Jack was a normal boy before he climbed the beanstalk. Alice was a normal girl before she went down the rabbit hole. Dorothy was an ordinary Kansas girl until she went to Oz.
Modern stories often feature extraordinary heroes. But ordinary heroes give us hope.
How to find extraordinary people?
Wanting approval is normal. Depending on it limits leadership.
Psychologist Harriet Braiker says the disease to please is compulsively saying “yes” when you want to say “no.”
Leaders do things others don’t like.
You can’t please all the people even some of the time.
How to overcome people-pleasing…
The hardest situation is the one you don’t see coming.
You prepare for trains you see coming. Scheduled meetings. Client appointments. Performance issues.
The Blindside Express turns a manageable issue into a crisis.
Determine how to show up when the inevitable happens.
Here’s how…
Fear doesn’t say, “Be a coward.”
It says, “Be careful.”
You need more information. The timing isn’t right. People might disapprove.
Fear says save yourself.
Courage is action when fear invites retreat.
Courage isn’t feeling brave. It’s answering the call while fear is on the line.
Take the 5:1 challenge. Every negative comment requires five positives.
Don’t ignore problems. Make encouragement your default.
Make as many negative comments as you like. The challenge isn’t restraint. Find balance by saying 5 positives for every negative.
Gain insight here…
Some people listen because they’re afraid not to. It’s self-preservation, not respect.
What if people couldn’t wait for you to open your mouth?
When people can’t wait for you to stop talking, they already stopped listening.
Say things that make life better for others.
More…
