“Dealing with bureaucracy is like trying to nail jelly to the wall.” ~ John F. Kennedy
Well JFK certainly had a way with words and I love this quote from him.
I feel confident there are many emerging leaders in organisations who have experienced trying to “nail jelly to the wall”.
You hear leaders talk about authenticity and its importance and in the next breath they talk about “picking your battles”- diametrically opposed choices and this is why it can feel like jelly – people create facades and they “wobble” around issues and we wonder why it is so hard to navigate.
Authenticity means if you think or feel it you say it and you stay true to your purpose and direction – you don’t waver and “pick your battles” – what is “real” about that? And to me that is why it can feel like nailing jelly to the wall – because one day the person cares and shares with passion and the next they say nothing!
So let’s challenge ourselves to truly be authentic – think it and feel it then say it! Have the confidence, conviction and courage to bear the consequences of such a conversation.