Leadership is knowing yourself well enough to bring out the best in other people.
Leaders do the work it takes to be honest with themselves. They share their true selves with the people around them. They guide and inspire other people to become the people they have the potential to be.
Leaders do not create opportunities for people by always saying Yes. It may be easier to affirm anything anyone says. We may feel more positive, warmer inside, when we say Yes. Knowing when, and how, to say No is often a more effective way to help someone become stronger.
We enjoy it when people remove obstacles and challenges for us. We may be more comfortable when we do not need to struggle to achieve results. There can be, though, benefits for us in the struggling.
Working as hard as we can to meet our goals helps us become stronger, more creative. People who tell us No give us opportunities to respond. We may choose to work harder, learn more, gain more experience, become more of who we can be.
The leaders who inspire me have a strong sense of when I actually need their help. They help me face challenges on my own, knowing I can depend on their insights. They see something in me to develop.
It can be difficult to tell someone No, particularly when they deeply want to hear Yes. It can be a challenge to hear someone tell us No.
The leaders who inspire me work extremely hard to say Yes, and know when it is best to say No.
Who has told you No in a way which brought out the best in you?
When has telling someone No helped them see their own potential more clearly?
[Image by marc falardeau]
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