Say it, do it, or demonstrate it?
"An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises." Mae West
Talk is cheap. “I’m on it!” “Got it boss!” ‘Thumbs up’ emoji. How often have you heard or seen these things but not the follow up? Daily, in organizations, people – leaders and subordinates alike spout these phrases or send symbols which indicate they will act on what is being asked of them. Not all of them follow up. Phrases and symbols such as these are easy to say or send. Give the boss a thumbs up but forget or ignore what you’ve been asked to do, and you may get away with it.
The contemporary organization moves at the speed of light where directives can be crafted and sent in a matter of minutes. Directives stack up and become overwhelming and lost. Information overload and a lack of priorities separates that which must be done (important) from that which doesn’t have to be done or could be done later (unimportant or not a priority).
I coach two leaders in a large company who serve as senior vice presidents or VPs. Their boss expects a certain type of performance and behavior from them to help the organization thrive. He is a good leader who understands and promotes (demonstrates) company vision, values, and culture. He is what I call an investor in people. Loyalty and selflessness are two of several values he demands of those who serve under his leadership. Again, he does his part leading and creating an environment deserving of his demands. Therefore, my coaching to these two leaders is to demonstrate loyalty and selflessness. In other words, prove your loyalty and selflessness. Leave no doubt in his mind that you are loyal and selfless.
“You got it boss,” is only part of that demonstration. To demonstrate, one must speak and act - word and deed. “You got it boss,” is followed by a full embracement of the task as he desires it be done even if it comes at an inconvenience (loyalty and selflessness). Demonstration requires repetition. It requires a language, in this case, a language of loyalty and selflessness. These VPs can demonstrate loyalty by using phrases such as, “I’ll get behind your intent and personally see this through (followed by action),” or “I’ve got your back on this.” Selflessness can be demonstrated by using phrases void if “I” or “me.” For example, “Boss, for the betterment of the company, we should…,” or “The team needs this, so I’ll take this on for the team.”
If I were serving under a deserving leader requiring loyalty and selflessness, I’d always be thinking of how I could demonstrate those to him or her. Hard work, going the extra mile, and saying the right words are all part of demonstrating but doing those things just for the sake of doing those things is not demonstrating. You’ll likely be admired for working extra hard or extra hours, but this should be done for the sake of demonstrating that which your boss desires.
Selflessness is one of the values in all my small businesses. I evaluate my people against it. If they are acting selfishly, it will reflect in my appraisal of them. Indeed, if they cannot embrace and champion selflessness, they may be asked to leave. I work hard to be the leader and to create (demonstrate) the work environment which allows me to demand selflessness of my people. What I want is for them to demonstrate selflessness in word and deed – to operate in a selfless manner in all that they do.
Add ‘demonstrate’ to your leader vocabulary. Use when you lead (coach) your people. “Sara wants you to be a team player?” “How will you demonstrate that?” Or “Demonstrate to Sara that you are a team player in all that you say and do. Leave no doubt in her mind that you are.”
What do you need to demonstrate this week? What do your people need to demonstrate?
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell