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ARTICLES
Posted: Aug 01, 2008
The Trouble With 'Normal'
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I have noticed a 'trend' of sorts while working with literally thousands of leaders over the past 15 years. If you listen carefully to leaders speak of their challenges and frustrations, you will realize that they are proceeding from an erroneous assumption. They actually think they are normal and are wondering why people don't act/react the way they would in similar circumstances. Now, leaders may be many things: but normal they most certainly are not.
Before we get started, let be clear about one thing: Leaders exist at all levels of the organization. Being a leader has nothing to do with level, authority, or the number of employees that report in to you. I have met front line workers that have more leadership in their little finger than some senior level managers. Now that we have cleared up that little issue, let's continue.
The tendency for leaders to view themselves as 'normal' is as understandable as it is unfortunate.
However, leaders are not normal.
Normal is not bad. It’s just not what leaders are. Leaders are by definition those visionary people that occupy the ranks of the atypical.
Leadership of others requires that you understand the nature of those you seek to influence.
To successfully lead others you must be capable of holding reality in one hand and future possibility in the other, without becoming despondent at what is nor too enamored of what might be.
Normal people live in the moment. Leaders live in the now and the what might be.
Normal people are intimately familiar with why it can’t work. Leaders know it can.
Normal people accept circumstances as they are. Leaders look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, they set about creating them.
Normal people see the world as it is. Leaders see it is as it could be.
Normal people wait for lady luck to shine on them. Leaders create their own luck.
Normal people look for the easiest path. Leaders forge a path where none exists.
Normal people wait to be asked. Leaders ask for forgiveness.
Normal people don’t challenge themselves to be exceptional. Leaders challenge everyone to be exceptional.
Normal people seek to stay within their ‘comfort zone’. Leaders know that a ‘comfort zone’ can be a very dangerous place.
Normal people allow their thinking to be limited by what they know to be true. Leaders challenge their knowledge to find out what their limits truly are.
Normal people try to survive the day to fight another day. Leaders take the fight to the day and create a better tomorrow.
Normal people see problems and are frustrated, stressed and upset. Leaders understand that problems always exist, it is how we react to them that determines the quality of our life.
Normal people want others to be like them. So do leaders. In fact, they are serious about developing others to become leaders in their personal and professional lives.
Normal people are frustrated by their results. Leaders do not allow other people’s attitudes and results to frustrate them. They see the opportunity to help someone grow.
No, leaders aren’t normal. Perhaps if we had more people exhibiting true leadership the world would be a better place.
Why not make it your mission to mint a few new leaders today?
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