Feel good kinda place…

Here’s a great question to ask yourself about your culture – how does it feel? Many faux leaders and followers answer that it “feels good.” In fact they often characterize it as a “feel good” kinda place. I’m always suspect when I hear these words. You see, normal leaders and normal teams have bought the modern corporate culture pill that, when swallowed whole, gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling all over. The problem is it just doesn’t last very long…

Real good is the one you want. A culture that values real goodness doesn’t often feel good. Funny, huh. Really good cultures focus on doing what is right not saying what sounds nice. There is nothing that feels good about dealing with a problem product and doing what is right to fix it. Building excellence requires we fixate on being real good, FIRST. Building a good story that doesn’t let facts get in the way, not so much.

Your job, as a leader, is to focus on doing good work. Too many leaders are focused on convincing us everything’s gonna be alright. Doing good, oftentimes, means you deliver hard news that doesn’t feel good delivering or receiving. Doing good, oftentimes, means you receive bad news from your team without crucifying the delivery boy. Doing good, oftentimes, means you fixate on raising the performance bar to improve results instead of raising capital to cover your symptoms. The world is full of “feel good” kinda systems. These systems feel good for awhile, sometimes a long while. Eventually, however, they feel something else. Eventually, they feel the cold, harsh reality break into their culture. Reductions in force, restructurings, and reforcasted results bring sudden change. Sudden change, of this sort, is rarely good.

Your job, as a leader, is to focus on doing good work. REAL, HARD, WORK. This kinda work is honest, messy, and kinda raw. Funny, this sounds just like life.

What’s your corporate culture, my friend? And, what’s the culture in your “twenty square feet?” Tell me more, my friend. Tell me more…