Some things in life are counterintuitive! Simplify put, leaders often lean on their gut and rely on intuition to get things done. When I was a manager in the natural gas pipeline industry overseeing multimillion-dollar projects I was a decision making gun slinger. Give me 50% of the data needed along with the knowledge of the deadlines and time constraints I was ready to make the million-dollar decision based on experience and intuition. Surprisingly it served me well. Besides if it ain\u2019t broke don\u2019t fix it! Right? Wrong, as the years have passed, I would hope that I am wiser, a bit more reserved and much more reliant on others around me for advice. The understanding that I don\u2019t have to have all the answers has taught me the value of seeking many counselors.<\/p>\n
Steven D\u2019Souza and Diana Renner in their books Not Knowing: The Art of Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity<\/em> and Not Doing: The Art of Effortless Action <\/em>we are brought face to face with the value of being counterintuitive. They explain that we often have to get to the point that we realize that \u201cthe old way of doing things is no longer possible.\u201d[1]<\/a> In order for this to happen we truly need to be aware of our limitations and the environment in which we lead. They also explain that knowledge though useful, can be the very thing that limits our ability to change and grow because we refuse to lay it aside when necessary.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n On my wrist is a silver bracelet given to me almost 15 years ago by my youngest daughter. I can count the number of times I have taken off in the past 15 years on one hand. On it is a simple inscription, \u201cProverbs 3:5-6.\u201d It is a friendly reminder that I am not infallible and to always remember life doesn\u2019t exist in a vacuum. \u201cTrust in the\u00a0Lord\u00a0with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.\u201d(NLT) In a world dominated by technology giving us real time news and unlimited information at our fingertips it hardly seems logical not to depend on our own understanding and seek God\u2019s will while trusting that He will guide us along the way. Depending on God and not myself reminds me as a leader that life isn\u2019t all about me. Yielding the need to know all the answers and paying attention to how I interact with others is very freeing as a leader. Exploring the many possibilities through the opinions and advise of others has not only made life less stressful it has created an inward desire that being second and satisfied is ok.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing how much you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.\u201d Harry S Truman<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n