Fight or flight. We’ve been told since we were kids that this is one of our most primal instincts. It’s NOT.
Freeze, flight, or fight is the way you and I are hardwired for survival. Our first instinct, when we find ourselves in a shitstorm, is to freeze. This used to work when we played dead as the saber toothed tiger approached. Today, there are very few predators to fear. Frozen we remain. Listen to normal corporate speak around just about any hallway and you’ll hear collegue’s shoot the breeze, laugh about their fantasy league results, and talk about their boss. Seems everbody likes to talk to everybody about the boss. Funny how similar every system.
Normal associates tell each other with clarity and conviction what’s wrong with their company and what needs to be done to get it back on track. Listening to them chatter, there is no doubt. Ask them, however, to speak this truth to their leader and watch what happens next. They freeze.
High performance teams understand that their default wiring is not the one you want. These teams have a few individuals that understand how to fight. They fight, not to prove a point, but to improve performance.
Fight or flight would be much easier to detect. Just like the predators of old, we mostly miss the teammates that are just hanging around, feeding us whatever we need to hear, and doing just enough to not get noticed.
Freeze, flight, or fight is our hard wiring. High performance leaders defrost, let ’em run, and promote those few that know how to fight to improve performance.
What are you rewarding?
BUILT TO LEAD 