I recently went one-on-one with Charles Diggs, CEO of Dynasafe.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here?
Charles: I began my career in the demilitarization business, destroying weapons shortly after leaving the US Navy, where I worked on the nuclear side of submarines. My career path led me to Dynasafe eleven years ago, initially as the US Managing Director. After five years, I became the CEO and, subsequently, in 2023, I invested in my passion and became the owner of Dynasafe.
Adam: What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Charles: Failures are a part of growth. We do not fear failure; we fear a lack of action.
Adam: In your experience, what are the key steps to growing and scaling your business?
Charles: Scaling is simple to plan and hard to execute. In many cases, businesses try to scale just for the sake of it, forgetting the fact that not all revenue is equal. Before scaling, CEOs should have their business systemized and have the right people in place. Scaling in chaos creates more chaos. There are times to launch a new department or take on a riskier project, but the rest of the company must be running smoothly in order to handle the increased chaos of scaling.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?
Charles: The whole team should understand the company direction and standards so that they can make their own decisions. Most companies create core values, put them on the wall, and forget about them. Our core values guide everything we do, shaping how we hire, promote, and make difficult personnel decisions. Every person knows our core values, which are crucial. When faced with a new or unusual situation, our team can make decisions confidently, using the values as a guideline. This is how you build efficient teams that move quickly.
Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?
Charles: Vision and Clarity of Purpose, Emotional Intelligence, Decisiveness, Problem-Solving, Communication Skills, Empowerment, Delegation, Resilience, and Grit are all important qualities in an effective leader, but being present is the most defining quality. Give every task your attention, or do not do it. When you are in the moment, be completely present. Whether talking to a member of the team, in a meeting, or reading a report. You must be able to focus on the task at hand and not let the previous or upcoming tasks affect your attention. When you are with someone or on a task, it is their time, and they deserve your best.
Adam: How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Charles: Some people are natural leaders, and others have learned their skills. The best are natural leaders who have honed their skills through learning. I am a student of leadership. Leadership should be studied through books, classes, or coaching. The fact is that we will only get a finite amount of experience in our careers. By studying, you can experience an infinite number of situations. You get the benefit of learning from others’ successes and failures. I would argue that the failures are more valuable than the success case studies. When you face a new situation, it could be the first time you have faced it, but you have experienced the situation by learning from others. Sometimes this will give you the answer, and sometimes it will at least tell you a direction not to go. Both are valuable.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Charles: Lead with Vision. Too many leaders just make goals. A list of goals without vision is merely a list.
Culture of Trust and Accountability. Make sure your team knows they will be supported as long as they act according to your organization’s core values and the team’s standards.
Hire the right people and get out of the way.
Let people fail. If they can currently do the job 70% as well as you, then leave. Support them, but leave them alone. Soon, they will be doing it much better than you, and that is a great thing.
Adam: What are your best tips on the topics of sales, marketing, and branding?
Charles: Find a problem. Develop a great product or service to solve the problem. Focus on providing value for your customers, and the money will come.
Too many people worry about sales. Focus on providing value and caring for your customers, and the sales will come.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Charles: When I was early in my career, I worked directly for one of the top managers in the company. He was a visionary and always came up with big ideas. When I asked him questions, he looked at me and said, “Do you think”? I was slightly insulted, and then he said it was not just thinking about solving current problems, but big-picture things. I started blocking time in my day to “think”. I was surprised at how fast the ideas came. I encourage everyone to take time in the day to think. Sometimes you have to step out of executing and think.
