Wednesday, March 9, 2011

i-TFTD #307: What Mature Leaders Do


#307-1. Longing for the ideal while criticizing the real is evidence of immaturity; Settling for the real without striving for the ideal is complacency; Whereas maturity is actually living with the tension.
-Rick Warren

#307-2. To be a leader is to take responsibility for outcomes... good, bad or indifferent. This, more than any other characteristic or trait, is the mark of a leader.
-Thomas D. Willhite

#307-3. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
-John Quincy Adams

_____
"Don't be idealistic" dismissively advises my pragmatist colleague.

"Think beyond the current reality" exhorts my boss.

My brain churns out inspiring visions while a pile of immediate To Dos stare at me and the same brain finds reasons why something is impractical when an eager subordinate suggests a new idea.

The first quote above brilliantly explains the contradictions—no easy resolution.

The second and third quotes highlight important attributes of leadership: sense of ownership and positively influencing other people. These have very little to do with one's position, title, age or experience.

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