Leader or not?

Leaders don’t let fear stop them

Leaders are people we can always remember as those who “just do it”.  They make things happen.  They never seem to have excuses to explain why they are not doing something.  They don’t see problems, they see opportunities.  They feel fear, just as we all do, they don’t operate from it.  They don’t let fear get the better of them and prevent their progress.  Are you a leader?  Or do you let fear (even small fears and hesitations) get in your way?

How do you view training?  Most of us probably don’t fear training, especially when it’s training that is aimed at improving our level of knowledge, skill or ability.  Many of us welcome it, but we all fear the work load we will face when we return.  That can turn a pleasant expansive experience into something that bogs us down.  What about training for your people – those who make you a success?

A leader does whatever possible to enhance those who work for himself.  A leader surrounds herself with people who are better and more capable, who make up for the leader’s own shortcomings.  A leader is aware of his shortcomings and actively seeks to balance them with strengths or improve.  Are you a leader who helps your people be better than you?  Or are you a leader who must grab the glory?  Are you one of those so-called leaders who must know it all, must control it all, must be the one calling the shots?

General George Paton, the famous US tank commander in WW2, once said words to the effect of, “never tell people how to do things, tell them what you want and let them surprise you with the results”.  He knew that people, relieved of controls and bindings, would be creative and productive, often delivering more than you expected – to your delight.  He was considered to be a great leader.  And he didn’t control – he was not a micro-manager.  He made sure his people could shine – and they did.

If you truly want your people to experience expansion and glory, why not encourage and support their training.  You may be well qualified and experienced.  Are they?  Can they outshine you?  If not, then you are missing an opportunity.

We hear many excuses for not doing training.  They range from just plain, “not interested,” through “oh, there’s no budget for that” and “that doesn’t fit our program” to “I’m already qualified”.

Why are you not interested?  Is there nothing to gain?  Are you and your people already doing perfectly?  Or are you afraid that someone might outshine you?

Why would you let a budget stop you from doing something that will likely have the effect of saving you money, or even making more for you?  Do you fear that you would choose training that is not going to be of benefit?  Do you fear that your employees are just out to cheat the company (their livelihood) and pick training just for fun?  Do you fear that you can’t turn new knowledge into something that drives value for your company?

Is your “program” perfect?  Has it considered all the possibilities?  Is is perhaps too conservative and you fear that someone may return from learning something new and raise the bar?  A bar that perhaps you set too low in the first instance?

And so what if you are already qualified.  What about your people?  Do they know as much as you?  Are they as capable as you?  What do you fear if they gain what you already have?

These, and many more, are just a few of the excuses we hear when people resist training suggestions.  Admittedly, not all training is beneficial.  Is an immediate and outright dismissal of an opportunity, without even exploring it more fully, really doing it and yourself justice?  Are you shutting out opportunities that are being placed before you?

We often resist what is good for us.  If you look around yourself in your workplace and see a situation that could be improved, know that you were a part in creating it and allowing it to exist.  You and others co-created it.  And you and others can co-create what it takes to set it right.  Resisting is only perpetuating the situation as it is.  Why not be open to ideas that can help you?  Why keep shooting yourself in the foot?

You may fear your own company bureaucracy.  We see a lot of that, particularly in larger companies with headquarters offshore somewhere.  The system won’t allow it or the red tape is too excessive or it will never get past the purchasing process.  With a bit of insight we can all see that we create what we fear by the mere act of giving it energy.  Resist something and you invite it in.  It’s as if the universe, like a dog, doesn’t understand that no means no.  Our excuses about never getting approvals, etc. are all about giving in to something you see as being more powerful  Henry Ford has a great saying – “whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”.  He knew that the attitude you bring to a problem will reveal the direction you will take.

And if you are too beaten down by past experience to be positive, then dig back into those past events and really ask yourself honestly how you approached them.  Were you defeatist?  You probably were.  And you probably sustain that today too.  You’ve been giving your fear too much power.  And it’s been bringing you exactly what you don’t want.

Be positive and face those fears – do not give them power over you.  You choose.  You can see the cup as half full or half empty – which is your preference?