| If you are a student of people like I am then you know | | | | Before, you read these fears, please prepare your |
| that there are certain traits that lead to success. I | | | | mind to read them openly and honestly. This article is |
| personally love going to malls, finding a quiet place to | | | | not meant to delve deeply into the psychology of each |
| sit, and just watch people walk by. I often try to | | | | fear, but to share how they influence you as a leader. |
| imagine what makes them tick, what decisions they | | | | The fears I see most often in the lives of leaders are: |
| are wrestling with, and what challenges life has thrown | | | | * Rejection. I have never met a person that likes to be |
| their way. Businesses are much harder to watch, but | | | | rejected. Leaders that have had bad experiences with |
| the successful ones all seem to have common | | | | rejection will guard themselves from being rejected. |
| characteristics too. The author of the book, Good To | | | | Most often I see this as the turtle syndrome. The |
| Great, went much further than just sitting in a mall | | | | leader is afraid to stick his head out of the shell and |
| watching. He and his team spent months and months | | | | take a risk, develop a new program, hire a new |
| investigating what it takes to be a great business. | | | | employee, or ask someone to take on a certain task. |
| What he found can be read in his book, but I want to | | | | As a leader you have to realize that there are risks |
| dig into why many, dare I say, "Most" businesses don't | | | | involved, and those risks come with rejection. You |
| succeed. | | | | must stop, look at your options, decide on what to do, |
| First, let's take a look at what a barrier is. A simple | | | | and then take action. |
| definition is something that keeps you from reaching | | | | * Loss of control. This fear is often seen in powerful |
| that sought after goal. Barriers come in many forms | | | | personality types. This is not to say that the leader is a |
| and hinder even the most successful. Such as:o Harry | | | | control freak, but control is a "comfort zone" to this |
| Truman failed so often in business and politics that he | | | | person. The fear of losing control is displayed in a |
| once wrote a letter to his wife, Bess, in which he said, | | | | leadership style often called "micromanagement." In |
| "I can't possibly lose forever."o Early in her career, | | | | other words, the leader is afraid to delegate |
| Lucille Ball was fired by a producer who told her, | | | | responsibilities because if things get out of control he |
| "You're not meant for show business. Go home."o | | | | will not be able to take corrective action fast enough. |
| After an early performance at the Grand Ole Opry, | | | | What you must realize is that you are in control of |
| Elvis Presley was told that he should stick to driving a | | | | very little. Life is basically out of your control. Managing |
| truck since he obviously had no future as a singer.o | | | | people with a strong, controlling hand will not allow |
| Rudy Kipling was fired from his first job as a | | | | them to take on new problems nor will it challenge |
| newspaper reporter because his editor told him, "You | | | | them to make progress in areas where they have |
| don't know how to use the English language."o After | | | | never been before. |
| completing his first novel, Stephen King decided it was | | | | * Employee dependence. We all depend on people, |
| terrible and threw it into the trash. His wife fished it out | | | | from our families, to our doctors, to the garbage |
| and sent it to a publisher. Thus started a very long and | | | | collectors that pick up our trash on a regular basis. |
| successful writing career. | | | | Employee dependence is a fear that is much deeper |
| The question that I hope you will answer by the end of | | | | than simply depending on someone. The fear comes |
| this article is, "How do I overcome the barriers that I | | | | each day when the leader senses that something may |
| am facing today, and the barriers I will face in the | | | | be wrong with his "key" person. The leader then |
| future?" After reading this statement you might be | | | | begins to wonder about the loyalty of this person. |
| thinking, "Wait a minute, this article is supposed to be | | | | Asking mental questions like, "What if this person quits? |
| about barriers to a successful business." Believe it or | | | | How would I make it without him? What can I do to |
| not, it is this business man's opinion that the real barriers | | | | make sure she is happy in her job? What will my boss |
| to a successful business lies within the mind. | | | | do if this person goes over my head with a problem?" |
| Yes, common barriers to a successful business can | | | | On and on the questions go. The grip of this fear is |
| be the location of the business, the amount of capital | | | | strong, but must be eliminated. As the old saying says, |
| and funding it has, the experience of the staff, and | | | | "If you hold on too tight, it will slip through your fingers." |
| how much in demand the product is. But... I believe that | | | | * Financial challenges. Take a day this week and go to |
| the following ten barriers will keep your business on the | | | | your local bookstore and count how many books are |
| sideline even if you have the best possible location, all | | | | written on financial matters. You will probably find that |
| the money in the world, a team that is known as a | | | | there are more books on this one subject than any |
| "dream team", and a product as great as an umbrella | | | | other. Leaders are always facing challenges, but |
| in the rainy season. | | | | financial fears have a way of gripping like no other. |
| Barrier #1: Lack of focus - Recently at a golf | | | | New programs or ventures take capital. Employees |
| tournament his name was sitting where it is found | | | | needed to expand and grow increases the salary |
| most often, at the top of the leader board. He was | | | | budget. Additional equipment to increase overall |
| playing great golf and the "pack" was trying every | | | | efficiency requires funds to be spent. The strength of |
| shot in their bags to catch him. He continually stepped | | | | financial fears often causes the leader to begin |
| up and hit one magnificent golf shot after another. | | | | accepting the status quo; and will often cause the |
| Then I noticed something. After each shot, while the | | | | leader to give up on his dreams. |
| crowd was roaring cheers to their great hero, this | | | | These are four fears that I often see in leaders. I |
