Page 93 - Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton

LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF HILLARY CLINTON

ahead of us and determining where they were getting the
optimum sail based on the path of the wind or how their
sails were flapping in the wind. Then, the key was using
that insight to adjust our course successfully. To me, this is
a great metaphor for embracing change.
You need to be looking for signs that change is coming
and then adapt your attitude and actions so that you are
part of it rather than just feeling the effects of it. Show your
interest by asking questions, then demonstrate your lead-
ership by volunteering to do something that will move the
change effort forward.

x SECRET 3: FOCUS ON WHAT YOU z
CAN CONTROL AND BE REALISTIC
IN YOUR EXPECTATIONS

During a transition, we often feel that the things that we
can’t control are expanding and those that we can control
are shrinking. As a result, we feel like victims, and we
begin to blame others or make excuses for ourselves. Even
if our perception is not accurate—and often it isn’t—when
we feel like victims, our energy is focused on what we
might lose, and we feel threatened. To counter this nega-
tive reaction to change, it helps to focus on those things
that we can control. By doing this, we are better able to use
our time productively and to stay positive about future
possibilities. In fact, sometimes when we “let go” and give

x 82 z