Some of the most significant problems that a leader will ever face are problems in the mind. The leader's thinking will often determine how far they can go and what they can accomplish. I've discovered that there are five essential affirmations that a leader must embrace if they are going to continue to experience breakthroughs and break out of ruts and setbacks.
1. I am ready to learn something new.
The first affirmation is essential to all learning. Leaders sabotage their success when they cease to learn. New information is always being created, and therefore the wise leader is one who is ready to learn new ideas and new principles from new perspectives. When a leader quits learning, they're stuck creating actions and patterns that have only been done before. Great leaders aren't afraid to embrace new ideas. Every leader should adopt the attitude that they're always ready to learn something new.
Experience question: How many new ideas have you embraced in the last month?
2. I can learn truths that have already been proven.
Some new ideas can be old ideas that the leader has never embraced or learned. Some of the best ideas are proven ideas, principles and truths that have already been shown as wise. The leader should learn from others who have gone through the trial-and-error process to establish ideas or concepts. Exceptional leaders spend time around other learning leaders to discover truths that have already been tried and tested.
Experience question: What existing truth do you need to embrace that would push you or your organization forward?
3. I will embrace a new idea to produce new results.
A beautiful truism of life is that new ideas and experiences always expand a leader and never contract them. When leaders and organizations embrace new ideas, they receive different and unique results. A good leader will start with the results that they want, and then they'll find the best approaches to help them achieve those desired results. Then a changed person will change a situation and produce a different result.
Experience question: What new results do you need to see in your life?
4. I think better as I think better thoughts.
Learning leaders appreciate the value of their thinking. These leaders understand that as they think better thoughts, their thinking becomes elevated. In other words, a leader cannot expect to be surrounded by small-level thinking and experience large-level ideas. Leaders who want to think greatly must put themselves in places and in front of great thinkers that inspire them to think greatly.
Experience question: Where do you place yourself to elevate your thinking?
5. I will think further to go further.
Every leader must examine whether they're thinking backward or forward. Where a leader chooses to direct their thinking will often determine the direction they move. Hugh White, a 19th century U.S. senator from Tennessee, is believed to have once said, "When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind, and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power." Learning leaders embrace the affirmation that when they think further, they will go further.
Experience question: What in the future are you thinking about that inspires you?
How a leader thinks is essential to their success and ultimately the success of the company that they help shape and steer. Leaders need to be always learning and growing. One effective way for a leader to improve is to embrace the affirmations of a learning leader. These affirmations will prepare you to learn well and learn quickly when the right idea manifests itself at the right time.
