Refuse to buy their limitation

“Sir, I thank you for your trust and confidence in me, but I just think I am not ready for the job.”

“Francis, I think this work you want to give me is just too huge for me. Maybe next time…”

Are the words familiar? They sure are.

Many people often limit themselves. They put up false barriers and struggle with imaginary problems. Or they avoid their boss, afraid that they might be given more work to do.

People like these do not move forward in their careers. They are the worst kind of employees – they’re not bad enough to fire but not good enough to be promoted. They take up extra space, and limit the progress and productivity of the company.

This is where leadership comes into play.

One skill of a leader is to convince his people that they can accomplish more than they think they can. That, in fact, they may someday become a leader as well. I like saying this over and over again in my two-day leadership seminar: “Good leaders do not produce good followers. Good leaders always produce more good leaders.”

Look for the gold in your people. Leaders are like miners. They mine for the gold, and do not stop or even hesitate when they come across dirt. Deep down inside every person there’s gold waiting to be tapped. Leaders brave the tons of dirt that come with looking for the gold.

Try to look for the best in your people, and tell them about it. When you recognize and acknowledge their potential, your people will trust and admire you. And the possibility that you’re the first person ever to believe in that employee’s potential wouldn’t be too far-fetched. 

Your trust may make some people uncomfortable. Guide them, train them, inspire, them, motivate them, and you’ll help build in them the courage and self-confidence they need to follow through with the trust you’ve given them. They would become more capable than they ever thought they could be.

And you don’t stop there. Mentor them, stretch them, make them grow. Press on, and don’t let up.

Your people may be flawed, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be achievers. Robert Greenleaf, one of the greatest leadership gurus of American business, said, “Anybody could lead perfect people – if there were any. But there aren’t any perfect people. And parents who try to raise perfect children are certain to raise neurotics. It is part of the enigma of human nature that the ‘typical’ person – immature, stumbling, inept, lazy – is capable of great dedication and heroism if wisely led. The secret of team-building is to be able to weld a team of such people by lifting them up to grow taller than they would otherwise be.” Robert Greenleaf defined a leader as one who serves those following, serving them every step of the way, especially by bringing out the best in them, and refusing to buy their limitations as achievers.

John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, become more, you are a leader.”

It takes effort to produce great leaders out of people; the only thing in this life that’s absolutely effortless to achieve is failure. So go and get some leadership skills, and start producing some more great leaders!

(Spend two whole days with Francis Kong developing your leadership skills this May 21-22 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. at 632-6872614 or 09178511115.)