Lean to the Left - Lean to the Right!

When I was in grade school I remember going to the football games and sitting in the stands, and it was always so cool when the crowd got involved and cheered during the games. The cheer I remember most was: "Lean to the Left, Lean to the Right, Stand-Up, Sit Down...Fight, Fight, Fight." As part of my talk we did that cheer at the District 7 Leadership Conference in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma today. We didn't do it because we were cheering on our favorite team but because there it is a great leadership message. As leaders it is important that we are not singular in our perspectives, but that we have the ability to see things from different perspectives. "Lean to the left, lean to the right." (I am not talking politically here, but it would do all of our politicians a lot of good if they sought truth instead of being partisan.) The second part of the cheer says, "Stand-Up, Sit-Down". To stand-up, sit-down is to suggest the importance of being involved in the leadership process. So many people want to complain about the state of their lives, the state of the economy, the state of the public school system, but those whiners are often the last people to get involved. Rather than, complain, why not get involved, seek solution, and work for understanding.

"Stand-Up" is also a metaphor for the importance of standing up for what is right, standing up for justice, standing for others, and taking a stand and being recognized for your beliefs.

"Sit-Down" is an opportunity to reflect, to draw on wisdom, to listen, and to be patient.

"Fight, Fight, Fight". Notice there are three fights. Not just fight, but fight, fight, fight! Resilience is an important part of leadership. Learn to make mistakes, adjust, figure out what works, adjust and keep adjusting until we get our result. "If at first you don't succeed...Stop, Adjust and Go For It Again." (As many of you have heard me say so many times.)

Lean to the left, Lean to the Right, Stand-Up, Sit-Down, Fight, Fight, Fight!!!