Smart Leaders Love Correction – The Rest Suffer
When you hate correction, you love grappling with the same faults over and over and over. Smart leaders say, “Show me how to improve.”
“Why will no man confess his faults? Because he is still in their grasp…” Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, #53. Solomon said it more directly, “… it is stupid to hate correction.”
Smart leaders love correction.
Image by Marzena P. from Pixabay
5 WAYS TO LOVE CORRECTION:
#1. Show up stupid.
It’s normal to think you’re right. It’s wisdom to show up ready to learn. You need a positive mindset and humble attitude to show up with an open mind.
My coaching practice is most effective when I show up to listen and learn. Eagerness to give answers strangles conversations.
#2. Seek help BEFORE you need it.
Stubbornness presses forward and suffers. Seek the voice of experience when you’re making plans, not after. Say, “I’m planning to…. What suggestions do you have for me?”
I watch people dangle from the end of their rope because they rushed forward with novice-confidence. Foresight recognizes the value of external voices.
#3. Actively seek to improve.
Don’t say something stupid like, “How can I be better?” What the heck is ‘better’? Be specific. Be actionable. Say, “I’m working on ______. What’s one way I could get better at that?””
#4. Explore how others could be right.
Hard-heads know-it-all. Skillful people learn-it-all. Ask, “How did you come up with that idea?” Or, “What’s important about that decision?”
Don’t let ‘brilliance’ cause persistent stupidity.
#5. Say, “Tell me more.”
Skillful leaders listen and learn. Hard heads know and blab. You can be skillful in three one syllable words, “Tell me more.”
Set a goal to say, “Tell me more,” before lunch today.
“Let us, therefore, rouse ourselves, that we may be able to correct our mistakes.” Seneca
What could you do to love correction today?
Explore more:
4 Ways to Develop the Mindset of a Leader
The Ultimate Pursuit of Leadership – Leadership Freak
Position as a learner … so many things come along with the posture… openness, humility, paying close attention, inquisitive/curiosity.
BUT its toughest in roles wherein we are considered expert by others or by our own ego/pride.
Let’s face it. People have been trained to look to leaders for answers. Sometimes that’s appropriate. How do experts practice curiosity and openness?
I wonder which expert consultant will do better? One who knows it all or one who learns it all?
Here’s a question that reflects openness and willingness to learn. Before giving any answers or suggestions ask, “What have you tried?” Don’t ask to judge. Ask to learn.
Thanks for bringing this up, Ken. It’s important.
What are your thoughts on showing up stupid when you’re the expert? (Which of course is hyperbole.)
You can’t walk away from your expert status, but you can state openness and encourage….
.”You know I have some years of experience in this field, but your newness opens doors of untried approaches… you have ther advantage of connecting the dots from other areas of life and business. Our backgrounds together will yeild much different solutions than mine alone, and they will likely be more robust. “
Without realising the the importance of the problem you can’t stand a LEADER. There are many leaders in the world who are cloun in the reality.
Take the minutes for the meeting. It is hard to talk and write at the same time (unless you want to do both poorly). If you are the note taker, that forces the others in the room to talk and also lets them know you care about what they think.
Wonderful. Thanks, Jennifer. Years ago I had a leader tell me, “Control the pen.”
I hadn’t thought of that added benefit.
#4. “Explore how others could be right.”
Here are some ways I try frame this very important idea:
1. Handing out correction is hard for person correcting me.
2. The leader correcting me is possibly doing this because they care about me.
3. This doesn’t necessarily mean “I’m in trouble.” (Fight or flight. tendencies)
4. Breathe deep and drop your guard (Be appropriately vulnerable.)
Thanks, Edgar. I appreciate your insights. Sometimes the simple things are best. Just breathe. It really makes a difference for me.
Dan, I love that you included the phrase, “tell me more.” It is an easy way to move a conversation to a deeper level and gain even more. It also gives the other person permission and opportunity to talk more about themselves and their experiences, good or bad, productive and unproductive, each of which I can gain insight from. Often after I have asked someone to tell me more a few times, they move on and tell someone else what a brilliant conversationalist I am. LOL
Thanks, Kevin. Isn’t it great that 3 little words make a big difference? Once you settle into those words, many conversations are less stressful.
SO appreciating this message for its timeliness in my life but also because it
evoked such thoughtful responses from Ken, Jennifer and Edgar. Relating with the need to recognize and verbalize that years of experience in a field does not automatically mean that I or any other leader is impervious to mistakes or to future learning from fresh new eyes and perspectives. Thanks as always to Dan Rockwell who seems to know just when to post what we need the most! Positively, Pauline
Thanks, Pauline. I’m with you. I get a lot out of other people’s insights. A comment that mentions something I left out is invigorating. Most people realize that these short posts leave out so much. I appreciate the good word. It’s a pleasure to serve.
This is painful reality as many leaders do the opposite and become failures!
Sad but true, Nathan. Thanks for jumping in.
Fantastic post, Dan, and timely as well. Love the quotes! Thought you’d enjoy this fantastic quote: “The only certain barrier to the truth is the presumption that you already have it.” Dr. Chuck Missler. Curiosity can be a great teacher…