E-couragement: Expectations

“Leaders are invariably those who can tap into the deeper emotions of others and get them to rise above and beyond anything they may have accomplished in the past.” Brian Tracey Much of the conflict and unhappiness in our lives comes from unfulfilled expectations. We imagine or hope a situation to materialize one way and when that doesn’t occur we feel deflated and discouraged. This makes me think about the appropriate expectations for leaders building engaging cultures. What should you realistically expect as a result of all your work? Perhaps the authors in The Leader’s Voice provide an accurate perspective of what you might expect:

If you choose to lead, prepare to take a stand. It is not for the faint–hearted. Some will judge you unfairly, blaming you for their lack of success. Others will expect resources you cannot give, answers that you do not have, and permission you cannot grant. You will be misquoted. Your judgment will be questioned. You will certainly stumble. Failure will stalk you like a predator… The toughest problems will be yours alone. You must take responsibility for your failures and give credit for the successes. Lose the fantasy that you will be cherished, immortalized, and revered. Expect long hours and few moments of gratitude.

Expect also that some will soar beyond your expectations. They will create magic inspired by your dreams. They will make you glad you chose to lead. They will hear what you say, understand it, care about it, and act. Together, you will engage in the best work of your lives.[i]

There you have it. The life of an engaging leader. Expect pain and joy. In other words you’ll feel more alive than you’ve ever felt before. The role of an engaging leader chooses you. You don’t choose it. It must burn within you in an unexplainable way. Why else would you follow this path? There is a cost, and the return on investment is…priceless.

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[i] Boyd Clark and Ron Crossland, The Leader’s Voice (New York: SelectBooks, Inc., 2002), pages 14, 15.