STOP Slamming Leadership and Leaders

Stop—

• Telling them how to lead

• Telling them what they’re doing wrong

• Telling them what to do

• Judging their actions

• Complaining about them

Or saying—

• They should have…

• If only they would…

• They’ll never get it…

I hate to tell you, but none of this is helpful. It doesn’t change them, and it makes you seem curmudgeonly.

Then, what should I do?

• Listen to understand them

• Join or partner with them

• Empower and support them

• Embrace them and their ideas

• Share your ideas with them

In other words, get out of the stands and get on the field with them!

Scary

Sounds scary, right? Sounds like you’d have to have more skin-in-the-game. Take more risks—like trying one of your ideas and failing.

Oh, and don’t get me started. The next thing everyone will say is that you’ll do it when there is more—Psychology Safety. Or when you have a supportive leader.

Sure, hold your cumulative breaths on that one 😉

You can devise a wide variety of preconditions for applying so that you don’t have to enter the field. Some of them are perceptions, and others are quite real.

But here’s the thing. They all keep you off the field, criticizing and complaining from the stands.

Engagement

The secret to changing organizations,

Improving leadership and leaders,

Improving Organizational Culture…

Is engagement. Walk up to the sideline and check out what’s happening on the field. Take one foot, and cross that line. Then the other.

Now run onto the field and seek opportunities to engage with leaders.

Yes, you’ll get frustrated.

No, change doesn’t happen quickly.

Yes, it’s wild and chaotic and fluid on the field.

No, it’s not for the faint of heart.

But outstanding leadership isn’t easy. And we need more great leadership in the world. So, what do you say?

Stay agile and on the field, my friends,

Bob.

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Whatever your role or experience, life in the agile space can be challenging today. Having someone to serve as your coach, as a sounding board, be a truthteller, and become a trusted partner on tap to leverage during those tricky bits can be helpful. That’s precisely where Agile Moose can help you.

We’re not just an Agile Coach, but a business domain expert, a personal advisor, an organizational design and development consultant, and a leadership coach and partner.

The moose brings over 35 years of technical and product leadership experience across a broad range of contexts. If you’re stuck and know it, reach out, as I can help.