Mastery, mastery, mastery…

I’m 51 and I’m just now learning how naive is my nature.  My tendency is to believe people, to take them at their word.  My tendency is to give the benefit of the doubt as my default.  My tendency is to assume that most people and therefore most “collections” of people want to live a life that is true.  My tendency is to take it for granted that most leaders have a grasp of the fundamentals and only require the help of a builder to become exceptional, not simply to meet the bare essentials.  My tendency is a problem and my tendency is changing.

The lack of performance in whatever system you reside, is predominately a failure of your leadership.  Period.

Every system is a collection of individuals.  The problem with most systems is that most of its individuals are mediocre.  The few that are excellent, eventually burn out from producing too much for too little.  AND, of course, bringing up the rear in every system are the leaches, the victims.  The problem is always above them, beside them, and, inherently, beyond them.  This system will underperform and it’s life will be cut short.  Period.

Every system is also a team.  The problem with most teams is that the team members don’t TRUST the other members of the team.  These teams become fractured and usually break into “cliques,” or departments, or divisions that invest most of their days simply “covering their ass.”

Every system has a leader.  The leaders job is to build a high performance team that can perform without the presence of their leader.  This can only be accomplished by the leader being with the teams and individuals at a level that is beyond belief.  Sounds like the leader has to be invisible yet highly involved.  Paradoxical, for certain.

The head of the system has to demand individual excellence, root out mediocrity, hear from the real victims and respond toward them, hear from the leaches and extract them, know the difference, admit when they don’t, and involve their team so they can learn what goes on “behind the curtain.”  Talk about a big job…

The leaders job is also to create unity among the many divisions that exist naturally and not so naturally in every system.  They must bring sales, marketing, engineering, and others together and bubble up the real conflict to get better.  They must do this over and over and over again.  They must not lose heart, they must keep the proper perspective, and they must model the way by their example.  Talk about a headache…

AND, every system needs a leader that still wants to master their craft, that still LOVES the scents and smells of their products and can’t wait to innovate another new idea, and then another, and another, and another.   This leader continually strives to improve their product, good, or service.  They just do.  The results are the effect, the leader is the ultimate cause.  Remember, leadres are cause AND effect experts.

10,000 hours mastering the self, 10,000 hours mastering the craft, 10,000 hours mastering the art of leading.  Talk about a ton of time…

Leaders have a tendency too.  Leaders tend to focus on the effect.  Leaders tend to focus on their to do lists.  Leaders tend to look at numbers.  Leaders tend to invest too much time with the leaches and too little with the exceptional.  Leaders tend to forget that they also have a life.  AND…

Leaders tend to look out the window when things go wrong and into the mirror when things go right.  Just the opposite, for the few that are becoming BUILT TO LEAD.

Are you becoming a leader or some form of leach?

Are you a leader that sees yourself as your biggest problem?

Are you mastering your self, your craft, and the art of leading?

AND, are you mastering the art of living?

Tell me more, my friend.

Tell me more…