August, 2010 | It's Worth Noting

Wondering if you’re an effective leader? A good gauge to consider is how inquisitive you are. The best leaders are insatiably inquisitive. They keep asking why. They dig for answers. They’re keenly aware of what they do not know. They are disciplined learners. I believe everyone is a leader. While reach and effectiveness vary, everyone leads to some extent whether they want to or not. We lead by action or inaction, by speaking up or remaining silent and by pursuing knowledge or remaining ignorant. If you do a gut check and find you’re not inquisitive anymore, chose to change course. Make a list of what you don’t know and begin to learn. Dig for answers. Keep asking why. Become insatiably inquisitive to become an effective leader again.

I was at a golf tournament a few weeks ago and watched some of the world’s best players work their way around the course. One of the things you notice, and hear great golfer’s talk about, is that while they take dead aim, they also plan on where to miss. Why would the most accomplished golfers in the world plan on where to miss? It’s because the game is hard. They can’t execute perfectly every time. If something goes slightly wrong, they want to make sure their ball lands in a safe area so they’ll have a chance with their next shot. The same lesson applies to life, whether personal or business. You cannot execute perfectly every time. Most of the decisions you make will be impacted by circumstances and events that were unforeseeable or beyond your control. Plan for the miss and give yourself some margin for things to…

August 2010

You have to be inquisitive to lead

Plan on where to miss