What is your mood?

Is it my imagination, or is everyone in a bad mood? And how is this affecting us and our efforts to do what we are here to do?

Well, maybe not everyone is in a bad mood…but there seems to be a lot of it going around.

This season, it’s politics, and the constant barrage of arrow-slinging media spots, theoretically “unbiased” news reports, and incessant speculation about coming apocalyptic chaos in the world.

Add to that commercial media, and the drumbeat of many diseases (all strangely with three initials instead of names) that will likely make our lives miserable unless we buy the advertised products.

And the weather hasn’t been helping much either, with alternating warm/cold/dry/snow/rain/more snow/ etc.

Nothing positive, productive or beautiful flows from all of the complaining, fear mongering and chaos.  Deep down, we know this. So, as leaders, how do we keep things under control while all of this affects our employees, and takes their attention away from what they are there to do?

First, it is important to understand that not everything is under our control! Stuff happens!  It is important also to realize and accept that people are what they are, and then focus on what gifts they do bring to the work. No one is perfect, without flaws, including us.

Second, it is not the leader’s job to “fix” others. It is their job to fix themselves. When we try to fix others, we are actually doing their job for them, and will likely frustrate both them and us.  It is the leader’s job to inspire people to grow, develop their knowledge and skills, and remedy their own issues and problems. If you find yourself trying to fix someone, you are probably interfering, not fixing. You can only fix yourself. Others are not projects for you to work on.

Third, sometimes we, as leaders, contribute to the disruption. If we are hanging with people who are constantly depressed or negative, it will undermine our own sense of optimism, our purpose, and our willingness to move forward on our vision.  Effective leaders do not spend a great deal of time or attention on these folks. They will drag you down.

Fourth, we must admit that there are people in life who we need to be cautious about…not everyone has our best interests in mind.  Some want what they want from us, regardless of our needs or intentions, no matter what we tell them.  Responding to their demands simply robs us of our own intentions, and prevents us from spending our time on those things that matter most. Ignore them, or remove them.

All of this requires mental and emotional strength.  Leaders must be an example of calm, assertive presence in the face of problems and challenges.

Mental and emotional strength is not just hoping that nothing ever goes wrong.  It is believing that we have the capacity to handle it, if and when it does, and then acting on that capacity.

So, what is your mood?  Are you in a bad mood, or up to the challenge?