A “can do” attitude
I just had lunch with a good friend Craig. If there was ever a man with a “can do” attitude he is it. A couple of years ago he walked to the South Pole. Today he was telling me about his new baby – a sea kayak which he has had built from scratch. The company building it for him had their doubts – but he knew it would work – and of course it did!
Spending time with Craig and people like him is really energising for me. I don’t think the words “if only..” are in his vocabulary.
I am privileged to work with a lot of “can do” people in all sorts of ways. If there are barriers – they move them ( or -if they have to - at the very least work round them). Their language is positive and cumulative…”this is what I have done so far..and I am going on to..”
Does it mean that they are naive? Absolutely not. In fact people like Craig are acutely aware of the challenges – they choose to prioritise, acknowledge or deal with them in their own way. Their journey may be a winding one and the end result might have been modified in the course of things.
I heard someone talking recently about how parents who tell their children that they can do anything they set their mind to are wrong. The example given was that in the case of “talent” shows like X Factor their are participants whose singing talent or stage presence means that the will never be the big star they wanted to be.
There is something though about realism – and working with the talent you have to make the best of what you can do.
I am sure you have heard people say ”you have to be realistic though…” as a put down. It usually means that in their view there is no point so don’t even try. That comes from their frame of reference though!
So telling a child with a talent for football that they can play for Chelsea or Barcelona if they focus hard enough does them no favours as choices and decisions about who plays for what clubs are in the remit of very few people. But aiming to play football at the highest level possible can still be a sparking goal (for give the pun) to aim for.
To me that’s not settling for second best.
I’ve just set out (1 year) on a mission to engage the world of project management in the idea that pm methodologies are distant second in the challenge of succeeding on projects….second to the obvious front runner – “people”. The concept of “Can-do” is a simple one which we can analyse to death with fancy psychology, or simply look at empirically.
So what do we see as “can-do in our world. In our game trying to give a leg-up to project managers who struggle with a lack of formal authority, the ingredients of “can-do” include:
- first of all self awareness (agreeing with previous writers omments on realism)
- then taking personal ownership
- then demonstrating personal ownership to others – this being the route to influence and motivation
- then it’s about skill and tenacity to deliver on that energy.
So yes, agree wholeheartedly.
One “however”. Using this heroic pioneer type as an exemplar may not be the best way to inspire. Sure I’d like to be like him too, but I’m not. What about every day normal people who have to deliver against the odds? Stories of ordinary people are more interesting to me. In their context, they are no less inspiring.
Andy
Thanks for coming by and your comments Andy. Really appreciate your insight.
Re the “heroism” comment. I agree. It just so happens that I have known Craig since his expedition was a twinkle in his eye. His stories are good.I don’t want to do what he does though! Of course there are people who are “every day ” heroes. Like you I am inspired by the people who do what the promise despite some tough realities in their lives.