Leaders Are Carriers of the Atmosphere
How to Lead Without Complaining
One of my favorite power phrases here at the church is “Leaders are Carriers of the Atmosphere!” In fact, I believe this one is so vital to the health and life of our culture, that I make sure and teach on it every year.
Legendary Leaders understand that their words, actions, and body language are setting the tone for their team. They realize that they aren’t thermometers that just “read” the temperature of the room, they see themselves as thermostats that “set” the temperature instead.
Whenever we take a month and focus on this power phrase, we give out bracelets to our team that say, “No Whining, No Complaining, No Excuses.” We want them to remember that their response to a less than ideal circumstance is contagious. It can motivate and inspire the team or it can deflate and deject them.
We live in a society where everyone, I mean EVERYONE is complaining. It seems to me that the majority of social media, 24-hour news channels, Substack subscriptions, radio shows, and Reddit threads are focused on the negative. With a steady diet of this coming into our head and heart every day, it’s difficult not to want to join in.
If you’re reading this and you say, “Pastor, that sounds like me,” let me encourage you to do what my dear friend John Mason says in his book, “The Impossible is Possible.” John tells us, “Don’t spend your life standing at the complaint counter.” You’ve heard it before but it’s true, the more you complain, the more you remain. John says it this way, “The more you complain the less you’ll obtain.”
Many of us think that complaining and speaking our mind is a good thing, we think we are telling it like it is or being “authentic.” But really you are bringing paralysis to your situation. When you are continually looking at all the bad, you become stuck. You aren’t solution focused and miss many of the good opportunities that are right there in the midst of that difficulty.
The greatest basketball coach of all time, John Wooden had a problem. When he first started coaching at UCLA, he had a terrible practice facility. For his first 12 years, he griped and complained. He had such a bad attitude it affected how he coached. Finally, he made the decision to keep his mouth shut. He was going to stop complaining and make the most of it. That was the year Coach Wooden said he really started seeing success.
"Things usually turn out the best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out.”
— John Wooden
“Bad times can either make you bitter or better.”
— John Wooden
Jon Gordon, has a great book titled, “The No Complaining Rule.” His book lays out 3 ways in which you can help yourself to stop complaining.
The “But” positive technique. — With this tool, when you realize you are complaining simply add the word “but” with a positive thought or action. Example: “I hate that I have to move all that trash outside today, BUT it is sunny and beautiful. I should get plenty of vitamin D!”
Focus on “Get to” instead of “Have to.” — Begin to change your vocabulary. You don’t “have to” workout - you “get to!” This will help change your perspective.
Turn complaints into solutions.
Recommended Book:
The No Complaining Rule by Jon Gordon