As a leader it is important to celebrate the collectiveness of each success. Such generous appreciation keeps us energized for the next challenge together.
The more mature you become in your leadership the easier it is to return to a core focus−your purpose−and not lose footing on the slickness of success. Richard Rohr, among others, teaches that we learn much more from our failures than our successes.
He can’t lead after he succeeds. −Bob Dole
I was intrigued by Mr. Dole’s comment. It is not important to identify to whom the words were directed, but to hone in on possible truth.
~ Do you know how to lead after you succeed?
~ And, what does it mean to lead after success?
To me it means to not lose focus: focus on a purpose greater than any single success. For the immature leader it is easy to see “a” success as a well-deserved, personal accolade. Pinning such a badge on one’s lapel causes great damage and limits the energy the leader will need very shortly for the next challenge−and they come along one-after-another in this 21st Century.
In leadership, maturity is less about age and more about practice; consistently seeking knowledge and putting into perpetual practice-learning for impact. True success comes from your purpose-filled focus. In such trueness we find congruency between purpose and outcomes: seeing each success for what it really is and honoring each effort in the specific manner required to position us for the next thing.
The joys of success are not in a moral, but in the journey of the story itself.
Filed under: Ch. 6: Focus Tagged: Ch. 6: Focus, Mature Leadership, Purpose, Story, Success
