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Would you argue with me if I said that we have become a culture of whiners? Leaders — and of course I use that word not to refer to a position, but to a frame of mind and action — leaders don’t whine. And our world needs us to lead.
Whining connotes powerlessness. And maybe worse, it sucks the energy out of others. Leading does not mean turning a blind eye to difficulties. Indeed, good leaders are brutally honest about the facts. But then, consciously or otherwise, when they see difficulties they choose one of two paths: acceptance, if the problems lie outside their influence, or action to stimulate change.
So, you might monitor your inner whiner this week! When some difficulty — jerk, the weather, the copier, your Achilles tendon, your teenager – is stimulating you to whine, take a breath, another deep breath, take another, and ask yourself: “Will I lead?” If the answer is “yes,” then ask yourself: Acceptance or Action?
Observe the whiner. Choose to lead. And ask yourself: accept or act?
To lead with your best self.