Develop your leadership skills with this straightforward action

Recently, I was asked how one might develop their leadership skills. While I could cite many resources to learn from, I think it boils done to a straightforward action: Say “Yes.”

STEPPING OUTSIDE COMFORT ZONES

Shonda Rhimes is a TV producer, screenwriter, and author. Ms. Rhimes is the face of Thursday night TV, with one of her more notable projects as producer and writer for “Grey’s Anatomy.” In her book “Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person,” she writes about her decision to say “yes” to things more often — especially to things that scared her.

It started when Ms. Rhimes’ sister told her she always said “no” to everything, which made her think, “Is that true?” A self-described introvert, Ms. Rhimes says she usually said no to parties, public speaking, and any media appearances. Her “year of yes” started with a commencement speech at her alma mater, Dartmouth College. Jimmy Kimmel interviewed her. Ultimately, she forced herself to accept invitations that she would have turned down. The book tells how she grew as a person, a parent, and an author over the year of saying “yes.” She says it took getting out of her comfort zone for that to happen.

Too often, we say, “no.” It’s our gut reaction. It’s comfortable to say “no.”

Don’t get me wrong. “No” is not a bad word. Sometimes saying it is essential, but that word can also limit us from growing and reaching our full potential. We need to use it judiciously.

Over the years, I’ve said “yes” to uncomfortable things. The most notable was deciding to run for the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees. It was difficult to remember to ask people to vote for me. Looking back, my leadership skills are far different today than they were 20 years ago.

LAW OF THE RUBBER BAND

In the book, “15 Invaluable Laws of Growth,” author John C. Maxwell discusses the “Law of the Rubber Band.” Imagine a rubber band and what its uses might be. Perhaps it holds a bunch of pens/pencils together. Maybe it holds the top on a box. It might help band a stack of envelopes. We could go on with ideas for the use of a rubber band, but they all have one thing in common: A rubber band is meant to stretch. Only when it is stretched does it truly serve its purpose.

Much the same can be said of us. When I’ve talked to optometry students, I’ve reminded them their education does not stop upon graduation. Due to the nature of our profession, how we practice today will no doubt be different than how we practice in 20 years. We need to keep learning, and we do that by saying “yes.”

It’s also true with our leadership skills. When we do something out of our comfort zone, we meet our full potential and grow as leaders. We stretch our minds and our skills.

SAY “YES” TO FLEXIBILITY

If you think about our rubber band again, there is one more important caveat to the “Law of the Rubber Band.” Once a rubber band is stretched, it never goes back to the same size it was before. It’s always bigger.

So, as we look to a new year, I challenge you to do something out of your comfort zone. The only thing standing between you and success is your ability to say “yes.” OM

DR. CARLSON was the first woman to serve as president of the American Optometric Association. Most recently, she was a 2019 recipient of Women of Optometry’s Theia Award for Leadership. In addition to her optometric leadership, Dr. Carlson is a 2020 graduate from the University of Jamestown, with a Master of Arts in Leadership, as well as a John Maxwell-certified speaker and trainer.