Leaders are like prospectors. Some seem focused on looking for gold. Others, however, seem busily intent on digging up dirt, detritus, and dung.
Both kinds are mining in the same medium. The difference is in the leader’s perspective.
De-energizing leaders look for (and almost always find) the following:
- Mistakes and misses
- Shortcomings
- Scapegoats
- Self-aggrandizements
Energizing leaders look for (and almost always find) the following:
- Praise-worthy effort
- What’s working
- Opportunities for improvement
- Collective discernment/analysis
- Results-oriented thinking and behavior
Two questions to consider:
Which kind of leader would I prefer to work for/with?
Which kind of leader do I choose to be?
It is a choice, you know.
*If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to www.nelsonwcoulter.com
Nelson Coulter
Nelson Coulter has held a lot of titles: rancher, educator, author, musician, entrepreneur, coach, mentor, consultant, and professor. He has coached, taught, and been published in many settings. He has served in public schools of all shapes, sizes, and contexts. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Louisiana State University - Shreveport. His most cherished titles, however, are the ones not attached to career identity: son, husband, dad, and granddad.
