Being Tough!

Several years ago a friend told me that I probably thought Attila the Hun was a weak manager. While I question the extreme comment, I do believe that a successful manager or leader has to exhibit several characteristics of being tough. These characteristics are used operationally but not necessarily in personal relationships.

Being tough can be thought of as callous, guarded, or even putting fences up with others. These are not the characteristics of toughness for success. The outcomes of positive toughness are resiliency, a don’t-quit attitude, and a continuous practice of stretching and growing. I once heard a man say he was never down. He was always up, or getting up. That’s an example of positive toughness.

First, the leader must exhibit toughness in planning. Getting a vision for the task, setting the plans, and beginning to execute the plan require toughness. Many have made a plan but lacked the toughness to get started. As a wise man once told me, “plan your work and work your plan.” Failing to both plan and work the plan results in at best wasted time and often failure of the project.

Next, the leader must be tough minded. Everything won’t always just fall into place. Many times adjustments must be made. A good basic plan often needs some fine tuning to gain the final results desired. Not changing the plan too quickly is also important. The key is to stay with the plan until it has a real chance to prove workable. If the plan was worth starting it’s worth working to completion.

Finally, the leader must be tough skinned. People just won’t necessarily fall into line and enlist in the plan. Leaders have to be willing to take opposition and turn it to support. It is easy for a leader to get down as a result of opposition. I have told my students that through the years I have developed a 40% rule. 40% of the people will oppose even the best of plans. Being tough skinned helps carry the plan through.

Being a leader is a tough task. The leader must use all his or her skills in achieving success. Using toughness in planning, being tough minded, and being tough skinned put a leader in the best position for success.