Our own experience tells us the truth of this poster.  When we set about to make our own plans, we seldom consider the dips and valleys that come with the out playing of that plan.

Notice that the differences between these two pictures on the poster have nothing to do with the goal.  With the goal being the flag, the goal is exactly the same in both pictures.  However, the process of getting to the goal is nowhere near the same.  The leader recognizes this tendency to not include dips and valleys in his/her planning within himself/herself and realizes that it is fraught with dangers:

• Without planning for the dips and valleys of reality, it is not hard to be caught off guard without a plan B, C, or even D;
• Without planning for the imperfect process in reaching the goals, it is easy to get emotionally discouraged or even angry as your expectations fail to be met time and time again; and
• Without planning for the irregularities in the movement towards the goal, the leader projects that to his/her people, and they are less likely to share with the leader when something goes off course (so as not to “let the leader down”).

Mature leaders recognize the up’s and down’s of reality and plan accordingly.

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