"Sometimes, you need a little courage...to buck popular opinion"
Not only has the willingness and strength to buck popular opinion been one of the foundations of great companies, it has become increasingly such as instant communication has put increasing pressure on business leaders to conform to perceived popular opinion.
But whether popular opinion is perceived or real, there are times when we have to go against the grain. Now what separates great leaders from mediocre is the wisdom and discernment on what needs to be went against and what doesn't.
When the motivational people start to encourage everybody to "break it," "destroy it" and be counter to everything, that is only a half-truth. There are of course times when this really does need to be done. But to do it for the sake of simply being destructive so it seems like you're doing the right thing is silly at the least, and truly destructive in the negative sense.
To go against the prevailing ways of doing things is a good thing because it means you've found a niche that can be served. If that isn't why you're doing it, then all you may be doing is breaking something without having anything to replace it with. Do that too long and you won't have a company.
So yes we do need courage to go against things when we need to, but we need just as much wisdom to know where we need to break it and when we need to leave it alone.
In the end it's the willingness to go against popular opinion that's important. If we simply flow with the crowd that can be destructive as well. But we shouldn't just do something to prove we're willing to, there needs to be a good reason why we're doing it.
Other Herb Kelleher Sources:
Leadership: The Essential Herb Kelleher
Speeches and Presentations from Southwest Leaders
Southwest Airlines: The Hottest Thing in the Sky
Remember to Sign up for my feed, bizzbite and digg this!
Sponsored link: The outsourcing every manager requires - Tampa Locksmith
Comment Preview