January 21, 2025

Leaders need tools and mental maps to help them think more accurately. There is no shortage of these types of aids. I think about various models, like the Eisenhower Matrix, the Six Hats, SWOT, etc. These tools provide a framework for taking complex challenges and making them simpler.?

My favorite mental model for assessing a team is the "Willing & Able" grid.

At it's crux, it's asking leaders to place each team member in one of the following grids:

• Willing and Unable: This is someone who is motivated, coachable, and has initiative but doesn't have the skill set, competencies, and technical knowledge to do the job at a high level.?
• Unwilling and Unable: Someone who is not motivated or coachable and lacks initiative, nor do they have the skill set needed for success.
• Unwilling and Able: These team members possess the skills and competencies but don't display the initiative and drive needed for success.?
• Willing and Able: This is what we are aiming for. If we want to have strong teams and outcomes, we need?all?our people to be both Willing and Able.?

It's our job as leaders to assess our team and develop plans to get our team members into the Willing and Able quadrant.?

Team members who lack the "Willing" component should be coached to have goals and accountability and be responsive to coaching. If "Able" is lacking, we need to develop plans for growth to ensure success. It's OK if they aren't presently in the Willing and Able quadrant as long as they are?on the path.?

An honest, clear-eyed assessment of our teams is fundamental to the role of a leader. The Willing and Able model can help us identify gaps and build plans for future success.?

The Huddle?is a weekly newsletter that is designed for leaders. Leaders must be learners. There is never a?moment?when leaders arrive. It's a never-ending growth process. I hope this can be a resource that you can use to stay sharp and share with your team.?

With that, here are some things I ran across this week.?

Discipline -?Human beings either seek pleasure or avoid pain. Many experts note that individuals are typically more pain-averse and are willing to spend more energy avoiding it. It's said that we'd rather?not lose?twenty dollars than find twenty dollars.

Even still, we do things every day that are not in the best interest of our future selves.

Discipline is required. Discipline is doing the things we need to do regardless of how we feel.?Here's a good post on the why behind discipline.?

Consistency -?To illustrate the power of consistency, I often tell this story: imagine that today, for lunch, I ate an entire chocolate pie. Maybe not advisable, but the impact would be minimal. Beyond not being hungry for dinner, perhaps a sudden sugar rush, and feeling bloated, the long-term effect is negligible. Now, imagine I ate an entire pie every day for lunch. My new, everyday pie-eating habits would have a definite impact. I'd gain weight, my doctor would lecture me, and my health would suffer...without a doubt.?

We underestimate the power of consistency. By doing a little bit, a lot, we can achieve more than a lot, a little bit.?

I like this X post on this idea.?

Building Better Bosses -??We are currently enrolling leaders in our next?Building Better Bosses?cohort. If you have team members leading others and they have never had any professional training, this short, six-work program will give them the strategies and tools to be more effective leaders.?

You can learn more?here.

Ten Rules -?Denzel Washington with a quick, hard-hitting?"Ten Rules to Change Your Life."?This sort of "prescription" can sound cliché, but if we consider them, we may find some gaps and areas we need to consider.?

A quote to leave you with?

Have a great week!