In just 9 words, and without even realizing it, the woman behind the counter summed up why so many people aren’t as effective as they could be.
I was seated across the lobby, reading Lord of the Flies, when the coordinator behind the desk started making calls to confirm appointments and collect some diagnostic information.
I wasn’t eavesdropping. Quite the opposite.
But there were only a few people in the lobby and her voice was the only sound of note, so it stood out while I was trying to focus on the rapidly decaying society on an island far, far away.
Call after call came and went. And then, out of nowhere, she said something that encapsulated the approach of so many well-meaning people.
“I’m just doing what they yell at me for.”
Okay, so even I can see there are some technical issues with the structure of that sentence – not the least of which is the fact that she said the opposite of what she meant – but I knew exactly where she was coming from.
Because this is how so many respond when led by someone who is mostly focused on what they are doing wrong.
Instead of going on offense to find creative solutions, explore unexpected opportunities, and go out of their way to do great work, they are reduced to playing defense.
They check the boxes that keep them out of trouble and avoid anything out of the ordinary that might attract unwanted attention.
When I heard her say those words, I was hearing a person say, “Yes, I understand that this is stupid. But if I don’t do it I get in trouble. So here we are.”
The leaders people actually want to follow are able to point out areas of needed improvement without making people feel dumb. They also make sure to offer encouragement around the things their people are doing right.
They aren’t just trying to leverage people to achieve an outcome, but they are trying to develop their people and unlock hidden potential.
As the people become more capable and more willing to lean into new possibilities, the likelihood of team success (and organizational success) increases.
A team that is afraid of getting in trouble is not learning and growing.
And a team that is learning and growing will outperform a team that is afraid of getting in trouble.
TRY THIS: Celebrate initiative this week. Tell someone you appreciate something they do well. Resist the urge to “yell” at someone when they make a mistake and instead approach them like a coach to find out how to help them avoid that outcome in the future.
My free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets