Let's LEAD: Less IS More

‘I gotta have it!’

In the last few years, I have developed an interest in minimalism. It’s less about the ‘no more than 33 items in your wardrobe’ and more about ‘does it spark joy?’

Well, ‘joy’ may be taking it a bit too far…it’s more about ‘do I need this old thing?’ When the answer is ‘no,’ it goes in a neat pile of stuff that will make its way to the local Goodwill or charitable thrift shop.

It is in this quest to downsize and streamline that me and many in my family members part ways.

Some backstory: I am the oldest of three sisters. Our mother was a skilled garage-sale/thrift store tracker and hunter, and my two sisters inherited that gene.

I did not.

My sister and her husband were here visiting last month, and we decided to take a road trip to central California. Cute towns filled with cute shops (including thrift stores)...all you need is some free time and a credit card with an available limit.

MY mantra for the trip was: ‘I don’t need anything…I’m trying to get rid of stuff!’

Until I saw the bag.

Now, I probably should have clarified before, but the ONE thing I struggle to let go of are my handbags.

No…I’m not talking Hermes or some other investment piece. But a bag that most other people don’t have…something that makes a statement. Like this…

Most everything else in the shop was pretty ‘meh’…but this bag sat on a shelf and without hesitation, I said: ‘I gotta have it.’

Can the message be any clearer?

BE HEARD

We ALL want to be heard. Every.Single.One of us.

If you asked my son, he knew I wanted to be heard when I turned up the volume. Of course, he heard nothing but noise. Message NOT received.

So, what does this have to do with leadership?

Let’s go back to the idea of minimalism. Less IS more.

The idea is simple, but it isn’t easy.

I’m living proof of that. I continue to strive to make that important point in as few words as possible. As an extrovert (and introvert wannabe), this isn’t easy. More about this later…

As a coach, this is a common challenge for my clients.

‘Camille, I want to make an impact. I want to show higher-ups what I can deliver.’

Then finally, they say it: ‘I want to be heard.’

Here are a few tips to create a culture that empowers team members to be heard…to demonstrate their value AND make an impact!

Make it safe. If you think you’re creating the space for people to share their point of view and they aren’t, look no further than ‘psychological safety.’

People learn from observation. They watch to see what happens when someone sticks their neck out and says the right, but unpopular thing. What happens to the risk takers?

As leaders, we don’t need a team of followers who say ‘yes’ to everything; we need people who are willing to challenge the status quo with new and innovative ways to looking at the same old problems. Make it safe to do so.

Simon Sinek wrote a book called ‘Leaders Eat Last.’ The book’s Amazon description includes this brief paragraph:

‘Too many workplaces are driven by cynicism, paranoia, and self-interest. But the best ones foster trust and cooperation because their leaders build what Sinek calls a "Circle of Safety"…’

Make it fair. Extroverts process externally while introverts process internally. Unfortunately, this means that the extroverts get most of the air space, leaving introverts in the dust.

As a leader who facilitates a team, it’s important to shift this dynamic.

• ‘Thanks for sharing that thought. Let’s hear from those on the team who haven’t shared their ideas yet.’
• ‘Dave, I know this topic is critical for the work you do. What thoughts do you have about how we proceed?’

Just because someone isn’t speaking up doesn’t mean they don’t have something to say.

Make it a priority. I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating: the time you spend in one-on-one meetings with your team members are what I call ‘the expensive real estate.’

Sure, you need to get updates on projects and how they need your support, AND most of the time in one-on-ones should be spent COACHING.

Some GREAT NEWS! You don’t have to have ALL the answers!

And guess what? You DON’T anyway!

Odds are, someone on your team has an idea that may solve that old problem that keeps rising to the surface, so ask:

‘What’s not working for you right now?’

‘If there was no wrong answer, what would you suggest?’

‘If you could decide our next step, what would it be?’

At first, you’re going to hear a lot of ‘I don’t know’ responses. That’s okay, just keep at it. Eventually your team will learn that they can be part of the solution by bringing their ideas to the table.

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In the couple of weeks since I got the bag, it’s been a great conversation starter with complete strangers! I woman commented with an ‘I love your bag!’ followed by a wink and a thumbs up.

Message received!?

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