Many in the world of work think it disrespectful to challenge up. Many think it disrespectul to challenge around. Most think it’s alright to challenge down. In fact, this belief system is a huge reason why so many humans want to move up into positions of power. Funny, huh.
High performance systems challenge everyone from everywhere. Yesterday, a CEO in the making practiced challenging his CEO in position. He started off kinda lame. I challenged him to do better, cursed at his cowardice, and asked him some curious questions. He came through with a spot on challenge to his CEO. He nailed it. The CEO let it in. Wrote out his learning and converted it, on the spot, into a new productive action; a PA that when transformed into a bolted on discipline, will make him better and them better.
These two men are becoming ONE, distinct and deeply connected, that is BTL. They are learning how to give and receive challenges. Challenges that make them better. They are learning this is the ultimate sign of respect. They are learning this is their responsibility to each other and to all teammates. High performance systems value honest feedback; truth telling. They marry respect and responsibility. They bury fear. Normal teams value false harmony. They fall for the “feel good” kinda place. They bury conflict and tell each other all kinda sweet, little lies. This comes so naturally, most don’t even notice. “We’re good,” they inform me and others when we try to surface the good shit to make ’em better. Funny, huh.
We’re good is the enemy.
We’re good means we’re good enough. We’re good means we don’t want to go deeper. We’re good means we kinda like the Matrix; we don’t want reality. We’re good means we’ve settled. Study history, my friend. Show me where settling leads to high performance. You cannot. Settling leads to slow death. Look around you, examples are in abundance. High performers understand the enemy is within. Instead of accepting the status quo and settling, they see real progress while living with real problems. We’re good is replaced with I’m getting better, we’re getting aligned, and all kinda new PA of our own choosing.
Are you “good,” or committed to getting better. One leads to false harmony and slow death. One leads to slowing becoming ONE, distinct and deeply connected, marrying respect and responsibility, and a depth of understanding and competence that evolves from challenge after challenge after challenge. Respect and responsibility is the one you want.
Which process Y.O.U. buying…
BUILT TO LEAD 