Always provocative, Dr. Lee Thayer writes:
"Leaders are never victims of their own feelings. They perform the feelings called for by the situation."
What this could mean to us is the following:
- Leaders are those people who understand the importance of feelings.
- Leaders set out to manifest the kinds of feelings that NEED for their own unique purposes.
- Leaders understand the centrality of feelings, how feelings are ubiquitous and powerful drivers of thought.
Therefore, with these points in mind:
- They do what needs doing in light of their own purposes in life.
- Their purpose in never overridden by their feelings.
- They are in constant awareness of the power of feelings, and of invoking the right ones for the role required.
- Life, as understood in this way, is much more theatrical than deterministic.
- Performing the kinds of feelings you want is more beneficial (is crucial) in generating the kinds of outcomes you need.
Let's lay it out with a clear example. If you want to accomplish a great achievement, whether at work or in your own personal purposes, you'll need the wherewithal to get it done. And, more than that, you'll need the capacity to do it right, and to (hopefully) improve upon your own past performance. You'll need to be the kind of person who accomplished great achievements. If you don't think your feelings influence (or guide) this way of thinking, or at least significantly contribute to its getting done, you might not be on the most advantageous path.
By understanding your outcome, you've already placed yourself in a position to see what needs doing. Embodying the right feelings ("the feelings called for by the situation") you'll soon notice the difference in your own performance. Feelings happen to us at every moment of the day. Pay attention to those times when you are completely doing what needs to be done to drive your performance in the best possible way. Pay attention to what feelings you are experiencing (feelings that are working you over) in those moments.
Generate the necessary feelings and get on with your tasks. If you're a parent, you'll understand this. If you're a teacher, a project manager, or a sales person, you'll understand this. When someone comes to you, keeping them in line with whatever larger purpose is on the table is central.
Today, try not letting the wrong feelings work you over. There are band-aids for you to focus and enhance your thinking. We'll get to those in time. Do what needs to be done. Perform yourself into the space you need to be in. Notice the quality of life flourish. Notice the positive difference in yourself and the world around you.
