The Sage Leader Questions What You HAVE To Do
"You do what you have to do..." I heard it again this morning.Says who? Who says you HAVE to do something? What DO you Have to do? Who decides?I find that this is a pervasive paradigm that I hear multiple times a day from:
An executive who is working globally taking calls at 5 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 6 pm and 11 pm AND managing meetings and emails inbetween.
A working Mom who says she doesn't have more quality time with her kids.
A mid-career professional who "can't get a job" in their field and takes something way below skill level to "get by."
The language is limiting, not-strategic, and defeatist and energy-draining. It negates the notion of choice and control. I haven't been living in a cave the last couple of years - I am aware of the economic downturn, the global political climate, the environmental crisis - should I go on?
The key question that a sage leader asks is - what do I REALLY NEED to do to achieve my goals? Where do I have choices? What are the choices? What kind of focus and discipline do I need to stick to my choices?
The sage leader stays in the space of proactivity versus reactivity - especially in times of uncertainty and crisis. Often a shift really comes down to going back to basics: delegate, being willing to let go and not trying to do everything - and all at once.
What is the one thing that will reset your view - What DO you WANT to do?Why? What will it get you?