Be a LION not a BUG!

Ever been to a workshop where you were asked to think about what animal you would be if you lived in the animal kingdom? It’s always enlightening to compare what people think of themselves with the perceptions of others. Permit me to go with two species- the bug and the lion. When you are a bug you are… 

Blaming : Do you always feel that you have no control over what happens to you? When you are a ‘blamer’ you see every mistake as someone else’s fault and you don’t hesitate to find the culprit in any situation. As a blamer you live your life in ‘reactionary’ mode and often on the receiving end rather than making things happen.

Undriven: Being too driven is sometimes seen as a negative. But the alternative- what I call ‘undriven’ brings apathy, stagnation and makes you ineffective. People like to collaborate with people who are self-motivated, know what they are about and act on what they believe. Drive is possibly one of the most important characteristic of accomplishers so work to increase your inner motivation.

 

Groaning: We all complain from time to time but when it becomes a habit, you can start to irritate those around you. Moaners always look for the bad in situations to justify their attitude. Becoming a moaner can creep on you so start paying attention to your response to situations. Do you complain or work out what to do about it? 

On the contrary to be a L.I.O.N is to;

Live with gratitude: Wanting more from life is good but doing so without appreciating what you already have smacks of greed. Find some daily reminders to help you focus on what to be grateful for; for example good team mates, a good working environment, skills and talents; even that tough boss who overloads you with work might be helping you build your ability to handle pressure. It’s all in the attitude.

Incite positive energy: ‘Being positive’ is freeing and its impact amazing. Unless you’re surrounded by people who have taken the ‘anti-positive’ vow most people respond warmly to ‘positivity’ in others. Plus it helps you adapt well and manage problems with the right frame of mind. 

Organise creatively: We know about ‘creative thinking’ but do not really think organising can be creative. Some do this naturally but if you can’t you can learn. Creative organisation means you are able to shift ideas or get people to use ideas in a different way and to pull together seemingly unrelated things into a sensible whole. 

Nurture with pride: Nurturing is a very noble responsibility powered by a conscious decision to enrich peoples lives. When you nurture, you listen and help others grow at a speed that takes them out of their comfort zone but not into the ditch. Everyone has something to give of themselves- find out what yours is and share.

Now take action: On a scale of 1-10 on the ‘Positiveness’ ladder, where are you?