“The day soldiers stop bring you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them.” ~ General Colin Powell
I’ve coached a bunch of people over the past few decades. Some of them bemoaned their professional and personal challenges deeming them “problems”.
But how we view the challenges with which we’re faced determines whether they become problematic or not.
I know a guy, a global business leader of uncommon character and credentials, responsible for over 10,000 employees and 9 billion in revenues. In casual conversation one day, he shared a story with me about a particular challenge he had faced recently.
Seems a competitor was attempting to poach some of his top salespeople in Texas. These guys generated over 500 million in sales annually. My friend was in the middle of an important meeting in another country. He got a call from one of those sales guys in the morning explaining the situation: several of the team were considering leaving, so sweet was the deal being offered them. The sales guy apologized, knowing that his boss was with his boss, and it was a terribly inconvenient moment to deliver this kind of news. My friend commented that in hindsight, that call was an indication of trust, of his influence and accessibility as a leader.
So, he commandeered the company plane from the CEO, on the spot, and by the afternoon he was in front of his Texas guys. Showed that he cared. Kept them from leaving. Saved the day. Hopped back on the plane to return in time for a black-tie command performance that evening.
This guy embraces challenges with both arms and loves them into victories.
I asked if it ever got to him, knowing that every single day he was faced with situations where mere mortals would respond with a howling, “Noooo!”
His answer impressed me.
“I’m a professional problem solver,” he replied. “I don’t go to the office hoping there won’t be a problem today; I know there will be.” He continued, “But I also know I’ll be able to handle it, because that’s what any job at this level requires. If it hits my desk, it means it’s a problem, otherwise someone else down the chain would have handled it.”
This astute leader has figured it out: If you’re going to lead others, you must be willing to clear away the roadblocks for the team to be able to move forward, despite your personal feelings, despite the inconveniences, despite the interruptions.
Morale of the story: Greet your professional problems as personal challenges and get into action. As Buddhism advocates, lean into the discomfort. With open arms, and mind, and heart.
