Respect Archives

What happens when we stop expecting people to be perfect?

12/26/201908/06/2021Jon Rennie

As you are coming out of your Christmas food-induced coma, I thought I would share an important concept that will help you as you prepare for 2020.

One of the complaints I often hear from leaders is that leading people is difficult.

I’ll admit, there is some truth to this.

It’s actually the most common reason why so many people avoid going into management – They don’t want to deal with all the ‘people problems.’

There’s an old joke that says that the only way to get rid of all your people problems is to get rid of all your people.

While that’s technically true, you wouldn’t get anything done either.

The truth is, if you don’t like people, you really shouldn’t go into leadership.

Leadership is a people business.

Leadership is a people business. Click To Tweet

Our plans – all the things that we want to do – can only be accomplished with the help of other people.

All our ideas are dead without people to bring them to life.

But here’s the thing – People are messy!

And, yes – Dealing with people can sometimes be difficult.

But, you know what? You’re not perfect either (and neither am I).

If we’re honest, we all have things that make us imperfect as leaders. In fact, there’s really no such thing as perfect employees or a perfect boss.

If we really want to get things done, we need to stop expecting our people to be perfect.

If we really want to get things done, we need to stop expecting our people to be perfect. Click To Tweet

We need to look past their flaws and learn to appreciate each person as an individual.

People come in all shapes and sizes as well as all different kinds of backgrounds. They’re all going to react differently to your leadership style.

So, the sooner we get over the fact that everyone is unique and no one is perfect, the sooner we embrace the chaos that is “real people,” the quicker we can work together to get things done.

Which, by the way, is the role of a leader.

So my message for you today is simple – Embrace the chaos, love your people despite their flaws, and go get things done.

________

And here’s a simple way you can love your people. Give them a gift of leadership as they prepare for the new year.

If you order a copy of my Amazon best-selling book, “I Have the Watch: Becoming a Leader Worth Following” before December 31^st at 11:59 pm EST, I’ll ship an additional signed copy to anyone you want as a gift from YOU to THEM.

Just indicate their names, e-mail, and mailing addresses in the order notes.

Here’s the order link jonsrennie.com/ihavethewatchbook.

This book is a great one day read that improves your understanding of leadership tenfold. – Jack T. Amazon Customer

Help! I’m in a new leadership role, what should I do?

09/25/201908/06/2021Jon Rennie

A while back I was asked this timely question:

Q: Jon, help! I’ve just started a new leadership role and really want to make a good impression, what should I do?

A: First off, congrats!

Here’s the deal:

It doesn’t matter how seasoned you are, any time you start a new role, you’re the rookie. Everyone’s watching you for cues to see what kind of leader you’re going to be. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the first 100 days are critically important.

It’s your chance to set the right tone for your organization.

That first 100 days represent the “honeymoon” phase.

It’s the small window of time when you have the full attention of everyone. Yes, you’ll be under a microscope with people watching your every move. But this is good news! It means you can make a big impact…

IF you take advantage of those beautiful early days!

First and foremost:

You’ve got to have a plan.

No plan, no magic.

The best leaders in history have known this…and used this “secret” to win the commitment – if not the hearts – of their staff. And this all begins with letting your team know who you are. There may be anticipation – even trepidation – among your people. Right off the bat, have a meeting with all team members to fully introduce yourself.

Use stories and examples of how you handled past situations to let them see your character. Be visible. Spend time where your people are. Actively listen to their questions, concerns, and ideas. And engage them on the subjects they care about.

In this way, you’ll get to know them.

And they’ll get to know you as well.

Finally, make a point to meet one-on-one with key employees. I like to have one-on-one meetings with as many people as I can. I want to know the biggest challenges and the most important issues facing the organization. I also want to understand what they think needs to be addressed first.

Bottom line:

The energy you put out is the energy you get back.

If you’re open, cooperative, and show them you value them as humans, they’ll pay it back with insights you wouldn’t get otherwise and greater alignment at all levels. Get ‘em on the bus first. Then you can steer.

Anyway, that’s all for today.

Stay tuned for my next post when I’ll go into no less than 7 more key actions you MUST take in those all-important first days to grab this bull by the horns and bring it on home!

If you are striving to become a better leader, get a copy of my Amazon best selling book, I have the Watch: Becoming a Leader Worth Following.

I don’t like that guy and I’m not going to work with him

09/17/201908/06/2021Jon Rennie

Let me tell you a story.

I came up through the Navy (and made seven deployments during the Cold War).

Then, I led businesses for 25 years.

Here’s a big lesson I figured out about leadership from my years in the Navy:

Think about a submarine. When you go out to sea, you’re gone for months at a time and you’re stuck with the crew that goes out to sea with you. You have to learn to get along with people because you’re not going to get any new people.

There’s no firing somebody to get someone else.

So, you find ways to work with people you don’t like, don’t trust, or don’t particularly care to be around. Because that’s what it takes to get the job done. In corporate America, it’s easy to say, “Oh, I don’t like that guy. I’m not going to work with him.” Well, in the Navy, you didn’t have that choice!

It gives you a unique perspective.

You learn skills you wouldn’t otherwise.

Besides that, in the Navy, if we don’t all do our job, people die. If the boat goes down, we all go down with it. So there was a real focus on competence in everything you did.

Do you see that in the civilian world?

Rarely.

Yet they’re not that different in some ways. In business, we’re all “in the same boat”. Pun intended. That’s because the success of the business is driven by its people. How much benefit, profit, mutual appreciation, and self-satisfaction for a job well done there is to go around depends precisely on everyone doing their jobs when they’re supposed to!

That doesn’t mean you forfeit your right to fire people if it isn’t working out.

Just don’t be so quick to dismiss them.

People you “don’t like” often have the most to offer.

I know it sounds strange, but it’s true.

A leader’s job is to pull the best out of the jumbled mix of personality types and get them working in harmony toward a goal. And recalling my submarine example can help. Although yours may not seem like it’s a “life or death” situation – metaphorically, it is. You’re just not used to thinking of it that way.

It’s literally THE difference between success and failure sometimes.

And MOST of your success in any venture or job will come from your ability to deal with the people involved.

Never forget it.

Bottom line:

We’re all busy. But you’re never too busy to lead. Take the time to get to know your people, find out what makes them “tick”. Having the pulse on your players and knowing how to engage them is the secret to accomplishing more with less…and the key to survival in today’s competitive business world.

If you liked this, you’ll love my book, I have the Watch: Becoming a Leader Worth Following.