Held a couple practices this week with a couple very different teams. Here’s what they shared in common. They both have HUGE opportunities and huge struggles at the same time. Both teams have “game changing” opportunities on the table, in the factory, and in the field. They both have core businesses that are struggling to perform. Sound familiar?
What story does the team tell each other?
Which is the “headliner” when the team heads to the cooler, the coffee pot, or offsite to the pub?
Here’s the sad, but predictable part. The story they tell each other is the same story your teams tell each other. Yes they talk about the good news but they focus (fear based) on the bad news. Here’s some strange proof. Next time you drive into work on a clear early morning, before the sun rises, stop on the “berm” and simply observe one of the greatest natural miracles in our world…and it’s FREE. Watch the big ball of orange come up. AND, notice how everybody else speeds on by.
Then pay attention to how everybody slows down because somebody else “wrecked” up ahead on that same freeway. Notice the power in a small “chain reaction.”
Why is it that we seem drawn to bad news before beauty?
Remember that as humans we are drawn to both. BUT, without fighting through FEAR and the creation of margin, we tell our teammates about the layoff and don’t even notice the record backlog in another division.
What to do?
As leaders, remember, you are in the broadcasting business. Broadcast ALL the news. Be honest about the struggles. Do NOT ignore the problem. Bring the team together MORE often during the crisis. Take their hard questions and make sure they see you at the front. AND, broadcast the backlog too. Make sure that all members of the system HEAR the good news too. Give the microphone to your team too. Let some of the people grab the spotlight and tell their really cool story. Watch them light up the room just like that big ball of orange coming up earlier. Very cool.
Both practices were great this week. People want to come together NOW more than ever. Rally your team together. Hold practices eventho it’s easier to cancel them. Do not hold back the bad news because you worry that the team cannot take it. Do not hold back the great news because you’re afraid that they’ll lose their focus.
Be transparent. Be believable. Be with.
Very cool.
BUILT TO LEAD 