Are you shrinking?

When we feel powerless to influence change we
are shrinking the game and focusing only on
our area of responsibility
Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superfantastic/

How does your level of enthusiasm and engagement today compare with your first day at your current workplace?  Has it waned, or do you bring the same fire and optimism as you brought on day one?  Have you become complacent, or have you been conditioned by the negativity of others to give up?

Has leadership let you down?  Do you feel leadership doesn't listen, value you, or care?  Do you have a “why bother?” attitude, rather than a “why not?” mentality, because it seems no matter how hard you work or what you do, you don't see recognition for your efforts?

Dr. Loretta Malandro, in her book  Fearless Leadership, discusses what she calls “unspoken behavioral norms” within the workplace.  These are behaviors that are tolerated by those in your workplace.  Malandro asks, “…is it acceptable to not deliver commitments when promised, avoid uncomfortable conversations, be culturally insensitive, not take accountability for your impact on others, comply with decisions, gossip, blame individuals and groups, resist change initiatives, have unresolved issues between group members, defend turf, verbally attack others, or provide excuses and reasons for lack of business results?”

It’s easy to adopt these behavioral norms when the collective majority of the workplace tolerates these ineffective behaviors.

When your workplace is running rampant with unproductive practices, it’s easy to become disillusioned, and it’s not uncommon for people to give up and become resigned to the fact that these norms have always been and always will be.  Malandro writes, “If you are resigned, you are working hard but without enthusiasm. Chances are you feel powerless to influence change and are shrinking the game and focusing only on your area of responsibility to the exclusion of the larger enterprise perspective.”

Are you shrinking?  Are you allowing yourself to become a victim and rendered powerless to the circumstances that are?  Malandro suggests the following: ”…examine how your thinking and behavior prevent you from achieving the results you want. In fearless leadership, you must always examine your personal accountability instead of blaming others or the organization.”

Remember…We always have the choice in how we react to circumstances we are faced with on a daily basis.  Let’s all make a conscious choice to be a fearless leader from within.  Let’s become accountable leaders and leave the blame game to the shrinkers.

Best wishes,

-Victor