Lead Anyway

With apologies to Dr. Kent M. Keith, the author of The Paradoxical Commandments, (see temporary link to the left) and to Mother Teresa, to whom they are widely but mistakenly attributed; here are some Paradoxical Leadership Commandments for today:

The  economy is horrible, unpredictable, and depressing. Be optimistic anyway.

If you are hopeful, people may accuse you of “being out of touch.” Be hopeful anyway.

Your big, “loyal” customers may have cut orders drastically and are now being unreasonably demanding. Serve them loyally and reasonably anyway.

Budgets are tight and the pressure to cut future development is mounting. Innovate anyway.

People may ignore you because they are overwhelmed with fear–about their jobs, their mortgages, their retirement. Inspire them with your presence and voice anyway.

Taking time to renew your body, heart, mind, and spirit conflicts directly with office emergencies. Renew yourself anyway. 

If you remain calm while others panic, many will be irritated and resent you. Stay calm anyway.

Your plans for this year are in shambles and the direction of the future is foggy. Build new plans with vision anyway.

You personally may be afraid and worried you’ll make the wrong move now. Summon your courage and take action anyway.

In the final analysis, life was never meant to be a lay-up. Smooth seas never make great sailors and clear skies never make great pilots. It’s the testing of times like these that separate those who are BUILT TO LEAD from positional imposters, anyway.

Care to add any other commandments that you would suggest? We’d LOVE to hear them!