Half the effort, twice the impact
When I start talking with a leader about coaching, the breathless response that I often get is that things are just fine, and besides, there is no way this busy overachiever has time for coaching, thank you very much!
And then we slow down a bit.
We start by talking about two things.
The first is output versus impact.
A pickup truck is capable of great output. But if you floor it, you’re not going anywhere. It used to be you would spin your tires. Now, you burn out your antilock breaks, which are determined to keep your wheels from spinning (and therefore keep you exactly in place).
Traction is critical. And traction is creating by moving not at maximum speed, but at the right speed. The more people you want to bring along, the bigger impact you want to have, the slower you need to go. At first. It’s only then you can build your speed, and momentum.
The second is effort versus ease.
In swimming, the most important thing is to be able to glide through the water. Efficiency comes first, then effort. This is why the best swimmers barely make a splash.
In leading, the goal is to minimize mental effort.
There is the doing (for you and your team). And there is the thinking that things and people should be different, that you should be able to go faster, that you aren’t doing a good job, that you will get fired if this doesn’t work.
The second type of thinking is a complete waste of effort. Because things are exactly as they are, until you and your team change them.
Imagine how much easier things would be if you didn’t think they should be easier?
If you can put these two simple changes into effect, I guarantee you can have twice the impact with half the effort.
And if you’d like to see how this could work for you, DM me and let’s talk.
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