Recently my husband Larry had rotator cuff surgery and was confined to the couch for a few days - this definitely stirred interest as something "amiss" for the cats. They are not accustomed to see him still for so long. Sundae, in her mission for affection, called dibbs on Larry's lap, and proceeded to make herself comfortable. When Larry did not respond to her royal presence by petting her, Sundae nudged or licked his hand, causing Larry to move it. Undeterred, Sundae repositioned herself and nudged again.
This went on for several minutes until, exasperated, Larry finally bestowed the affection Sundae sought. As I witnessed the struggle of wills between the two-legged and four-legged animals, it occurred to me how often Sundae's persistence prevailed. She is laser-sharp about her goal, even relentless, in pursuing it.
The same is true in effective leadership. As the leader, your team looks to you for guidance and direction of the goal - you must be single-focused and laser-sharp clear about where and how to complete the task or mission. And, you need to be able to communicate it in a way that people can grasp and understand.
Finally, you must also be determined in your pursuit. After watching Sundae, who is not the smarter of the two cats, I am impressed by her commitment to her goal. Persistence overcomes lack of talent and intellect 99% of the time. As Woody Allen once said, "85% of success is just showing up." Staying firm and on-task when you know the mission is attainable is what sets you apart as an effective leader.
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