What keeps a leader out of trouble? Matters of character are one leadership essential, but often not a measurable in annual performance reviews.
This blog post contains my weekday LinkedIn posts for the week of August 30 through September 3, 2021.
Fill in the blank!
Mom to 10-year old after Catholic school football practice: How was practice today?
10-year old: Ok. At the end we prayed for bread.
Sometimes it’s fairly easy to fill in the blank about what really occurred. Coming from a 10-year old grandchild, this is a cute story.
Unfortunately, it’s not cute when leaders are clueless about what’s happening around them. So, don’t miss needs and concerns around you because of an inability to recognize what’s going on.
Part of a leader’s role is to help co-workers fill in the blanks about what’s happening, why it’s important, and how to respond appropriately.
Proverbs 22.3 warns that the simple minded refuse to think critically, they ignore warnings, and as a result don’t take corrective action when warned.
That’s not rational!
Well, despite what we think, we aren’t always rational.
if you’re honest, you’ve made decisions that were right, but didn’t meet the criteria for being totally rational.
For example, when my wife and I were 45 we adopted a 2-year old! What’s rational about that?! One result – I was the oldest dad helping with the kid’s baseball team.
Today’s Question: How do you balance heart and head when making decisions?
A precept-driven character balances expectations (knowing) with execution (doing) to produce a life that’s deeply rewarding. proverbsforprofessionals.net
We reveal what our values are, and what we treasure, by where we commit our heart. See Luke 12.34: “Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.”
Totally predictable!
Anytime we had a thunderstorm I could count (to 5) before our youngest was in bed with us. He was totally predictable!
I suspect you’ve worked with those who were totally predictable. Some predictably good. Others, predictably bad!
Leaders don’t control the predictability of others, but we can certainly manage our own consistency and resolve to do what’s right.
Today’s Question: What are benefits leaders enjoy by being predictable in a good way?
Leaders earn trust in good times by being dependable, fair, and honest. That trust is relied on in bad times. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Proverbs 25.19 warns of the dangers of placing confidence in someone who is unreliable. That is, they predictability fail to meet expectations.
What to do?
How do you deal with someone who is habitually contentious and argumentative?
Some options:
1). Argue back
2). Avoid contact
3). Marginalize
4). Performance Improvement Plan via HR
5). Firing for cause.
In practice, I’ve seen all these options used. None were especially effective.
What could be worse you say? How about poor morale, sharp comments in meetings, turnover, and damaged relationships.
Today’s Question: How have you dealt with persistent conflict from a disruptive hire?
Long-running, unaddressed conflict doesn’t fix itself! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Proverbs 19.13 speaks of conflict as a continual dripping that drives others away.
Leadership essentials!
What keeps a leader out of trouble? Hopefully, you are thinking more deeply than “staying sober at the annual awards banquet!”
Matters of character are a leadership essential, but often not a measurable in annual performance reviews.
For example, being transparent means the leader is up front and truthful in both public and private settings.
Today’s Insight: Expend as much effort guarding your character as you do making quota.
In Proverbs 20.28 we learn that leaders are protected during their term in office by their ability to be both merciful and truthful. Thus, 3000 years ago, we were taught that character counts.