Resolutions

This is the time of year when we make resolutions. We resolve to make next year better than the last through our own choices, and after 2020, perhaps this year’s resolutions take on particular significance.

For those of you who regularly follow this newsletter, you know that I believe leadership matters always, in all places and in all things. You also know that I am convinced leadership has nothing to do with position and title or roles and responsibilities. Instead, leadership is a choice to change the order of things for the better, and to help unlock potential in others so they can do the same. Change need not be big and showy to have real impact. Anyone can lead.

Everyone is afraid of something, so resolve to have more courage: the courage to confront problems, rather than shy away from them, and the courage to withstand the inevitable criticism that will come your way. Courage is a choice.

The going always gets tough at some point, so resolve to have the strength of character to keep going during those tough times. Character is a choice.

Be humble enough to know you need help and empathetic enough to value the perspective of those who may be different but who can help you achieve your goals. Choose always to collaborate with others because nothing truly worth doing can be accomplished by someone who acts alone.

Choose to see the possibilities for progress, for improvement, for problems that have festered too long to be solved. Yes, there are always constraints, limitations and resistance. Leaders are realistic about all these and yet still have enough optimism to focus on the actions necessary to turn possibilities into impact.

Each of us has the potential for greater impact. All of us can change the order of things for the better in our corner of the world. As 2020 draws to a close, make your New Year’s Resolution a choice to lead.