By Michael Cruz
Not all heroes wear capes. Heroes are those people who get stuff done. They focus on results. Heroes see obstacles as challenges to be overcome.
To them, adversity is just another challenge. In the end, neither obstacles nor adversity get in their way.
Heroes lead. They think clearly. They do not panic. They define problems and come up with strategies to solve those problems. Some lead people. Some lead others by example. Yet, they always focus on getting results.
Companies and organizations led by heroes learn to quickly adapt. Times change and so must we all. Companies need people who know how to help initiate and manage changes. Companies need to support hero behavior. And to support them, they will find people to help them.
Not all problems can be solved by brute force. Heroes listen to others who have other ideas to get to good results. People buy-in to solutions better if they are heard. It helps the hero sharpen the problem-solving plan.
At work, heroes need strong organizations behind them. Those companies will take a long-term view. As heroes, solve problems, they might violate rules and take chances, especially if this includes fixing customer problems. They need some latitude from the organization.
Management needs to enable hero leaders. Sometimes heroes will be overzealous. They might break a little glass along the way to problem solving. If the hero, in the end, makes a mistake, address it later. Don’t stop the hero. That will only dampen their enthusiasm.
Heroes are optimists by nature. They have to think that they can make things better. Heroes inspire others around them. Companies that are moving forward probably have lots of heroes at all levels of the organization. We need more heroes. Now more than ever.