Today, during practice with a client of mine, I walked out of his office and asked a couple of his teammates if they knew how leaders make progress. They took a few shots at it and had some good ideas. They, however, missed the mark.
Leaders make progress when they work on their weaknesses. Few are willing to do the hard work within to discover and admit where they are weak. Few, lower themselves and with humility work to improve what weakens them. I told these teammates they will know their leader is progressing when he begins to tell them where he needs their help, what weakens his knees, and what he wants them to hold him accountable for. You see, leaders make progress when they look within and without losing heart get to work. This is contrary to our modern leaning that leaders simply get better by playing to their strengths. Study history and you will see the best getting better by working on their off hand dribbling, learning to draw the ball when they naturally fade it, or becoming tougher when they are naturally good natured and nice…
I can remember one of my early truth tellers, Quinnermanwithaplan, back in the 1980’s telling me I was running a country club NOT a company. When I asked him to tell me more he told me I was too interested in being liked, appearing nice, and getting along; Listening and telling the truth, not so much. I didn’t like hearing how weak I was. As I took the time to reflect on his words and my actions, I could not argue. He was right. I was too worried about what others thought. I wasn’t kind enough to speak truth. That day, long ago, in Chicago, I began the long, slow, journey toward becoming what I now label “tough and tender.” I have yet to master either side but am a work in process. I’ve gotten better and know it. I still hold back and hesitate on occassion. I still worry about what others think more than is healthy. I struggle, now, with hugging; hitting, not so much. I have much to learn about humility and mastering my repair efforts. And, I’m still soft. Funny, huh.
Immanuel Kant was right, ” Out of the crooked timbers of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.” The best among us are all evolving from “crooked timbers.” None of us is straight. Embrace this. Face it. Work on turning your vice to virtue. Broadcast the right secrets, my friend. Remember, the higher up you reside in any system, the more bullshit kinda people you’re gonna be surrounded with who are celebrating your goodness. Great leaders know better. Leaders make progress the way we all do – they turn weakness into strength. Thanks, Quinnerman, for the punch to the face so many moons ago. Thanks for being so kind and ccd. Thanks for setting me straight, so to speak.
God, help me…
BUILT TO LEAD 