Being a good team leader: Don’t take offense.
Effective leadership is hard. It’s a fine balance between making progress, managing people's expectations, and being heard especially by Corporate. When it comes to receiving criticism from corporate or a co-worker, or an affiliate, no matter how constructive it is, it can sometimes be hard to hear without getting defensive. Most advice given for handling this would be “don’t take it personally.” But, this advice makes me even angrier. Not take things personally? It was personal! I worked really hard and got a negative response? Don't I have the right to feel angry about it?
No one taught me how to not take things personally because it’s hard and most people aren’t sure how. However, disengaging your ego from conversations can help you be a more effective leader.
Here are some tips on how to do this the next time you feel like your affiliates, corporate or the whole world are conspiring against you.
Disarm by acknowledging their point of view - It is what they think. Their point of view may be influenced by many things that are not important to you. Your point of view is much more focused than corporate view. It is not that their view is right and mine is wrong, it is that our Point from which we are Viewing the situation is different. It only makes sense that our Views will differ. Acknowledge that and move forward.
Don’t expect people to read your mind or to know where you are at - You want to understand their point of view but don't expect them to want to do the same for you. Sure they should, but you may be disappointed.
Seek to understand the other perspective - most the time the other perspective is about objectives you do not share. I may want to sell a product in my ECA, but corporate might get sued if that product is in their store. We have 2 different objectives.
Those are just three small tips, but what is of the greatest value to me personally is to remember it is not about me and my ego. I am not after a personal sense of achievement or success. I am after real achievement and real success. Therefore I will acknowledge the criticism or the road block and I will get over, under or around it. I will not let it impede my success. Nor will I let it impede the success of those I am helping.
I like this chart because a thick skin is needed but it does not mean you are not good hearted. Our goal as leaders is number 4. It is not about my ego it is about my business success. Don't let someone else take your success from you.
Being a good team leader: Don’t take offense. Taking offense points to thin skinned and/or self-importance. We can be frustrated and offended by both those we help and those who are supposed to be helping us. Don't take personal offense. We talk about being thick skinned, but really all you want to do is be focused on the Task, and the people you're helping, progress for your business and finances. Thick Skin Good Heart that is what it is about.
No one taught me how to not take things personally because it’s hard and most people aren’t sure how. However, disengaging your ego from conversations can help you be a more effective leader.
Here are some tips on how to do this the next time you feel like your affiliates, corporate or the whole world are conspiring against you.
Disarm by acknowledging their point of view - It is what they think. Their point of view may be influenced by many things that are not important to you. Your point of view is much more focused than corporate view. It is not that their view is right and mine is wrong, it is that our Point from which we are Viewing the situation is different. It only makes sense that our Views will differ. Acknowledge that and move forward.
Don’t expect people to read your mind or to know where you are at - You want to understand their point of view but don't expect them to want to do the same for you. Sure they should, but you may be disappointed.
Seek to understand the other perspective - most the time the other perspective is about objectives you do not share. I may want to sell a product in my ECA, but corporate might get sued if that product is in their store. We have 2 different objectives.
Those are just three small tips, but what is of the greatest value to me personally is to remember it is not about me and my ego. I am not after a personal sense of achievement or success. I am after real achievement and real success. Therefore I will acknowledge the criticism or the road block and I will get over, under or around it. I will not let it impede my success. Nor will I let it impede the success of those I am helping.
I like this chart because a thick skin is needed but it does not mean you are not good hearted. Our goal as leaders is number 4. It is not about my ego it is about my business success. Don't let someone else take your success from you.
Being a good team leader: Don’t take offense. Taking offense points to thin skinned and/or self-importance. We can be frustrated and offended by both those we help and those who are supposed to be helping us. Don't take personal offense. We talk about being thick skinned, but really all you want to do is be focused on the Task, and the people you're helping, progress for your business and finances. Thick Skin Good Heart that is what it is about.
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