Leaders not only see problems they respond to them. It is in the response to problems where a leader shines with a critical mind or diminishes everyone with a critical spirit.
Leaders with critical minds cause people to line up to follow them. On the contrary, leaders with a critical spirit cause people to flee.


Here is the difference….



• The critical mind is asks “how can we make this better?”
• The critical spirit is asks “how come you didn’t do better?”



• The critical mind leads to creativity.
• But the critical spirit leads to criticism.


• A critical mind creates a team who fights a common enemy.
• A critical spirit creates an enemy out of their team.




Implementing a critical mind: Next time you see a problem- do these 5 things BEFORE you communicate about it to others.

• Clear: define the problem in one sentence.

• Count the cost: Will this likely discourage others? Is fixing the problem worth the discouragement?

• Claim: Claim how you are either partly responsible or how you can resonate with the problem. How you have contributed to the problem or how you have made a similar mistake?

• Connect: Connect the problem to the mission or values to your company

• Cast: Cast vision of the glorious future solving this problem will create.