Confidence and the Opinion Trap

Those who know me will clearly say that I am bold and act with unadulterated confidence. Leadership requires confidence in the face of adversity. The one who steps forward, when volunteers are called is the person of legend. Don't be fooled. These folks have concerns. They look back at a snap decision and wonder what it did to their image. They do this in silence, because nothing sucks the wind out of your leadership image quicker than agonizing over others' opinions to colleagues. It is tough to quit worrying about what others are thinking without becoming inconsiderate. The fine line between leader and asshole. There are important times to be human and times to ignore opinions. Good times to be human - when you are wrong, when someone is suffering, when the culture requires. Good times to ignore opinions - when immediate action is needed, when the team is off track, when factions have stopped the process. In the end, no matter how much you agree with the advice, overcoming our urge to worry about what others think is a big mountain to climb. Buck up buttercup. Everyone makes mistakes. Keep it human and stay bold!