To set things right, you have to see things right

As leaders, we like to act quickly and solve problems.  People come to us with their version of a problem and we act.   We want to fix it and fix it now.

But too often we don’t get all the information first.

By acting without knowing all the real facts, stories and circumstances around it, we make mistakes.

We alienate and implicate people.  We make the wrong call.  

Slow down.  Ask more questions of more people.  Get the facts and the numbers.

Then act not because you have the office to do so, but because you have the information to do so.

Business owners don't get paid in tidy one year packages.

An entrepreneur (business owner) spends the first part of their career being desperately underpaid so that IF THEY GET IT RIGHT, they can spend the last part of their career being wildly overpaid.

Are you getting it right?

What part of your career are you in?

How often do you get together for training?

Training empowers people.  It makes them feel like they are worth investing in.  It makes them feel important and part of a team.  It makes the feel “in the know” – very important.

Oh yeah, and employees who know how to do their jobs better get better results.

How often do you train your team?

Is your leadership forced?

Are you the kind of person that gains permission from others to lead them because of the person you are and how you talk to and treat them?

Failure and Innovation

“Failure and Innovation are inseparable twins” – Jeff Bezos

Are you trying out ideas that you don’t know will work?

What?

What's the most important thing now?

It’s easy for your people to forget.

What needs to be changed/improved now?

When is the last time you talked about it with them?

How about today?

The Future is Here

“The future is here, it’s just not evenly distributed.” – Tim Ferriss

The “cutting edge” – it’s like a wave that’s coming.  

What does the future of your industry look like and what does that mean for your company?

Listen

It’s hard to listen your way into trouble.

Ask open-ended questions and listen.

Win – lose

If you negotiate hard with someone and win, as they lose, it will come back to you.  

Eventually, you will lose too.

“Win/lose leads to lose/lose” – Yaron Brook

Be a leader where everyone around you wins.

Don't offend people

Recently a manager I know called one of his reports a name.  By doing so he has all but eliminated his ability to lead this person effectively.

“Few people see genius in someone who has offended them.” – Robertson Davies

In order to lead someone, you have to earn the right – to get their permission.  

Don’t offend people.