Tag: trust

Building relationships

FabrizioLeave a comment

The way you communicate reality is often more important than reality itself in building bonds. Or breaking them.

Say you have to share a decision with your team, one that is not fully fair, one you were not involved in making, one that will not make them happy.

You can state the fact, and say there is little that can be done to change reality. You can say that “little” is something your team will have to pull off, and that the deadline for it is in one week.

Or you can still state the fact, and say you are sorry for the situation. There is still something that can be done, and you will drive the effort, coordinating the work of the different team members.

Reality has not changed between option 1 and option 2.

Relationships have though.

Better not ask

FabrizioLeave a comment

Sometimes we do not ask because we do not want to be an annoyance.

Our team needs a new tool to do their job, but the company is going through a difficult period, better not ask.

Our customers need a new feature, but Product already has their hands full, better not ask.

Our prospects do not understand our message, but management is solid on their vision, better not ask.

Of course, not asking simply means we are shifting the annoyance on somebody else, somebody who has less power, who is farther, whom complaints we cannot hear. Our team, our customers, our prospects.

Next time you are not asking, consider who you are annoying with your inaction. It’s a trade off, after all.

Mediocre

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When many people have to agree on something, the final result will be mediocre.

That’s why you should design your company in a way that assigns responsibilities clearly, and then truly delegate everything that is not on your table.

It takes gut to do work that matters.

Distinctive

FabrizioLeave a comment

When things do not go as planned, and you have to break the news to those who have helped, to those who have offered their ideas, their energy, their work, there is one thing that can make it worse.

Blaming the change of plan to others.

Of course, it works in the moment. It pushes away the shame for the loss, the difficult conversation, the necessary argument.

But as you regroup and start delivering against the new plan, no one will feel committed.

Find a reason to believe in instead, and motivate the changes with passion. Even when it was not you making the call, especially when it was not you making the call. Nobody likes change, but everyone is willing to accept it, if it makes sense.

Long term is always more important than short term. That is the distinctive sign of leadership.

Damages

FabrizioLeave a comment

Scoring a point, winning an argument, having it your way.

They might all seem like great things, except the damages they make are often greater than the satisfaction they bring.

If you find this difficult to grasp, think back at the last time you failed to score a point, you lost an argument, you did not have it your way.

What you felt back then is the same your counterpart is feeling today. And you know for a fact, it is not a feeling that it is easy to shake off, not a sentiment on which it is possible to build a strong relationship.

And so I guess the question would be: is it worth it?