Creating A Path of Discovery. By Arnie Wohlgemut
It has been said so many times, and it is true. “The world around you has changed.”
How we do business, how we shop, work, and relax has changed. Most of all, this has developed into a season of self discovery.
“Most people don’t realize that a culture of asking permission creates one where many people’s self-worth is attached to their ability to receive permission.”
Dr Christine Northrup MD
1. Give yourself a permission slip. I first heard of a permission slip in middle school, where my parents would give permission for me to go on a school field trip. In leadership, giving yourself a permission slip could help you move forward.
- Give yourself permission to automate, systematize or eliminate. Interestingly, this advise I give more than any other in my consulting and mentoring service. Many small routines are important, but they don’t need your undivided attention. Consider each so they could be either automated, systematized or eliminated, allowing you to focus on things that matter.
- Give yourself permission to delegate. I am the first to admit that I have at times subscribed to the notion that, if you want it done right, do it yourself. This is a selfish way of modelling leadership. Leadership is not about you!
- Give yourself permission to ignore. In my experience the constant flow of ideas and the “what if we …”, can be very exhausting. The only way to move forward is to ignore the sometimes-good ideas, so we can focus on the goal.
“We call some leader, not because they are in charge, but because they went first.”
Simon Sinek
2. Leaders are called to go first. The simplest advice one can give an emerging leader is to get out in front and lead. Sounds simple but it may not always be.
Leading out front takes many forms and requires strong leadership characteristics, one of which is self-control. Every leader will have its share of critics. As humans we often feel that we need to defend our actions. As I heard George W Bush say in an interview, “don’t respond to criticism because that’s not leading. When you respond, you become a follower”.
“Speaking last as an authority figure can do wonders for your team’s sense of accountability and ownership; you’re reacting to the points they’ve made, rather than anchoring them to your own.”
Luba Koziy
3. Leaders are calling to speak last. Nelson Mandela shared a story about his father. As a senior and respected leader of the community, he would always be the last to speak in a gathering of other leaders. His father knew that if he spoke first, it would shape the conversation in the direction the others perceived he would want. In this simple act of speaking last, he created a path of discovery.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
Mother Teresa
4. Act. Take a close look at the first three points, all require action. Without action, the next lane of discovery would never be found. The notion that you have no power to affect change is false.
Whether you are on a path of self discovery, rediscovering the passion for your business or re-establishing a relationship strained by the pandemic, you don’t know what you can do unless you try.
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