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This Week in Leadership
The Friday Five - Issue 30
Challenging leaders to maximize their potential
Terry Wetzel ~ Summit Leadership Development
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Courageous Questions
Leadership excellence rarely comes from having all the answers. More often, it’s developed by having the courage to ask the right questions (especially of ourselves). Courageous questions require us to step past our egos and look directly into our blind spots. Asking yourself, “what am I avoiding right now?” or “how might my management style be contributing to this issue?” isn't a sign of weakness, it’s accountability.
Find Opportunities
Growth doesn't happen in a straight line, and opportunity doesn't sit still. To find it, we have to be willing to change our vantage point. If you look at your current professional challenges from the exact same angle every day, you’ll get the exact same results. Finding new opportunities demands that we disrupt our own comfort zones. Remember, the horizon only expands when you are willing to move.
Leading From the Edge
As organizations and people grow, the status quo acts like gravity, pulling us toward safe, predictable routines. But innovation and leadership don't live in the middle of the comfort zone; they reside at the boundaries. Navigating challenges at the edge means having the courage to look at the fringes of your sector, your organization, your processes, and your team’s capabilities, and asking, "What are we avoiding because it feels too disruptive?" Leading at the edge is a demanding place to operate, but it is where the future is created before it becomes conventional wisdom.
The Tonight Test
Being a morning person, I try to be very intentional about evening events I commit to attending. That being said, I routinely overcommit myself because I assume I will magically have more time later. Then "later" arrives, my calendar has filled up, and I am stuck. What I need to do in the moment is ask, “Would I want to do this tonight?” If the answer is no, then the answer is no.
Humility
Humility in leadership is not weakness, it is strength. It isn’t about thinking less of yourself; it’s about thinking of yourself less. When leaders approach their work with a humble mindset, they unlock a culture where collaboration thrives, mistakes are viewed as data, and everyone feels valued. True humility means recognizing that you don't have all the answers and having the security to listen to those who do. As you navigate your personal and professional growth this week, remember that the most impactful leaders don’t command the spotlight; they use it to illuminate the strengths of others.
Quote of the Week
“None of us is as smart as all of us.” – Ken Blanchard
Book(s) of the Week
Time management has become a very popular topic in speeches and seminars I am asked to give. My premise is that there is no such thing as time management, only self management. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite boks on the topic that I have shared below.
That’s it for this week
Be epic, not average. The world has enough average.
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The photo in today’s web edition was taken on the High Falls Flowage in WI.
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