We Could Be In For An Upcoming Leadership Crisis
On Wednesday, January 29th, the the National Assessment of Educational Progress released some alarming statistics. They revealed only 67% of eight-graders and 60% of fourth-graders had basic or better reading skills. As reported in “The Morning Brew”, Peggy G. Carr, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said, “This is not just a pandemic story. Our nation is facing complex challenges in reading.”
Carr noted social trends like watching screens rather than reading is contributing to the United States’ continual decline in reading scores since 2017.
Here’s the danger – if leaders are readers (and I believe they are), this could signal a leadership crisis in upcoming years.
For authors like myself, it also signals the need to discover new ways to traffic intellectual content.
How To Stimulate Growth
In the Saturday, February 1st edition of the online newsletter “The Flyover”, it was reported that India has increased its tiger population to over 3,600. This accounts for approximately 75% of all the world’s tigers. What they did to stimulate growth was address the issues of poaching, habit loss, and human-animal interactions.
In short, the lesson here for leaders is to stimulate growth you must first address the issues preventing it.
Communication: What Is It That People Demand and Crave?
In late-2024, the people of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania were frightened, fascinated, enamored, concerned, and had many other emotion caused by unexplained drones flying in their skies. Was it aliens, a foreign invasion, a government experiment, people having fun, or something else? Verifiable information was seemingly in short supply.
In her first White House press briefing Tuesday, January 28th, the sensational press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons… Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones,” she added. “In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.”
This story is a reminder that the people you lead may not always agree with you, but what they demand and crave is clarity and certainty. They reject ambiguity and uncertainty.
Play To Your Strengths
A recent article by “LiveScience.com” revealed humans would need bat-like wings and a 20-foot wingspan to achieve personal flight . Bottom line – humans are not flying without jet propulsion or some other type of apparatus like a hang glider or parachute.
The lesson for leaders is to know your limitations and play to your strengths. Don’t try to be someone else. Always try to improve but know how to best leverage your personal abilities and influence. After all, there is only one YOU!
What Is Required To Be “A Winner”
Speaking on star-player Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said in this article from The Athletic, “You have two categories: You have a competitor, guys that show up every single night, but when it comes to (the) winning moment of the game, they’re not really there. And then you have winners who are going to do everything in their power to help the team win.”
So what is the difference?
He goes on, “The outcome is not going to be always (making his team) the winner. But they’re willing to do any sacrifice that is needed. Is that blocking a shot? Is that getting a deflection when you need it? Is that getting a bucket when you need it? Is that to make the right play and just not shoot some shots and allow your teammates to make a play? Scottie is all about that and he is only 23 years old.”
To be “a winner”, not only do you need the prerequisites of skill, attitude, and production, you must also be willing to sacrifice. And that is why there so few “winners.” Few are willing to sacrifice.
FREE Resource – The Top 75 Leadership Quotes of 2024 Part 2
As previously mentioned, I have recently developed a strategic partnership with an organization called Netline. They are an organization which gets content into as many hands as possible. Together, we created a FREE resource entitled “The Top 75 Leadership Quotes of 2024 – Part 2.“ You can click HERE or on the image provided to receive this complimentary resource.
There comes a time in the life of every leader when they must stand up and declare, “Follow me!” Language and how to use it is a BIG deal for leaders. Words matter. They can mobilize people, inspire enormous change, and move others to life-changing action. Therefore, when a leader speaks, the quotes they give, matter.
Now a special request. This is a complimentary resource. Therefore, if you will make special note of the ads on the pages you will see. If any interest you, please click the images and learn more about their products.
Once again, you can get your FREE resource by clicking HERE.
