The following contains excepts from the book, The Difference Maker (John Maxwell).
At our music school in Odessa, Texas we believe that music is more than sound, it is relationships. In dealing with the subject of relationships, the subject of Leadership also comes up. The following thoughts deal with leadership principles that can be applied to any aspect of life, especially in music and the arts.
The premise of this book is actually a little humorous to me, as Maxwell retracts his position that “attitude is everything” to “attitude can make the difference.” He states that over the course of time he has come to believe that there are some things that attitude cannot do, such as: 1) substitute for competence, 2) substitute for experience, 3) change the facts, or 4) substitute for personal growth. Regarding competence, he states, “In my leadership experience, I have made the mistake of hiring for attitude and discounting ability. I erroneously thought that positive people would eventually find a way to get the job done- even if they didn’t have the exact abilities for their role. Unfortunately, there’s not a substitute for talent. An attitude of confidence cannot replace competence. When all other things are equal, attitude can be the difference maker, but it alone does not make the difference.”
At our music school in Odessa, Texas we seek to help the student cultivate a positive attitude while also honing their personal discipline and core competencies.
Maxwell, however, does put attitude in its proper perspective, stating what it can do in a person’s life: 1) It can make a difference in your approach to life, allowing us to rise to our own levels of expectation, 2) It can make a difference in our relationships with other people, and 3) It can make the difference in how we face challenges. Among other illustrations, he cites the story of the ancient Greek orator Demosthenes, who possessed a speech impediment. He overcame it by reciting verses with pebbles in his mouth and speaking over the roar of the waves at the seashore.
Maxwell states that, when it comes to dealing with problems, there are really only two kinds of people: 1) Splatters, and 2) Bouncers. The question is, when facing problems, are you going to give up or get up. The ‘difference-maker’ between splatters and bouncers is having the right attitude.
How to deal effectively with discouragement:
- Get the right perspective. If you are experiencing difficulties, it may not be easily recognized, but somewhere in that difficulty is an opportunity.
- See the right people. The right people can lift you up. He cites the example of Walt Whitman, who struggled to get anyone interested in his writing. None of the big publishing houses would accept his work, “Leaves of Grass”, a short volume of his poetry. He printed it himself, but it received little notice from the public. He couldn’t get rid of them, even though he kept lowering the price from $2.00 to $1.00 to .50 cents. However, he did receive a note of encouragement from Ralph Waldo Emerson which said, “I am not blind to the worth of the wonderful gift of ‘The Leaves of Grass.’ I find it the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed. I greet you at the beginning of a great career.”
Perhaps one of the greatest things a teacher can do is give perspective to the student, helping them focus on the possibilities that lay ahead rather than the difficulties of the past or present. Giving the student hope is essential to what we offer at our music school in Odessa, Texas.
- Say the right words. “Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself rather than talking to yourself.” (Heart surgeon, D. Martin Loyd Jones). We should develop a positive and motivational personal language.
- Have the right expectation. J. Wallace Hamilton once observed, “Every person’s life is a diary in which he means to write one story, and is forced to write yet another.” The story you write, however, can actually be better than the one you envisioned. You have to remain flexible, and you can’t expect everything to go perfectly. Psychologist Lawrence R. Burns makes a distinction between negative and positive perfectionists, stating that negative perfectionists are concerned with trying to impress, and as a result are often depressed, anxious and obsessed with their flaws. Positive perfectionists, on the other hand, set realistic goals and forgive themselves when they fall short. Burns says it is possible for a person to shift from one to the other. The key is to focus on what you can achieve, not what you can’t.
This mindset is a key component of what we help our students to cultivate at our music school in
Odessa, Texas. Helping them to see a positive future, while maintaining high expectations is how we provide a framework for growth.
5) Make the right decisions. The decisions you make, and how you make them have a huge impact on your outlook. It’s always important to do the right thing. Few things create discouragement like a guilty conscience can.
A positive attitude can help you navigate change successfully. People resist change because of personal loss, fear of the unknown, the timing could be wrong, because it feels awkward, and because of tradition.
Here is a check-list to help navigate making changes:
1) Will this benefit the followers?
2) Is this change compatible with the purpose of the organization?
3) Is this change specific and clear?
4) Are the top 20% (the influencers) in favor of this change?
5) Is it possible to test this change before making a total commitment to it?
6) Are physical, financial, and human resources available to make this change?
7) Is this change reversible?
8) Is this change the next obvious step?
9) Does this change have both short and long-range benefits?
10) Is the leadership capable of bringing about this change?
11) Does everything else indicate the timing is right?
Here are attitudes that are helpful regarding change:
Helping students not only accept that change is always happening is one component of helping them mature, however, an even greater model is to help them to see themselves as agents of change, both personally, as well is in leading others. At our music school in Odessa, Texas we encourage students to their potential as leaders.
1) Change will happen, whether you like it or not
2) Change is unavoidable
3) Without change there can be no improvement. Even though all progress brings change, not all change brings progress. We cannot become what we need by remaining what we are.
4) Make a commitment to pay the price for change. One half of knowing what you want is in knowing what you must give up to get it. Change always costs you something. If change doesn’t cost you anything then it isn’t really change.
5) Change must happen within you before it can happen around you. You can let change get the best of you, or you can harness change let it make the best of you. To do that you need to have a positive attitude.
In life, whether facing difficulties, changes or challenges, a positive attitude is essential to coming out on top. While, as Maxwell states, attitude cannot be a replacement for other important facets of our lives, it will always be a ‘difference-maker’ for us. At our music school in Odessa, Texas we hope to help our students embrace a positive mindset as well as personal discipline and the development of core competencies. The two go hand in hand.