Leadership is not always about action. That's a tough pill to swallow because leaders are typically a driven lot whose role demands results. Companies and their leaders are kept on a short leash with monthly and quarterly expectations. Long range planning is now a look at a two year strategy, at best. The former three to five year approach holds little merit during these times of economic recovery that are routinely beset by political upheaval and other events occurring half way around the world.
With such a short focus, it is especially hard to appreciate the need for PATIENCE. And yet that is increasingly what may leaders need to learn. It is all well and good to formulate a short or mid term response, but simply because the time lines are shorter does not mean that results can come more quickly. Nor can one expect a shorter time for people to learn and mature in their duties.
It still take nine months for a child to grow in the womb. The shortcut of having nine women being pregnant for one month each does not work. Proper results take time.
As a leader you must recognize this critical reality. Pushing people to mature more quickly will produce more errors than successes and ultimately it will slow down the overall objective. So in building your goals - short term or longer - keep in mind the need to temper expectations with reality. Some things simply take time to mature. More often than not it is worth the wait. If your plans and strategies are well considered they will withstand this need for patience. If they can't then they probably would not work well even if you had more time.
So establish your objectives; allow them time to be properly understood and implemented; and avoid a 'crisis mentality' in your expectations. Your company's culture will recognize your balanced approach and respond accordingly. Patience is a virtue, not a weakness.
With such a short focus, it is especially hard to appreciate the need for PATIENCE. And yet that is increasingly what may leaders need to learn. It is all well and good to formulate a short or mid term response, but simply because the time lines are shorter does not mean that results can come more quickly. Nor can one expect a shorter time for people to learn and mature in their duties.
It still take nine months for a child to grow in the womb. The shortcut of having nine women being pregnant for one month each does not work. Proper results take time.
As a leader you must recognize this critical reality. Pushing people to mature more quickly will produce more errors than successes and ultimately it will slow down the overall objective. So in building your goals - short term or longer - keep in mind the need to temper expectations with reality. Some things simply take time to mature. More often than not it is worth the wait. If your plans and strategies are well considered they will withstand this need for patience. If they can't then they probably would not work well even if you had more time.
So establish your objectives; allow them time to be properly understood and implemented; and avoid a 'crisis mentality' in your expectations. Your company's culture will recognize your balanced approach and respond accordingly. Patience is a virtue, not a weakness.
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