"If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing
theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when
all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting
too; . . . If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And
treat those two impostors just the same . . . Yours is the
Earth and everything that's in it"
Rudyard Kipling
Excerpts from "If"
My operations leader and I were discussing an upcoming major organizational change which
was having a considerable negative impact on the organization. As we wrestled with the problem
and possible courses of action, none of which were particularly attractive, he commented that,
though at that point I seemed as frustrated as any of them, I always presented a positive attitude
to the organization. I told him that, as leaders, we were always being watched and that the
attitude we portrayed would tend to shape the organization’s attitude. If we portrayed a negative
attitude, soon the organization would be negative as well. This is something that leaders often
seem to forget -- you set the tone! It was difficult to walk out among the workers (which I love to
do) and continue to present a positive demeanor, but it was vital for a leader to do so.
That doesn’t mean you lie to your people, quite the contrary. You must be completely honest
with them at all times, but you can still remain upbeat about the situations you face. If you have
bad news, don’t hide it, put it out for all to see, but at the same time, let them see that you still
have a positive attitude. In his 1981 inaugural address, President Ronald Reagan faced a nation
in economic despair; a nation depressed and unsure about the future. He clearly and succinctly
laid out the issues, pulling no punches concerning the severity of the situation. But then he told
the nation that something could, and would be done and that the citizens were the most important
element in the solution. He presented a positive attitude that helped the nation recover.
During my time in the military I learned what a substantial effect a leader’s attitude can have
on an organization. The stress of military action seems to bring out the best in most people, but
the stress of military inspections seems to sometimes have the opposite effect. Though
inspections often seemed to be only marginally related to an organization’s mission, they did test
a leader’s ability to provide consistent, positive leadership. In one instance I will never forget,
the organization’s senior leadership made an assumption early in the inspection that we had
made a critical error and failed. They spent the remainder of the inspection moping around with a
"woe is me" attitude and by the end of the inspection they had completely abdicated their
leadership responsibility in favor of hand-wringing. Their negative attitude infected the entire
organization and became a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Many leaders today are facing difficult times. It can be increasingly difficult to put a positive
spin on your situation but it is the leader’s responsibility to stay positive. How do you do that?
First, as I mentioned previously, be completely honest at all times. If you must withhold
information, be honest about that. It is vital for everyone to see the leader as someone who is
working for them and who can be trusted to give them the straight story. If your primary concern
in dealing with this or any other situation is self-enrichment, do everyone a favor and quit. Right
now. Don’t even finish reading this article. If you’re mainly worried about your career, you are
or will quickly become part of the problem.
Next, get out of your office and see your people. Go where they are and talk to them. I find
that this single step is the most effective way to boost my own moral. It’s difficult though
because people will express their concerns to you, sometimes quite forcefully. Your reaction will
demonstrate your resolve to find solutions and support them. Tell them where the problems are
and what is being done. Don’t make things up, they’ll see right through that.
People look to their leaders to lead, especially when the going gets tough. They want honest
but positive leadership. A leader with a negative or defeatist attitude will also accomplish
something though. It’s called failure.
Kipling’s poem ends with
"Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!"
If I may paraphrase Kipling -- If you can do these things yours is the Earth and everything that’s
in it, and -- which is more -- you’ll be a positive leader!
Bob Mason is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and president of RLM Planning and Leadership, a
consulting firm dedicated to helping businesses meld smart strategic planning with leadership
excellence. He helps all kinds of organizations improve through strategic planning and
leadership training/coaching. To learn more visit http://www.planleadexcel.com and download
his "Inviolate Rules of Leadership."
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