Summer Shorts

John Maxwell is known to ask his team members, “What are my blind spots?”

Think about that: Maxwell has written numerous best-selling books about leadership, and is arguably one of the most well-known speakers on the topic of leadership.

Yet, he still wants to get better by hearing from others about his blind spots.

This question is the ultimate growth question because it exposes one to the full picture of their leadership. The full view allows them to learn, grow, and get better.

Ask this question.

Listen to the feedback you receive.

Use it to become better.

Forget exit interviews.

What are you going to learn?

“You need to improve.”

Shocking! You did yesterday, you do today, and you will tomorrow.

Leaders should notice patterns however: If people reporting to the same boss keep leaving, it is obvious you have a problem.

Why don’t you ask the people staying what they are seeing?

Why are they staying?

What can you do better?

Can they help make you and the company better?

One last reminder…

You don’t get the right to talk smack about your company when you aren’t sticking around to be part of the solution…

Author’s Note: Today launches a new series I am calling Summer Shorts: Leadership Insights in 100 words or less. I will run this through the beginning of September.

A leader is someone that looks outside the organization and surveys the horizon. This allows them to set the pace, and for others to follow.

Given the nature of events so far in 2020, the tendency for leaders has been to look within. This has been wise. A global pandemic cannot be planned for, so we have to make sure that our team have all hands-on-deck in addressing problems.

But now we must look out and up. To do that we have to trust things inside will be handled. That trust is one reason followers follow.

Look out.

Plan.

Go.