BE WHO YOU ARE

Sounds easy enough. Right? What’s the latest buzz phrase? “You, be you.”

If when we were born we came with that simple instruction, our lives would be simple and perfectly orchestrated.

But we don’t. We come somewhat unassembled with the instinct and ability to make ourselves successful at something. The challenge is to grow up and be who we were born to be, even in the mix of all the people and events we navigate through to become us.

Leaders, good and bad, have a vision of who they want to be. They mostly know, throughout their lives, they want to be the lead dog. And, we need leaders. But, not all the dogs out front are fully equipped to lead the pack. While brains, talents, energy, vision, and courage all make for a good leader, those who are set apart from the rest know one thing well - themselves.

Most leaders know what they are skilled at doing. And they know what they are not good at doing. Hopefully they leave that to others who can do it better.

Great leaders learn over time:

- To gain the trust of those they lead through honesty, integrity and humility.

- To recognize the worth of course correction when they have veered off course, especially when it is hard or risky.

- To understand the courage it takes to make the hard, sometimes urgent, decisions to save the value of the organization and its people.

- To understand they can change as time goes on and grow to be a person of quality character that will set them apart at the head of pack.

Dr. Henry Cloud

I had the honor of participating in Leadership Wyoming this past year. Each partic - ipant is asked to write a leadership article to share with their class and the alumni. When I thought through my career, and especially my time with the Wyoming Mining Association, I recalled several standout people I have had the pleasure to work with over time. Each one had that certain “it” that drew people to them, not because they felt compelled to please that person, but because the person showed them interest and respect. They had a certain humility and yet confidence that made it easy to approach them to communicate.

BY: PAT JOYCE Assistant Director Wyoming Mining Association

KNOW YOURSELF FIRST.

Most of us have had that opportunity, whether we were leading a company, or were responsible for a group or project that needed to be successfully completed. Whether you are the safety manager of a mine or the CEO of the corporation, it never hurts to take that extra time out and consider whether or not we are leading as we would wish to be led. Making sure we are doing our next steps for the right reasons. Asking ourselves, “is this move going to strengthen us or is it going to run us right up to the edge of disaster?”

“Is now the time for a course correction and if so, what are the deciding factors that we need to assess.” “ Who will this decision affect and what are our alternatives?”

Knowing our skills, our limits, our taste for risk, and our ability to lead are critical when we take on a leadership role. But, just as important, is our knowledge of ourselves about those things we don’t shine at. Humility and honesty with ourselves as well as those we lead, is a strength and skill that stands out and earns respect and loyalty from those we lead.

AND, HAVE THE BEST TIME WRITING YOUR OWN INSTRUCTIONS!

BE THE CHARACTER OUT FRONT!!