Client Question: “Everyone in my management team believes we should go down a certain path for this project and I believe it will cause us major problems if we do. How should I approach this situation?”
This is a moment to demonstrate your courage. When you think about the list of leadership traits that leaders possess, courage doesn’t always get mentioned along with the others. It is one of the traits that really makes such a difference though. Having the managerial courage to stand up for something that you know is wrong against your management or peers is a difficult thing to do. You really need to be clear about why you believe that this is the wrong direction to go and use your influence to get others to align with you.
These are defining moments for leaders. They will show who you are as a leader and it demonstrates your passion for what you believe in. It will also be a way to differentiate you from those around you. Going against the crowd when you are the only one who has the courage to stand up is not always the popular thing to do. Many others would just go along and do whatever management wants. If you truly believe that what everyone else wants to do is wrong, then you need to voice those concerns. They may still decide to go in the direction that was originally planned, but you got your concerns out on the table for discussion.
These are the moments when leaders stand out. Leadership teams should recognize that having leaders who are not afraid to make dissenting opinions or provide different perspectives will help the team to make better decisions. Trust yourself and stand up for what you believe in. You will be able to look in the mirror each day knowing that you have high integrity and you are making decisions that are best for the company. “The truth is that courage resides within you; you must simply decide to embrace it.” — Jennifer McClanahan-Flint
Today we are celebrating Memorial Day for all of those who are veterans of the Armed Services and remembering those who sacrificed their lives fighting for our country. Thank you to all of those who continue to fight to keep us safe.