Remain in control

Without realizing it almost everyone you encounter and form a relationship with tests your confidence and leadership. They do it by questioning your ideas, plans, and goals. The way you respond to those challenges demonstrate your leadership ability, determination, and resolve. The reason we do this is to determine if we should be directing (leading) this person to do what we wish, we should be following them to do what they want, or avoiding this person because their beliefs differ from ours. If we encounter a person we like, but they are wishy-washy and do not have direction we will naturally provide that direction. If we encounter someone that is confident and setting the pace, we will naturally allow them to provide that direction. This is instinctive in our nature and if you understand this you can use it to control your direction and who you associate with.

Now let us apply a few principles to our daily life:

• Become confident that what you are doing is in your best interest. If you are questioning your decisions then any challenge will probably result in your backing down. Do what ever it takes to become confident that your path is the correct path for you. Let your friends set their own direction.
• Set the pace that works for you and take action. Only action creates results. If you are standing round watching things happen you are not setting direction and you are not going to achieve results. If you want people to take you seriously be serious.
• Learn to recognize challenges. When your decision is challenged with a question or a rejection remain confident and in control. If you find yourself backing down on a regular basis it is time to take a look at your decisions, direction, and most importantly the people that are challenging you. Ask yourself if these people are also heading in the same direction or just keeping you from following your path.

Again it is natural for people to question your decisions and challenge your direction. You do not have to lead others to be a leader and set a direction and follow that course of action. Once you have a direction and start to follow that course people interested in traveling on that same path will automatically join your team. Some will be a head of you and some will follow, but at least you will all be going in the same direction. But it all starts by taking control of your actions and not wavering in your commitment.

Could you imagine a pilot flying the plane based on the choices of everyone on the flight? The plane would either never take off or it would never land and should he achieve flight he would never be at the correct altitude and he would need a team of people nearly equal to the number of passangers adjusting the temperature, air quality, meal selections, and dealing with the seating arrangement. The pilot through experience and confidence takes a leadership position and controls the flight to completion. Because we are all following the same path we naturally follow his lead. Many of us will not agree with his decisions throughout the flight but we naturally allow him to control our direction and set the pace. Become the pilot of your future.