Today’s Extra Points comes to you with a slightly different look. My Constant Contact iPad app doesn’t seem to allow me to copy a prior email. I will not be deterred while on the road!
I’ve been on an East Coast “tour” for the past week. Two destinations with a polar difference in climates. Stop 1 was Miami (see sunset above) where it was 68 degrees and sunny. Stop 2 was New Brunswick NJ where it was 10 degrees when I landed. You can imagine my suitcase represented this polarity with what I packed. No in between here.
Our society today seems to react in exponential polarity when conflict arises. Whether it was the Richard Sherman interview on FOX after the Seahawks defeated the 49’ers to advance to the Super Bowl; or the hi-jinx of celebrities like Justin Bieber; or decisions made by your local city council/school board/state legislature, the polarity of opinions and differences is tangible. It tends to explode out of control when mixed with the social media engines of Twitter and Facebook. People are able to spout opinions and be vitriolic in real time without repercussions.
Why is this important to you as a business leader? Because if you choose to lead, you must be prepared to deal with the noise. It used to be that you could deal with it one in one. Today, you and your business must be prepared to deal with people loving and “hating” you and being vocal without knowing the whole story. To do this, you must do three things. First, you must build up your own self confidence and not allow the negative side to depress you. Second, you must not allow too much “love” to distract you and lose focus. Third, you must develop exemplary language skills to show knowledge, empathy, and be influential.
Too much of anything is never good. Today, the polar extremes of too much positive or negative can influence your own thoughts, behaviors, and actions. Don’t allow the noise to overwhelm you. Keep perspective and be a leader.
Copyright 2014 Dan Weedin. All rights reserved
