Bet on yourself
Why is it that 80% of leaders demand you to meet them where they are before they consider meeting you halfway?
Simple. Either they lack the bandwidth or the skill set, or they just don’t care enough.
Why do they lack the bandwidth or skill set?
Because the scope of responsibilities has grown too large for most leaders to stay sufficiently engaged and discern what’s really happening or what needs improvement.
Companies have slashed investment in development because they struggle to see direct profits in their bottom line. This lack of investment in people is why most companies are only getting a percentage of what folks are capable of delivering.
And why do some leaders not prioritize your needs?
Because they’re too wrapped up in themselves (see previous blog post about taking yourself too seriously).
So, when only 20% of leaders bother to prioritize you, what do you do?
You bet on yourself.
But what does “bet on yourself” actually mean?
It means you do the work. You seize control of the narrative. You treat obstacles like mere debris.
What does “do the work” entail?
It means being proactive and refusing to play the victim. Take full charge of your actions. When you’re intentional about this, you won’t find yourself constantly reacting to others’ whims and agendas.
When you’re reactive, you end up playing the victim nine times out of ten. But when you’re proactive and things don’t go as planned, you’re far more likely to own up to it and learn from the experience.
What about controlling the narrative?
You can’t control others’ actions entirely, but you can hone the skills needed to influence them.
“Success in dealing with people depends on a sympathetic grasp of the other person’s viewpoint” — Dale Carnegie
And how do you treat obstacles like debris?
Mentally, you acknowledge that they’re temporary. This too shall pass. Anxiety and excitement feel strikingly similar in the body. It’s the label you attach to that feeling that determines your response. This is the mental aspect of putting in the work!
