A few years back, I had the pleasure of coaching one of the most no-nonsense leaders I have ever met. He was known and respected in his organization for his directness and candor. He was a bit rough around the edges, but he had a heart of gold. I found him a bit intimidating at first, but now that I've gotten to know him I wouldn't hesitate to go to him if I ever have a real need.
Over the years, I spent time with his leadership team and the thousand plus others that he led. Frequently they would comment on how they loved working with him because, while they may not always like what he had to say, they always knew where they stood.
This leader had all sorts of sayings that went perfectly with his personality. One of my favorites was “ I am leaning in on this one.” This meant that he was diving head first into the problem. He knew that business and life are filled with problems and challenges, which are just waiting to be solved and learned from.
He helped me to see that candor combined with compassion is fuel for a healthy culture. He is not a leader that ignores the challenges with a hope that over time they will go away. Instead, he leans in, knowing that he must have the courage to press toward a solution.
This week I am nearly finished with a book by Dr. Henry Cloud called Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality. In this must-read book, Dr. Cloud talks about leaning in. He says that great leaders with high levels of integrity don’t ignore the elephant in the room. They have the courage to lean into the problems that most people shy away from.
Leadership takes courage. Our teammates, our customers, our spouses, our children and our communities are looking for people with the character and the courage to be the leaders many fear to be.
Take a look in the mirror. Have you been willing to lean in and work to find the better solution? Or have you been sitting back hoping that the issue will go away or someone else will take care of the problem?
Lean In!
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Tags: Courage, Integrity, Leadership, Problem Solving, Self Development
Wise words my friend. I sang your praises as I spoke at the San Diego State University Writer’s Convention. I told the world that whenever I need advice, I go to you.
Your fan,
Greg Gutierrez
Zen and the Art of Surfing
Thank you Greg! I so appreciate you!
Daniel
Great post! There is so much to be said for a leader who is honest and authentic. Thank you for starting MCI with Greg (I am not going to try to spell his last name). I have benefitted so much from my coach David.