Leadership Stretches Us

There are times when we just want to sit and be comfortable for a while.

We want things to be normal, typical, predictable. We have our own perspective on what life should be like and how to deal with the way we like it. We see life in ways that make sense to us, and just want things to work that way for a while.

We do not want to be asked to stretch, to reach further than we want to reach.

We talk about getting outside the box and going beyond our comfort zone. A lot of us would prefer to stay where we are. We settle into where we are comfortable. It takes real effort before we want to stretch.

We may resist stretching even when we recognize its practical benefits for us. Stretching is the only way we will really know whether or not something is beyond us. Stretching teaches us about ourselves, shows us more clearly who we can become. We will not know how far we can reach until we stretch.

The leaders who inspire me can tell when I need to stretch. I may have been in the same position too long. It is time for me to try something new, to stretch in new ways. They are good at finding new ways to stretch me, whether I am eager to try them or not.

The leaders who inspire me find ways for me to stretch physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually.

The most positive part of stretching, where the benefits are, is not knowing whether we can reach that far. If it is something we already know we can do, something easy, it is not stretching.

When is the last time you stretched well?

Who inspires you to stretch today?

How does you leadership stretch the people around you?

[Image by russteaches]