Buoyancy Initiative

Anyone, including a child can walk into a room that is being painted and announce that the painter missed a spot. However, it takes someone with understanding to come along pick up a roller and make it disappear. How do you want to go through life? As someone who points out things that anyone can see? Or, as an individual who understands how to take initiative, solve problems, and act on great opportunities. One clear reason that emerging leaders are buoyant and rise to the top in any situation is because they do more than recognize and react - they research and respond.

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” Proverbs 18:2

The ignorant imply and then ignore any involvement. The idea that the problem they are bringing forward could be an opportunity to help the team, never crosses their mind. They just came to drop off a problem. Emerging leaders increase in insight and ignite initiative. They understand what needs to be done and they rise up people around them to help do it.

Increase in Insight
When an emerging leader sees a problem or an opportunity the first thing they do is increase in insight. They find the facts so that they can facilitate team flourishing. There is always more to the story than meets the eye. Leaders are well aware of that fact. The next thing they do is to discover resources. They see what can be done about the problem or opportunity. Then they take the time to consider what they can contribute. Once these steps are completed, they bring the information to the one above them. They come to their leader with understanding, possible resources, solutions, and a clear cut plan on how they could be involved. Emerging leaders simply want to know if they can have permission to solve the problem or move on the opportunity. If the answer is yes they step to it. However, if the answer is no they back off and focus on other areas of productivity. In summary:
· The ignorant show up with problems.
· Workers show up asking: What can I do to help?
· Leaders show up with understanding, resources, solutions, and a clear cut plan.

As a leader, I have often wondered why it is two totally different people can come to me with the exact same problem, and my emotions are different with they depart. I now understand that one showed up telling me what’s wrong, and the other showed up telling me what can be done right with what is wrong. It is a loss of productivity to hear about problems/obstacles that are not accompanied with solutions and plans. When a problem solver and an opportunity planner communicate about a problem that they are solving, it not only increases my productivity and theirs but furthermore makes them increase in insight as emerging leaders.

Ignite Initiative
When an emerging leader is given the opportunity to take their understanding, resources, solution, and clear cut plan to a problem or an opportunity they do not disappoint. They have the ability to cause people around them to rise up. This is because people produce what they are. An emerging leader is someone who takes initiative to solve a problem or pursue an opportunity. They look at the people who are around them and light a flame in them by saying “I’m going this way, go with me.” People will rise up and go. This is because, when you know who you are and you know where you are going, someone will follow you. Emerging leaders understand that not everyone will follow them, but those that want. to have their initiative ignited will. In summary:

· The ignorant simply sit back and criticize the way the problem is being solved.
· Workers step up and help the emerging leader.
· Emerging leaders get the job done.

I once worked with a painter who did really great work, but made it all worthless with his mouth. He cost our company more in wasted time than he was worth. On one particular occasion he went into a room where another painter was still painting and he noticed a few “holidays”. In the painting business this is the term for a missed spot. He began to laugh loudly and yell “Look at the holidays in this room.” The he took it upon himself to grab all of the other workers on the project and have them come in and look at the “holidays.” This was a total waste of time, until one of the painters simply picked up a roller and painted over the spot. The message was clear: when you see a problem fix it. Let me add this, when you see an opportunity, act on it.