Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Message from the Lead Dog Principal -Summer rant #2

How much power do you give to the “vocal minority?”

Yes, you read it right.  The vocal minority makes itself felt every chance it gets.  And it will seize as much power as you allow.

I am so tired of hearing phrases such as, “everyone says,” “everyone feels,” and “everybody wants.”  Most times these phrases are used simply as ways to manipulate you.  Don’t let these words trap you.

Early in my career I fell victim to these words quite often.  I would listen to the deliverer of these messages and figuratively “quake in my boots.”  I automatically believed them.  I automatically reacted and perhaps all too often appeased these complainants. 

It took me a while but I finally began to research these comments and actually tried to ferret out exactly who said what or who wanted what.  At the end of the day, it turned out that these loudmouths (my vocal minority) were few in number.  Most people did not feel the same as these self-appointed leaders.

I allowed myself to chase endless “windmills.”  I wasted too much time and let it consume too much of my emotional energy chasing nonsense.

Of course, you cannot totally ignore these folks. Listen and find out what is the actual truth. When you slowdown your reaction to this group enough times, although this vocal minority will never stop coming to you, their rate of appearing in your doorway telling you that the sky is falling, will slow down.  DO NOT EMPOWER THIS GROUP!  For if you do, you will end up like Don Quixote, and me, needlessly chasing fantasies. For your own sanity, you must avoid this trap.