It's gut check time.
A couple of our favorite authors have an article in this month's Fast Company magazine in which they report the results of a University of Toronto research project showing that those gut feelings you have are far more reliable than rational thought when it comes to ethical decision making. The bottom line is that you can talk yourself into or out of anything, especially if doing the "right" thing is pitted against doing what seems to be in your best financial interest. Your gut is a way more reliable voice to follow.
The twist is that, according to this study, more people trust those who use their brains rather than their guts to make decisions. We seem to have bought into the idea that only rational, quantifiable, measurable data matters when it comes to the way we do business...whatever that business happens to be.
And that just isn't true.
What's in your gut matters even more.
We think that's the case about more than just making ethical choices, though. We think that's true about every aspect of leadership. It's not that data isn't important. It is. But you can't lead people in your organization into new territory or help them come together around a common purpose or inspire them to give themselves away for the sake of achieving your goals unless you believe in your gut that nothing on this planet is more important. People follow passion.
Do you have passion for the organization you've been called to lead and the work you're called to do together?
If you used to have it and you've lost it, figure out how to get it back.
If you've tried but for whatever reason you just can't get it back, find yourself another gig.
If you never had it, you shouldn't have taken this position in the first place.
There are way too many leaders out there who are just punching the clock, biding their time until retirement or a better offer or the eschaton arrives. They need to get out of the way.
Whether they're part of a small business, a large corporation, a nonprofit agency, a hospital, school, or church...people deserve to be led by leaders who are passionate about they have been called to do together and are willing to give whatever it takes to make it happen. People aren't going to care more than you do.
They shouldn't have to.
*****************************************
A good coach might help you sort out where your passion lies and what to do about it. Let us know if we can help.
Hmmmm. Gut decision making.
That's the James T. Kirk system (and the one that is ultimately the most fun - another critical element of good leadership)!!
Posted by: Rob Moore | July 03, 2009 at 04:36 PM