Supporting people who drift encourages drifting and de-motivates high achievers. Leaders who won’t challenge people harm them. Yes, challenging can go too far. But support is most meaningful when people are stretching themselves.… Continue reading
If you think it’s difficult to have a tough conversation today, waiting makes it worse. Time makes elephants fat, complacent, and harder to confront. Patience: It’s not patient to tolerate poor performance. It’s… Continue reading
Mules come in many forms. Some are loud, opinionated, and adversarial. A pleasant mule is stubborn in a beauty queen’s skin. Beauty queen mules are more dangerous than conspicuous resistance. You end up… Continue reading
Don’t say, “It’s not that bad,” to someone who thinks it’s bad. You’re right: When team members say, “Things are bad,” say, “You know, you’re right.” And then ask, What’s bad about… Continue reading
Excuses are an attempt to lower expectations. Excuse makers are explaining why you should accept lackluster performance. It’s dangerous, degrading, and demoralizing. Excuse makers don’t want you to expect too much from them.… Continue reading
The danger of self-deception is it feels helpful while it blocks growth. It’s surprisingly easy to feed ourselves a line of bull while demonizing dissenters, rejecting disconfirming realities, and affirming ourselves. No high… Continue reading
