Understanding why it is important to accept others as they are and not try to change them to fit some ideal image you may have in your mind is the first step to becoming a better leader. By accepting the things about your team or your organization that makes them who they are, you will also be accepting the person who will be leading them and how they operate.
It is hard for some people to accept the reality of human behavior and that is why it is important to accept the people around you for who they are and how they operate. Trying to change others to meet your own standards or to look at yourself in a different way is counterproductive and will only make things worse. You can deal with some negative behavior, but if you continue to do it you will only lead them on a blind path to nowhere.
We are the creators of our personal life and how we respond to others is based on our own expectations. How you approach others and what you do not say or do not do to those who are not acting the way you would like them to is a reflection of who you are as a person. If you cannot accept others as they are and how they act, you are doomed to failure and probably no where else in this world.
You should never try to be anything you are not in a leadership position. Trying to change someone to match the ideals of the person you want to be should never be done. Those who will follow you will not respect you if you try to change them.
You cannot expect others to react the way you want them to because it is not their personal life and will not do them any good to do so. They will only cause more damage than good. By trying to change them you are creating conflict within yourself and will most likely be the reason for your failure. It is not the fault of the team member or the organization that they are who they are. It is not their fault for acting the way they do. There is nothing you can do to change that and by trying to change them you are simply doing damage to yourself and will most likely bring out the worst in them.
Acceptance is a must in leadership and all other aspects of life. Not only does it get you through the tough times but it helps you focus on the positive in every situation. It makes you more successful and help you focus on those goals that matter most.
Leaders create teams and always want to be accepted by their team members. By doing so they increase their overall success and the success of the teams they lead.