My fellow Americans… We don’t hear that much anymore, do we? When you look at your neighbors, do you see fellow Americans? Or do you see an enemy? Are you distributing the Ultimate Loser litmus test? (Who did you vote for in 2016 and who are you voting for in 2020?) I am a consultant that builds winning teams, and I have a proposition for you. This is something I have wanted to do for the longest time. I only hope it’s not too late.
Here’s a question for you. What if, over this next week, you kept track of how many times you felt fear. Just a simple list on a piece of paper, stating what you were afraid of, why, and what you did about it. And then, at the end of the week, you reviewed your list and crossed off the fears that failed to come to fruition. How many remain? If we tracked our fears like we tracked the number of steps we walk each day, I wonder what we, as collective members of society, would learn.
Seek to deepen the connections with your family, work-from-home teams, or your college buddies? The best way to do that is to: Have. Some. Fun. #WeveGotThis #DestinationUnstoppableChallenge
What a difference a week makes! Last Sunday I blogged about how to lead during a panic epidemic. (Thanks for all the shares!) Who knew that one week later, schools & universities would be closed, sports seasons cancelled, and sudden onset TPDS – Toilet Paper Derangement Syndrome – the irresistible urge to buy more toilet paper than can be used in a year. What will next Sunday bring? Who knows! For now, let’s tackle the OPPORTUNITY of unexpectedly leading or working from home.
I have a theory. My theory is that there is an inverse relationship between status/power/rank and open demonstrations of good will. (When I was an engineer we spoke gleefully about inverse relationships as if they were the best kind to have.) In short, the higher we climb in life (status, power, rank) the less we see open kindness within that “elite” community. Life becomes more dog eat dog, me versus you, and good will between competitors (those other leaders in the corporate, non-profit, sports world, or anyone deemed as “on the opposing team”) can be difficult to find. Good will may look like weakness to some, but of course, the opposite is true. However, this notion of weakness can make it more difficult for our young people to understand that good will can be part of a viable success strategy. Plus, it’s free. Doesn’t cost you a dime.
