Beware the Leader’s Oxymoron
Beware.
Originally two words: ‘be ware’ – be wary; be cautious.
‘Ware’ comes from an Old English word meaning ‘prudent’ or ‘aware.’
Beware. Be prudent. Be aware…
In my humble opinion, to be aware – or ‘awareness’ – is a superpower consistently found in the lives of great leaders.
It is what separates them from the pack of the gifted.
One can be extremely talented. Intelligent beyond measure. Confident. In a position of influence.
But if there is not an awareness about them – on multiple levels – they cannot lead well.
And ‘self-awareness’ claims one of the top spots on the awareness totem pole – for many reasons.
I believe the reason that sits atop that heap is the fact that deep, thorough, honest self-awareness inevitably leads to humility.
Please pardon the tangent, but we had to get here before I introduce you to what I believe is one of the more dangerous oxymorons in the world of leadership.
To understand and respond well to this oxymoron, one must have talent, intelligence, confidence, influence, wisdom, extreme self-awareness, and humility.
If you play in that ballpark, you’ll understand me when I say this:
There is no such thing as ‘an unbiased opinion’.
It does not matter who you are or how well you’ve been trained, every one of our opinions is biased.
We ALL have bias. ALL the time.
Great leaders acknowledge this fact and do what they can to mitigate it.
Why? Because our bias can, and often does, lie to us.
Every decision we make, from the moment we wake until the day is done, is informed, at one level or another, by our bias.
Our mood, our personality, our circumstances, our sources of information, our thought processes, our level of exposure to the facts, our mindset, our diet, our physical mobility…
ALL these things, and so much more, affect our bias, which affects our decision making.
Great leaders understand this and work to mitigate this reality in search of better decisions.
Here are just a few ways they do that:
Awareness – One cannot circumvent a problem they do not know exists. Just knowing is half the battle. Always be mindful of this reality: We ALL have bias.
Data Collection – Gather the information. Invite the (always biased) opinions of others. Facts – and a variety of perspectives/opinions are our friends. Don’t be afraid of the truth.
Seek What is Best – Yes, this is subjective as well, but your pursuit can (and likely should) be guided by something bigger than any one person’s opinion – even if that one person is at the top of the org chart. Among other things, allow personal and organizational Vision, Mission, and Values to be your guide. You’ve heard it before, but it’s not about being right, it’s about doing the right thing (this is where the humility piece comes in).
Always Move Forward – Decisions can be hard, particularly when they don’t pan out the way we would like them to. Now it’s time to move on to the next decision, because they just keep coming. Don’t worry so much about making a mistake or failing. That’s part of the process. Focus instead on moving forward. Always move forward. Less-than-perfect decisions can be refined, redirected, and corrected over time.
I have a suggestion for us all.
As senior leaders, might we consider removing the phrase ‘unbiased opinion’ from our lexicon.
There is no such thing. We ALL have bias. ALL the time.
Instead, might we acknowledge this reality and do our best to mitigate the pitfalls of biased decision making.
I’m sure there is more to discuss, but we’ll leave it here for today. Something to think about.
Blessings to you all, my friends!
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This Week’s Resource Recommendation:
The Athlete’s (Leader’s) Prayer
As a basketball official, I’m in gyms across Central IL a lot this time of year. Every once in a while, I come across something that inspires me. It could be a poster on the wall, or an artifact in a teacher’s classroom.
This past weekend I helped officiate the first round of an 8th grade tournament at Blessed Sacrament in Morton, IL. It was their 60th year as host – impressive in its own right.
When you experience sports at a non-public school, it is common to begin with a prayer of sorts. This was no exception - recited by student athletes, no less. But, as I reflected on the words of this prayer – four times over the course of four games – I was encouraged, inspired, and challenged.
Which is why I’m sharing it with you today. Sports and leadership often run in parallel lanes. Might you and I consider these words as a repetitive prayer to meditate upon in our leadership journey.
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“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Lord, You created this day for gain and not loss, success not failure, positive actions, not negative thoughts.
Inspire in us a desire for greatness, to wisely use the gifts and talents You have so kindly given to us.
Help us to do our best and to show superior sportsmanship. Create in us a right attitude, a firm belief in God, our teammates, and our commitment to never give up, no matter what the score is.
May our team grow closer to one another and to You as we support each other. We ask all these things in Jesus name.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!”
MMS 25-03
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Blessings to you, my friend!
