How a 100-Year-Old Research Study Can Make You a Better Leader
Patrick Leddin, PhD
Disruptive Speaker | Writer | Idea Enthusiast with a Pragmatic Edge
More than a century ago, Clark University researchers experimented with a very aggressive walleye pike. The researchers placed the pike in a large tank filled with water and added several minnows, the pike's natural food, and watched as the fish immediately devoured the minnows. The researchers then placed a transparent glass divider in the tank with new minnows on one side and the pike on the other. Again the larger fish went after the minnows, this time hitting its head against the glass with each attempt. Eventually, the pike stopped trying to eat the minnows, having learned that the effort would only bring a sore head.
After three months, the researchers removed the glass barrier. Now nothing was separating the predator from its prey. Yet even with the minnows now swimming around the tank, the pike did not attempt to eat them. The pike would starve to death before trying to eat its favorite meal.
Such is the power of discouragement. We may have tried and failed in the past, and because we learned that trying can occasionally bring failure and pain, we assume it will always be so.
Don’t believe it.
When you focus your energy on things you can't control, your influence shrinks. You may still be worried about politics, your position with this or that person, who’s getting pro/demoted, or who’s up, down, or sideways. But this is debilitating thinking that will only diminish your capacity to contribute.
By contrast, if you focus your energy on the things you?can?do something about, your influence grows—often dramatically. You can't control what others do; you can only hope to?influence?them. You contribute what you can instead of exhausting your energy in futile political games because your allegiance is to the principles, not the players.
If you choose to focus your energy on the things you?can?do something about, your influence grows—often dramatically.
The?Wall Street Journal?observes, “Most managers will spend their entire work life reacting to orders from above, reacting to pressures and problems from below, or simply reacting to the insistent demands of a busy workplace. . . . If all you do is react, you will fail as a manager. You may be good at solving problems that arise. You may be skilled at responding to the needs and requests of those you work for or the people on your team. You may work long hours, be loved and respected by your employees, and be the very model of organizational efficiency. But you will not be an effective manager.”
Effective leaders are proactive, not reactive. They are passion-driven and resourceful, and they find a way to achieve what matters most. Instead of getting lost in a world of concerns, they focus on what they can control or influence.
You will make mistakes: All leaders do. You may feel awkward initially, but if you persist, you will eventually feel the excitement of real growth in yourself, your team, and the bottom line.
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I wish you all the best as you choose to lead. That choice can make all of the difference.
Make it a great day!
Parick
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Chief Operating Officer at Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney
1 年Somedays it may be unclear if you are the pike or the minnow. There are a couple of lessons here as we start our work week; (1) as you describe the power of discouragement we should consider its natural antithesis the power of encouragement. We need to be cognizant about focusing on the things that we can influence or control rather than be disappointed and discouraged by those we cannot. We also have to be sure to encourage others to let them know that their efforts are appreciated and recognized, (2) while the pike was discouraged by the transparent barrier to the point of completely giving up, we need to recognize barriers and make efforts to work around or through them and keep putting forth our best efforts to achieve the desired results, and (3) the need to be proactive as well as reactive. We are always going to have to react to those above and below, but you don't want your day to be filled with these reactions. I try to start each day doing something that relates to a goal or initiative that I want to accomplish, then the day may take on its own direction, but when things are quiet at the end of the day I consider progress made on the goals/initiatives and attempt to end the day with some positive momentum.
VP of Products and Marketing at Metrohm | Global Technology and Commercialization Strategy
1 年Well worth the time and the thought this Monday morning.
Project Director
1 年Great advice!