A Good Eye

A critical eye is an important tool in a leader's toolbox. It's valuable to be able to see what is going on in an organization and even in your family. Accurately assessing areas of need and seeing what other people miss separates excellent leaders from average. There is a distinct difference however, between analyzing situations for improvement and only seeing the negative side. It's far too easy to slide into cynical criticism and miss the opportunity to reward the positive. Allowing yourself to lead this way discourages the people around you and can cause you to miss the good things that are taking place.

We've got to learn to not only speak up when something is wrong or poorly done, but also learn to reward progress and to lift up positive actions. This is a necessary balance that sets the right tone for learning what needs to be corrected and also reinforcing healthy decisions. It helps us raise children who find a comfortable balance between necessary correction and positive reinforcement. It also helps us lead in a way that brings out the best in people instead of only punishing poor choices.