BE AN ENCOURAGER Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-Fil-A, asked rhetorically, "How do you know if a man or woman needs encouragement?" His response, "If they are breathing.' We all need encouragement and positive communicators encourage and inspire others to do more and become more than they ever thought possible. Positive leaders are great encouragers and it's something the world needs more of. With so many people telling us we can't succeed, we need to hear people telling us we can. I remember my high school English teacher telling me not to apply to Cornell University because they wouldn't accept me and, even if they did, I wouldn't be able to do the work. (It's funny that I'm a writer now). I almost didn't apply, but a few days later I saw Ivan Goldfarb, a former teacher, in the hallway and asked him about Cornell. He said, "You apply. If you get in, then you go. You can do it." His words made all the difference. I applied, was accepted, and majored in lacrosse. Too often we think it's our role to inject a dose of "reality" into someone's life. We think it's our job to protect people from the pain of failure and defeat. We think that dreams were meant for others. I say there are enough pessimists and realists in the world. The world doesn't need more negativity and impossible thinkers. The world needs more optimists, encouragers, and inspirers. The world needs more people to speak into the hearts of others and say, "I believe in you. Follow your passion and live your purpose. If you have the desire then you also have the power to make it happen. Keep working hard. You're improving and getting better. Keep it up. The economy is tough but you can still grow your business. The job market is not great but I believe you'll find the right job for you. We've hit a lot of obstacles but we'll get the project finished. Even if you fail, it will lead to something even better. You're learning and growing." We all love working for and with people who bring out the best in us. We love being around people who uplift us and make us feel great. And while we'll always remember the negative people who told us we couldn't accomplish something, we will always cherish and hold a special place in our heart for those who encouraged us. I want to encourage you to be an encourager. So often the difference between success and failure is belief. And so often that belief is instilled in us by someone who encouraged us. Leadership is a transfer of belief. Today, decide to be that person who instills a positive belief in someone who needs to hear your encouraging words. Uplift someone who is feeling down. Fuel your team with your positive energy. Rally others to focus on what is possible rather than what seems impossible. Share encouragement. It will help build your relationships. It matters and we all need it. [ The article above is an excerpt from The Power of Positive Leadership]
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THE POWER OF POSITIVE LEADERSHIP
