Revive

Is "Done" all that matters? Boss: “Did you finish the report?” Employee:  [No response] [10 minutes later] Boss: “Just checking. Did you finish?” Employee: “Sorry. In a meeting.” [10 minutes later] Boss: “The Division Head needs this ASAP.” Employee: “DONE!” How many times have you received the reply “DONE?” Is that a good thing? Being responsible is a good thing. So what’s not so good about this exchange? A colleague, who leads a non-profit in the health sector, was on a search committee with me. He told us, “What you don’t want is the leader whose every interaction sounds like this: ‘did you it?’ ‘Yes, did it!’” Stuck in the Trees? Have you fallen into the myopic approach that my colleague warned about?   Have you convinced yourself that this is simply “holding others accountable?”  Certain people gravitate towards this type of dysfunctional behavior.  I know I do. As a 10-year kid, I remember a counselor saying something like, “You can miss the forest out t...

“I don’t pay you to think. I pay you to do your job.” Have you met a real-life boss that dismissed employees' opinions in this way? I haven’t. At least I don’t remember hearing someone utter that exact statement. What I have seen many times is this—a leader who delegates tasks without painting a clear picture of success.  What’s the result?  Often misunderstandings and delays that frustrate everyone involved. In her book Dare to Lead , Brene Brown introduces the concept of "Painting Done" and emphasizes that effective delegation means ensuring that the person taking on the task knows exactly what success looks like. By applying her approach, I've seen managers transform from chaotic micromanagers to calm leaders who have meaningful conversations with their employees—that includes the guy I see in the mirror each morning. And it includes leaders I’ve worked with too.   In this post, I'll delve deeper into "painting done" and challenge you to take specifi...

  "If I'm honest about mistakes, then no one will respect me," leaders have told me over and over again. Leaders worry that acknowledging mistakes will damage their credibility. The reality is that the opposite is true.  By walking around like the Emperor who had no clothes, leaders who don't admit mistakes lack credibility. According to research by Leadership IQ, a firm founded in 2001, only 26% of the 30,000 managers in the study were willing to take ownership of their mistakes, while 70% of their employees said that their leaders do not take enough responsibility for mistakes. While being transparent--especially about mistakes and weaknesses--can be challenging, over time it will build trust with those you lead. Check out what I did right when I became vulnerable in a conversation.  (Spoiler alert! - part of what I did right was acknowledging what I had done wrong!) And then consider what this might look like for you. Not sure about going first? Imagine this conve...

Lonely Leaders "I don't have anyone I can talk to openly."  "None of my people understand me."  "I don't have anywhere I can show my true face." ***** When I work with leaders over time, often the most significant challenge they share is loneliness.  If loneliness isn't addressed, it can lead to burnout and damaged relationships. One organization had to shut down operations due to burnout at the top.  What concrete steps to address loneliness before it reaches this point?  "What really made the difference for me," one leader told me "was those weekly meetings, you and I used to have." If you're in a rut, the process of consistent accountability can make the difference from dying to thriving. Here's what I want to give you today -- enough understanding about accountability to take the next step to get help. It will only take 5 minutes to get started.  Here are the questions I'll address below: Who casts the decidi...

Have you ever practiced hour after hour to get better at something? Not knowing if you'd reach your goal. But motivated by the possibility of reaching it. That was the way it was for me on the basketball court as a kid. I'd practice moves over and over again.  Hours. Weeks. Months. Years.  Don't get me wrong, practicing basketball was fun. And it was also hard work. I practiced through one season where I rarely played.  But it was worth it.  ***** Awesome! "You're awesome!" my teammate Andy screamed.  It was one of the last games of my life six years after the season I rarely played. Richard Hall, the best player on the other team, went by another player else. Richard jumped and released the ball. I stood as he fell into me. The referee blew his whistle. "CHARGE!" We had won the game! My friend Andy pulled me off the floor and yelled, "You're awesome!"  What you become “What you get by achieving your goals," Zig Ziglar says, "...