I am voting this morning. I am performing my civic duty and I am excited for the privilege. For the past 30 years, I eagerly awaited the opportunity to express my opinion of the future of my country and community and I will do this again in a few hours. It is easy for us as Americans to take for granted this duty and privilege we have.
Some will say that because of the electoral college their vote will not count. I reject that thinking. Our one vote may not turn the tide, but it could be the beginning of erosion. One drop of water at a time, over time, under pressure can erode the strongest of earthen materials and change the path of events.
One drop of water can do no harm, but a tide can be a massive force. Your drop, your vote can be the force that changes the tide. But, erosion takes time. This may not be the time the winner is the person for whom you voted.
Similar situations happen in business more regularly than not. How often have you learned that someone was given a promotion, perhaps a promotion over you, and thought what the boss thinking? That guy can barely tie his shoes and now I have to work for him?
The simple answer is – yup.
Welcome to Swimming in the Flood; a podcast where we develop the resilient leader’s mindset by navigating difficult currents in business. My name is Trent Theroux.
According to The Muse, first and foremost there’s probably a reason you didn’t get the promotion and you need to be honest about why that is. You’ll also need to work through any feelings of jealousy or anger, so you can continue doing your job, and doing it well.
Next, tell whoever promoted your colleague that you’re good with the decision. Hearing the news that someone else has been promoted over you is difficult to accept, but you need to respond with respect and support. It won’t be easy because of the hurt you are experiencing. As developing resilient leaders, we need to rise above this momentary pain and demonstrate our graciousness.
I respect that these two items will not be easy for everyone to accomplish.
Four years ago I watched an abysmal scene in San Francisco as protesters filled the streets carrying signs reading Cal-exit. A play on the state of California and United Kingdom’s Brexit vote. Chants of “Not My President” filled the air as protesters mugged before the cameras and acted as petulant adolescents.
My commentary is not to endorse the lawfully elected president, but rather to express my disgust at the rabid display of hate on the streets. Can you image if this took place in our offices? Can you imagine that half of the company openly rebelled against a promotion? People carrying signs reading – “Inside sales is sailing off!” Chanting “Not my office manager! Not my office manager!”
When did it become acceptable to openly riot because our candidate lost?
I miss President Bush, the first one, the smart one. Here is what he had to say about losing.
I am now going to give you my unscientific, non-peer reviewed, resilient leader theory on losing the job opportunity. Are you ready? Got your pencils out? Here’s it is. Support The Decision. You heard it. Support The Decision.
The theory is simple. Here’s how it works. I am not new to politics. In fact, I had a presidential run once. I started 5th grade at a new school and in a new town and I wanted to fit in. So when the teacher asked for candidates for class president, naturally, I thought that everyone would love the loud, new kid so I boldly announced my intention to run. Actually, it was more of a meek hand raise. And like that, I was a candidate for President.
Miss Donovan told us that we should prepare a small speech, for the next day, to tell our classmates what we planned to do as president of the class. A platform, my presidential platform, but was my platform to be? I didn’t know the issues of the school. Heck, I hadn’t learned all the names of the kids in my class yet. That night, I thought of the main thing that I would want. The one item that would improve the class and the lives of its students. My platform was More Math. In the first two weeks of class, I found that Miss Donovan spent an inordinate amount of time on writing and not enough on mathematical improvement. My platform would change that.
The next morning, I was selected to give my speech first. Not surprisingly, the other students weren’t enthused about the More Math concept. I think I may have heard some boos. Paul Mancieri gave his speech. He promised longer recesses and mac n’ cheese in the cafeteria. The class cheered. I applauded. I love mac n’ cheese. The third contestant, Keith Foti, gave his speech. It was forgettable to me, mainly because I was thinking about mac n’ cheese.
The next morning, the votes were tallied and Miss Donovan said that it was the closest vote ever on record for 5th grade. There were nineteen students in the class. Six voted for me, six for Foti and seven to president elect Mancieri. I kicked myself under the table. Part of me was mad about losing. Part of me was mad about not winning – which to me is a different thing. Mostly, I couldn’t believe that we wouldn’t get More Math!
I remember crying on the bus ride home from school. It took me a day to accept that I lost. My one and only foray into politics failed. However, as a consolation prize we would get mac n’ cheese. So there was some positive.
And I hope that no matter who wins this evening, or in six weeks thanks to protracted court cases. That no matter who wins, our reaction should not be to try to act like a screaming lunatic on CNN, but to be a supportive member of a community of Americans. Neither the guy on the left or the guy on the right will solve everyone’s problems. Most of the time we need to solve our own.
I pledge today that I will support the decision of the American people in an effort to make a better life for my family, my company and my friends.
Folks, thank you for listening to Swimming in the Flood. Resilient leaders face challenging currents and it is tough navigating, but with one tack or another we can get there together.