It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
Currently, I'm exploring different leadership quotes on this blog post, and pulling out some application for all of us. This is part of my personal journey to keep growing, learning and being stretched! Join me each Tuesday at 2:00pm (PST). It will take you just a few minutes to read through the 2 sections of this post, but don't miss the final section where I share some of the things I'm reading, listening to and enjoying this week.
Russ
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
"Remember, teamwork begins by building trust, and the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability." Patrick Lencioni
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
I thought I'd leave this last Lencioni quote with you heading into the end of the year.
In all of Lencioni's writing on organizational health, I think the foundation of everything has to do with vulnerability.
In his words here, he calls "building trust" as the foundation of any successful team, and the best way to build that trust is by being vulnerable.
Vulnerable can be defined this way: "Being vulnerable means being in a position where other people can hurt you. It often means expressing the sides of yourself about which you have the least confidence or certainty, and allowing others to respond to them."
Vulnerability, while it's risky, is also a sign of courage.
Here's the question: Are you leading from a position of vulnerability? You're being real in who you are, but you're also taking a risk to expose your true self to those you work with and lead. Answer that question...
DEEPER STILL:
I remember clearly a moment in my leadership when I made the decision to be VULNERABLE. I let my guard down, I shared what I was truly feeling, I didn't have all the right answers, and my posture was met with encouragement, understanding and support.
Why was I so surprised by this response?
Because I was taught that true leaders lead from a position of strength, and showing weakness is a bad thing.
I don't know if this idea came from my education, from leaders who modeled this kind of leadership in front of me or from my own interpretation, but I know that when I chose to be real, something changed...
I felt a new kind of support from others
Others had permission to share their "real stuff" as well, so we all went a little bit deeper
We weren't afraid to tackle difficult things anymore because we didn't have to have all the answers
We learned to depend and rely on each other in a whole new way
Exactly what Lencioni talks about in this quote happened: We had a new kind of teamwork because of the trust that was being built through vulnerability.
What kind of leader do you want to be in 2023? I want to encourage you to choose being real as your posture. You don't have to have it all together, all the time. Be exactly who God created you to be.
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
Here's one more classic Lencioni book: Getting Naked. If you can get past the title, you'll understand the premise of this book that has something for all of us!
Lencioni's complete work is best found in The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything.
If I'm going to recommend ONE Lencioni Book to start with, it would have to be The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. This booked challenged me and changed me as a leader!
Gina lured me into visiting an antique store in Los Angeles that turned out to be a really cool place! Follow them in Instagram: Big Daddys Antiques
I enjoyed listening to the Switchfoot Christmas Album on Apple.