I’ll start
with a quote by Jim Kouzes ‘Only those leaders who act boldly in time of crisis
would be willingly followed’
Leaders love
progress. Progress is what keeps them coming back to the task. Nothing is more
discouraging to a leader than the prospect of being stranded in an environment
where progress is impossible. if we cant move things forward, then its time to
move on. Progress
requires change. If an organization, business, ministry or relationship is
going to make progress, it must evolve
into something different. It must become better, more relevant, more
disciplined, and better aligned.
But
organizations, like people resist change. As the Author of ‘The Leadership
Challenge’ pointed out, ‘leaders must challenge the process precisely because
any system will unconsciously conspire to maintain the status quo and prevent
change.’ Organizations seek equilibrium, people in organizations seek
stability. Both can be deterrents to progress because progress requires change
and change is viewed as the antithesis of stability.
Keep in mind
that everything you loath about your current environment or organization was
originally somebody’s good idea. At the time it might have even been considered
revolutionary. To suggest change is to suggest that your predecessors lacked
insight or worse that your current supervisor doesn’t get it! Consequently, its
easier to leave things as they are, to accept the status quo and learn to live
with it.
While that
may be easier, its not an option for a leader. Accepting the status quo is the
equivalent of a death sentence. In my opinion, where there’s no progress there’s
no growth, if there’s no growth, there’s no life. Environment void of change is
void of life. So leaders find themselves in this precarious and often career
jeopardizing position of being the one to draw attention to the need for
change.
Consequently,
courage is a non-negotiable quality for the next generation leaders who will
shape the future and change to world.
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