I could tell you what to do, or I could ask you what needs to be done next. I could tell you what my opinion is right away, or I could hold back and hear what you have to say first. I could remain silent when I notice that you seem a bit down, or I could check in and see how you are doing. I could tell you “what,” or I could accompany the “what” with the “why.” I could say “I told you so,” or I could choose to remain silent and affirming. One of our jobs as leaders is determining how to engage with our teams. These are the daily, in-the-moment kind of decisions. The kind of decisions that leave others feeling better about themselves, or feeling worse. The kind that make your team feel comfortable and safe, or agitated and fearful. The power is yours. How will you wield it?
First day of the rest of your life or all downhill from here
"Every day is better than the next." I missed it the first time I heard this line in the movie, "There's Something About Mary." This time, I got it. After laughing I realized something. I have spent years of my life on the wrong side of the equation. "Every day is...