Muneer A. Rasheed
on
The Leader's Little Voice
Whispering Doubt in Their Ears!

Lest I am egregiously misunderstood the leader's little voice I am referring to is not a condition that requires professional help!

What I am writing about is that soft subconscious voice that says all so wisely

Don’t try

You’ll fail

You can’t make peace with them

You’re not the right height, weight ethnicity

Oh wait a minute that was my little voice!

I’m making light of it, but I think you see where I am driving.

Those words of doubt that keep the leader second guessing decisions made or are in the process of making.

Sometime the leader's little voice comes from an external source. From those who:

1. Do not want you to have success: Your success forces them to face the lack of their own. Or they may feel more comfortable by not having you as a peer.

2. Think that they are doing you a favor by protecting you from failure. While the intentions are good; Leadership calls upon the moving of degrees out of ones comfort zone.

The Islamic leader must have vigilance to not allow words of caution to succumb you to the point of action paralyses.

The leader is forever waiting for perfection before moving forward.

Story: The Piano player that played with the idea of moveing to Taiwan

I met a man years ago (I’ll call him Harry) who was an accomplished pianist.

He often discussed moving to the Far East to make his fortune as a lounge performer. Every time we met him he would talk about when the time was perfect he would pack up and go!

The interesting thing about Harry is that the time never seemed to be perfect. He was perfectly fine waiting for the perfect time. I some how doubt if Harry every made it outside of where he lived.

Story: I need to make one more million before I take that vacation!

This story was related to me by my friend Lin.

Lin told me about his friend who was quite wealthy. This friend of his much like Harry always discussed taking a vacation abroad when he made just a little more money.

Lin said although his friend still made more money; it was never quite enough. Perhaps after the next million!

Leaders have to learn to move when they are 80% ready to go. The additional 20% is not noticeable or will be adjusted for over time.

How to handle those little voices

• Have clearly established goals: Bench marks serve as means to confirm were you are headed and removes the guessing and doubts the accompany the leader's little voice

• Focus on desired outcomes. What are the results you are looking to achieve? Ultimately, you want those you are serving to be better off as a result of your action.

• Self development: Continuous learning stimulates the brain and fosters enhanced creativity. Now the “leader's little voice” becomes an ally in the realm of possibility thinking.

One more thing about those little voices: If they lead you towards greater inspiration and creativity then All Praise to Allah!

Return to Homepage Return from leader's Little Voice to Articles