#289: Are you leading from the back of the room?
Are you ready to shine when the spotlight is on you? Another lesson learned by watching our politicians
It is easy to sit in the back of the room and mock the person on stage. You may even get a few laughs from those sitting next to you. But then, the spotlight swings and the comedian has decided to go one-on-one - with you. Nine out of ten times, you are toast. You are not ready for the stage and the spotlight.
Not only have many of you witnessed a heckler in the audience, but we also watch it happen in our professional lives. For example, the CEO of your company may have just laid out a 10-point plan for 2023. Yet, the first thing you hear from your colleagues is why it won't work. They don't offer better solutions, just critique.
If you want to be a leader in your organization someday, act like it. It is okay for you to criticize the plan. In order to be taken seriously you must offer solutions. Be prepared and ready to define the results your idea would generate. And don't be afraid of planting your flag. Spotlights aren't random. The light won't shine on you until your voice resonates. If you can't answer the simple questions of "what would you do then, and why is it better?" you are not ready for the spotlight.
Do you want to know what this looks like in real-life? Take a look at our Nation’s Capital this week. Hopefully, by the time this is published, the naysayers will have laid out a clear vision and a plan to achieve it. We learn a lot by watching politicians; this is one of the things you want to avoid in your careers.
At the Kole Performance Group, we work on these approaches in one-on-one coaching. You must prepare yourself if you want to be a leader in the future. It is hard work today, but it will lead to a better tomorrow. You don't want to be that guy sneaking out of the comedy club because you were embarrassed by a professional.
We also work on these scenarios in our Key Executive's Peer-to-Peer Groups. Are you a VP or in the C-Suite but not yet a CEO – what are you doing to prepare yourself to get that spotlight shining on you?
Schedule a quick 15-20 minute call with me to learn more!
In the meantime, until you are ready for a challenge, don't be that guy!