One of us…

Triple d turns talk down. Wanna shut up your team, just master this skill. Triple d, remember, is the default communication style of countless CEO’s and other faux leaders around this world – it stands for defend, deny, destroy. Most leaders produce a team of mules as the result. Since the teams ideas are mostly met with the Heisman, they tend to just get back in line and slowly shut ‘er down. The Triple d leader, whether he knows or accepts it has become the leader who is “telling us.”

Humans barely hear this kinda leader.

Humans go through the wall for one kinda leader history has shown us. Humans go through the wall for the leader the team thinks is “one of us.” Remember this is another one of those nuances between good to great. The great leaders cheerlead, congratulate, console, and make us do what we can. And, they tell us some tough stuff some of the times. Great leaders don’t dance around the truth – they embody it. This is the ultimate leadership challenge and the builder of trust. We listen to the leader we trust. We listen and let tough truth in from the leader who is “one of us.” The bully or the triple d master, not so much.

Want a better team?

Do not soften the message when tough times require tough truths. And, wrap them in your humility, not your anger or condescension. Your teammate may let that message in and may become better, not bitter as a result. They may hear your tough truth because, in their mind, you are “one of us.” Good. Get this. Embody this. This is another reason why we practice at BTL and put the leader side by side with their team. Leader, you cannot become ONE with your team in isolation, above them, only with your inner circle, your executive team, or whatever select few are in your pervue or proximity. Becoming ONE requires that you be with the team. You have to practice being with. Humans listen to the leader who has earned their position and comes off whatever perch they’re on and hangs with ’em. You are NOT one of them, you have more responsibility and less freedom. You’re the leader. It is good, however, when in their minds and hearts they think you are “one of us.”

Become one, leader. Funny you won’t have to yell and scream when you’re right beside them, will you. Good…