This is going to be the last entry in the bold leadership series.  We’ve talked about how bold ideas challenge the status quo (starting a country) and why we need to be bold (Frogger).  We’ve talked about challenging the world and assumptions around us (Copernicus).  We’ve also talked about self-doubt and doubt from others (Be a dragon), which are two of the biggest barriers to being bold.  This week we are going to tie everything together with the key mindset shift we need to make in order to be bold.  If we want to be bold we need to believe that WE own the problems we face and that WE can influence the area around us.  This sounds really simple, but it’s not.

Recently I was talking to someone about workplace culture and they were talking about various barriers they faced.  When I asked them what they could do to help the problem they basically told me that it wasn’t up to them, but it was something that leadership needed to do.  On a different note, I’m working on a project about decision making.  When I talk to people many of them say they can’t do anything, because it’s the process’s fault.  How many times have you heard something like this from people?  I know I’ve said things like this and felt this way before.  Have you?  Too often people wait around for others to solve problems.  How often are we just standing there waiting?

Here is what I’ve learned over the years.  It doesn’t matter if the topic is culture, the future, the approval process, etc. we can’t be bold unless we are willing to own the problems we face and are willing to try and influence our surroundings.  As soon as we decide we are responsible for making things happen we begin to think boldly and start challenging the status quo.

Now I understand that I can’t change everything.  I can’t snap my fingers and magically make things happen.  What I am saying is that we are responsible for “our dirt”.  We are responsible for the pieces of us that come in contact with the people, culture, processes, and work that we do.  It is our job to ensure that all of these people and things are better because we are a part of them.  If we are all bold enough to own our dirt, then some pretty powerful change can happen.

Own it->Think Bold-> Move past your own doubt->Be a dragon and spit fire->Lead boldly!

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry