Do you DO what you believe?

This is the such an unbelievable idea…

I know, I know, most leaders agree with this statement.
BUT, they don’t believe it.

What are we talking about?

It’s simple, really.
Many (if not all) leaders that we work with mentally and verbally agree with this statement. “I hire people that are stronger than me.” they say. “Yes, I am always looking for people who can excel where I struggle.” another chimes in. Not to be outdone, a third says, “Absolutely, if I am the smartest person in the room, not only am I in the wrong room, but I am also wasting a lot of money!”

And yet, as we observe these types of conversations, we know that while the leaders AGREE with the idea they do not BELIEVE it. In other words, they do not allow it to change their actions.

We can’t help but recall the first leader who never let one of his people get a word in edgewise while he barked out directives. We puzzle over the second person who berated her manager for not doing something the “right way” (i.e.: the way SHE would have done it). And we muse at the third who almost always argued with anyone who felt differently than them (especially their staff) often interrupting/bullying them to get their point across.

But are these really all the same leaders?
Well, no. The above conversation is technically fictional.
But, it could be real.

Every day, we work with leaders who SAY that they agree with statements like the one found in this post. Meanwhile, we are reminded of the famous quote “Your actions shout so loudly in my ears that I cannot hear what you are saying.” Their staff receive complete mixed messaging as they are verbally told they are trusted and depended upon. But daily experience a reality that is anything other than valued.

What about you?
Do you agree with the quote?
More importantly, do you practice the concept?
Without action, there is simply no value to such ideas. Our people need to see them lived out in daily life and practiced in a way that supports them and helps them build the organization.

Let’s stop TALKING about great leadership principles and let’s start BEING about them. Let’s make a difference. Let’s change the world!

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At SML, we seek to empower leaders to effectively engage with their teams through love-based, servant-minded leadership. But, getting our clients to agree to the idea in this post is not the goal. Through interactive coaching and real accountability, we help them to IMPLEMENT ideas like these into their actual leadership so that their staff can be both empowered and inspired to be the best that they can be.

#Leadership #leadershipchallenges #leadershipcoaching #leadershipinsights #servantmindedleadership