this mentorship, it was shock value. Incredibly intelligent, yet simple teaching. Naturally introverted, yet highly outspoken. Humble, yet confident.  

Year 2? It was fear. Fear of not measuring up intellectually. Fear of not measuring up financially. Fear of not measuring up as a father and husband. “David on the run.”  

Year 3 and to present. Transparency. Insecurities. Falling short. All shared and revealed by song, book, podcast and in personal conversation.  Yet, as I continued to get to know Roy, the man of God, just a man, I seemed to realize the fruit of his teachings in my life. Creating better habits, even to the point of keeping a clean work vehicle. “Smirk.” Understanding how money works, and how to honor God in all that we say and do. Understanding that obedience drives fruit, and faith drives obedience.  

Roy has changed my life foundationally. As the scripture Romans 12: 2 describes, Roy has changed my views on everything that I thought to be of little to no benefit in a life application, and how God can reward us if we are truly committed and seeking his will for our lives.     I am now the highest grossing Comfort consultant for a Top Tier HVAC company. 

In year one, I was recognized as the first ever employee of the month. My marriage is Christ-centered. My family is blessed and fruitful. I am currently mentoring 5 young gentlemen along with sitting on the Board of my children’s school.  I am a voracious reader. Christ is my strength, song, and savior, daily.  

Roy Dockery has the rare gift of building and moving on, as Paul did.  It has been of full benefit Spiritually, mentally, physically, and financially, to learn and apply the teachings of Roy Dockery.  It is by Christ alone, he stands and succeeds, and that is his greatest asset. 

When Roy mentors you as a business leader, he provides more than the business X’s and O’s, instead he provides a personal mentorship that really helps in all aspects of your life. One of the greatest abilities he helped me develop is empathy. When in a discussion, with someone instead of listening to make counterpoints, I try to look at the situation from their point of view to help understand what is driving their actions. This normally leads to a faster resolution and everyone feeling like they won. I have applied this in business settings and my personal life. It has strengthened my relationship with family and friends as now I looking to resolve the conflict instead trying to win. I would highly recommend Roy as a business leader mentor because he will help you improve on being a better leader in all aspects of your life.

Through many years I have always seen Roy as a mentor. The phrase what would Roy do was a normal part of my professional life as an up and coming leader. Our conversations help me swallow some hard pills when it comes to being a leader. When I first became a supervisor, I was in superman mode and was going to lead these guys the way I wanted to lead. However, I quickly found out this did not work. Through Roy I found out that you don’t necessarily lead the way you want to, you lead the way the team needs you too. Each person is driven in different ways and as a leader you need to remain flexible and change accordingly.  I still use that process today and it has helped me through the years to get to the next level in my career. Being available to talk even though he was busy with so much going on in his life really shows you how dedicated he was to his employees. Making time and hearing people out was another tool I used in my own leadership box to help my team out. Being a mentee of Roy’s has truly helped me become a better leader and helped me get to the next level in my career. 

I’ve known Roy since 2012 and have been under his tutelage as he rose through the ranks. There was a morning that I met with him, and over a late breakfast, he started to tell me the vision for the customer care organization that he wanted to build. Watching him execute his vision was inspiring and led to opportunities for me to advance into a leadership position. Having served in the United States Navy, leadership for me was a concept that was deeply rooted in task completion. If I could accomplish “X” amount of tasks with my team, I would be considered a great leader. Two lessons, of many, that I learned from Roy was that there had to be an element of ownership and humanity added into the task-oriented aspect of leadership. Roy challenged me to connect and “own” the work I had accomplished and not just check it off my list. I struggled to make the connection initially, but when I did, I was able to find deeper enjoyment in the work I was doing. Tasks became challenges, and the solutions to those challenges gave me an added sense of personal fulfillment. That led to me being a better leader for my direct reports because I could help them connect with their work and the customers they supported. During this journey to find the “ownership” in my work, I also observed how Roy gave a genuine touch of humanity in his leadership approach. Mistakes were just that, mistakes. They were identified, and corrections were made, but understanding and coaching were involved at every step of the process. Always taking the time to take on someone else struggle, help them to reach a goal, or just stop by to share a casual conversation and laugh with people to boost morale were evident in Roy’s leadership. Observing his interactions helped me develop a “Person First, Employee Second” approach to leading. Making this type of connection turned around my groups’ approach to work and increased our productivity. My leadership engagements with Roy have made me a more decisive leader and a better person. He educates through challenging you and leads as an example. I know as a mentor, Roy will always be there to help me in areas I’m struggling with, but I also know that friendship is intertwined throughout the entire journey.

Leadership coaching, mentoring, and downright discipleship from Pastor Roy Dockery has been not only influential and exceptionally impacting for me, but for my household, and extends to those I have granted the privilege and opportunity to lead as well. I have learned, developed and executed systems that have increased my level of productivity and legacy building impact in the communities I serve, areas of life I steward, and sectors of business I manage. Some of the milestones that have occurred during my time with Pastor Roy include first time purchase of a home, transition into being a full-time executive, and most importantly, established order and foundation of core values, ethics, and moral pillars within my household that consists of my wife, Elyse, and our four children.

I've been in leadership and ministry for over a decade and can honestly say being a part of Pastor Roy's mentee group has catapulted our family and my personal growth! I'm always so impressed with his ability to articulate an answer to a question with the deeper issue. Can't say enough about the value that he's added to my life, family and ministry!