The ability to accept reality is one of the most useful and at the same time most misunderstood skills of a leader. It is a concept that has been applied in philosophy and psychology and if applied in the correct way it can generate change. We cannot change anything until we accept it, the unfree condemnation oppresses. However, very few leaders currently apply this technique.
Most bad leadership behavior has its roots in the inability to accept and work within the limits of what is happening or actual circumstances. Unnecessarily harsh behavior, aggression, tantrums. Avoidance and excluding people can often be attributed to leaders who are not handling reality in the moment.
This disconnect occurs in companies around the world. An example would be a leader who is unhappy about a circumstance or outcome or person, and insists that reality be different. And therefore they waste a lot of time, effort and energy while arguing and fighting over reality. It takes courage to accept reality as it is, only then can you and your team begin to make changes.
Here we are going to give you three types of acceptance that leaders should focus on.
Accept Results
Maybe the worst has happened or the result is simply bad. This may include a failed strategy, poor financial performance, job loss, or any other setback. Leaders may vacillate, rant and rave, but until they can properly accept what has happened, they are not likely to move forward or lead anyone forward.
This doesn’t mean you have to be “good” with results. It’s about not channeling your energy into endlessly wishing things were different, behaving unprofessionally, or arguing about the outcome. It may even require you to examine and accept your role in the results. Leaders must remember that not willingly accepting or fighting against an outcome will not change it. More importantly, it doesn’t put you in a strong position to make changes that will prevent future failures.
Accept The Circumstances
Maybe schedules have been missed on important projects, or your return-to-office schedule has been disrupted by the Delta variant, or you’re over budget and need to make major sacrifices. As leaders, we are often faced with circumstances that are beyond our control.
Give up control of what you never had control over and leave space for your emotional reaction without acting on every negative thought or feeling. Leaders stumble not because they have undesirable thoughts and feelingsthat’s inevitable but because they get hooked. for them, like a fish caught on a hook. In our complex and changing knowledge economy, the ability to manage one’s thoughts and feelings is essential for business success.
Accept Your Mistakes And Those Of Others
No employee or colleague is perfect. And the good news is that we are all capable of making changes and improvements. While feedback and development efforts can build strengths and address fatal flaws, the critical precursor to change by any leader is the acceptance that they need to change.
When a leader can accept his or her own failures, he or she feels freed to pursue growth and explore new ways of leading to improve his or her effectiveness.
