What type of courage does your team need?
Some emphasize a bravery where people fight the tolerance of poor performance. If something is wrong, say something! Management pleads.
This courage is always needed. In some companies destructive behaviors have endured so long they’ve become cultural norms. It’s essential to stand against them.
If, however, your intuition tells you there’s more to courage than pointing fingers at distractors, trust yourself. There’s another courage most organizations desperately need:
– The audacity to invest in the team’s success before our own.
– The nerve to speak out and say, “That was my mistake. I apologize.”
– The guts to let others have the glory.
– The fearlessness to say “I believe we can” when others collect evidence of the contrary.
– The mettle to publicly express appreciation for a colleague and their efforts.
If something is right, say something. We will be different if we do this more. And so will our results.
It takes a certain type of courage to be exceptional.
While I whole-heartedly agree that see something say something approach is good, it is not a realistic approach. Courage these days is in short supply for the fear of retribution. People look out for themselves and feel those who speak out are ridiculed. It feels as if people have things said behind their backs. It is a shame when a person is always in fear of losing their job, but this is a time where people feel sharing thoughts or opinions, while it can be constructive and helpful, can lead to mistrust, anger, fear, resentment, or loss of their job.
I came from jobs where real fear was the daily mood. For those who have not experienced worse environments, their long time jobs can feel just as threatening as someone who is in your face screaming. It is all they know and as the old saying goes, “the grass is always greener on the other side”. Unfortunately, I have learned that phrase can be true and can be so wrong as well. It is human nature to fear losing anything. To admit a mistake, means you admit to not doing what you were supposed to. This turns into a feeling of guilt and fear that it will come back to bite you someday.
Appreciation goes a long way for moral. Tone speaks volumes when being spoken to. Using vocabulary that is appropriate for all levels without feeling as if you need a translation dictionary is a step all leadership needs to understand better. We should all respect our superiors but they need to understand that they sometimes have a much higher level of understanding of the situation or project. We need to be brought up to that level or it needs to be conveyed to us in a way that everyone can understand. People will not speak up even if they do not understand for the fear of looking stupid or uneducated. Even if asked many people will still say they understand. This is where the upper levels have to focus on reading their employees better, much like teachers do with students. We look to management for guidance not just orders.
We all want to succeed, grow, and be recognized for what we accomplish. I believe we want our coworkers to succeed just as much as we want ourselves. I am a firm believer that if I can make someone else’s job easier, my job will end up being easier. Why would anyone want the contrary? We see one another more than we see our own families, so why not treat one another like our family. We all need to relearn what it was like to help one another selflessly. Be happy for those who accomplish something we could not and learn from it. Be a little more understanding, helpful, greatful, and supportive. If we all try a little harder, give each other a helping hand without the sigh or not now attitude, we would all be amazed at how much more can be accomplished.
I have been at Aetna almost a year now and love my job. I say this to people all the time. I can sum up my feelings for this job in one sentence: I get up every morning and do not think of an excuse to call out of work even when I feel sick or down. That is how a job should feel.
Ronald – your words are powerful. In particular “We all want to succeed, grow, and be recognized for what we accomplish” and your thoughts on activating the greatness in those around you. It’s inspiring to know that you’ve found a place and culture in Aetna where you can lead with courage and be fulfilled in your work. At Verus Global, our vision is to “see the day when a majority of businesses achieve enduring profits as a result of building and developing an inspired and fulfilled workforce.” Here’s to your experience leading you to that place — and here’s to more organizations who operate with an inspired workforce.
Do we recognize that these things are right? Is it right for us to promote others’ success before our own, to quickly, willingly apologize for our own mistakes, to let others receive glory for their work and to express our own appreciation for same? Is it right for people to find out a way to make something noble/worthwhile happen despite naysayers? If deep down we know these things are right, then doing them should flow out of that conviction. If we don’t believe these things are right, that leads to an entirely different discussion.
As mentioned before (https://www.verusglobal.com/wp/?p=4658), courage comes from convictions. When we truly believe something is right, then we are more likely to take the appropriate action. Question: What makes you willing to die to self to love others more than you, to let go of what you believe you might gain to cause others to gain? Why is this believe and behavior important to a company’s (or any other group of people) culture and how will that lead to synergies that promote in increase in productivity and top talent retention?
James, you consistently impress me with your insightful nature and quality of comments. Your questions inspire us all to think further on the topic to make it apply to me in the here and now.
James: Great questions! I love your very first question — because we can get wrapped up in the day-to-day and forget what’s “right.” I love the idea that we can support those around us and the rising tide will lift all boats. Thank you for your inspired comments.