Leaders See The Possibilities

At one point or another, everyone faces obstacles and/ or challenges. There are, however, two distinctively different approaches or ways that people handle these. The negative way is to give up, and use as an excuse that something is impossible to achieve. On the other hand, all great leaders have always visualized success and believed in their vision and believed in the possibilities. Nelson Mandela stated, "It only seems impossible until it's done." How many things that stopped being attempted might have been accomplished if only our leaders used that positive can- do, can- achieve philosophy?

1. Every great leader, as well as every individual in leadership who has had less than stellar results and impacts, has faced a certain number of obstacles or challenges during his tenure in office. In my over three decades of working with some of the greatest leaders, as well as some that did not live up to what should have been their potential, I have observed that those who have achieved the least have almost invariably had the most excuses and explanations. They are experts at providing all the reasons that something can not be done or achieved, and that they tried their best, but either it was too late, there was not enough money, time, resources, manpower, cooperation, interest or urgency. For every possibility, these individuals see the impossibilities, and almost always use that reason to explain away why they didn't even attempt certain approaches.

2. How can anyone achieve anything without putting in the effort? When a pseudo- leader believes things are impossible (translation- too difficult, uncomfortable, not worth the effort, etc.), is he not merely providing both a built- in excuse, as well as a self- fulfilling prophesy? Many challenges may appear to be overwhelming when first evaluated, only to be able to be accomplished and achieved once someone calmly evaluates the possibilities. Great leaders must be possibility thinkers, seeking ways to achieve. This requires a commitment to learning and gaining the knowledge necessary to consider alternative, preemptively plan and prepare, and be ready for nearly any contingency. However, unless someone approaches this from the possibilities point of view, how could someone who claims to be a leader actually be leading. If someone in leadership cannot envision success and possibilities, how can he possibly motivate anyone else to follow, and believe?

True leadership is all about possibility thinking. Many of the greatest accomplishments have stemmed from actions taken by true leaders that lesser individuals might never have even attempted.

Richard's owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, and Director of Development, as well as a consultant. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead

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