Great Leaders Make Things Happen – They Choose Their Destiny

Great leaders make things happen – they choose their destiny. This blog is part of a series of blogs focusing on the importance of character and how it impacts leaders and leadership. In my previous blog we looked at values and virtues and how they are integrated with a person’s character. In this blog we’ll reflect on how leadership, a positive attitude and character intersect.

Several years ago I had the opportunity to meet Alex Pettakos and hear him speak on the topic of taking responsibility for your actions. He had authored a book entitled “Prisoners of Our Thoughts” that is based on the work of Viktor Frankl and provides many insights on the dangers of falling prey to negative thinking and how we can take responsibility for our choices. The first core principle Pattakos outlines in the book is: “Exercise the freedom to choose your attitude”. I believe this concept provides us with a profound truth – although you may not have chosen the situation you are in you can always choose your attitude.

Great leaders have the ability to look at a situation, choose a positive approach and make things happen as opposed to falling into the trap of focusing on being a victim. Leadership is often hard work. There is an old expression: “when the going gets tough the tough get going” which reflects a positive character trait that great leaders possess. Ultimately the choice you make with respect to your attitude impacts your destiny.

Anais Nin, a well-known 20^th century author and philosopher was quoted as saying:

“What we call our destiny is truly our character and that character can be altered. The knowledge that we are responsible for our actions and attitudes does not need to be discouraging, because it also means that we are free to change this destiny. One is not in bondage to the past, which has shaped our feelings, to race, inheritance, background. All this can be altered if we have the courage to examine how it formed us. We can alter the chemistry provided we have the courage to dissect the elements.”

When you combine an understanding that you can choose your attitude with the courage to make the choice that you know is right you will be well on your way to developing the kind of character it takes to make things happen and be a great leader.

I welcome your feedback. You can connect with me via email or telephone or leave a comment right here on the site.

Dave

David Town, CHRP, is a facilitator and coach of leadership and management principles that enable individuals and organizations to build greater leadership competency, resulting in higher performance and higher employee engagement.  David has a particular focus on effectively managing conversations involving confrontation or conflict.  As well, he provides insights and assessment strategies for integrating character competencies into leadership skills resulting in increased trust and reduced risk for leaders.  David is President of Your Leadership Matters Inc.