Dandelions: Weeds or Wishes? Leadership and an abundance mindset.
“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” John Maxwell
When you look at a field of dandelions, do you see weeds or a field of wishes? Everyone has their own personal list of traits that really rub them the wrong way… It’s taken me a while to realize that manyof the little things that nag at me can be summarized into one theme: people leading with a scarcity mindset. If you haven’t read Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,
Stephen defines people with a scarcity mentality as “seeing everything in terms of win-lose. There is only so much; and if someone else has it, that means there will be less for me.”
This can show up in different ways for different people, and sometimes might just appear as a negative outlook. Other times, it could be masked as a high level of discernment that can’t be turned off. Sometimes, working with a person like this can help you identify risks of failure, but eventually, this mindset will kill every good idea and suck the motivation from every team member. Aside from the “hole poking”, and controlling nature that can occur with this mentality- a scarcity mindset can show up as posturing, being overly political, an ego so large it can’t fit in the room.
So, how does someone shift to an abundance mentality?
In order to shift away from a scarcity mindset, invert your thinking from being resource-focused to principle or values-based focus. Stop thinking about external perceptions, and start thinking from the inside-out. If you’re confident in yourself, there is no threat of limited resources- you create your own resources, your own path, your future. Having an abundance mindset allows you to see what’s possible. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t going to make you a creative strategist overnight, but it will help you to get out of your own way.
Some tips:
Practice gratitude. This will look different for everyone, but building this habit will lay the foundation for the other changes.
Be open to collaboration.You can’t change your “autopilot” with sheer will. You’ll have to re-route your thoughts. When someone asks to help, your first thought might be “no, then they’ll get the credit”… the first step to changing is realizing it’s happening. Take note, try to be more open and collaborative, and reassure yourself.
Find a source of inspiration. Everyone has different motivations, find yours- and find a strong example of a leader with an abundance mindset.
Don’t let the perception of others define you. Your self worth should come from within, people with a win-win mentality aren’t comparing themselves to others. Confidence is key.
Build on your strengths, assume the best in others, share the glory of wins.
