Doing alright…

This morning a leader described he and his team as “doing alright.” He was responding to my question by not answering the question. He wasn’t answering because he had not done the hard work to answer in the affirmative. He’s human. He rationalizes. I was kind to him. I kicked his ASS even though I didn’t want to. I did my job. You see, he didn’t hire me to be nice to him – he has thousands trying to outdo each other toward that aim. Thank God, he does NOT want another.

He hired me to make him do what he can.

The reason his team is underperforming, I told him, is because he settles for “doing alright.” He’s too nice. The mindset he and I are building is one that demands excellence. First, within – then with a few. The reason his team has quit on him through the last few tough times is because he’s too easy on himself – therefore, too easy on them.

Jesus, I reminded him, wasn’t known by his followers as a nice guy. He was tough and tender. Study history and you’ll see this pattern repeated with exceptional leaders and their exceptional teams. Yesterday, during practice 97, we watched a little Joshua Chamberlain at the battle of little roundtop during the Civil War and saw another example of a tough and tender leader. Joshua may just be the reason you are here. Funny, huh…

Doing alright, is the enemy. Holding the line, is the enemy. Getting through it, is the enemy. Just showing up, is the enemy.

Want a better team? Become a better leader. STOP aiming at being a nice guy/gal. Your team needs to be tougher. You need to be tougher. Tough and tender, my friends. Tough and tender. It’s kinda important you never forget the “and.”