Zaboo typically jumps from place to place to get where he wants to go. Sometimes it will be 6 feet, sometimes it will be 12 feet. On occasion it is straight up, grabbing on to light fixtures, yes I said light fixtures! He jumps down onto a counter or a cabinet that is full of papers, plates, or decor, and he usually hits his target! He lands on all fours like a cat ready to pounce, and when he does that, he will take everything with him sliding off the edge!
However, I have watched him jump and hit the corner of the cabinet, or the bedpost, or bounce off something. This is not a tap! This is a running, jumping, flying through the air SMACK! You could tell it hurt him a little. He’s very cautious for a few steps and a little slow. But sure enough, a few minutes later he does it again. Because that’s what he does, he takes a hit! It may slow him down for a minute, or daze him a little, but it does not stop him from his purpose. Which, sometimes I feel is to break everything in my house!
When you’re in a leadership role, you are there to lead. You’re not there to only coddle the team and you are not there for acceptance. You’re there to lead and too often leaders forget that. Actually, this is where some lead they might fail because they end up trying to please others too often. Sometimes, our job as a leader is to take the hit because we’re strong enough to take it.
For about the last 10 years, I have been sending my employees various tokens of appreciation. It might be their birthday, a thank you or a “just because.” As a leader, I just want them to feel valued. To date, I have had two employees come to me and thank me. I have easily sent out over 2,000 items.
Now, I don’t do it for the thank you. I do it because my job is to make sure that they feel appreciated, whether they express it to me or not.
Younger staff who start with me often go off to greener pastures just to come back realizing how good they had it. It can be frustrating, but it does not stop me from doing what is right. Leading is not easy. Sometimes it’s painful, sometimes it’s frustrating.
But if you’re in a position of leadership, you are required to do what is right, even if you do not feel like it. So take the hit!