This is a great question I got from speaker Ryan Leak.
You are the leader/manager/or just you. What is it like to experience you? What is it like to stand in front of you? To take direction from you? To get an email from you? To be on a Zoom with you? To be in a meeting you are leading?
I went to a high school football game recently. The team scored and they got an unsportsmanlike conduct call on them. The coach was screaming at the top of his lungs like a lunatic. “Where is he?!” looking for the player who did it as the team jogged back to the bench after scoring. “Get out of here!” he screamed as he jabbed his finger at him. “Get out of here!” – at the absolute top of his lungs.
The whole crowd could see this kid getting abused. I don’t know where he was telling the kid to go. Talk about unsportsmanlike conduct!
So the very next play is where you kickoff to the other team, right? Who do you suppose was the kicker? Yea – the same kid. How is he going to play his best when he just got humiliated?
This coach runs his team by fear and intimidation. That’s not leadership. Sure football is an aggressive sport. But getting the best from people is not about them doing it because they will get yelled at if they don’t, it’s about them doing their best because they are prepared and trained, they believe in themselves and you, and they really don’t want to let you down.
The coach obviously didn’t train the kids about that penalty. When your team makes a mistake, you have to take responsibility. How about “Great job for scoring guys. We are going to be talking about the penalty later. Time to kick off – let’s go get ’em!”
What’s it like to be on the other side of you?
Great question and great message, Larry – Thanks!
Funny you posted this today; On Tuesday I had a leadership meeting with our team here where we discussed this same topic. I tend to error on the side of caution when needing to discuss an issue or problem with an employee. I wasn’t always like that. I used to be the guy to get upset and let my emotions take over. One of my employees who has worked with me for over 20 years stated the difference in my leadership style today verses years ago. Total transparency, what worked then, would not work today. Leaders have to change with the times, yet still get creative with taking the lead. After all, every pair of eyes are on the leader all the time.
I like your correlation with sports and business. Look at any little league team or any professional sports teams that has achieved success and they’ve all had very good leadership. Coaches that are good at teaching their players not only in sports, but in life. It’s no different in business.
So true Larry and I coach my Team at Homes for the Brave and also in my 5th season as an Assistant Coach of the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights Women’s Basketball Team BY BUILDING THEM UP. Still hoping you will visit us here at HFTB some day…