Play to Win: Jon Gordon Urges Us to Stop Living in Fear
Posted by Suzanne Bates on 28 Oct 2009 at 06:41 am | Tagged as: CEO, Communication, Motivate Like a CEO, economic crisis, economic recovery, economy, employee motivation, employee productivity, employee stress, leadership and communication, leadership style, motivated employees, motivating employees
Leadership guy Jon Gordon is writing about a timely topic. The author of Playing to Win, What the Best do Better Than Everyone Else, and Training Camp, Ten Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and team with Positive Energy, writes this week that “There was a time in most of our lives when we had no fear-that feeling when we jumped from the jungle gym and slammed our little bodies to the ground.” He says we “felt there was nothing we couldn’t do.” Yet somewhere along the way Gordon notes that we start to understand what it means to be fearful, and “let fear into our lives.” And this of course, changes the way we approach our careers and our lives.
This is a timely message. Even the most intrepid, courageous leader has been battered by tough economic times. No question that the downturn has helped us focus on the highest priorites, improve efficiency, and execute with fewer resources. Yet now is not the time to operate in fear. It’s time to screw up our courage, dive in the pool, and encourage our teams to do the same. We’ve need to break away from the negative energy that is feeing our fears and insecurities; stop listening to the inner voice that says we shouldn’t or can’t. As Gordon says, “go after our dreams.” What’s at stake is not just the opportunity in front of us. Living in fear can become a habit that keeps us stuck for the rest of our lives.
If you “play to lose,” and communicate this to others, then everyone in your organization will do the same. That’s why everytime you speak with your direct reports, your teams, and your organization you need to get focused and feel the courage. People aren’t just listening to the words, they are reading between the lines. You can’t fool them. Take charge of your emotional state before you speak. Communicate wih confidence. Invite others to make courageous decisions. Make them believe in themselves. Encourage them to lose the fear.
As I’ve discussed in Motivate Like a CEO, leaders are the keepers of the emotional life of their organizations. In challenging times, they must take control of their emotions and lead the way. If you are a leader, now is the time to take an emotional inventory, before you stand up to speak. Get in touch with your own courage, and then, light a fire; make them believe. If you live and work with zeal and act with courage they will do the same. As Gordon puts it, “overcome fear and adopt a play to win mindset.”
