What Do You Look Like?

“Now is the time to be constructive, not destructive, and we’re just getting started.” – Tina Craig

 As a leader, people are watching you.  You probably already know this, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded.  Whatever we say and do has an impact because it’s noticed.  That certainly goes for our work ethic and our integrity.

It also goes for our attitude.  Too many leaders don’t recognize how much of an impact their positive or negative attitude has on everyone around them.  When leaders talk incessantly about how bad things are, how much of a struggle things are, how overwhelming things are, everyone around them starts to think the same way.

That kind of negative vibe is contagious, and it’s an energy killer.  There isn’t an organization on earth that performs at a high level that’s focused on how bad everything is.  You just cannot perform if you’re convinced the sky is falling.

When I bring that up with leaders, some of them say, “Well, I’m not going to sugar-coat things, I just need to be honest about how things are.”  Fair enough.  You certainly can’t lie to people, and it’s important that the people in your organization understand the challenges ahead.

But that’s the point.  You as the leader have to believe that there’s a positive future ahead.  If you don’t really believe things are going to get better, or if you don’t really believe your organization’s problems can be solved, then your “honesty” is going to drag everybody else down.  You have to believe things are going to work out.  You don’t have to believe it’s going to be easy, but you have to believe you & the organization will find a way.

What do people see when they look at you?  Somebody who believes in the future and the ability for your business to succeed?  Or somebody who’s captain of a sinking ship?  Whatever you look like will be copied, and everyone else will help you create your mind’s reality.  Don’t be the lead lemming.