Is Your Need for Approval Hurting Your Business?

So how do I talk about this subject without sounding like a Neanderthal?

Well, let me put it this way:

There are a few realities you’ll need to face if you’re in a leadership role.

Maybe you've heard of some of them.

1. At times, you will be disliked

2. At times, you will be misunderstood

3. At times you will need to make hard decisions that negatively impact people's lives

For some leaders, the thought of these things is crippling.

How about you?

So often, I work with clients who are very kind and compassionate people, and the idea of being disliked or making hard decisions, even occasionally, is too difficult. They avoid the hard decisions, the tough conversations, and any potential conflict. In their optimism, they convince themselves that things will get better.

They HOPE for the best.

But as they say, HOPE is not a strategy

If you're one of these people, it's still quite possible that you're running a good business. What I don't think is possible, is that you're running your BEST business.

After all, how can you be running your best business when you're making decisions that please one person, or even please most but will hurt the business in the long run?

How can you be running your best business when your decisions and actions are driven by a need to be liked or to be popular?

Some examples, you say?

1. A long-term high-performing member of your team is toxic and divisive. You explain it away, justify it, and even cover it up. Your team suffers.

2. An employee is underperforming. You end up doing much of their work for them and frequently swallow “the poison pill of frustration”. Your happiness suffers.

3. You don't inspect the work of your individual team members because you don't want them to see you as a “micromanager”. Then one day, you wake up to a not-so-great surprise in your company. Your business suffers.

As a guy who has seen this all too often, I want to encourage you today to embrace the cost of leadership. Embrace the hard stuff. And embrace your high standards.

It doesn't make you a bad person and it certainly doesn't make you a bad leader. Quite the opposite. If you frequently make great decisions, truly care about your people, and act with character, integrity, and excellence, you can do the hard stuff without experiencing a lot of negative consequences.

I'm not saying there won't be any, but there won't be much, and you will be better for it.

(And in case you’re wondering, your team will respect the hell out of you for it).

So, stand up tall, embrace and celebrate your high standards of excellence, and lead…

… bravely.

And remember, I’m always here if you need me.

-Coach Warren Z

WeRise Consulting