If you’re a
fan of social media you know that the past year reveled its share of
“challenges.” Recently I came across a different type of challenge where a
leader of an organization was presented with this: write about what you have
learned in your years of experience as a leader using “Once I believed…Now I
believe… “
The
exercise was rather eye opening as I read through the list and began scratching
out my own. In reflection my views have changed, my values defined and my
vision more focused. Here are some examples to arouse your thoughts of how
you’ve grown as a leader…What is it you believed “then” and what is it you
believe “now”?
Once I believed initiatives and
programs would transform the organization. Now I believe it is through helping
each person that the organization will be transformed.
Once I believed that setting
the bar high would be sufficient. Now I believe that balancing ambitious
expectations and robust supports for others and ourselves is necessary to make
the progress we seek.
Once I believed that failure
was NOT an option. Now I believe that failure is not an option; it’s a
necessity to grow and learn.
Once I believed challenges were
to be feared and overcome. Now I believe challenges are to be anticipated and
embraced as a means of improving the quality of the organization.
Once I believed success was the
result of completing items on our “to do” lists. Now I believe success emerges
from living up to the ideals of our “to be” lists; our core values, our
positive energy, and our demonstrable delight in being present.
Once I believed my advanced
degrees and years of training made me an expert. Now I believe expertise is
found collaboratively and wisdom emerges through openness to ongoing learning
and exploration.
Once I believed I could rely on
my own knowledge base. Now I believe I must be wary of my “blind spots” and
actively encourage honest feedback from many in order to gain insight on what I
do not even know to ask.
Once I believed “telling”
people our visions would inspire. Now I believe we must collaboratively craft
visions and pace forward movement, celebrating even the small steps along the
way.
Once I believed it necessary to
listen to the content and ignore the emotion in people’s words. Now I believe
it is vital to listen to both content and emotion; choosing sensitively when to
respond to the content of people’s words, when to respond to the emotion, and
when to respond to both.
Once I believed that trust was
assumed with our hard work and good intentions. Now I believe that trust,
difficult to earn and easy to damage, stems from sincere appreciation for the
capability and talents of others.
So my friends, are you up to the challenge? What is it you once
believed…but now???? Just askin…
Once I believed I could do it all, now I know the strong aask for help
ReplyDeleteBefore I believe the best leader hold onto to reign no matter the challenges, but now I have noticed the challenges wake me up to move step ahead from the previous level of consciousness.
ReplyDeleteOnce I believed that reading a website column by Ron Krause, a person unknown to me, would not result in useful thought. Now I believe I'll bookmark it and return to find additional enlightenment and thoughtfulness.
ReplyDelete