There
is nothing impossible to him who will try.
Alexander
the Great
To
confront the challenges, emergencies, and problems of a dynamic and fluid
society, good problem-solving and decision-making skills are critical. Sometimes
new methodologies and insights are required, inspired by pioneers, those who
are willing to chart a new path to reach organizational and individual
objectives. Leaders of today and tomorrow are being asked to do just that—to
engage in creative thinking and paradigm shifting in approaching problems to
come up with new efficiencies.
For that reason, the word “change” is constantly used today.
Restructuring and reinventing have also brought about new processes,
procedures, and policies that make for a challenging the workday. However
difficult these changes and challenges may seem, they can also be tremendous
learning opportunities. Our power comes from deciding to be in line with this
learning.
But first we must report in and decide to be. Then get busy.
Leadership, for personal or professional reasons —must
remain consistent and in line.
When one takes this type of firm stance, it can be a
challenge to deal with those who don’t. Making up one’s mind should be simple
enough. How many times have we all heard or said this? It’s such a powerful
statement regarding decision and change. In one of my conversations with my late Uncle
Horace about family members and who, among them, could be depended on to call
or act, particularly in a crisis, we agreed that folks use the excuse, “That’s
just the way I am.” He came back with, “But it’s time for them to be something
else.”
Yes, there are times to follow that popular athletic shoe
tag line and ‘just do it’, to move away from what’s comfortable, and stop
making excuses. We are who we are, but it’s okay to try a different way of
being, chart new territory, and be purposeful.
As a leader, each time we walk into a
new situation, we have some choices: to be. This new landscape is ours to
work and fill. With daring determination, we can choose to move through what
was barren to create bounty: poor morale to empowered team, unwilling students
to motivated learners, and unsure children to confident next generationer.
Decide to change the course by helping others in their quest to be better,
starting in the current moment.
Important
also is for leaders to ensure complex situations get the right amount of
attention. Too often they dust off really serious issues as trivial. Instead,
these problems have layers of stuff that need to be waded through. This era of
tweets, microwaves, or solving a crime in sixty minutes of television has led
to impatience with the processes that are often necessary to find enduring
solutions. Instead, the issues continue to surface. How do we put them under
and out of the way?
Once we decide to be, we get our mojo
to create a different outcome!
Are
you open to creating a new and personal frontier? If so there are ways to ensure positive change
and enduring solutions by enacting the following points.
- Stake your
claim! Define your leadership drop zone.
- Move
fearlessly onward. And explore new territories.
- Gather your
strength. Then focus on priorities.
- Be curious
and open to new frontiers. Create anew.
- Test the
limits. By taking risks.
- Have a
pioneer mindset. Go with your force of belief in all that might be
possible. That’s your ultimate power!
Charge!
Be ready to be first! Decide to solve and resolve!
Parts excerpted from my book, Hardcore Leadership: 11 Master Lessons from My Airborne Ranger Uncle’s “Final Jump” http://www.amazon.com/dp/1479324760
