We began practice two by going back to practice one. I reminded the team of eighteen why we called practice and what we hope to accomplish. I reminded them, as I mostly do all of them. We practice, remember, “to awaken, challenge, and together, transform a few individuals, teams, and leaders into ONE. ONE, distinct, deeply connected, and BTL.” Few remembered.
Normal.
As the leader and I debriefed following practice we extrapolated this reminder to his state of the company presentation coming soon to a theatre near you, that is if you live in Kansas City. He is mostly going to remind his team of what he told them a year ago. He, not unlike MLK jr., thinks he’s gotta come up with something new. Today, he learned he does not. He, just like you, has to remember to share his “I have a dream” speech over and over and over before his team hears it, much less connects with it. Master connectors understand this fact and use new stories to remind their team of timeless truths. Master connectors believe in their vision and believe in challenging their teams. They don’t worry about sounding like a broken record or pushing too hard. They have made their peace with their passion and simply align it with purpose. When they mess up and go to far, they don’t worry – they repair. In the process they make the extraordinary look rather ordinary. I mean if ordinary Joe’s can do it, we say to ourselves, why can’t I?
Today, we completed practice two and it went according to plan. To me it was rather ordinary. To one, however, they walked away with some clarity about writing that could just be one of the key’s to them becoming extraordinary. Freakin’ magic.
What kinda reminders are you assuming your team doesn’t need to hear? Assume less, leader. Assume less. Remind them. Good.
BUILT TO LEAD 