TOOLS FOR ASPIRING LEADERS...
About Change (From Faith and Agility in the book, The Five Insights)
Don’t get hung up on picking a direction and pushing for change to happen in a specific way. There are two reasons for this advice: First, you are but a small piece of the large cosmic pie that is changing and therefore you have only a small effect—and only the smallest piece of control—over the changes that are occurring. Secondly, if you are an aspiring leader who has moderate influence in your organization, your role is usually to react to changes and produce consistent results, whatever the change is, rather than direct the changes. If being noticed is important to you, don’t push it, just adapt to the changes productively and quickly.
In times of change (and in general) take charge of your own learning. Amidst change, the leaders who know how to independently acquire the skills to be more valuable to their business are the ones who get noticed. Don’t wait for a mentor, find one and recruit them to help you. Don’t wait to be asked to go to a training that you need to become better at your evolving job, ask to be sent. And if you meet resistance, consider sending yourself.
Be judicious and cautious with how you allocate your time, particularly in times of change. Prioritize activities that support and facilitate the business. Choose carefully when to apply your full attention to a task and when to simply complete it to a satisfactory standard. Your ability to manage your time, identify key priorities and apply differing levels of attention to different projects will be noticed. Don’t sacrifice relationships for tasks. Leaders lead people, not things. Preserve relationships with everyone in your sphere. You have to be able to work effectively with even the most difficult people. Never dismiss someone out of hand as unimportant.
