Nine fellow chaperones and I dragged forty seventh graders across the Lonestar State for a complete Texas history tour this spring. The four-day whirlwind tour was both 100% brutal and 100% wouldn’t-miss-it-for-the-world. The twelve hours on a bus and foldout sofa beds didn’t compare to the disappointment that awaited us.

This Week’s Edition

As we emerge from the pandemic, we’ve been conditioned to EXPECT disappointment and, on some level, just ACCEPT it. Don’t accept the disappointment you don’t have to! 

Clarify Your Thinking

At the end of Day 2, we rolled up on the Kemah Boardwalk for a vacation from our trip – two hours of good ‘ole amusement park fun. Bring on the rollercoaster! The kids were over the moon excited after countless hours in museums and historical sites. 

The Boardwalk’s tag line is “the fun never stops!” Well… apparently it does stop. It stops at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and we just happened to show up at… drumroll… 7:50 p.m. 

For some reason, Carla, the manager, had no problem telling forty thirteen-year-olds, “Park’s closed!” It was devastating. You could see the kids’ shoulders slump two inches as they dropped their heads in disappointment. A pandemic? And now this? Ah, life!

Leaders have endured their fair share of disappointment throughout the past two years. They have been told by the proverbial manager of the park, “Park’s closed!” 

This past week, one leader expressed her challenge at rallying her team to the organization’s future vision. She surmised that their lack of energy and enthusiasm was due to being conditioned to expect disappointment. “Robin, they are thinking, ‘why be hopeful when those hopes will be dashed.’ I think my team has become trained to accept disappointment, and it’s killing our momentum.”

Current Thinking: Why bother? It’ll just be another disappointment.

New Thinking: I desire to pursue a vision. There will always be things out of my control. I will pursue the things I can influence and be resilient in the face of setbacks.

Thoughts Lead to Actions

Faced with a potential mutiny by the disappointed kids, something had to be done. A couple of never-say-die chaperones (straight from the Alamo) sprang into action. Some hardcore negotiation ensued. It looked bleak at times, but victory was ours. We coaxed 3 rides from #sweetCarla at a hefty price, but who cared… we had fun riding the Bullet, Hypnoshpere and Pharoah’s Fury.

As we emerge from the pandemic, we’ve been conditioned to EXPECT disappointment and, on some level, just ACCEPT it too. Don’t accept the disappointment you don’t have to! 

Spring into action. Negotiate hard. Pay a little money. Advocate for what you want. Shove a sad faced 13-year-old in the mix if needed. 

If you feel like you have lost your way in advocating for what you want or even knowing what you want lest disappointment rob you of your dream, vision or goal, take these steps to remember what you believe to be true:

Step 1: Write down who you are:

• I am a capable leader.

• I can accomplish almost anything I put my mind to.

Step 2: Write down who your team is:

• My team survived a pandemic.

• They are skilled and talented.

Step 3: Write down what you want:

• My vision for the end of the year is _______.

It is time to remember what is true, know what you want and know how to ask for it. Expect Good Things Today! 

Boost Your Performance

Think through what disappointments you have experienced of late and determine which ones you might have been able to push back against. Use your reflection time to decondition yourself to accepting disappointment – especially the ones you can do something about. Learn more in this week’s video.

What’s Your Opinion?

What is something that is true about you and your team? Share with me at: robin.pou@robinpou.com.

Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!

Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist

If this was helpful, feel free to share it with another leader who needs to defeat doubt and complete their confidence.

Let’s Connect

Follow me on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter.

What is “The Confident Leader”?

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.