The following quote is from Tod Bolsinger’s blog. He said it in regards to this quote by Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky. They said, “Leadership is disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb.” Tod says, “The first great challenge for the person who wants to go from player to coach, from star to leader – is to determine whether you have the stomach for disappointing people.” He continued, “When you stand before people and tell them that in order to accomplish a mission, they have to change, adapt, give up something for the greater good, work with those whom they don’t like, or compromise on something that they care about – they get mad. They get really mad. And mostly, they get mad at you.”
Wow! Amen! He hit the nail squarely on the head! Effective leaders realize that, quite often, to achieve a goal means you have to lead people to give up what they want in order for what they need. It’s kinda like the old adage, “good is the enemy of best!” We give up good to achieve best! However, the trick, so to speak, is to get them to give up things at a rate they can and will absorb. To fail to do this will create a mutiny! You’ve heard me say it many times: “Change is affected by gentle pressure, relentlessly applied, over a long period of time.”
So, leaders, keep these truths in mind as you strive to be the best leader you can possibly be!
Bro. Aaron