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Be hopeful: "Hope," said Aristotle, "is a waking dream". Nobody wants to be associated with a leader who thinks job can't get done.
In face of dire circumstances, there is usually hope to find and communicate.
A great leader I knew who consistently had people get more results faster, continually, had a refrain: "You may think you can't meet goals I set for you. But I believe in you and I believe you can and I'll support you in every way possible so you can."
That hopeful refrain had power of a dream; and in relationships he established, he was able to identify and share in their dreams.
Be scarce: Cultivate art of being scarce. In other words, give them space to get results.
Use this art way a homeopath prepares medicine by diluting drugs which would produce in a healthy person symptoms similar to those of full-blown disease.
The full-blown disease in this case is total scarcity -- meaning leader is never around. Not being there for people can be a leadership pathology. After all, in historical example, a leader had to GATHER PEOPLE TOGETHER -- leader had to be with people. Many leaders are absent without leave. One secretary described her seldom seen CEO as follows: "He's like Elvis -- There are rumors of sightings of him. The only time we know he's around is when we smell is pipe smoke."
But being with people can be a fault, if people resent it. They make think you're trying to micro-manage them or are snooping around trying to get goods on them.
The art of being scarce is predicated on your giving them space to do well. The coach of a great Arkansas basketball team said, "I don't want to hamper them by coaching them." Likewise, don't hamper people you lead by leading them in a domineering way.
People's dreams are pathways to their inner heart and their most ardent desires. However, most leaders don't know how to go down those paths. Be helpful, be hopeful, be scarce will help you walk your talk, letting people get great results though gift of their dreams.
2005 © The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
The author of 23 books, Brent Filson's recent books are, THE LEADERSHIP TALK: THE GREATEST LEADERSHIP TOOL and 101 WAYS TO GIVE GREAT LEADERSHIP TALKS. He has been helping leaders of top companies worldwide get audacious results. Sign up for his free leadership e-zine and get a free white paper: "49 Ways To Turn Action Into Results," at http://www.actionleadership.com