It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
Greetings to you!
Each week I send out a short leadership blog that's called "Tuesday at 2:00pm". The purpose of this is simply to provide a brief thought on leadership that you can read and think about in just a few minutes. I send it out every week at 2:00pm (PST) and encourage you to make an appointment with yourself to pause and think about the thing I'm writing about.
Russ...
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
"If you want to make everyone happy, don't be a leader. Sell ice cream." Steve Jobs
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
This month I want to look at some words from the late Steve Jobs. While much of his life was focused on building Apple, he has a lot to say about leadership, culture and perseverance.
This final quote from Jobs this month is an appropriate one. Years ago, I read the biography of Jobs written by Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs. In telling Jobs story, Isaacson also shares some of the tough things about Jobs.
Looking at the quote above, Jobs never tried to make people happy. He was relentless in his pursuit of his vision, and he often ran over and through people on his way forward.
The quote is a simple reminder to all of us as leaders: You won't make everyone happy, so don't try!
Leadership is difficult, and many times you're trying to serve, please, cater to and pay attention to the needs of those you're serving, yet if you're goal is making people happy, you'll never accomplish that which is the most important. You'll be distracted in your never-ending pursuit of people pleasing and this will make you ineffective.
This doesn't mean you have to lead like Jobs did. There can be a happy medium, but the challenge is still true: If your goal is making people happy, you're in the wrong seat!
While Steve Jobs was clearly focused on "perfection" in his pursuit of the perfect product for the world, some people loved working in that high pressure environment where everyone was focused on the vision and the task at hand, and they were willing to fight through the conflict to follow Jobs on this journey.
Others didn't want to work in that high-stress culture, and they jumped early.
Have you ever worked for someone who just wanted to make you happy? Who's sole purpose was to serve you? What was that like?
DEEPER STILL:
There is a middle ground; a place where as leaders, you can focus on the goal and bring people with you without compromising the values of team, affirmation and support.
I really think this quote is about conflict.
Patrick Lencioni, in his book The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team talks about the value of conflict and a leaders ability to navigate this. Conflict makes people uncomfortable, and some people naturally want to avoid any kind of conflict.
Lencioni makes this statement: "A meeting without conflict is an unnecessary meeting"
If you can't have healthy conflict in a team meeting, where can you? Many times we avoid conflict, which leads us to ineffectiveness. Conflict done right moves us towards our goals.
Steve Jobs was saying if you're not interested in doing battle, you're in the wrong place. We have important things to do here, and your happiness is not at the top of my priority list.
Here's the "golden nugget" for you today... I have learned that when you have a team that can work through conflict in a healthy way, this not only makes them happy, but it increases production, loyalty, team culture and trust.
I learned this from Lencioni, and I learned this from Jobs.
Don't be afraid to make people uncomfortable, but give them a roadmap from that discomfort to effectiveness. That's the kind of team I want to be a part of.
How has healthy conflict helped you navigate in the right direction as a team or as a leader?
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
If you haven't read Lencioni's book, The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, it's a MUST READ for every leader or team member!
I just listened to a podcast from Guy Raz, How I Built This on the Concept2 Rowing Machine. I own one of these, and enjoyed the story. Here's the machine: Concept 2
This past week, I gathered with some Partners from our Orange County Barnabas Group and we spent some time working with Angels for Higher. What an inspiring vision and impact this organization is having. Check out their website HERE.
This past week we had the privilege to celebrate some huge milestones in Ecuador for a ministry that is near to our heart. Check out Hacienda El Refugio. For 25 years El Refugio has been impacting lives and making disciples. Also, check out Youth World. For 30 years Youth World has been impacting lives through a variety of innovative strategies. Gina and I are blessed to have been part of these organizations so many years ago, and thrilled to celebrate these milestones with them and the team this past week!
Speaking of Ice Cream (The quote)... the best ice cream bar on the planet.... Magnum Ice Cream. Which one is your favorite?