The Paradoxes of Project Leadership
By Bob McGannon

The way to success as a leader is to be perceived as consistent and supportive. Sometimes the way to achieve that perception is to be constantly caring, occasionally inconsistent and selectively supportive.

The opening paragraph seems paradoxical, doesn't it? How can one be perceived as consistent, while being inconsistent? Even more far fetched, how can one be perceived as supportive, without being supportive? Before you abandon these thoughts as being absurd, consider this; aren't we as humans often paradoxical? Anyone who has raised a child understands that at times the best way to be supportive is to say "no".

Elevating your consciousness about the contradictions that people bring to you, and being flexible in handling situations at work will genuinely improve your perception as a leader. Here are a few points to consider:

The Best Way to be Nice is Not to be Nice

"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" or "That is not a nice thing to say" have echoed through the ears of every child that wasn't raised as Tarzan was, by a family of chimps. Although serving its limited purpose at the time, that approach to relationships and the workplace isn't very productive. Yet many people hold on to the adage, and the behavior it inspired. We all need people who will politely and discreetly tell us that part of the salad you had for lunch is hanging off one of our front teeth, or that the fastener that holds the upper part of our pants together is undone! Those that avoid sharing this info with us for the sake of being nice aren't being supportive.

More significantly, however, are the people who see you doing something that they don't agree with, or don't feel it is in your overall best interest, that decline to discuss it with you. As a friend, relative, co-worker or manager you have a different perspective as to who people are and how they react to things. In addition, you can bring a different set of experiences and lessons learned.

Can you think of an instance where you did not follow your gut instincts, only to make a mistake and to later hear from a colleague or a project team member that they thought you were doing the wrong thing, but thought they would be considered "meddling" if they discussed it with you?

continue>>