Strong Voices vs. Overpowering Voices

Remembering an instance in leadership training from way back when.     The facilitator assigned a group of us the simplest of tasks - something akin to attaching 50 drinking straws together to form a straight line.   Easy, right?

The catch was this - while the group was trying to organize itself and accomplish the task, the leader started yelling directions at us and verbosely offering critiques.    The people within the group who, as leaders and followers, were intent on accomplishing the task were quickly frustrated by this big, overpowering voice that, even if well-intended, was hampering progress.  

I think of this often because it often happens in the workplace.     We tend to confuse the voice of leadership with the voice of a know-it-all or the voice of someone who always has to have their way or the voice of someone who takes it upon themselves to be critical of every little or large move.   These are not the voices of leadership - they are the voices of disruption.

Strong voices in the workplace do these things.    They set goals, often with collaboration.   They share the conversation as opposed to dominating the conversation.   They both edit with suggestions and encourage.    Strong voices both complement and support.

 People want to follow strong voices.

But it's more than the verbal;  it is also the intent.    The intent, or the core of what is said must be pure.   This means it's not jealous, or self-aggrandizing or is complicit with ulterior motives.    The voice must be there for the good of the work - the good of the team.

All too often we accept that those with the most dominating and domineering presence have a strong voice.  Simply put, domineering voices are not voices of leadership.  Voices of leadership present a compelling vision and guide teams to a pathway of success for all.

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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.

As the River Flows. . .

Having observed business first hand for several decades, I've come to an appreciation for a factor that very few talk about:  the power of fluidity.

Fluidity is the ability to keep things moving.   To not get stuck.   To have a great flow of product, information and ideas.

And let's face it - there are a lot of factors in the workplace that get us stuck.  Office politics.   Silos.  Egos.     Okay. . .laziness.    Inability to resolve issues and conflict.   All of these factors, and more, stop work - they stop us from growing the business - they disable us from moving forward.

The best analogy for the power of fluidity in the workplace is the power (and beauty) of fluidity in nature.  Whether it be a small stream or a mighty river, there is something both magnificent and calming about the fluidity of water.   Rivers start at a source (an idea) and they flow to a outlet (a conclusion) that ultimately feeds something bigger.   Along the way, rivers provide purpose:  habitats, sources of power, recreation and nurturing.

But, if something stops that flow, then progress also stops.  Safe habitats dry up, power dissipates, there isn't any recreation or nurturing.    And the same things happen when we lose fluidity (whether in a production environment, communication environment or creative environment) at work.   What was once fertile and productive becomes frustrating.

We know this to be true:  a great day at work and in life is when obstacles are at a minimum and things are moving forward as they should.  And even if obstacles arise, we should resolve to embrace the collective talents and tools to resolve things quickly to get everything back on track.

Let's think about the positive power of fluidity in our lives and in our work.    The ability to keep things moving, like the power of a river, is a majestic force.

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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders"  is available on Amazon Kindle.

For Your Consideration

Consider:   it's not generally thought of as a power word.   Then there are its derivatives:  considerate,   consideration.  It's often thought of as a more polite word.  If you are considerate - then you are nice.   And there's nothing wrong with nice

I would argue that in its truest sense, however, it is a very powerful word that enables us to do more than we thought possible.

Look it up:  "Thinking carefully about (something), typically before making a decision."

Often we fall prey to a game show mentality:   whoever slaps the buzzer first and rattles off the right answer wins.   Life, and work, however, are not quiz shows.    The questions we face on a daily basis are often more complicated than just having one answer:   there are considerations.

If I make this decision - what is my next move?  Am I thinking about this decision from the point of view of those who will be impacted?    Even though this seems like the right decision, what have I not considered that could be a better decision for all?    Does this decision ring true to  promises that I have made?     Is this decision congruent with decisions that I've made previously and that I will make in the future?

Have I looked at the decision points from different points of view?

All of a sudden, giving consideration, or being considerate becomes much more than a politeness or a nicety.  It becomes a necessity.   It is a pathway to wisdom.   It enables us to make smarter decisions.

Ringing the buzzer first and rattling off what we think may be the right answer doesn't win.

Well-considered answers win.

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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.