Leadership is an open-book exam. Both you and the President can get information and advice from many sources. The benefits of asking are obvious. But when facing a shrinking economy, cutthroat competition or terrorists, it’s crucial to know who not to ask or even listen to.
To read the rest of this article from the Denver Business Journal, see: Don’t listen to negative, “energy vampires” in the workplace http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2001/10/15/smallb5.html
Don’t listen to people who are:
- Scared, overwhelmed, discouraged or continually negative and critical; "energy vampires."
- Angry, hostile, manipulative and blaming narcissists; looking for someone to make their lives work the way they want.
- Exhausted or complacent lovers of comfort, convenience, ease and appeasement, too soft to fight.
- Sure that fairness and justice are the best ways to win or are more important than winning. Disillusioned because their hope for friendly, win-win solutions has been challenged by a reality of cutthroat competition and win-lose fights to the death.
- Stuck in “analysis paralysis.”
Some keys to success in changing times - see original article for details:
- Talk to people who have the determination and energy to try to mold the future to your liking. Listen to people who know what it takes to thrive in hard times and to defeat determined enemies. Don’t listen to “energy vampires” who sap your will.
- Become low maintenance. Whether you’re a manager or an employee, an official or a citizen, be a person who can pitch in and help out.
- Promote people who take charge and succeed - don’t keep employees who fall apart in a crisis. In a world wallowing in recession and terrorism, your company and your country can’t afford to carry wimps, whiners and weaklings, panicked or immobilized by fear. If you keep them, they’ll drag you under.
- Leaders stick together. Tell people what you expect them to accomplish and how you expect them to act. Talk longest and deepest with leaders at all levels in your organization. Your job is to support hope, calmness and productivity under pressure. You have a business to run.
- Take intelligent risks; don’t be too prudent. Remember F.D.R. saying, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Buy and build.
- Tell hero stories. You’ll hear friends, family, children or coworkers upset because they just figured out that we can never really be safe or secure. We don’t know what might happen. Tell them about people with courage and skill in the face of danger.
- Success must be fought for and won; it won’t be given. The British didn’t leave America in 1776 because they were politely asked to. Hitler didn’t stop because he was appeased.
Hard times and war are great opportunities to be great. Prepare yourself to be brave and skillful. Losing is a much worse example for our children than is war and victory.
You might even read, “Masters of Change,” by William Boast and Benjamin Martin.
Often, individuals need coaching and organizations need consulting to help them design and implement a plan that fits the situation. To get the help you need, call Ben at 1-877-828-5543.