So something I've been thinking about lately stems from my experiences in a group setting. CEOs and executives cast a vision for who and what they believe their organization can be. Directors do the same for their departments. They strategize, collaborate, and set an expectation everyone can believe in. Everything seems like it fits: the team is excited, people say they're in, and we're about to get rolling.
And then, reality hits.
We go back to the day to day grind and we stop acknowledging the change we wanted to make because we know our actions don't reflect it. Its easier to play status quo in an ever changing world. Whether it's a smart move or not is beside the point. We're happy doing the same thing over and over, even if it doesn't yield the same result. Why? We know how to do it this way, so why change the formula? It's hard to do something different. Most of us revert to this line of thinking when it comes time for putting the rubber to the road.
However, there's always one individual that walks away from these meetings amped up about the change, and actually trying to implement it. Whether its the planner, the exec, or the guy/gal that was personally affected by the vision, someone put a foot on the gas and started to try and make things happen.
As that one person gets going, they realize everyone else is stuck in neutral. Imagine running a play in basketball that requires all 5 players to score, and 4 of your guys stayed in the backcourt. Maybe you can score (ask Kobe Bryant about this), but there's a whole lot more work that goes into it. More importantly, that work is already hard, because no job or initiative is a walk in the park to implement, and now it's harder because your team willfully made it harder. They don't budge, so it doesn't go. Mr Man who was ahead of the pack? Now he's not only overworked, he's upset with his teammates.
Being a better partner is a saying I've come to find myself trying to use in my own life. It requires looking at your individual commitments to growth, your accountabilities that drive your organization, and following through! If anyone of those 3 areas is not followed, the results can tear apart your team.
No one wants to feel like they're the only one giving it their best on a day to day basis. All that person can think is "why am I working so hard to get the same results we got before? Why does no one care like I care?" Great companies lose A players who think like this. They crave accountable teammates who are passionate about being great, and do what it takes to get there.
More importantly, think about as an executive, what this could mean to your organization. Imagine having a partner who talked the talk, but didn't walk the walk while you did? You're not only frustrated, you're also in a world of trouble. The highest level of your organization is reflecting two different mantras: promises matter, and promises don't matter.
Whether one is right or one isn't is not the point. The issue lies in the mixed message you send to everyone else. Employee #1 says "Well, I'm jazzed up and ready to work today, so I'll works hard because executive A works hard".
Employee #2 says "I'm wiped after a long weekend with the kids. I can coast this week...after all, executive B did it last week"
While they say these things to thenselves, they look at each other and internally question what the other is doing. "Why is he working so hard?" Or "why is he hardly working?" Both situations create mistrust and frustration. All because someone else didn't paint the picture the way you all agreed it should be painted.
Integrity to your systems starts with integrity to your partners. Whether at the C suite level or the call center, people are depending on you to be who you say you will be. The day you aren't is the last day your word is your bond and the first day you have to rebuild your credibility.
Take this to your personal lives as well. Try to grow, be accountable to those who expect you to be, and follow through. Sounds like a recipe for a happy marriage/party/family/spiritual lifestyle. In any case, when you see this not shining through in your organization, sniff it out and do something about it quick. The sooner you squash it, the clearer it is where your organization stands on the issue of partnership and accountability.
I'm trying to stay cool out this way, but Mother Nature is having her way. Triple digits for 2 weeks straight. Hope everyone had an awesome 4th, and keep out of the heat as best you can!
Be inspired, stay engaged, be the change!
-AI
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