This morning I’ve been doing some building with one of my young, really nice clients. I have been blessed with an abundance of young, energized, and talented clients. My job is simple but not easy. My job is to “make them do what they can,” and each of them can do a lot. My job is to make them better.
Here’s the hard part. Making another human better, requires that you, as their builder, understands their problem better than they do. And, that you don’t just think you know, you know you know. You’ve got to model the way and know that you are mastering your craft before another human is going to allow you to influence them, at least another high performing one. And, the even harder part is that you cannot be concerned about being their friend. If you’re going to build another human your aim has to be to “make them better.” If a few choose to come alongside and become a real friend, that’s a bonus.
Too many “posers” that are in the position of leadership, aim at being a friend instead of a builder.
Want a better team? Become a better builder. Master your craft. Model the way. Embrace pain and suffering. Embody truth in LOVE. Your team will get better. You won’t make a ton of friends. You will, oftentimes, feel like you’re ALONE. This is one of the pains of the profession. Lead, anyway. Overtime and through adversity a few friends will emerge. A few is all you need.
Want a better team? You aren’t going to get one without being TOUGH and tender.
BUILT TO LEAD 