the art of leading

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Everyone commits mistakes everyday. True leaders pride themselves on their capacity to learn out of them. But not everyone has the same attitude when faced with this situation. I believe there are three basic ways to respond to your own mistakes:

1. Deny, repeat - Many people are conditioned to automatically deny any wrongdoing. They think that if they admit to it, somehow their dignity and reputation will diminish. Consequently, they are bound to endlessly repeat the same mistake over and over again, since there won’t be a chance to extract any lesson out of it.

2. Admit, blame, repeat - Some people actually admit that a mistake has taken place. The actual act of recognition may be somewhat positive. The problem is, being aware of a problem won’t make it more valuable than denying it. After recognizing the mistake, these people usually just find someone to blame for it, feeling that perhaps they have done something of value. Then they just go right into repeating it, since they still haven’t learned anything.

3. Admit, learn, act - This is the spot where true leaders need to be in. Bad things happen. You may try to prevent them, as well you should, but some mistakes are bound to occur. The difference lies in the attitude toward them. As a leader you must first be aware that you have committed a mistake. Then you must create an opportunity for learning out of it. No true leader lets a mistake go by without extracting something of value. Finally, that lesson must be put into action. This will make you less prone to letting the same thing happen again. And that is a mark of the true leader.

Categories : Failure, General Leadership, Proactivity // 2 Comments »

Sometimes we feel like the only way to make something work is to do it ourselves. This is especially true when we’re talking about our “baby”. We all know what that is. It’s that special project that is born out of our own creative spaces. We want to control every last detail of that creature because if anyone else goes near it, it’ll be destroyed. We believe that any input from anyone but ourselves will be, at best, uninformed due to ignorance.

I propose to you to let go of those fears. Input from other people can be very valuable in the development and growth of your projects. In fact, you shouldn’t limit yourself by only asking the opinions of a small group of informed people. Some of the most insightful observations come from total strangers to your “baby”. These are the most unattached critics who are in the best position to critique your project from a distance. They might be able to point out flaws that those who are most involved can’t.

It’s only natural to feel such an attachment to your special projects. But you should treat these “babies” as your own children:

1. Give birth - This is the “idea” stage of your project.

2. Protect - At first, your idea may need some protection, as children do when they still aren’t able to fend for themselves. This may involve defending against skeptics.

3. Nurture and raise - The only way that your baby will grow is by feeding it many possible options. People form many of their characteristics around their environment, pressures, and influences. Outside input is also necessary for the formation of your project.

4. Let go - There is a point in the life of every person in which he or she is left to fend for him- or herself. All the protection, nurturing, and input that has formed the person has the purpose of preparing that person for independence. You should view your project in the same way. Your baby, if raised well, will be ready to live its own life.

The “nurture and raise” and “let go” phases are intertwined. To nurture and raise, you need to let go in a way. You have to open your ideas to the input of intelligent people who may provide important suggestions. You may be made aware of big flaws in your creative process or reasoning.

I believe that the silliest fear when trying to do this is that of exposing your idea to the possibility of being imitated or stolen. Believe me, it is very unlikely that you are the only person to think about it. I don’t say this to discourage you, since you’ll most likely put a distinctive imprint on your idea. But just don’t limit your possible success to silly fears. Open up to criticism.

Categories : Communication, Failure, General Leadership, Relationships // 1 Comment »