Good Leaders Expose Rather Than Impose

Here is the fundamental conflict in leadership. People universally resist being told what to do. We, as leaders (with or without titles), feel we are on the hook so we regularly tell people what to do.

We can try various tactics to disguise our “telling” and they will have many creative ways to resist. Regardless, as long as we are telling, we get nowhere significant.

To make real progress, seek to expose rather than impose. Expose your thinking and motivations. Expose what would make a win for you and the organization. Expose how what they do contributes. And use curious, kind inquiry to expose their ideas, motivations, what would be a win for them, how they see it working out, and what they imagine are their next steps.

Collaboration and completion usually ensue.

In your corner,

Mike

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