In over three decades of working intimately with over a thousand leaders, in a variety of situations, circumstances, demographics, and types of organizations, I have often heard someone in a leadership position saying that they wish to accomplish something, or get something done, but don't know how, or where to start. Quintilian wrote, "While we deliberate about beginning, it is already too late to begin." I have repeatedly stated during my many hundreds of leadership seminars that a leader just has to force himself to start, and begin the process. It is far better to begin, and have to begin again, than to never start the process. No project, achievement, or idea has ever been achieved or implemented until someone in leadership steps up and becomes a real leader, and gets started in some direction towards that goal.
1. Many leaders suffer from a syndrome I have come to refer to as terminal excusitis. They seem to feel that avoiding failure is far better than achieving successful and worthwhile goals, and often spend far more time and effort developing ways to avoid taking action so as to avoid blame or responsibility, than developing a plan and taking timely action. I have come to believe that there is probably no greater fault or "sin" committed by someone in leadership than to avoid taking timely action. While there is never any assurance that the initial course of action is the best and/ or most viable one, evaluations of leadership models and actual case studies consistently indicate that far more damage is caused to most organizations by avoiding action (procrastination) than by making any mistake.
2. These steps do not have to be major ones, either. They can be the leadership equivalent of baby steps. But taking any step generates awareness, enthusiasm and momentum, as well as makes it obvious that the organization is making efforts to maximize the experience and value of belonging and being involved. All steps can be modified, tweaked and amended, and true leaders understand that an essential part of any action plan is to first get started, and then continuously evaluate and make necessary modifications. Part of the planning process should involve alternatives to be taken after the first step in the process is begun.
The reality is that you can never get anything done unless you start. Making mistakes are a part of the process. Great leaders have always learned from adversity, and become better as a result of what they learn from their mistakes. As long as there is a mission, a vision and a goal, and the process is begun, the momentum for achievement becomes the preamble to a greater reality.
Richard Brody,with over 30 years consultative sales,marketing,training,managerial, and operations experience,has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as a company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs, and regularly blogs on real estate, politics, economics, management, leadership, negotiations, conferences and conventions, etc. He has negotiated, arranged and/ or organized hundreds of conferences and conventions. He's a Senior Consultant with RGB Consultation Services, an Ecobroker, a Licensed Buyers Agent (LBA) and Licensed Salesperson in NYS, in real estate.
Richard has owned businesses, been a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Development, as well as a consultant. He has a Consulting Website ( http://tinyurl.com/rgbcons ), and his company PLAN2LEAD, LLC's site ( http://www.plan2lead.net/ ), and can be followed on Twitter
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