The One Mental Habit Costing Leaders Millions (And Everyone's Doing It)
Dr. Carrie LaDue
Leadership Speaker | Creator of High-Performance Trifecta? | TED Speaker | 18 Years Transforming 15,000+ Leaders | 4x Productivity Boost for CEOs | Leave a Legacy Beyond the Bottom Line
Stop.?
Before you read further, think of the worst thing that could happen in your business right now.
Got it??
Now, here's a truth so controversial that most people will fight me on it until their last breath: No situation - not even that one you're thinking of right now - is inherently bad. Not losing your biggest client. Not bankruptcy. Not even death.
"Impossible." you're thinking. "Some things are just bad. That's just reality. Anyone who says different is delusional."
This visceral rejection you're feeling right now??
That's exactly why most leaders stay trapped in reactive patterns that cost them millions.?
Because accepting that life is truly neutral - that nothing has inherent meaning until we assign it - challenges our most basic understanding of how reality works.
THE PROOF THAT CHALLENGES EVERYTHING
When the 2008 financial crisis hit, most leaders saw catastrophe. A select few saw opportunity. From those "terrible" market conditions emerged Uber, Airbnb, and Square - companies now worth billions. The market conditions weren't inherently bad or good. They were neutral. The leaders who understood this changed entire industries.
THE HIDDEN COST OF YOUR LABELS
Your biggest competitor just announced a game-changing product. As you process the news, your heart rate increases, your mind races, and you feel that familiar knot in your stomach. In that moment, your label of "this is bad" triggers a cascade of biological and organizational costs:
WHAT IT'S REALLY COSTING YOU
The moment a leader labels a situation as "bad," entire organizations shift into reactive mode:
A star employee resigns:
Major client threatens to leave:
Competitor launches new product:
THE TRANSFORMATION FRAMEWORK
Last month, I worked with a CEO facing a failed product launch - $2M at risk. Instead of catastrophizing, we applied this framework:
Pure Observation
Reality Acceptance
领英推荐
Opportunity Scan
YOUR LEADERSHIP REVOLUTION
Think about your current "worst-case scenario." Now:
THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION
Most leaders ask: "Why is this happening to me?"
High performing leaders ask: "What does this make possible?"?
Think this is just theory??
Try this: Calculate the cost of your last three reactive decisions.?
Now imagine those same situations handled from a neutral perspective.?
The difference??
That's what your labels are costing you.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Your interpretation of events costs more than the events themselves. Every time you label a situation "bad," you're writing a check your business doesn't need to pay.
The most expensive belief in business isn't "this won't work" - it's "this is bad."
Want to dive deeper into how accepting life as neutral can transform your leadership and organization? My new book "The High-Performance Trifecta" shows you how to:
You can get a free Ebook version of "The Trifecta" here to learn the complete framework for turning neutral observation into transformative results.
Dr. Carrie LaDue is the creator of the High-Performance Trifecta? methodology and author of "The Trifecta: Transforming Organizations Through Visionary Leadership." Her work helps leaders create high-performing organizations where both profits and people flourish.
Sources:
Concierge Life Consultant | Helping Ultra-High Achievers Cut Work Hours in Half While Elevating Impact & Family Connection in 12 Weeks | 30+ Years Expertise in RTT, EMDR, NLP, & Mind-Body Medicine
1 天前I call this confidence -- I am competent and capable of handling anything that comes up." So far that attitude has taken me further than I would have thought possible. Every shift is an opportunity. If only I had been thinking that in 2008. Oh look - its 2025 and I have another opportunity!
I help to guide stressed professionals to a path of increase energy, vitality and overall feeling of well-being without expensive time consuming regimes, maximising your time, your day, your life !
1 个月Very informative, I tend to catastrophes things before they happen, it stops me in my tracks every time & stagnates any growth. Thank you for this view, neutral perspective hmmm ??
??Multi-Award Winning Mind Mentor with 25 Years of Experience in helping professionals find Freedom, Fulfillment, Peace & Purpose ??You can't see the label when you're inside the jar ??Trusted by Professionals Globally
2 个月This is an interesting view point and it's like driving a fast car and keeping it in one gear. As difficult situations arrive, for example and unexpected turn in the road we can stay in that gear or pass through neutral to grab a new gear. In business that's the pivot. Good leaders don't always need to see the bend but their employees are the warning systems that danger is coming. Great CEO's should let go of the wheel and adopt a neutral driving position, this way they let the car and it's components do the driving, which makes the journey of business smoother. When a CEO creates psychological safety they hold space to get the most out of their teams. Great article
Founder Partner | Diploma in Systems Audit DISA (ICAI)
2 个月An insightful and lovely message through this News Letter Dr. Carrie LaDue!! By embracing neutrality, leaders can transform their organizations into adaptive, high-performing entities capable of thriving in any situation. Reality isn’t inherently positive or negative, t’s a canvas. Leaders who let go of labels and approach challenges with neutrality unlock hidden opportunities to innovate and thrive. Your interpretations cost more than events themselves. By removing the "bad" label, leaders can stop unnecessary expenditures and drive meaningful, proactive growth. Leadership isn’t about avoiding challenges but mastering the art of responding to them. Neutral observation turns setbacks into stepping stones for growth and transformation. True leadership lies in controlling the narrative we assign to situations. When we strip away labels, we see not problems but possibilities.