Leadership is Changing Reality
Leadership is changing reality.
Leaders help us see things in new ways.
When we perceive situations in new ways, they become new. Leaders help us understand that life can be challenging because we see it that way.
We look for problems and obstacles, and experience them as difficult to solve because we perceive them that way. We tend to find what we seek.
It is very helpful for us to see situations clearly, to recognize the challenges we face. For me, seeing potential problems is closely connected to perceiving them as impossible to overcome and feeling overwhelmed. Great leaders have helped me appreciate that those are not the same thing.
Leaders help me see that it may not be the end of the world.
Leaders help us see other people in new ways.
It is easy for me to get distracted by the least significant characteristics of the people around me. I make snap judgements based on how people look, whether they make eye contact with me, whether they smile when I am trying to be funny.
Leaders help me recognize that the fact that someone does not find me extremely humorous does not mean that they are not as smart as I am, that they have nothing to teach me, that they cannot help me.
Great leaders have helped me connect with people in more depth.
Leaders help us see ourselves in new ways.
Leaders have helped me appreciate that I am more than I think I am, I can do more than I think I can.
Leaders have helped me begin to recognize the deeper, truer me. They have taught me lessons and given me tools appreciate my true potential, one step at a time.
Leaders have helped me change my reality, which helps me change the reality around me.
What will you see in new ways today?
How is your reality different?
[Image by Mikael Miettinen]
4 Comments
Grace
September 12, 2012For me, leadership is a title you can own as your own cause I know very few leaders that think of themselves as a humble organizer of team – a huge responsibility yet they make it look as light burden to encourage others we can do everything in the right direction. That I can say is a true leadership
- Grace
PS: thanks for sharing this!
Strategic Monk
September 12, 2012Thank you, Grace.
I agree, and think that we encourage leaders to be distracted from their responsibility of bringing out what is best int he people around them. Our expectations of our leaders and the ways we tend to communicate with them can create clouds which obscure the depth and reflection they need to be as effective as they can be.
Tim Milburn (@timage)
September 12, 2012Hi Greg.
I’ve always heard (and truly believe) that you don’t see the world as it is, you see it as you are. With this in mind, one person can perceive a problem while another sees it as an opportunity. Leaders truly are those who are willing to challenge our closely held assumptions and open our minds up to new possibilities (or perceptions).
This is also why I think one of the most powerful characteristics of an effective leader is optimism.
Strategic Monk
September 12, 2012Thank you, Tim!
I agree. The leaders who inspire me can see the opportunities and possibilities that are all around us. It is very practical, and very valuable.