Reflecting back over the year, this is a talk that I have remembered a lot! I even researched and found the pictures of some of my competitors and put them on my desk like she mentions at the end.
“Trust your team and you won’t be their hostage” – Seriously, this is one of the most anti-micro-managment quotes I’ve ever heard. One reason bosses are exhausted is because they don’t trust their team to do their jobs. They would never say that, of course, but show me a stressed out boss full of anxiety and I’ll show you a staff that doesn’t have complete independent freedom to do their jobs.
The analyze your mistakes even when you win is hard work. Nobody wants to bring up flaws when their drinking the champaign. But maybe the next day. The debrief is important with the right timing. I’ve heard of managers that had no celebration if the spreadsheet didn’t look right. The project was done, the team was giving high-fives, but there was no party if it was in the red.
Save the correction for after the party. Be honest and correct, but at the right time.
O my goodness! Is this good for business or is this good for your church? Both! If you have a no-blame culture, the happy side effect is that you also have an honest confessing culture. I’m not sure which one comes first, though. If you know you’ll be forgiven and the team will work witn you through your mistakes, you’ll be more likely to admit them. If you know everyone is looking for fault and somebody to blame, you’re gonna cover that stuff up!
This team was open about their mistakes and worked together to help one another make it all right. That’s how it’s done.
This is good to review these. I did this at work. I found the web designer of my competitor through a little research and I have his picture on my desktop. I’m coming for you dude! Another old GLS talk said to have a make believe rival. I did that then and I always said I was the second-best SEO within 100 miles. I knew that guy was better than me, but I was racing hard to learn and get better than him. It was an imaginary rivalry and it was motivating.
This “leader shapes the culture” bit is true too. Some of the most gossipy, back-stabbing workplaces I’ve been in had…you guessed it, a back-stabbing gossipy boss. The most generous and free workplaces I’ve been in had the most generous and free boss I ever had. We got things done and we did them well!
You can read more about Anita Elberse and her research on Mercedes and top performing teams here.