When necessary, the Extreme Leader will risk his or her own safety and security in order to further the cause, grow the enterprise and–just as important–develop as a human being.
Safety isn’t a bad thing, but we often arrive at it by way of hazard and by learning from every break, scrape, and bruise. Safety often comes through the knowledge gained by having been unsafe.
If the only reason you’re avoiding taking on a challenge is because the idea scares you, then that’s the reason to take it on. That’s the pursuit of the OS!M, and it’s how you know you’re growing as a leader. And the bigger and more important the challenge, the more intense the OS!M.
If you’re using all the buzzwords, reading all the latest books, and holding forth at every meeting on the latest management fads, but you’re not experiencing that visceral churning in your gut, not scaring yourself every day, not feeling that Oh Shit! Moment like clockwork, then you’re not doing anything significant–let alone changing the world–and you’re certainly not leading anyone else.
So…
Where’s your next OS!M going to come from?
Spot on, Steve!;-)The only constant thing in life is change. And history confirms that the greatest game-changers in the world, risked their all in order to pursue their dream.Oh, boy what a feeling it is when, you collect the guts and wisdom to boldly stand up in front of your “superiors” and speak up. Following latest edge cutting trends in the field without applying them into life and changing own behavior and then inspiring others by own example, has the same effect as not knowing it at all.Guys, go out, risk your all in what you believe in, stand up, speak up, do things differently, fail often and you will see how you will be eager to wake up each day to make a difference.cheers from Slovakia,i.
Very well said, Ivana!
Stand up, speak up!
Spot on, Steve!;-)The only constant thing in life is change. And history confirms that the greatest game-changers in the world, risked their all in order to pursue their dream.Oh, boy what a feeling it is when, you collect the guts and wisdom to boldly stand up in front of your “superiors” and speak up. Following latest edge cutting trends in the field without applying them into life and changing own behavior and then inspiring others by own example, has the same effect as not knowing it at all.Guys, go out, risk your all in what you believe in, stand up, speak up, do things differently, fail often and you will see how you will be eager to wake up each day to make a difference.cheers from Slovakia,i.
Very well said, Ivana!
Stand up, speak up!
Thanks for reminding me about the importance of OS!and M. It keeps the challenges of leading in perspective and inspires me to keep moving forward.
Thanks for reminding me about the importance of OS!and M. It keeps the challenges of leading in perspective and inspires me to keep moving forward.
Just used the excerpt from Radical Leap on vision statements with district and building level school improvement teams to drive home the importance of vision as much more than the statement. It gave the teams a lot of food for thought as to how to make their school vision/mission so embedded that stating is not necessary.
That’s great to hear Stephanie. I’ll be posting an adaptation of that excerpt on the blog, soon. Maybe you can tell us more about your experience then…
Just used the excerpt from Radical Leap on vision statements with district and building level school improvement teams to drive home the importance of vision as much more than the statement. It gave the teams a lot of food for thought as to how to make their school vision/mission so embedded that stating is not necessary.
That’s great to hear Stephanie. I’ll be posting an adaptation of that excerpt on the blog, soon. Maybe you can tell us more about your experience then…
I think the essence of successful risk-taking is distinguishing between carefully calculated risks and reckless, blind stabs in the dark. If you look at the great leaders who tend to be held up as examples, whether it be in business or in other spheres, the risks they have taken are often huge, but they’re carefully thought out and assessed in advance; they don’t just throw the dice on a whim.
Harris Silverman
http://www.HarrisSilverman.com
I think the essence of successful risk-taking is distinguishing between carefully calculated risks and reckless, blind stabs in the dark. If you look at the great leaders who tend to be held up as examples, whether it be in business or in other spheres, the risks they have taken are often huge, but they’re carefully thought out and assessed in advance; they don’t just throw the dice on a whim.
Harris Silverman
http://www.HarrisSilverman.com
Well said Steve. Thank you for sharing your leadership ideas.
Well said Steve. Thank you for sharing your leadership ideas.