April 19 - SECURITY

Back in January I posted a similar update, one from Maxwell's Daily Reader, a book my Brother Will got for each person in my family for Christmas 2 years ago. It's a book about leadership primarily, but also on so many other positive characteristics. Every morning I read it and am glad I do, but sometimes I'm more than just glad- I'm totally amazed and appreciative for the lesson I learn from it. Today was another one of those days. :)


April 19

SECURITY

During the term of President Ronald Reagan, leaders of seven industrial nations were meeting at the White House to discuss economic policy. During that meeting Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau strongly upbraided British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, telling her that she was all wrong and that her policies wouldn't work. She stood there in front of him with her head up, listening until he was finished. Then she walked away.

Reagan went up to her and said, "Maggie, he should never have spoken to you like that. He was out of line, just entirely out of line. Why did you let him get away with that?"

Thatcher looked at Reagan and answered, "A woman must know when a man is being simply childish."

That story surely typifies Margaret Thatcher. She appeared to have no doubts about herself or her beliefs - and she was absolutely secure in her leadership as a result. That is the case for all great leaders.

Secure leaders are able to believe in others because they believe in themselves. They aren't arrogant; they know their strengths and weaknesses and respect themselves. When their people perform well, they don't feel threatened. They go out of their way to bring the best people together and then build them up so that they will perform at the highest level. And when a secure leader's team succeeds, it brings him great joy. He sees that as the highest compliment he can receive.

-The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader

DO YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF ENOUGH TO GRACIOUSLY TAKE THE HEAT AS A LEADER?


I think this concept can and should be be applied to everyone's life, whether you're in a leading role or not! Read that last paragraph over again... It can just as easily say "Secure PEOPLE are able to believe in others because they believe in themselves." It's true! It's about taking criticism in, but not taking it personally. And more than that- It's about knowing yourself and your abilities well enough, and TRUSTING in them and yourself, to decide when to take criticism and when to tune it out completely because it's just untrue. Definitely something I need to get better at. But hey I'm trying.. :)

Hopefully you guys found this to be as helpful as I did!