RECAPTURE THE MAGIC
Leadership : “Perception is Reality”
At 3D-people, we have seen the best and worst in how businesses are led and managed, we have seen some hugely talented people not succeed because they failed to look ahead and focused only on what they were good at, saw too many problems and not enough opportunities. In the world we live in now it is more important than ever that leaders step forward and demonstrate what it takes to survive and then thrive.
Over the past few months I have met many business owners and its interesting to note their success or otherwise can usually be attributed to their perception and it reminds me of a story..
Socrates had gone for a walk outside the city walls of Athens. He was taking a rest, sitting on a milepost about five miles from the city.
There he began to open the contents of the food parcel his wife had prepared for him, as he began to bite into one of the luscious, juicy bright red tomatoes a traveller came along the road and hailed him.
Greetings, friend! Can you tell me, is this the right road for Athens?”
Socrates assured him it was. “carry straight on ahead. It’s quite a big city. You can’t miss it.”
“Tell me” said the traveller, “what are the people of Athens like?”
“well” said Socrates, “tell me where you come from, and what the people there are like, and I’ll tell you about the people of Athens.”
“I’m from Argos. And I’m proud and happy to tell you that the people of Argos are the friendliest, happiest, most generous people you could ever wish to meet.”
“and I’m very happy to tell you , my friend, “ said Socrates, “ that the people of Athens are exactly the same.”
The traveller went on his way, and Socrates was feeling good about the goodness and humanity in the world.
“Greetings, friend! Can you tell me, is this the right road for Athens?” called another traveller.
Once more Socrates assured him it was.
“Tell me, “ said the traveller, “what are the people of Athens like?”
“Well,” said Socrates, “tell me where you are from, and what the people there are like, and I’ll tell you about the people of Athens.”
“I’m from Argos,” said the second traveller , “and I’m sad and disappointed to tell you that the people of Argos are the meanest, most miserable, least friendly people you could ever wish to meet.”
“And I’m disappointed to tell you, my friend,” said Socrates, that the people of Athens are exactly the same.”
In this article I would like to share with you a few keys that will unlock your business and catapult you to the success you really want.
You have to be single minded and have passion and drive to be a leader.
Idealism doesn’t have to be something to be frowned on, if you have the energy, commitment, know-how and enthusiasm to back it up. The ‘Tinkerbell theory’ – believe in what you want enough and you can make it happen! Be positive and don’t settle for less than the best. Have a passion for succeeding and keep your enthusiasm for life, and your commitment and dedication will rub off on those around you.
Don’t give up, move obstacles yourself.
Be true to yourself, have the courage of your convictions to act and don’t worry about not being liked by everybody. Your people will achieve far more than you ever imagined, when you earn their trust and respect based on who you are, not on your job title or position. If you believe anything is possible and encourage those thoughts in your people….great things will happen.
An organisation does not succeed by putting in the right rules – it succeeds by having the right people.
Ownership, belonging, enthusiasm, empowerment and fun – that’s what work should be all about. Real buy-in for absolutely everyone involved is a major part of the success of a business. Recruit people who know what you are doing and want to do it too. Give people the necessary space and trust in them to achieve. Inspire them. Believe in your staff and expect the best. Create opportunities for your people to have fun together to create a team where together they are more powerful than they are working as separate units.
Leadership is about taking your people to where YOU want to go because THEY want to come with you. Before you can lead your people influentially, you must be able to lead yourself, know who you are, what you are, what you want and how you are going to get there.
At 3D-people, we help you create the habits of truly successful and happy people that will give you the edge you need to take your business to the next level and beyond.
Before we change the results, we must change our internal picture.
A well planned route is no good if you’re using the wrong map. If you are really committed to a different future, a future where you know exactly what you what, you know exactly where you are, you know exactly what you need to do to get there and the final outcome is never in doubt, then the 3Ds are absolutely vital companions for that journey.
Desire
Knowing what you truly want, having a compelling internal picture, which is in full techni-colour, and feels so good you just have to reach out for it. Something that ignites the passion deep inside, not a shopping list of hopes but things that are the core to your very existence.
Determination
What stops us from achieving our desires?
Forces from within, doubt, fear, confusion, personal conflict, social conflict? All these issues will continue to be with us. The quality of our future will be determined by our responses to all the elements.
“experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you”
we can all feel like winners, no matter what our challenges or what our critics say, for real 3D people the final outcome is never in doubt.
Discipline
This is about the choices we make when under pressure. It’s about creating the habits of knowing what is actually important and focussing your thoughts and energy on what will get you the outcome you desire. Not doing things because you have to…but because you want to….only then will you become a consistent achiever.
Remember:
“If you always do, what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got”
When you are ready to take yourself and your team to the next level of achievement or if you are finding life a bit “sticky”, some time with me could be just what you need to help you stride forward with purpose and certainty towards the bright future that is waiting for you.
Paul Miller
Business and Sports Performance Coach
3D-people
www.3D-people.com
07973 501099