photo by Critical Todd

Whenever things go smoothly you don’t hear about it.

However, when things don’t, that’s when you know it’s time to smile, roll up your sleeves and get uncomfortable.

You, yes I mean you, our fearless leader, are the one who we are looking to inspire us, to make things better, to push through all obstacles in our path to success.

Here’s your list of things to do:

• Soothe an angry board member
• Negotiate a huge reduction on a lease
• Listen to lots of complaints
• Produce a mountain of minutiae for a funder
• Shatter the status quo

How do you do this without storming out of the room asking yourself,  “Who needs this?”  How do you do this with style?

First of all, take comfort knowing you are not alone.  All of us who are leaders are part of a subtle and select subculture.  Our smiles slowly autopilot, our eyes glaze, some of us twitch.

We are divas of discomfort

You can change the world, one uncomfortable moment at a time.  Here’s what you do:

1. After they finish yelling about whatever they’re yelling about and they are clearly out of breath, say you are sorry they are so upset.
2. Think to yourself, “Am I going to drop dead if they say no?”
3. Imagine you are in the Cone of Silence and smile.
4. If they want more data, drown them in data.
5. Never apologize.

Leaders confront and conquer with a steady gaze.  They are at ease with uncertainty,  in a zen like state out of their comfort zone.

Comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Get more Wow!

If you want style notes and more for people who change the world, please check out:

Getting to Wow! to feel good, do good and look good

Nonprofit Knitwear for all things knit and nonprofit

Style Notes from me, your artspy

Hoong Yee