When you’re a true leader capable of making and sticking to
decisions, you’re going to hear a lot of people call you crazy. No
matter how practical or exciting your ideas might be to you, there will
always be people who want to provide inputs, change your mind, or tell
you that you’re wrong. It’s your choice whether you listen to
them. One thing is certain, though: True leaders don’t have any concern
for the opinions of naysayers and detractors. They’re only concerned
with taking the right course of action.
Ignore the Naysayers: Their Real Concern Isn’t for You:
True leaders will hear a lot of talk from naysayers. They ask questions that might sound supportive
or protective, but there’s always an underlying sense of defeatism. You
might hear things such as: Do you really know what you’re doing? Do you
really have enough experience to do that? Shouldn’t you play it safe?
But what you’re really being asked is: Who are you to expect that you can achieve what others can’t?
Beware
of this sort of talk because — deep down — these people, while sincere
and innocent, may unconsciously be looking to validate their own need to
play it safe. When you take on the impossible, succeed, and prove that
anything is possible, you terrify the people who live on security and
predictability.
Know When to Have Open Ears:
When you’re a leader, you can’t just shut out the world, of course. There are people you should listen to. First
of all, you have to consider your customers. While you can’t please
them all, remember that they are the reason your company exists. Take
their feedback into account through every stage of your company’s
growth. The customers who are the hardest to please will provide the
most feedback, and if you can satisfy them, the rest of your customers
will probably be happy, too.
You should also listen to people who
have similar values and have achieved something comparable to what
you’re trying to do. The best advice comes from people who have faced
the same challenges and overcome them using values that match up with
your own. How you handle a challenge is just as important as the result.
Knowing How to Keep It Real:
It
can be difficult to know whether you’re sticking to an approach because
you’re convinced it’s the right thing to do or because you think it
will gain someone else’s approval. So ask yourself: Will this take me
one step closer to my dream, or will it just raise me in the eyes of
another?You can still give someone’s advice genuine consideration
and choose not to act on it. That’s not being indifferent — that’s
being a leader.
Author: Holly Hamann
Co-founder and CMO of TapInfluence
Author: Holly Hamann
Co-founder and CMO of TapInfluence