Sometimes we just need to say, “Nope. We’re not doing it. Instead, were sticking to our vision!” [Of course, you can only say that when you know what your vision is.]
As leaders, we can’t afford to latch on to every opportunity that comes our way or any that we manufacture. It is clearly unhealthy and ineffective for leaders to get caught up in the ‘next best thing’ malady. There are times, of course, when a new idea or thought can positively change the course of an entire organization. I have personally seen one great idea save an entire organization from distinction.
Leaders know that we can’t chase every new idea or thought. It is obvious. It is one of the first things you come to realize as a leader. However, it isn’t always so easy to say “nope”. It takes a significant amount of confidence, trust, fearlessness and mettle to say “nope”. Disciplining yourself and your organization to say “nope” to a new idea or thought that’ll just lead you into a fairy tale takes audacity. Far too many of us chase the next best thing and can’t find it in ourselves to say the simple four letter word — nope. We’re not ballsy enough to just stick to what we are about. [–adjective, balls·i·er, balls·i·est. Slang: Usually Vulgar. boldly aggressive or courageous: a ballsy gal who isn't afraid of anyone.] Granted, I have seen my fair share of leaders who won’t risk anything too. I know there is a balance.
The intentional decision not to chase after some new thought or idea can label us as conservative or guarded or even worse yet, traditional and safe. What self-respecting leader wants to be labeled as the traditional one or the safe one? As a result, we gallop all the while closer to the organization killer we commonly know as an unclear, unattended to and unguarded vision.
Most often we chase with a complete disregard for the health of the organization and put our self-centered desires and preferences ahead of our team and mission. It is hard to say nope — especially for those of us that lead organizations that thrive on innovation, creativity and the thrill of the adventure or the completion of a seemingly unconquerable project.
Here are three things we can forget on our way to elevating the sum of the audacity in our leadership.
1. Forget about the label. Who cares how we are viewed? Wouldn’t we rather be labeled as able, smart and productive leaders anyway?
2. Forget about yourself. There is nothing more disheartening than to work for a person who is more concerned about his or her status or how they are recognized by their peers than they are about the overall health of the organization. Is that you? Is that me? I confess it has been me at various points in my leadership past…
3. Forget about the thrill of the chase. Don’t be the one who risks the life of the organization because your bored and something new might arouse neglected passion. That is just stupid. If you are bored with your organizations vision then fine, lead change but don’t just chase your tail — it’ll end up driving your team bonkers. Furthermore, if you are bored, maybe it is time to move on to something else and give up the reigns to someone else.
I really appreciate these comments, especially as someone who does a lot of dreaming. Its good to know that saying “nope,” as well as hearing “nope” can be a sign of healthy leadership. However, I’d love to see another post where you tease out the comment about balance. “Nope” can also become a myopia, it seems to me, where the vision is so small that it is essentially uninspiring.
Nice post. I know this is one of my weakest areas. I tend to like to say yes to way too much, depriving me of some much-needed balance in my life, as well as more focused energy toward the things to which I’ve already said yes.
erik — for “nope” to be uninspiring, i think it would have to mean the originating vision is small and therefore is uninspiring. no? i do think that there is a balance. i am posting very soon on the “other side” of saying nope.
thanks will. yeah, i hear you. i love to dream new ideas, etc. and i am certainly not opposed to being innovative and creative just not at the expense of the mission — or in your case, what you have already said yes too.