We have a friend that is the parent to three kids. We have known them for a number of years and think very highly of them as people and as parents. A few months ago, the mother did one of the bravest things that a parents can do - too a chance.
Their 13 year old was having her annual school physical. Everything seem to be fine with her and the Doctor saw nothing wrong. Before they left, he asked if there was anything else. At this point, the mother said that her daughter had not seemed to be acting like herself ans asked if there is anything that the doctor may help with. Her daughter broke down saying that she had been feeling depressed and felt that there was no one who cared. This opened up the conversation between all of them.The doctor referred the daughter to a mental health professional and now she is getting the help that she needs.
How easy it could have been for her mother to just chalk it up to "teenage angst" or something like that. How easy it could have been for her to let it go, to not snoop, to keep family problems within the family, but that isn't what she did. She did what she should have done, but which isn't easy. She was brave enough to know her daughter and ask the questions. am proud of her and hope that I and all parents have this same bravery to look objectively at our children when physical and mental health is concerned and do what is needed for them.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Leadership vs. Management
A few months ago, I attended a presentation that pondered the difference between Leadership and Management. This is a topic that I have heard and wrestled with for all of my Air Force career and now in my post-AF career. I think that I might finally be able to define this difference. Leadership involves investment of Emotional Energy, Management does not.
So what do I mean by Emotional Energy? I mean caring about the mission and people on a personal level. Carrying mission success above personal success. Carrying others personal satisfaction as your own. People who care about an organizations mission, put not only time, but effort and emotional energy into that mission for its success. We have all seen it - someone who pours their heart into a project.
I worked for an organization whose unofficial motto was, "It is amazing what can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit". This selflessness or investment of emotional energy in others success is leadership.
By contrast, Management is doing things the right way. There is some interest in success and disappointment in failure, but usually at an individual level, not an organization or emotional level.
The other place to see this play out is when people decide to get involved in something outside of work. They more often than not have an emotional investment in these ideas, ideals, and activities. We have all seen people who are more depressed about their football team losing a game than they are if a company fails at some project. They have emotional invesment in their team, but not their company.
A leader makes and emotional investment in their organization, its mission, and its people. An effective leader can then convince others to make that emotional investment using a variety of motivational tools and techniques.
Do not be afraid to make that emotional investment.
So what do I mean by Emotional Energy? I mean caring about the mission and people on a personal level. Carrying mission success above personal success. Carrying others personal satisfaction as your own. People who care about an organizations mission, put not only time, but effort and emotional energy into that mission for its success. We have all seen it - someone who pours their heart into a project.
I worked for an organization whose unofficial motto was, "It is amazing what can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit". This selflessness or investment of emotional energy in others success is leadership.
By contrast, Management is doing things the right way. There is some interest in success and disappointment in failure, but usually at an individual level, not an organization or emotional level.
The other place to see this play out is when people decide to get involved in something outside of work. They more often than not have an emotional investment in these ideas, ideals, and activities. We have all seen people who are more depressed about their football team losing a game than they are if a company fails at some project. They have emotional invesment in their team, but not their company.
A leader makes and emotional investment in their organization, its mission, and its people. An effective leader can then convince others to make that emotional investment using a variety of motivational tools and techniques.
Do not be afraid to make that emotional investment.
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