Leading like a sinner so that you can believe in the potential of others

We need to lead like a sinner, so that we can believe in the potential of others.  What?  How does that work you ask?  Only when we take care of the "we're only human problem" can we begin to look past the parts of a person that don't always function perfectly, to see the parts of a person that are amazing, filled with potential.  I think that if I am looking for someone to be perfect, they will always disappoint me.  I will always have several things they should have done better.

I think we see this in the topic of mentoring and parenting.  Those who study mentoring say that a parent can only take their child so far.  And then they will get stuck with their child in calling out that which is good because they will not be able to look past that which is bad.  A mentor, someone who is not as intimate with that person, will be able to overlook that which is not so good in a person, and stay focused on giving praise to the good in the person.  Allowing that person to focus on those parts of themselves that are wonderful, becoming who they were created to become.  Unlocking the potential that is within them.

So when we lead with the knowledge that we have parts of ourselves that are broken and do not function as well as we might want them to, we will find capacity to have compassion and empathy for another team member who is also operating with broken parts as well.  This ability to look past, is the beginning of seeing the potential in others.  Believing that people grow, that people all have been gifted in some area.

Dale Carnegie says in his book, "How to win friends and influence people", that he would always assume that everyone he met exceeded him in ability in some area of their life and it was his job to discover what area that was.

Knowing that all people are broken and carry shame is the first step to this belief.  And if you recognize that, it will change how you look upon others dramatically!