Attitude control and effective leadership

Flying, attitude control and crashes

Early efforts at fixed-wing aircraft design succeeded in generating sufficient lift to get the aircraft off the ground, but once aloft, the aircraft proved uncontrollable, often with disastrous results. The development of effective flight controls is what allowed stable flight. This is known as attitude control.

It occurred to me that leadership is a lot like flying a plane - taking off is easy but without proper attitude control the leadership provides unstable, also with disastrous results.

Better control; better flight; better leadership

In attitude trumphs skill I wrote about how leadership is primarily judged on attitudes seen so what would constitute ‘attitude control’ for leadership?

Here’s 8 key behaviours (with thanks to Charlie Pellerin),  that show the right attitude in leadership, by example– which do you live the best / find the hardest?

1.       Clarifying roles, accountability and authority for team members

2.       My gratitude helps others feel appreciated

3.       I work with others to find shared goals and interests

4.       I evaluate and appropriately include others

5.       I clarify agreements, keeping them and renegotiating in advance before they are broken

6.       I call out unpleasant realities and present realistic solutions

7.       I am 100% committed to the outcome I’m seeking

8.       I recognise and shift drama  in myself and others towards resolution

9.       My behaviour and language confirm what results I am accountable to produce

Ending the ‘B’ game – leading good people out of apathy

Can you afford apathy in anyone?

I loathe the ‘B’ game – anything less than your best is poor fare in my book, and disrespects the efforts of others.

Let me clear, ‘B’ game staff are frequently good folks. Sometimes good friends – but they just aren’t there yet. They are definitely capable, but aren’t bringing their best – their ‘A’ game.

This is not just a momentary lapse; we all have those. This is when someone has become habitually ‘meh’ about their day or their performance. It’s when they’ve allowed apathy to set it.

The issue is that a ’B’ gamer looks just like the ‘C’ gamer; unless you know them well

One person I observed seemed to think that it was ok to Facebook for the afternoon, rather than help their colleagues who were struggling with a major project – causing a major schedule slippage and over $75,000 contract penalties.

Another demonstrated that it was apparently ok to ignore repeat emails and phone messages seeking their advice and cost their organisation a $100,000 contract.

Neither of these people were bad or incompetent, they’d become a ‘B’ gamer, and these were unfortunate consequences of their apathy. ‘B’ gamers will do just enough not to be fired.

By contrast consider the ‘C’ gamers here – they are apathetic and incompetent – there’s an easy decision there.

‘B’ gamers don’t realise it but the stories we tell ourselves about their motivations are the same as the ‘C’ gamers – unless we’ve seen them in action.

Dangerously close to ‘fired’.

All ‘B’ gamers are potential ‘A’ gamers  -help them!

Everyone cares about something – personally or professionally. When the context they experience is in the way of what they care about, they’ll leave if you’re lucky. In the current climate people are clinging to life rafts – and staying when they’d rather leave. The motivational compromise is to ‘B’ game – few choose to fix the context itself. That takes 100% commitment.

Fixing the 'B' game

I move people from their ‘B’ game by asking them what they really care about - the answer is often surprising and it’s wonderful to suddenly see a quiet withdrawn person ‘come alive’. That’s what we need – attention and help to follow our passions.

Working with a ‘B’ gamer? Ask them this and work together to hook it into the work you need their ‘A’ game with.

If they do not care about this work, is there another role that they could shine in? Move them into that role.

No care at all? – help them move on, perhaps into another Industry. Tolerating it simply allows the apathy to spread and this breeds frustration with ‘A’ gamers

If you suspect you are a ‘B’ gamer there’s a simple test – can you honestly say you’re brining your best most days? If not, you’re probably dangerously close to ‘B’.

Take charge and fix it now; before someone else decides you’re in the ‘too hard’ basket.