Walking ‘the line’ initially takes courage, then it gets easy.
Mark is a manager. Visit his department and it feels depressing. Several low performers drag everyone else down. Mark is not even close to walking ‘the line;’ he is conflict avoidant, neglecting to hold people accountable.
The price: lack of engagement and innovation; errors; loss of good people.
Don is another manager. Visit his department and it feels tense. Don is a high performer and has very high expectations. If his people don’t do exactly what he wants, he blows up. Don is constantly crossing over ‘the line.’ Frequently, he ends up working a lot of extra hours redoing his peoples’ work.
The price: lack of engagement and innovation; errors; high turnover.
Jack is a third manager. Visit his department and it feels energized, you can feel people actually like and help each other. Jack knows how to walk ‘the line.’ He engages everyone, sets expectations, and speaks up immediately if something or someone is off target.
The benefit: innovation, engagement, quality and the pick of high performing individuals who want to be part of his organization.
What is this ‘line?’
‘The line’ is between creative and destructive conflict where innovation and peak performance lives.
Who are you most like? How do you know?
Join me this year…let’s walk ‘the line.’ Click here for one way.
Tags: conflict, leadership, management, resolution
