Who’s the Hardest Person in the World to Lead?

Is that an easy question? Or a hard question to answer? …Who is it?

I’m going to talk about something totally different for a moment, so the answer isn’t visible immediately. I’ll share the answer with you shortly….who that is. Stay with me.

“Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Harold R. McAlindon

This quote excites me, frightens me, challenges me, it beckons me, it revs up my mind into ‘high gear’ as many ideas and thoughts come whizzing by.

How does this statement make you feel, make you think. What dreams does it bring to you? Wow! Isn’t that fun and energizing to open up a thought and let your mind, your creativity take charge?

Now, back to the answer to the original question.
Who’s the hardest person in the world to lead?

Me - It’s hardest for me to manage and lead ME!
You - It’s hardest for you to manage and lead YOU!

Does that make sense? I have not lead and managed me at times – my thoughts, my feelings, my energy. I have an idea, a dream and develop a great plan. I work the plan diligently, give it all the effort and energy I have… until I hit a roadblock(s), get overwhelmed, or just feel weary after working a long time. Success does come most of the time, even though it’s not at the level I believe was possible. And at times I failed. Has this ever happened to you?

Why and how does this happen to us?

A couple reasons:
1. We are so close to the project, so intimately and intensely involved, we are not realistic about the project, about our progress, about that current status or the roadblock(s) and challenges. It’s always easier to size up other people and their projects than it is to see ours realistically. Thus we don’t see where our difficulties and issues lie, which mean we don’t lead ourselves effectively.

I’ve had that experience, and said this to myself and others many times. It seems so easy to see the big picture, recognize missing pieces and such. I am an objective observer with other.

2. It’s easy for us to cover over our challenges, undesired results with excuses that feel reasonable to us. We rationalize why it didn’t go as planned. When our emotions are involved, it clouds the real picture.

A Simple, Effective Solution

1. Use an accountability partner, a coach, someone who looks from the outside in and will share the truth with us. Be open and honest in sharing with them, and listen to their responses. When we listen to them and accept their counsel and advice, we can take a better path, make corrections, adjustments, and get much better results.

2. Set realistic goals, so we don’t give up on them except for the rare and critically important reason.

3. Know when it is right to lessen our effort or to give up and know when it is right to be persistent.

Barbara Filla
Passion Branding Community