When
we walk into any bookstore and look at the leadership shelf we see a plethora
of books telling us everything we need to know to be a great leader.
Except
for this …
The
Lost Leadership Principle is this:
“Believe in people before they prove themselves.”
There
are seeds just below the surface in the team around you. What can you see? Can you see those possibilities? Can you hand off a project to an untried
person and let them prove themselves?
Look
what happens when we do. We motivate them
to reach their potential. We build
self-confidence in them. We encourage
them to grow in new and better directions.
We inspire them.
When
I was still a wanna-be manager my friend Bob gave me a huge opportunity. I walked into the arena eager to start,
shaking knees and all. I was as yet an
unproven operator. And Bob esteemed
me. He saw the potential that I could become. I wasn’t there yet, but I was on my way to
becoming a leader. He just gave me a
free pass on the highway and gave me gentle nudges.
I’ve
never forgotten. Often, I reflect back
to Bob and the team around me in those days with remembered fondness. His confidence in me gave me confidence in
myself.
See
the chain of events. Bob started the
dance. I just stepped up and followed
his example, learned, grew, and became the leader/manager he expected.
P Michael Biggs
Offering
Hope
Encouragement
Inspiration
One Word
at a Time
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