Leadership Consulting: Great Leaders Make NO Excuses

Have you ever attended a meeting when complaining prevailed?

Did you wish that the leader stopped the negativity in order to move forward?

This blog post describes how a strong leader took a negative situation and turned it into a very productive meeting.

I recently attended the School of Education and Human Services board meeting at Oakland University in Rochester MI.  Our fearless leader Dean Louis Gallien told us how Oakland University may lose 23% of its state allocation if state legislators accept our governor’s budget plan for higher education.

Dean Gallien told us that our governor needs to fix our state budget and make tough decisions.  He led us into discussions on how to move forward and figure out what we must do to continue making Oakland University vital and growing.

The board of directors did not waste time feeling like victims or blame the government.
“No excuses” became our mantra for the rest of this productive meeting.

I wish all leaders stopped constant complaining during meetings. This kind of behavior only breeds negativity which stops problem solving and creativity.

Think about your own situation for a moment – especially if your budget was cut or if you experienced a reduction in staff or benefits.

How much time was wasted in conversations on what was taken away?

We need to spend more time on the positive things that the company is doing.
We need to spend the rest of our time discussing ideas for streamlining, cost cutting, and restructuring.
Many of us are experiencing the “new work reality” about reduction of budgets.

Do your best to use the following tips to keep creative ideas flowing:

• Look towards the future
• Search for a second right answer
• Find opportunity from change
• Do your best to stay positive during challenges
• Accept responsibility and don’t blame others
• Don’t walk away from negative people – run!

These are not easy to do BUT they are necessary in order to move forward and succeed.
Let our competition complain and stay stuck in their status quo while we find answers to our challenges.

Remember – You Get What You Tolerate!

Until the next time.
What is your most pressing question about your own meetings?

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For more information, articles, and podcasts on conflict resolution, visit https://www.joyceweiss.com