I was recently struck by the insidious nature of what I have termed "when then" thinking . When I get promoted then I'll address my time management issues". "When I move house then I'll deal with the accumulated treasures in the loft". "When I have more time then I'll spend more time with my partner/children/staff." Or my personal favourite " when I have more confidence then I'll..."
Ever noticed that "then" never seems to arrive? Because by the time it does we have replaced another "when/then" thought pattern in its place!
Are we in fact so focused on leading ourselves and others "then" that we fail to lead effectively now? What opportunities to exercise leadership are present for us now?
What would it be like if we lived fully alive to and awake to the possibility of leading today, now, right from where we are?
Would we notice opportunities to mentor others? Would we become more creative in our use of time
Would we embark on new social enterprises? Would we more proactively seek out like minds with whom we could synergise? Would we make the kind of contribution that we know deep down that we are capable of making?
Perhaps when we fully realise that we can make a real difference now then we will become the kind of leader we want to be. Or we could decide not to wait for a full realisation and just act now!