| golfer stayed focused on his game. During the entire | | | | encourage you to plan some time in your schedule this |
| round he rarely took off his "game-face". It was this | | | | week and think through this. If you find that one, or |
| focus that enabled him to hit those great golf shots, to | | | | more, of these fears have a grip on your life then |
| win the tournament, and will very possibly be what | | | | allow your mind to reveal the root cause. Finding the |
| makes Tiger Woods the best professional golfer the | | | | root cause today will begin a healing process that will |
| PGA has ever seen. Just like Tiger, in order for you to | | | | result in you being a better leader tomorrow. |
| reach your goals personally, as well as professionally, | | | | Barrier #6: Being satisfied - It has been said if you are |
| you must stay focused. | | | | not going up you are going down. I don't know if that is |
| Barrier #2: Mind Set - When you get up in the morning | | | | totally true, but I do know that being satisfied for any |
| do you set in your mind to end the day with several | | | | length of time in your business will cause your success |
| victories? It is easy to say, "Yes," but do you really set | | | | level to go down. Your competition will catch up with |
| out to sell more than you ever have, work smarter in | | | | you, your staff will get bored, and profits will begin |
| order to accomplish what were only dreams a few | | | | leveling out. |
| years ago, or purposefully develop a team that will | | | | Barrier #7: Busyness - Many authors more published |
| help you reach the summit in your profession? The | | | | than I have written on this topic. They have filled many |
| problem is negativity, and negative thoughts. Before | | | | pages and books on this subject. I will make one brief |
| you stop reading consider this. Recently I was playing | | | | statement that will have what I hope is a great impact |
| in a doubles tennis tournament with a person that I had | | | | on the future of your business. That statement is, "You |
| never played with. We were playing the best team in | | | | need to begin tomorrow working 'on' your business, not |
| the tournament and I wanted to win badly. The reason | | | | just 'in' your business." What that means is that you |
| we lost was not lack of skill or even luck, it was my | | | | need to look at your business from 35,000 feet and |
| partner and his negative mental attitude. Literally, his | | | | begin to develop strategies that will produce financial |
| mind cost us the match. How much is your mind | | | | growth, staff satisfaction, and organizational goals |
| costing you? | | | | achieved. |
| Barrier #3: Belief system - I don't believe things always | | | | Barrier #8: Trading greatness for being good enough- |
| happen just because you say they will happen. I do | | | | Referring again to the book "Good to Great" you must |
| however believe that there is power in words. Just like | | | | fight the temptation to just be good enough. I have |
| your mind set, your belief system must be positive in | | | | never been fond of white-water rafting, probably |
| order to have positive results. It is just like the little train | | | | because I don't like cold water. The sport consists of a |
| climbing the mountain, "I think I can, I think I can, I know I | | | | raft, fast moving cold water, raft riders, and a raft |
| can." You stand a better chance of accomplishing your | | | | leader/guide. I once saw a picture of a group of girls |
| dreams if you surround yourself with positive people, | | | | out for some white-water rafting fun. The girls in the |
| mentally feed on positive thoughts, and speak positive | | | | picture were all smiling and waving to the camera |
| words. | | | | while the leader's eyes were straining to see down |
| Barrier #4: Making excuses - Recently I was working | | | | stream. No doubt he was looking for the next big rock, |
| with a business person that said she really wanted to | | | | up coming turns in the river, or other challenges that |
| accomplish great things. During our dialog we began | | | | they would have to navigate. |
| digging into why she had not accomplished the first | | | | To move your organization to a great one you must |
| steps of this journey. What she said actually shocked | | | | keep "going" towards the organization's mission and |
| me. She began making one excuse after another as | | | | vision. A great organization is one that overcomes the |
| to why she had not accomplished even the most | | | | obstacles and turns in its path. |
| basic of her goals. When I called her on this she didn't | | | | Barrier #9: Removing the glass ceiling- Many people, as |
| have much to say. She realized that she was going to | | | | well as organizations, excel into greatness, but stay |
| have to take steps in new and unfamiliar territory if | | | | there only for a short time. It is this author's belief that |
| she would ever accomplish her dreams. What | | | | there is something supernaturally built into every human |
| excuses are you making today that are holding you | | | | being. That something is the desire to win, but at the |
| and your business back? | | | | same time the fear of losing. It seems that for many |
| Barrier #5: Fear - We have all experienced it, and to | | | | there is a glass ceiling that holds them down, keeping |
| some degree are controlled by it. How do I know this | | | | them from reaching new levels of success. What is |
| about you? Think back to when you were a kid. At | | | | your glass ceiling? |
| some point you probably didn't like to go in dark rooms | | | | Barrier #10: Giving up - When you get a minute do a |
| or walk down dark streets where scary sounds | | | | word study on the word: Gambaru. It is a word with a |
| seemed to come with every step. The feeling you felt | | | | rich meaning that runs deep in some cultures around |
| then will cause you to reach for the light switch today. | | | | the world. Gambaru simply means to not give up. A |
| In my 20+ years of leadership experience, I have | | | | short definition, but you and I both know it is not that |
| found that there are at least four common fears that | | | | simple. When things get tough and the future of your |
| affect even the most seasoned leader. More than | | | | career, life, or business looks like it will not make it you |
| likely, at least one of these fears affects you each | | | | must not give up. You must jump out of bed each day, |
| and every time you relate to a person on a leadership | | | | full of vim and vigor, ready to conquer what ever |
| level. | | | | comes your way. You simply just can't give up! |