You feel good about this product?
"Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden spectacular program." Spencer W. Kimball
Sam approached me and handed me the white paper he produced in preparation for my meeting with the board on Monday. Sam is a great teammate. We've been together almost four years. He is a father of three boys, two of which are deep into the school baseball season. He and I have a work relationship built on trust and mutual respect. You could say that Sam and I function very efficiently together - often knowing what the other needs and is thinking by just a glance. Sam is more efficient than I. He can take my guidance and deliver analysis or a product of high quality faster than I can. I bring experience, patience, and strategic perspective to our work relationship. It is rare when I have had to fix or change anything he produced.
I have been critical of Sam's performance at times when his emotions spike or when I believe he wrongly prioritizes speed over quality - that is my patient nature and indeed, my duty as his leader. My criticism comes only from a position of wanting him to grow into the person and leader I know he can be. This white paper is critically important. The board is expecting it and will make some strategic decisions based on its findings and recommendations.
As he hands me the white paper, I grasp it but do not take it from his hands. He feels my hesitation. Pushing it gently toward him, I lean in, look into his eyes to ensure I have his attention, and ask, "Sam, do you feel good about this product?"
There are several reasons behind this cautious questioning. Here they are.
This document is important, and it is my duty as a leader to check that Sam is handing me his best work.
I know where Sam is in his life at this moment - the demands on him as a husband and father with two young baseball players. These family demands, while important to both him and I, may impact his preparedness.
There is comfort between us - 'order' you could say where expectations are clear. We feel at ease around each other but due to the gravity of this document, I want him to feel some discomfort - some 'disorder' given the paper's importance. I want him to check himself before he surrenders the paper to me.
If there is one product which demands a patient, unemotional approach, it is this one. Recall that Sam is more impatient and emotional. He has received my criticism before, and this is my way of refreshing that criticism forcing him to reconsider.
I want to afford him the opportunity to 'double check.' All he needs to do is pull the paper back and smile at me. We will both know that I'm being me (patient and unemotional) and Sam is being Sam (impatient, fast-paced, and emotional). It is my unspoken way of telling him, "This one is important bro."
Leaders need to ask this question every now and then, "Do you feel good about this...?" This challenge is exactly what many of our teammates need. It is an effective way of saying, "I want to leave no doubt," or "I want you to be absolutely sure on this one."
Leaders need to ask this of themselves. "Do I feel good...?" This can and should be the last 'check' before we 'hit send' on the important things.
Sam's story is fictitious but it, or elements of it must ring true in the interactions of the leader and the led, especially when there is a lot at stake. How good do you feel? How good do your people feel? Often, you must know.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell