Catch Them Doing Something Right!

Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash

What is this guy doing? Is he goofing off or did he just discover how to defeat gravity? Maybe both?

When you are responsible for leading people, you may be tempted to think they're all looking for the easiest way to pick up a pay check. And you could be right. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Let me explain.

Commonly leaders are appointed because they are the best at what they do. Because they are smart and capable. And naturally, many leaders are drawn to "fix" their people, to share the lessons they have learnt and tell their people what to change in order to be more successful.

Now while this guidance is valuable, it's also a bit like salt. Too much will spoil a meal quickly. No-one wants to be micromanaged or criticised, and when we are constantly being "fixed" by our managers, our motivation disappears rapidly.

The most powerful way to turn your team into amazing performers isn't correcting everything they do, it's helping them to grow and develop their own intrinsic desire to improve, to master something and to achieve outstanding results.

Look again at the guy in the photo. You can see the fear, the "awakening", written all over his face. That's exactly how most of us felt when we first entered the world of work! It isn't easy mastering your role in a world that is increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.

So the best piece of advice I ever heard when I was a new manager intent on telling my team everything they needed to do differently, was to watch them as carefully as possible to catch them doing something right. As often as I possibly could.

So instead of thinking, "what can I correct?", think first about "what is this person already doing that I want to amplify and get more of?"

The trick is to notice something that you want more of, and to call it out and acknowledge the impact it has as soon as you can, as specifically as you can. Do this as often as you can, dozens of times a day if you can.

When I learnt to do this, I was amazed at the change that occurred almost immediately.

My team were more motivated and they started to see me as a partner rather than a critic. Instead of avoiding my "guidance", people came to me wanting my attention, advice and input. I learned more about their work, and about their hidden talents.

Even if someone on your team is struggling - like the guy in the photo - there is probably a spark of greatness in what they are doing, and if you look carefully you just might see it clearer than they can, while they're trying to master multiple skills simultaneously. So as a leader your job is to put it in the spotlight and help them see it too, to let them know the risk they've taken in trying something new is valuable, and help them build confidence in their own abilities.

When you take this approach to leadership you discover that everyone - everyone - wants to be great at something. Our desire for mastery, and to have an impact on the world, is innate - you can see it in every child - but unfortunately many adults have lost confidence and clarity. As leaders, we can help our people find that spark, give it oxygen, and help them see the light they can shine on the world.