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What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority.
-- Molly Ivins
 

 

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Challenge and encouragement

When there’s someone you wish to empower, here’s a proven, effective way to do it. Give challenge, and offer encouragement.

Doing all the work for another person, handling the situation yourself, just creates dependency. That’s not in anyone’s best interest, but neither is simply walking away without offering any help.

Challenge without encouragement is lazy, cowardly, and can even be cruel. Encouragement without challenge can be naive and ineffective.

Yet when you combine meaningful challenge with genuine encouragement, the results can be spectacular. You will launch the person on the road to continuing, independent success.

Whether it’s your employee, child, client, or friend, that’s a powerful gift to give. You’re not doing the work for them, but neither are you abandoning them.

Give a steady, balanced mix of challenge and encouragement. And give the opportunity for the person to develop their own courage, confidence, and ability to succeed.

— Ralph Marston

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