As I watched 12 Democratic candidates on the stage, I realized how hard it was for any one of them who is not already a front runner to put themselves in the position of standing out. You get fewer questions asked of you. No one tries to engage you in debate to piggyback on the attention given to those who try to take down a leader. You are ignored.
At work, the person who nods their head in agreement without taking a position is taking the position— “I go along with the flow. As such, I don’t matter.”
They want leadership but refused to act like a leader.
I want to be clear that there are times where nodding agreement is perfectly acceptable. Someone else’s come up with the idea and you agree with it.
However, many times you may be habitually the one who nods agreement, waiting for other people, deferring to them.
That’s not the way to lead. That’s the way to follow.
Sometimes, your ideas may not work or a downright suck.
So what?
You made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. No one died. You and everyone learned something from it.
After all, they will nodding agreement, right?
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2019
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1600 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice” and is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council.
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