Change Your Thinking For 2009
With failing banks and stock market ponzi schemes dominating the news in 2008, there must be something normal folks like us can do to improve the world’s situation for the coming year. Here are 3 simple quotes to take to heart for 2009.
“A leader is someone who instills within the heart of the follower, a desire to follow.”
You’ll need to read that quote a few times to let it sink in, but it basically sets a tone for your life. Speaking straight up, everyone is leading someone. Did you get that?
If you are a father, you are leading your kids. If you are a boss, you are leading your employees. Everyone has followers. From close relationships, to the person behind the counter at the coffee shop, someone is following you daily. You can impact the number of followers you have, and the quality of those followers by leading them to success. It’s almost like Twitter for the real world if you think about it.
It boils down to this: do the people following you do it because they have to, or because they want to? Are your followers aiming to be what you are? What are you contributing to their lives other than a few rules or guidelines?
On the other side of the coin, as the leader, imagine the positive impact you can have on those around you. The possibilities are endless and you should look at changing your leadership approach in the new year.
“People are not really bad, only broken.”
Since we are now in a position to lead people properly, let’s go a step further and look at their hearts instead of their heads. Let’s focus on people instead of their actions. It is important to realize that most people who seem frustrated or rude or even mean are really just covering for some unseen problem inside of them. (or maybe they just haven’t had their morning gourmet coffee yet!)
They aren’t truly bad people, they are really just hurting, or broken inside.
Those same kind, supportive words we plan to use in the first example will go a long way to breaking down barriers and helping people along the road to better, happier existences.
In addition, if you have people in your life that you are in charge of, whether at work or at home, don’t be so quick to judge them when they make mistakes. Remember, broken people can be fixed if you are willing to hone your skills and work with them and support them. Success comes in helping others, which brings us to our final resolution or change in thinking:
“Invest in people, rather than business”
This one really caps off the first two thoughts. If you sink your time, energy and, yes, money into developing people, you’ll reap the rewards 10-fold over any other method. Each and every one of us has what I term “hot buttons.” Hot buttons are those things that will motivate us to excel. The biggest (and least expensive) button that every leader should push as often as possible is the ‘recognition’ button.
If you notice that one of your new employees has been doing an outstanding job completing work tasks, why not recognize him or her and reward them with their favorite gourmet coffee and Tassimo brew station wrapped up in a gift basket? In addition, make the presentation in front of the group. Can you see how this could not only better a person’s day, but re-enforce their ability and drive to continue producing solid results?
It boils down to ‘normal Joes’ changing their minds for good. These 3 simple quotes may seem a little over-the-top, but I assure you they will work miracles when put into practice.