You Can't Please Everybody...

Why is it that we feel like leaders have to please everyone?  That is not possible.  Our world is made up of an incredible variety of personalities and opinions.  As leaders we have to work with concepts that move the majority, plans that can gain consensus, and a style that has a broad appeal.  Leaders cannot win over every single person and attempting to do so is a waste of effort and time.  Don’t spend too much energy on that last negative holdout.  Some people are just never happy.  For that matter some are simply unwilling to get behind good leadership.  Consider this quote…

Don’t try to win over the haters. 

You’re not the jackass whisperer.
                                            --Scott Stratten

Who Am I?

I lost my dad way too early,

Who am I to doubt it was part of God’s plan?

His mother lived to age 98, why couldn’t he?

Who am I to question God’s timing?

He loved my mom and all of us so dearly,

Who am I to ask God why we don’t have him anymore?

He was married for 50 years, had nine grandchildren and a great grandchild,

Who am I to not thank God for the time we did have?

He had wood to carve, golf to play and trips to take,

Who am I to ask God why not?

He was kind, loved and respected,

Who am I to ask God why him?

For his disease there were no more options,

Who am I to ask God why no cure?

There were things I had not done or said,

Who am I to ask God for more time with him?

I never heard a bad word spoken towards him,

Who am I to ask God why not someone else?

He deserved so much more,

Who am I to question that God knows what he truly deserved?

I lost my dad far too soon,

Who am I to question God’s plan?

Barry D. Blanton

In loving memory of Don Blanton

January 6, 1935 – June 23, 2007

(This MMM is repeated from one originally issued 07.02.07.  It will continue be repeated as long as I write MMM’s on the Monday closest to the anniversary of the passing of my father.)

Leadership

We are all leaders.  Some are formal leaders with titles, others informal leaders with influence.  We lead at home, church, in our community and at work.  We lead our children, our peers and our employees.  If you do not consider yourself a leader you are ignoring an opportunity to influence those around you. 

For the last seven weeks we have explored traits of great leadership.  These qualities should be important to us.  We should strive to embody them.  They are summarized below.  Embrace these and be a great leader! 

•  Hope - Great leaders give people hope for a better tomorrow.
•  Consistency - When followers never know what to expect from a leader they will stop expecting anything.
•  Influence - People do not respond well when pushed, forced or directed, they respond best when influenced by a leader they respect. 
•  Honesty & Trust - Trust and honesty are established when words and actions match up.
•  Accountability - Leaders understand that followers need to see leaders who are willing to be accountable. 
• Humility - As leaders we should be concerned with what is right, not if we are right. 
• Respect & Caring - People do not care what you know until they know that you care.

  

Leadership - Respect & Caring

People do not care what you know until they know that you care.  I think that may be a John Maxwell quote, but I have heard it from multiple sources.  It is true that followers respond better when they know that leaders genuinely care.  In addition people respond even more positively when treated with respect.  I believe that respect is a fundamental right to which all people are entitled.  As leaders we do not get to trample on people and forget the respect they are due as humans.  Basic caring and respect is a great trait for true leaders.  There are many leaders who do not possess these characteristics.  They may appear to be successful, and may in fact be some of the time, however long term they will not maintain loyalty.  Ultimately they will not be respected.  Our goal as leaders is to move people towards a common goal.  People tend to be more willing to move when they feel respected and they work better for leaders they respect.  Goals are reached more easily when all members of a team respect one another, leaders and followers alike.  Make sure you lead with caring and respect…