WORDS TO LEAD BY - Willing

Continuing with lessons from Wally Adamchik's book, titled Construction Leadership from A to Z which explores "26 Words to Lead By."

This session's word is WILLING

WILLING

Willing - disposed to; consenting; inclined; ready

"The extent and complexity of the problem does not matter as much as does the willingness to solve it." - Ralph Marston

(c) Stuart Miles

But you must be willing before you can participate. This is where initiative comes in. One Marine Corps leadership trait is defined as “taking action in the absence of orders” – a willingness to act in the face of uncertainty.

Willingness is a key to creativity and to achieving what is possible. Rhodes Scholar Edward de Bono wrote, “One very important aspect of motivation is the willingness to stop and look at things that no one else has bothered to look at. This simple process of focusing on things that are normally taken for granted is a powerful source of creativity.” And it won’t happen unless you are willing.

Business guru, the late Peter Drucker, once said that consistently successful businesses are led by people who are “willing to make courageous decisions.” Where does courage come into play? It comes in the willingness to let go of what we are used to and the assumptions that we have made about what we do and how we do it.

If you are not willing, you are not open. A lack of flexibility and an unwillingness to be open to the possibilities is not a success strategy. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

"Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great." - Niccolo Machiavelli

Willingness Jumpstart:

• Say YES.
• Be open to unexpected outcomes.

We must be willing to let go of the old to experience the new. We must be willing to break some eggs to enjoy an omelet. We must be willing to remove our hand from the side of the pool to learn to swim. Let’s choose to live our life with willingness today and every day!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc