Last week I noticed Katie and her newfound clarity, this week it was OG’s turn. Here’s what I’ve noticed about humans, clarity, consistency, and challenge. High performing humans welcome and even relish a clear challenge. Normal humans hide when challenged.
When challenged, high performers little voices say things like “finally, bring it, it’s about time, and hell yeah.” The clearer we get with ourselves the more consistently we challenge our teammates, not out of frustration but from our belief.
Normal humans little voices, when challenged, simply and silently say “Oh, shit.”
U2 has become a high performing team through productive “fights” or challenges, if you will. U2 was not born a high performing band. U2 had to fight. You too can become a high performing team. You too will have to fight to improve performance, not to prove a point. High performing teams live on a steady diet of tough love. Normal teams, not so much.
Keep in mind that LOVE, anger, and loathe live on the same continuum. The more deeply you love anything or anyone the more intensely you’ll feel both the highs and the lows. Love anyone and you will loathe. Love anything and you’ll feel frustration. High performing teams feel up and down this continuum. The same can be said for couples…
Real relationships live on the continuum from love to loathe. And, the more real the relationship the further up the continuum it will reside. Funny it has to go down from “falling in love” to experience some loathe before it lays down the roots for the really good shit that lasts. Get comfortable on the continuum, my friend. Get comfortable feeling the warmth, acceptance, grace, and all that is good. And, get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Remember, deep, lasting love will be coupled with some loathe. Learning how to fight your way forward is the mark of couples, companies, and communities that have done just that. Be one…
BUILT TO LEAD 