Want to lead yourself, expect this. Want to lead your spouse, expect this. What to lead your family, expect this. Want to lead your department, expect this. Want to lead your division, expect this? Want to lead your company, expect this? Want to lead your forum, expect this. Want to lead your community, expect this. Want to lead your friends, expect this. Want to lead your clients, expect this. Want to lead anything?
Expect to be sabotaged.
Every day, one of my clients tells me a story of sabotage. The story always begins with their amazement, befuddlement, and disappointment inherent in their discovery. It is always a shock to the system. It just is. One of their inner circle was trying to sabotage them. “Can you believe this,” they scream. Sadly, I can.
Gallup data offers a picture of sabotage. 28 55 17.
According to Gallup, 28% of your workers are engaged, 55% are disengaged, and 17% are actively disengaged. Translation. 17% are trying to steer the bus off the mountain, period. Talk about an act of sabotage.
We love Gallup, but we mostly don’t believe their numbers. In fact, every client reacts in disbelief when we review these numbers. All seem to believe that their team is the exception. In fact, I’ve heard on numerous occasions that those numbers are flat out false and always will be regardless the argument. We so badly want to believe that we’re the exception.
Inevitably, however, I get the call that I got twice today. My client has been sabotaged. Again, it was an inside job.
Want to lead anything?
Expect to be sabotaged.
Leaders give the gift of belief. AND, these same leaders study their system and look, listen, and probe for the lies and deceit that they know are also present. Leaders LOVE their work and their team. AND, leaders carry the responsibility to fire “friends” that are really NOT. Leaders lead by giving the “benefit of the doubt.” AND, leaders are quick to ACT when they smell the early scents of sabotage. Leaders understand this is simply the responsibility of leading. AND, leaders understand that this is “why” they have to have a really BIG DREAM for their work and life. Minus that, why bother…
Want to lead anything?
Have you really weighed the cost?
Are you BUILT TO LEAD?
Are you able to build, protect, develop your team, AND root out your 17%?
Tell me more, my friend.
Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Toto. . . this is a timely topic and I LOVE what you wrote. I have come to believe that sabotage is the biggest enemy of Dream & Do.
Your friends at the shoe company may find it curious to learn that the word “sabotage” comes from the french word “sabot” for shoe. In early Industrial Revolution days, workers who felt they had no power would throw their sabots into the gears of the machinery — bringing everything to a grinding stop.
The order of the BTL 12 8 4 is Essential. Before looking out the window to “fix” the 17s on the roster, the wise builder starts with his own core. Because it’s where the greatest sabatoge to a leader happens — he does it to himself — the ultimate “inside job”. In the same way sugar sabatoges the blood ratios in your core unless you root it out of your diet, so it is that the little white lies & settling for what’s easy undermine your heart & ultimately the shoot in your eye.
The root cause of sabotage is the same root problem of the 17s. And it isn’t a lack of power — it’s unbelief.
Want to lead anything?
You better BELIEVE it.