Enemies and Allies

He was different. He was energetic, focused, and determined. This executive had just navigated a deal of gigantic proportions.

The burden to produce would now be placed squarely on his shoulders. His assured, excited demeanor didn’t surprise me. This is how top leaders respond to huge challenges.

His response to my question is what intrigued me. I asked him, “How does it feel to have this heavy weight on your shoulders?”

He responded, “This is not about me. I learned a valuable lesson when I once met with a very powerful world leader. She told me thatwhen facing a challenge, it is not important what we think. However, it is critical to fully understand what and how our allies and enemies think.“

He continued, “So while this is an incredible task to accomplish, I realize that I must engage and listen to those around me in order to be successful.” Then he grinned a knowing smile and said, “We are going to be successful, and when we achieve our goal, the credit will go to the team.”

Rarely have I witnessed such unselfish leadership. That is why this executive has many more wins than failures in his résumé. That is how he garners the trust and confidence of large corporations and mega investors.

More importantly, his commitment to listen and learn from his enemies and his allies demonstrates his powerful character of humility.

Choose to learn about the opinions and thoughts of those around you, and you will make a difference!

Dr. Larry Little, CEO