subject: Feet on the ground head in the clouds [print this page] Feet on the ground head in the cloudsFeet on the ground head in the clouds. I know we've all heard that term before but have you actually though about what it means. It's a simple phrase that has a very profound meaning. First, lets think about what feet on the ground means. To me, in it's simplest form that means in touch with reality. The reality could be a project you are working on, your current situation both professionally and personally or the day to day events of everyday life. It's important to always have your feet on the ground. That allows you to make clear, direct, decisive decisions. When leading a group, or in life, it's our decision making ability that separates the highly effective managers or individuals from the mediocre ones. When a problem arises a highly effective individual always makes a decisive decision to solve the problem. Employees or people in general will stand behind someone who is not afraid to make that critical decision. This is the foremost concept in team building. When you have the ability to effectively take control of a situation others will follow and stand behind you. However, you need to be in touch with the cause that is dictating the decision. You need to have you feet on the ground.
Head in the clouds is the direct opposite of feet on the ground. Having your head in the clouds is not a bad thing. It implies that you are a visionary. Someone who is capable of looking past the obvious and what's universally accepted about a situation. People who have their head in the clouds are the true innovators, the individuals who develop revolutionary ideas. Ideas that range from the simplest outside of the box thinking to approach your supply chain in a different manner or motivational tools to increase manufacturing productivity. These are also the ideas that revolutionize the world we live in. The revolutionary ideas derive from great thinkers such as Albert Einstien, Benjamin Franklin or in modern days Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
Having spent the last few days thinking about the term, feet on the ground head in the clouds, I believe that it truly is a model of how I want to live my life.
