If you ever read my
blog, you know how frustrated I get for my clients when they describe far too often
the dumpster fire that is their work environment. From toxic bosses to
hyper competitive co-workers it seems to never end. This always has me thinking
out loud that maybe if we constantly asked ourselves one key question,
we can turn this around.
Prior to my more recent
roles, I worked for a major university in South Florida. As a senior member of
the leadership team, when faced with a difficult decision or an “undefined
problem:” with no clear answer (a nod there to author Ron Heifetz) my supervisor
would always ask us, “what is in the best interest of the student?” That very
simple but transformative question was our magnetic north. It became the NEXUS
of ultimate decision making. It mirrored the wisdom of author and faculty
member John Schuh who would encourage student affairs professionals to always look
out for the interest of the student because there would always be someone who
would look after the interest of the institution. To this day I try to approach
my work from this very principle. Whether it be an executive MBA student or a
freshman, liberal arts major, we must always be asking what is in their
(not mine or our) best interest!
As leaders, I
encourage us to start asking this very question. When faced with a decision, an
opportunity, a challenge, or a pivot, before ANY answer is offered, start with
this question - What is in the best interest of _____________?
-
The student
-
The employees
-
The patient
-
The client
-
The customer
-
The constituent
-
The community
I know this is going
to sound harsh but as every leadership or history book I ever read instructs
us, the moment you stop asking that question, is the second you
are no longer relevant as a business, school, hospital, government, agency, or
organization. It may live on life-support for a while, but it will eventually
entropy.
You might as well shut
it down right then and there. You are though being of value. Close the door,
turn out the lights and go do something where you are not going to bother
anybody!
So why do we hesitate
to ask this very basic question?
Cost – maybe the leader
or the organization just is unwilling to pay the cost of the answer. Keep in
mind the cost can but does not always means financial costs. It could mean the cost
of our reputation, our pride, our status, our position, or our ranking in the
marketplace.
Change – when we ask
this critical question, the answer often requires us to change direction,
change strategy, change our assumptions, change our beliefs, or change how we
treat those in our charge.
Consciousness – it is hard
thing to face that maybe we are not as good as we think we are as leaders and organizations.
Often, we think we know what is best for others but unless we are constantly
testing that “theory in use” we can quickly operate under old and/or incorrect
information. It has become obvious to me that very few senior leaders at the
highest levels of business, government, education, etc. have the moral and emotional
bandwidth to face and then act upon an unpleasant reality. Ironically,
it is those very leaders who we most want to follow!
Do me and, more importantly,
you and your stakeholders a favor this week or the next time you find yourself
around a conference table wrestling with a tough issue. Ask out loud, “what is
in the best interest of _________________” Sure, you may get some blank stares
but maybe, just maybe, you will open up an incredibly powerful conversation
that will have important positive impacts.
As always if I can help you and
the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I invite
you to contact me.
Yours in leadership,
Bill Faulkner
Independent Coach, Speaker,
and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
Email
= bill@outloudinc.com
For more information on the
John Maxwell Team, please visit
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