Ozarks Local, page 6:
Section: Misc.
THE LEADERSHIP EDGE: What happens when hard work and more sweat fail to work?
By Dave Hinze
We have all been there. We worked hard, put in the hours and poured our heart and soul into the project. Perhaps it was a business proposal or a personal dream. Somehow it failed? What happened?
In many cases the missing ingredient can be traced to a lack of mental toughness skills or a failure of leadership. Physical strength, talent and intellect will only take most of us to a certain level, but what happens when the world around you demands more?
The purpose of this column is to educate you on two of the three most important skills our education system fails to teach us. High school provides a basic education and our post twelfth grade learning prepares us for employment opportunities. A quick check reveals that mental toughness training; leadership development and parenting skills are lacking in most curriculums. If we master these crucial skills at all we either learn it in the school of hard knocks, by chance or a mentor took us under their wing and enlightened us.
What is mental toughness? Mental toughness is a set of practices that enable you to master yourself mentally and emotionally to obtain the results you want. With this skill set you can overcome adversity, develop a better focus and learn to fail forward toward success. You will remain more persistent and confident when disaster strikes you, and motivate yourself to do critical tasks. Most significantly you will consistently perform at a personal peak performance level.
This column will identify and discuss these crucial elements of mental toughness and how you can integrate them into your personal and professional life. Remember, the mind controls the body, and therefore, if you learn to control your brains in a more optimal way you can improve anything you desire.
Mental toughness without developing leadership skills only gives you one part of the success equation. A leader is someone who can take themselves or a group to a place they didn't think they could go. Leadership is always defined as something someone does to others. But learning to manage and lead ourselves is equally essential.
The role of the leader is varied in today's society. I believe it is about creating a vision for your organization or yourself. Once you establish your goals leadership is about articulating the vision, owning the vision and relentlessly driving the vision until completion. A leader understands the difference between doing things right and making sure you do the right thing. A leader looks at things differently than others. A leader instills confidence, corrects mistakes rather fixing blame. Leaders ask questions, rather than give orders. Finally, a leader creates challenges and creates other leaders at all levels of the organization.
If your school curriculum, like mine, skipped this type of education this column will provide you with the ways to improve your mental toughness and leadership skills. The purpose is to give you practical advice you can read today and use tomorrow.
Dave Hinze is a professional speaker on mental toughness, leadership development and personal success.
©2002 Dave Hinze. Dave Hinze is a monthly contributing columnist to Ozarks Local. His subject matter or view points are not necessarily of the publisher. Direct all questions by email to hinze@rollanet.org.
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