With various social media options, leaders today have no shortage of potential feedback mechanisms.

While getting good feedback is always a great practice, the old adage “don’t believe your own press” is especially important if we are to keep an even keel.

Unfortunately, sometimes the most detrimental information isn’t from external sources, it comes from “stinkin’ thinkin’” in our own heads. Even great leaders must find a way to combat it to be successful. There are several ways of thinking to be aware of.  

Negative self-talk is one. As a child, I heard an old gospel preacher, Marshall Keeble, speak on negative thoughts. He said, “You can’t stop a bird from lighting on your head. But, you don’t have to let it build a nest there.” Sometimes we are our own worst critic. Sure, we need to own our shortcomings. At the same time, we can get stuck beating ourselves up and fail to see the route to positive progress or solution. Research shows that it takes between three to five positive statements to overcome one negative one. When stuck in negative self-talk, first evaluate whether it is true, or is it exaggerated? What positive and true thoughts should we add to the picture? If we’re stuck, it’s a good time to call in a trusted friend to help us get our thinking on the right track.

Imposter syndrome can be a culprit of “stinkin’ thinkin’.” Sometimes other people can get these thoughts started in our mind. Other times they are self-winding! Imposter syndrome can take form in many ways—the common thread involves us questioning ‘do I really belong here, in this role?’ Often this thinking comes when we are uncertain, feel out-of-place or are comparing ourselves with (likely an unrealistically perception of) others. It helps to focus on the responsibilities of the position we’re in. Am I prepared? Am I committed? Can I pull together the needed resources (people and other) to accomplish the task at hand? Good things are rarely done by an isolated individual. Thinking it is all up to me and I’m not up to the challenge is “stinkin’ thinkin’.”

If we’re not careful, we can make bad assumptions. This, too, is “stinkin’ thinkin’.” We already know that to assume causes problems for you and me. Bad assumptions usually take the place of putting unrealistic limitations on our self or others, on what we can achieve or upon the kind of future we can expect. Sometimes we must make assumptions when all of the facts are not available on the way to our decisions. Keeping our assumptions realistic and rooted in fact as much as possible can lead to better decision-making.

Being a party to group think is the final kind of “stinkin’ thinkin’” I’ll mention. In this case, I tell myself that the end decision doesn’t really matter. Or, that the rest of the group doesn’t really care what I think anyway. There are probably dozens of other things we tell ourselves that sideline our participation. The result then is a poor group decision. If you haven’t already, read The Abilene Paradox (1974) by Dr. Jerry Harvey. It is easy for a group to wind up in a place no one really wants to go when we don’t speak up and speak truthfully. General George Patton is credited with saying, “If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn’t thinking.” All of us will have to combat “stinkin’ thinkin’” sometime as we LEAD! Our success individually and in groups depends on it!

Are there other kinds of “stinkin’ thinkin’” that you would include? What strategies do you use to keep from falling to “stinkin’ thinkin’”?