Morning Coffee Thought: Setting an Intention

My therapist once told me that we do things for people, to people, and with people. Every action is always based out of one of these three frameworks.

It's especially true for us as leaders and managers. Our decisions and actions each day have a deep effect on our employees, clients, vendors, and stakeholders.

The problem, as I reflect today in Brain Snacks 035 is that we sometimes confuse the motive. We think we're doing something for our employees, but we're actually doing it to them. Or we meant to change the system with them, but it came across as a change to them.

It's not that the act was wrong; it's that we acted wrongly.

As a leader, the way to make change land more softly or to get buy-in is to stop and ask ourselves if we're doing something for, to, or with our teams. Better yet - we should ask them.

"If we change our reporting, how will that impact your workload?" (What may save you time might add to their already full plate.)

"If we target more aggressive growth, how does that change your outlook and strategy?" (Growth can be good until it creates stress, bottlenecks, and compromise in quality.)

I could go on.

We'll soon be changing up some metrics and tactics at Batch as we rush toward these weird holidays (the holidays aren't weird, but how we'll experience them this year will be) and it can be very easy for me to hatch a vision and demand action based on that. After all, I co-founded the company; I can see where we're headed and what it takes to get there.

But if I don't stop to ask others what those changes mean for them, it will be a very lonely journey.

Questions to take with you today:

1. Can you - before you take your first action today - ask if it will be an action for, to, or with someone?
2. How can you adjust team meetings to get input on whether or not decisions are being made for, to, or with the team?
3. What's your clean up process as a leader? How can you make sure to listen to other when, for example, you thought you were doing something for someone but you actually did something to them?

Thanks for reading; drink up. It's almost the weekend (whatever those are anymore).