Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Tip Sheet #59

What is your “non-negotiable”?

As a school principal and school superintendent I was a micromanager and could be a real pain in the butt.  Yet on the other hand, I could be a very supportive and understanding boss.  I did and still do have one non-negotiable.  And that is, a person’s effort.  If you are working hard and committed to the team and the goals of the organization, I could be very forgiving.  And with that said, I think I was able to nurture growth in the people that I worked with.

However, if you did not give our team your effort, I would have very little patience and tolerance.  This came to mind this week when I heard this being discussed by a former New York Ranger coach.  So, I ask each person to reflect upon what is your own non-negotiable.  What behavior or performance standard is most reprehensible to you?

It is hard admitting a mistake.  It is especially hard admitting a mistake if it is costly to your organization.  In this case, the term cost transcends dollars and cents.  Be that as it may, if the mistake occurs, even though one did their due diligence, it is easier to get past the mistake if the mistake was not caused by laziness, carelessness or lack of effort.

Even when I recall my coaching days, I could forgive lack of talent and even stupidity on a specific play, yet I could never forgive a lack of effort by my players.

I spent many years as part of a quasi site-based management team where I was called upon to become a consensus builder.  As part of this process, I had to learn to relinquish responsibility.  I learned to trust others.  I learned to go along with decisions that I may not have necessarily believed in because they were made by this team.  And on this team, we were all equals.  With time, I was able to feel good about myself as part of this team.  I was able to let go of some of the very things that I may have clutched on to.  I knew that everyone had a stake in our decisions and cooperation was key.  I was there to help people solve problems, not just solve the problem for them.

I learned to give up quite a bit.  But I also grew as a person and as a leader as a result of this.  However, at the end of the day, I could not, would not, or will not allow people to coast and give minimum effort.  That is my non-negotiable.

Once again, we see written on these pages a very simple belief.  Success depends on effort and attitude.  Some things you can share.  Some things you can pass to others and some things you can’t share nor give up.  I can never accept less than one’s best effort.  You see, it is all about effort and attitude.