When you feel tense, the natural tendency is to tighten up.  As a leader, you must do the opposite.  Relieve the pressure by taking a great-hearted approach to life.  Open up, like a camera, and take a wider view.  When a camera lens opens, it lets in more light. When you take a wider view, it lets in understanding.

To ease tension, be open-minded toward others and their imperfections, just as you want them to be open-minded toward you. – Shar McBee

I believe that YOU have a purpose and a unique gift to give to the world.  If you are feeling stopped from bringing your mission to expression, remember that progress comes in stops and starts. When stopped, try this method to get yourself started again.

Follow the example of water.  What does water do when it comes upon a rock?  It flows over or around it.  When it comes upon a precipice does it squeal, “That’s too steep”?  No.  It goes right over the cliff.  What happens when it comes to a hole?  It fills the hole up and flows on.

On the other hand, what happens when water does not flow on?  It gets stagnant, doesn’t it?  It’s the same with us.  If we let fear or indecision stop us, we get stagnant too.

(If you have the book, you can read more about this in the final chapter of To Lead is to Serve.  Also available here.) http://joyofleadership.com/products/index.htm#books

The world needs good leadership!  Please share your Joy of Leadership tips with others.    – Shar McBee

1.  Being the “leader” might mean working in a background or seemingly insignificant position in order to secure the best outcome. 

2.  Instead of “leading,” the leader might have to withdraw.  You don’t withdraw because you are angry.  Withdraw because you care. 

3.  A leader doesn’t have to intervene to “save the situation.”  Nobody wants to fill someone else’s shoes.  They want to walk in their own shoes.  Letting people do it their way, even if they make mistakes, is necessary if you want people to help you. – Shar McBee

Be my friend on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1419623208

When people feel included, they support you.

When people feel excluded, they undermine you.

If you make your decisions at the top,

don’t assume those below will implement them.

When you want people to “buy in” – listen to them.

Let them give you advice.  Let them add their ideas.

Let them talk.  Because people remember what THEY

say more than what YOU tell them. – Shar McBee

PS  I’d like to “include” you as my friend on Facebook.

To be my friend:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shar-McBee/94712870749#!/profile.php?id=1419623208&ref=ts

To join the “To Lead is to Serve’ group:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shar-McBee/94712870749#!/group.php?gid=102173708872&ref=ts

Doubt can actually lead to exhaustion.  It makes people tired.  When we are influenced by doubt, we block ourselves from seeing a solution. 

It’s not that we have to “believe” when we don’t.  We just have to get rid of disbelief.

The next time you doubt that things will work out, try to be open-minded.  It’s impossible to be creative and also filled with doubt.  Being open-minded will allow your creativity to move mountains.  Holding on to doubt will block your creative process.

– Shar McBee

Do you…?

A.  Send an email “setting them straight.”

B.  Determine that the bad situation will never work out.

C.  Try to persuade them of your point of view.

D.  Attempt to force a solution just to get past the awkwardness.

E.  Let wounded pride turn to hatred.

If your final opinion is resentment, YOU (not the other person) will suffer.

You can’t change another person. The challenge is to change your reaction. 

The following advice was given to me:  Allow them to go their way.  Carry on with your life, but don’t give them up as hopeless.

Still, it hurts when you split with people that you used to admire.  What do YOU do? 

If you have suggestions, please post them below. 

Thanks. – Shar McBee

When you find yourself in an influential position, don’t be surprised if it arouses envy.  You can’t avoid it.  You can avoid becoming embroiled in it. 

1.  Do your duty. 

2.  Be conscientious. 

3.  Don’t seek to “be somebody.”  Seek to do something worthwhile.

If you follow these 3 steps, eventually the envy will melt away. – Shar McBee

1.  If the leader has to obtain a following by force or cunning, by conspiracy or creating factions, that leader will invariably arouse resistance.

2.  If the leader feels “I do so much and no one thanks ME” or “public gratitude has rarely been shown to me,” that leader will provoke opposition.

3.  If the leader fails to follow his or her values, sooner or later that leader becomes a loser. – Shar McBee

PS –  Thank you to the Indiana National Guard!  They bought 500 copies of my book To Lead is to Serve and I will keynote their statewide conference.

I suggested that someone thank two people.  (The two had been helpful to him.)  I thought he’d be thankful for my suggestion.  Instead, he bristled, “No one is better at gratitude than I am.”

He was angry at my suggestion.  I thought I was being helpful, but I hurt his pride.

Does it mean I shouldn’t make suggestions?

When you tell others what ‘should’ happen, you create resistance.  Position creates opposition.  As an alternative, offer what you think is right and then let it go.  Just watch what happens.  And don’t fear adversity.  Sometimes it is the only way to grow.  Of course, you don’t court adversity, but when it occurs – learn from it.

What I learned (hopefully) is that when you make a suggestion, you need to be careful about when you make it, how you say it, and to whom.

What do you think? – Shar McBee

P.S.  Two weeks ago the message was about how gratitude can help you to gain support.  I received “Thank YOU” emails from 84 of you. (One email was negative.)  It’s interesting how something as agreeable as gratitude can arouse such strong reactions!

When you need more people, thank the ones you have.  And here’s the key – thank them publicly.  I served on a conference planning committee for a year.  The conference was a success.  But we, the committee, were not mentioned.  A year of volunteer work and there was no time in the conference schedule for us to be introduced.  Our names weren’t listed in the program.  Later, we did receive an email thank you (when we were being asked to come to another meeting.)

Don’t misunderstand.  The chair of the conference is a wonderful guy.  He just missed an opportunity to attract additional support.

A sage once asked, “What is a human beings greatest support?” 

The answer was “Gratitude.”

So if you need support, express your gratitude VERY PUBLICLY.  It is an easy way to get more people to participate.  When you publicly thank those who do support you, new people want to get involved. – Shar McBee