People DON’T have to think like you do to be successful

I wrote about the cruise ship captain, in a post about heroes and villains. I promised to share three ways in which you can be a hero. Here’s the first one. It’s a way you have to look at life in order to be a great leader.  Have you ever felt like this?

‘Why can’t everyone just think the way I do?’ 

‘I have the answers to these issues. I know exactly what would be best.’

‘We could do so much more if they were more like me.’

Time after time, I run into leaders that really and truly believe that these statements make sense.

 Here is the real truth, friends.  You are the only ‘you’ on the planet.  There is no one in the world that thinks exactly the way you do.  I personally would like you to revel in that.  I want you to celebrate the fact that there is only one you. 

This means, of course, that no one can possibly think like you.  I really don’t care how much you want them to think like you do.  They don’t and they won’t. 

So knowing this truth, how can you move forward as a leader? 

Seems too simple,  but . . .   I recommend asking questions like this: 

• What other ways can we look at this?  What ideas do you have? 
• In looking at this situation, how would you tackle it?  What do you think? 
• What else could we do?  What are the pros and cons of what I just said? 

Wow, I could go on and on.  You have to embrace the truth about your people. Understand that they think differently than you. Use that to benefit yourself as a leader and your organization.  Trust me, it’s the only way.

Your Sherpa,
Brenda