EnemyIdentity

What happens when we discover that we're our own worst enemy? When our habits, our behavior, our interpersonal failures, our lack of empathy, our failure to trust, our inability to "let go," become so glaringly visible in the mirror? When we painfully discover that the source of most of our frustration lives within us.

We really can't engage in meaningful battle until we've clearly identified the enemy. 

Now that we know 'em, we can get to work on making life better for everyone. Including ourselves.

As always, it starts with the daily choices we make. Which ones shall we make this day?

PainInducers

Some folks are just painful to be around. When they're the boss, their ability to induce pain for/in the rest of us is amplified.

As always, anti-example is just as instructive for us as the study of exemplars. So, here goes. Some archetypes of pain-inducing leaders:

• Worry Warts -- To these folks the sky seems always falling.

• Po Po Pitiful ME-ers -- The world seems to have targeted them for misery, and us to hear about it.

• Micro Managers -- Even when we get it 98% right, they'll perseverate on the other 2%.

• Drama Drummers -- As if accomplishing important work is not hard enough, they adeptly find a way to stir up trouble amongst and between us.

• Artful Dodgers -- When there's work to be done, they're nowhere in sight. 

• Blame Throwers -- Masters at faulting others when things go sideways.

We know what they look like. We know what to call 'em.

What do we learn from these powerful anti-examples?

We can put that learning to work. Now is an excellent time to start.

GraceDenied

When we choose to withhold GRACE,

we choose to eschew PEACE.

Our own.

When we choose to decline GRACE extended,

we choose to eschew PEACE.

Our own.

We get to choose, as always. 

CapacityVeracity

Any leader worth their salt knows that important work cannot be done without a high-performing and highly committed team.

Some of the best leaders I've observed over 50 years use the following strategies to build and bolster the teams they work on/with:

• Provide a steady drumbeat of the WHY.
• Put in place guardrails rather than regulations/rules.
• Stay out of the way, but ever present to help when needed. 
• Remain always open and accessible for feedback and dissent. 
• Push, pull, prod, incentivize, expect, and model continual learning.
• Continually monitor and discuss progress (and lack thereof) as a team. 
• Push, pull, prod, incentivize, expect, and model continuous improvement.

Plenty on that to-do list. We can start now.

StaringAtThePliers

Tools have forever pushed and accelerated the accomplishments of the human race.

Consider levers, wheels, pulleys, paper, ballpoint pens, hammers, pliers, telegraphs, etc. We could spend the rest of the day naming tools of advancement, both simple and complex.  

Enter the cell phone in its current iteration, perhaps the most powerful tool yet invented by our species. It now has the power to quickly make available to us any morsel of the sum total of human knowledge, show us our location on the planet, reliably predict the weather, immediately communicate with others at any point around the world, provide pictures of our favorite celebrities enjoying their vacations. And so very much more!

Tools have always been "neutral" in that their ability to affect good work or harmful has rested in the mind and hands of the user. That remains the case for the little computer-communicator we all carry around with us.

What's different with this latest tool of our conjuring is that we seem enamored with it to the point that many are willing to let relationships with other humans slip away due to the adoration of the tool. 

Imagine a person staring persistently at their pliers while ..... walking down the street or driving or eating a meal or sitting on a train or attending a meeting or while in a room with their very favorite person. 

A little disconcerting, huh?

As is always the case, we get to choose...

IncidentalStimulants

So very often the simple choices we make in relation to kindness extended, courtesy afforded, support provided, blessings shared, and mentorship freely given goes scantly recognized.

Rarely are we witness to the downstream fruit such seed planting produces.

Someone (usually many someones) helped us up ... out ... forward ... upward.

We get the chance to do the same for someone else almost every day. And should! Perhaps the stimulus we choose to provide is not so incidental after all. 

First, we pay attention...

Beatings

Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing? Why does "beat down" and "beat up" mean the same thing?

When we choose to accomplish difficult, noble, BOLD work, the inevitable "beat downs" and "beat ups" will come our way.

The grandstands are full and the social media platforms awash with critics and naysayers.

Until they join us in the work, maybe we should take their "beatings" with a grain of salt. 

And get back to work...