Carrot or the stick?

Lately I have been thinking a lot about leadership and accountability. It is hard to hold people accountable and at the same time maintain healthy relationships. Times change and so do we. Requirements change along with expectations. I’m faced all too often with having to ask myself what a particular situation is asking for as far as how to handle it and what leadership approach to take. Then I recently heard an interview/podcast with Ed Mylett and John Maxwell - and that interview really drove it home for me. John at one point said that leadership is influencing others and it is about helping them. Certainly worth your time, you can find it here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tw_j9wiznw I have worked hard to establish strong lasting relationships with people around me and it’s important to be nice to them, to care about your people and make them feel safe and secure. But sometimes doing the right thing and helping them means having a difficult conversation and telling them something they don’t want to hear. Simon Sinek says “don’t sacrifice short term discomfort for long term damage” in a relationship. It’s hard, but it needs to happen.

So my take away here is; first and foremost be nice to your people and show empathy. If you see something good happening inside your organization, call it out! Make a big deal about it. Invest time and energy in your team. Danny Wegman from Wegmans Food Markets always said to me "take care of your employees, and your employees will take care of your customers"... Be generous with compliments and encouragement and tell them specifically what they are doing well. Be patient and set clear expectations. But, correct behavior when needed and don’t wait. Be transparent and to the point. It’s the timing and delivery that matters, not the message itself. Sometimes it’s coaching in the moment, other times it can be more formal. But don’t put it off. It may cause some short term discomfort, but in the long run it creates trust and grows interdependence in your team.