![]() ![]() ![]() Who will benefit from or be harmed by our actions? Are we sacrificing long-term success for short-term wins? If we make a mistake (and we will), then we need to acknowledge it, take responsibility, and move forward strengthened by the new knowledge gained from the experience. It’s a good idea to regularly reflect on the consequences of our actions, particularly as leaders. Unfortunately, where we frequently fall short is in the area of courage, a trait that effective leaders must embody. ![]() For most of us, our duty-i.e., the right thing to do-in a particular situation often isn’t that difficult to figure out. Having the courage to do our duty is at the core of character. Each of us has at least two characters: who we are at present and who we aspire to be. Our character can be our best asset or biggest liability. We may not always be able to control what happens to us, but we can control how we react. With that acceptance, we can focus our energy on what we can change and improve. The truth is we need to accept that what happened to us is beyond our control-we can’t go back and make events not happen. Some may think that this attitude is one of resignation, but that’s an oversimplification. There’s a philosophical belief called amor fati (Latin for “love of one’s fate”) that says the key to happiness is to embrace one’s circumstances. Instead, the important questions to ask are “How can I make things better?” and “What can I learn from this situation?” True leaders are committed to continuous improvement and regularly engage in reflection and self-examination. Once something bad has happened to us, it doesn’t do any good to wish it hadn’t happened. When we find ourselves in a challenging situation, it’s always unproductive to bemoan our circumstances. We need to be solution-oriented rather than problem-oriented. Hoping things will turn out for the best isn’t enough. Nevertheless, having the right attitude goes well beyond being an optimist-it helps to be a proactive realist. I tend to have a glass-half-empty disposition (maybe it’s due partly to that “professional skepticism” we’re supposed to have as accountants), so this one is challenging for me. Because in these situations, what do we have control over? Our attitude, character, and effort. In every such situation, repeating the ACE mantra to myself helps me to worry less about things that I can’t control and focus instead on what I can control. With family, we may become frustrated with a family member who doesn’t seem to understand our concerns. At work, we may become annoyed about a boss who lacks empathy or an assigned task that is ill-defined and needs to be done quickly. At school, we may become stressed out about a difficult course or a challenging assignment. Unfortunately, it’s human nature to become upset or anxious about things we can’t control. For card players, an ace is typically the most versatile and useful card you can be dealt.Īs players in the game of life, as well as leaders in the workplace, we are most effective when we focus our energy on what’s within our control. Good students strive to ace their exams and report cards. And in tennis, an ace is a serve that was so good the other player couldn’t return it. In baseball, a team’s best pitcher is referred to as their ace. In almost every context, “ace” is a word that relates to achieving excellence or being very fortunate. Adopting the ACE mantra can help leaders stay focused and build trust and commitment across their company through consistency. Such is the case with a simple mantra that I rely on each day: ACE, my acronym for attitude, character, and effort. ![]() This type of acronym is more useful if it shares something in common with a word or phrase that already has meaning to me. On occasion, I even elevate them to the status of mantras to sharpen my focus on accomplishing a particular goal or developing a worthy habit. They serve as mnemonic devices to help me keep track of what needs to be done. Grocery and to-do lists would be unthinkable for me without them. ![]()
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