Why can some people get so much done seemingly with little effort and why do some people exist on excuses, chaos and compromise? Why do some demand excellence and why do others settle for mediocrity? Why can some people create enabling environments and some only procrastinate?
Over the years meeting and learning from people across careers and interests, I find that the first thing that draws me to exceptional people is the way they communicate, their ease of being, the humility and the empathy they to bring to conversations, and the ability to exude positivity and appreciation. I don’t believe that these are qualities you are born with; these are all acquired traits and ones that have been honed and refined to become a part of your persona.
Many meetings and panel discussions I attend find me analyzing the participants; most often I notice that a person wants to dominate the conversation, is not particularly interested in what others are saying, and wants to command respect through subtle acts of domination and self importance. They are few that make the exception and they are the ones who come across as enablers, doers and engagers.
For effective outcomes, it is important that people in leadership roles have the ability to quickly distill information to actionables, rapidly make good decisions, and earn respect through consistently delivering results and maintaining integrity. In Nepal, I consistently struggle sitting with teams across different organisations that are indecisive and not ready to take ownership of decisions; the intention is almost always right, but the implementation insufficient and often ineffective. Personalised and efficient interactions are what can lead to quality deliverables whether on national scale or more personal goals.
No one can always be right, but not having tried can be worse especially in a leadership role where several other people are tied to your decision outcomes. The day the Prime Minister, government secretary, tax officer, banker and entrepreneur put people first; humanise their decisions and make meaningful connections, they will make a difference to the world. Lasting success and impact requires powerful intention, conscious decisions and the ability to keep asking and making tough decisions.
