There are times in life and leadership when things go well and when they don’t go quite so well.

If you’re a leader, your long-term credibility can depend on how you respond to these times.

Jim Collins uses the analogy of windows and mirrors in his book “Good to Great” to describe how leaders should be responding to good times and bad.

There are some leaders who when things go well they look in the mirror and feel good about themselves.

When things go wrong, these same leaders have a propensity to look out the window and find others to blame.

Alternatively, there are leaders who when things go well they look out the window and look for people to thank and recognise, ensuring that the praise is spread around and that people get credit when it’s due.

When things go wrong, these same leaders look into the mirror and analyse their actions to see if they could have done something different, taking responsibility and learning from the experience.

Windows and mirrors.  How you use them will significantly impact your long-term success as a leader.

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