Leadership is not talking but doing it

Imagine that our lawmakers are our leaders of the present and the future. Imagine they are innovators and finding ways to protect us and keep us safe as well as finding ways to keep us from paying higher taxes and misspending more money on wasteful projects or government expenses. Imagine they are doers and not talkers. Every now and then you have to roll the dice in your life and go do something courageous or bold. Not only does this make your time on Earth more interesting but is demonstrates you are willing to leave the pack and lead by example.

Everybody has a dream. Some dream of becoming a fireman, a policeman, a teacher or a doctor and some, yes some dream of being a politician that can make a difference in someone’s life. Everybody deserves the chance of being a leader but only real leaders step up to fill the void when the calling is difficult or perilous. Leaders make things happen, making something happen creates action so it fair to say that action verbs are greater in value than nouns or titles.

Lawmakers are not necessarily leaders. One would expect them to be to some degree but many fail the role elected for by their constituents. By the end of the day or session, nothing was accomplished and their identity is of those that do nothing. Leaders create opportunities for improvements, savings or wellness whether social, economic or wellness and safety.

To become a better leader you have to become an innovator and finding productive ways about experiencing as many creative thinking cycles of actually doing something as long as you can. When faced with challenges you must act; you must learn and you must follow through to finalize your solution. The sooner you learn the sooner you get it done.  In doing something about the challenges facing us you become a learner. You begin to know more about the resolution at hand and the matter in general.

The more you do, the more you learn. Making mistakes is part of the process but not making the same mistake is progress you can count on. Taking action helps you think. The more you think the more gets done. The more gets done the better you become at solving the problems for those that depend on you as an elected official. Innovative leadership is about doing, not talking.

Are You Boring the Bored?

Have you evaluated yourself lately and determined maybe you need to change your way in having conversations with someone lately? Let’s look at these signs and determine the facts if you are bored or the cause of the boredom – either way there is a need for change if you want to make your conversations more exciting.

Sign #1 – do you repeat your responses with – Oh really? That’s interesting? That’s funny? Or maybe hmmm is that so? – It means your conversation is disengaged and not interesting.

Sign #2 – do you ask simple questions like “where or when did that happen? Where is it? How do you get there? – It means they are trying to be polite not curious at all of your topic.

Sign #3 – are there any interruptions to your words? If there are that’s a good sign but if there aren’t any interruptions, you are being boring.

Sign #4 – Do people paraphrase you or ask for clarification on your words? If they are sincerely interested, they will ask you to elaborate on your words and ask questions.

Sign #5 – Talk time out of balance – who talks more? You or the other persons? For the sake of balancing the conversation, allow interaction equally to share the information being discussed.

Sign # 6 – Observe the body position – are you face to face with the other person? Are they looking away? Are they trying or pretending to be interested in your conversation? Check their attention span and follow their eyes going into space, rolling or gazing elsewhere.

Sign # 7 – Observe the posture – are they slouched or leaning against something as you are speaking? Are they vertical and attentive? Are they fidgeting and looking away or laying down? They are giving you clues you are being boring.

 

Source: Gretchen Rubin - writer