I love when we start new groups with BUILT TO LEAD. I love meeting new leaders and “waking them up.” Oftentimes, they surprise me too. Yesterday was one of those.
I met Alicia. She is a bright, young leader. During the days first walk she was “left behind” and kinda stuck walking with me. The exercise was to spend 7 good minutes understanding one of your teammates and then change places and spend 7 good minutes being understood. I monopolized the time. I spent the entire time getting to understand Alicia. This a simple but outstanding exercise. We all want to be understood.
Alicia has a grandmother that I want to meet someday. Her name is Barbara and she sounds like one cool 70 something! As I listened to Alicia describe her grandmother I could see her face change. Alicia believes in her grandmother. Alicia would follow her with her commited best. I learned that Barbara taught Elicia how to improve her speech and the long lasting effect of this instruction. This led to more questions and more insights from Elicia. As I continued to ask question after question and tie them together, I could sense her beginning to feel understood. She shared more.
We are beginning to build some trust. All high performance teams are built on trust. This is the hardest job of every leader. Trust is always under construction in every relationship. Trust is fragile.
How well do you know your team?
Do you know their history?
Do you know their struggles?
Do you know their “defining moments?”
Do you know their strengths and how they like to play to them in work and life?
Do you know their family?
Do you know their big dreams?
Do you know how you can help them get better?
Do you know how they can help you get better?
Do they know that you know these things?
Do you have the time to invest 7 good minutes with your Alicia’s in work and life?
Do you have time to build trust or are you too busy building results? Why? Why? Why?
Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 