Go ahead – stick it out there!

I worked with some young pros recently who inspired this article. When was the last time someone senior to you had to reel you in? In military circles you might hear “man you really stuck your —- out there and got it chopped off.”. Well, I say good for you! I’m certainly not talking about doing something foolish or destructive, but if you haven’t gotten reeled in or your head bashed about lately, are you really trying to lead? Are you showing any initiative? If you’re in an organization that doesn’t encourage innovation then you might get really discouraged after awhile. Let me encourage you to press on. Leaders make mistakes, take risks, and put themselves out front for all to follow or make fun of. That’s a part of what leaders do. The next time you’re passionate about some initiative, but you seem to be getting bashed in for it, take a step back and reflect on how you’re going about it. Is your idea something that will improve the organization’s performance, the lives or employees and/or customers? How can you communicate that? Your peers and superiors need to understand that you see the big picture and that your initiative supports the current strategy (assuming there is one). Bosses – do you have some young guns that you may have shot down lately? Don’t be foolish. This is personal initiative and leadership in its early stages. If you do that too many times you’ll lose a diamond in the rough. Take that high-potential talent and listen, ask questions, and perhaps do some coaching. Harness their energy in a way that both fulfills a need in the organization and fills the individual with purpose.

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