A long time ago, I was participating in a school sports event, and the coach asked me to introduce the members of a wrestling team from out of town. I didn't think it was a big deal. I was completely comfortable using a microphone and speaking in front of a crowd, so I agreed to do it without question. When it came time to introduce the wrestlers, though, I stumbled and stammered my way all through the introduction. Why? Because, although I hadn't realized it, they were all Czechoslovakian and I couldn't pronounce their names!
This is a funny story I often like to tell people just for laughs, but there's always a lesson in it. Sometimes, it seems that we commit too quickly. As leaders, it is natural for us to want to help. We see opportunities to serve, and we jump on them. That excitement and eagerness is a good thing, but it can also get us into a lot of trouble if not tempered with some caution and discretion
In the end, it's better to say “No” than it is to commit to something that we don't end up following through on. You've heard the expression "under promise and over deliver." Well, that's exactly what the best leaders among us do. They know what they're getting themselves into before they commit to things. Learn from my mistakes: Learn how to pronounce the names before you agree to make the introductions!
David Lykken, a 43-year veteran of the mortgage industry, is president of Transformational Mortgage Solutions (TMS), a management consulting firm that provides transformative business strategies to owners and “C-Level” executives via consulting, executive coaching and various communications strategies. He is a frequent guest on FOX Business News and hosts his own weekly podcast called “Lykken On Lending” heard Monday’s at 1:00 p.m. ET at LykkenOnLending.com. David’s phone number is (512) 759-0999 and his e-mail is [email protected].
