Leaders legitimize good reasoning and do not tolerate rationalizing or illegitimate responses. Leaders use few words when correcting legitimate arguments poorly presented. Leaders use few words when correcting illegitimate responses.
Too many positional leaders are posers. They listen, tolerate, and even enable the bullshit artist. They legitimize him/her and oftentimes try to placate. Friedman, remember, would remind us to NOT be reasonable with unreasonable people. Leaders listen and tune in like an animal being stalked. They are listening for a good argument, for a legitimate position, even if it is poorly presented. And, leaders smell bullshit before they step in it. The bullshitter isn’t placated; he/she is put in their place.
Leaders have a tough job and it’s 50 shades of gray, isn’t it. You cannot lead a team, any team, without you becoming TOUGH and tender. The politically correct world we live in wants to neuter you. Learning to lead means you gotta learn how to stand, oftentimes alone, listening, listening, listening, and once you’ve heard it all, speaking ccd (clear,concise,direct) some kinda truth in LOVE. Only the truly tough master this combination. Only the few develop the wisdom to discern the legit from the ill-legit.
High performance systems are led by legit arguments turned up by tough leaders who are masters at hearing all kinda ideas and finding the best way forward. These leaders make lots of decisions and course correct their way to excellence. Normal systems are led less virtuously. Normal systems spend hours, days, weeks, months, and even years hearing and enabling all kind ill-legit arguments from all kinda bullshit artists. These systems talk too much. They take too long deciding. They underperform as a result. Sadly, however, since results are a lagging indicator, by the time these systems figure out they’ve got a problem, it’s some other leaders problem to solve.
Tough, tender, listen for the legit and the ill, and ccd when you open your mouth. Make this your productive discipline and your team just got better. Legit or ill. You choose. Your choices have consequences…
BUILT TO LEAD 