One in every of My Liabilities as a Chief Was Not Acknowledging the Wins Alongside The Approach
“I don’t need reward, I wish to know what I might have finished higher.” For years this was my default response to even the smallest of constructive suggestions. Neglect the PROS, I simply need the CONS.
There have been quite a lot of causes for this posture: a robust conviction within the worth of classes realized, a need to be taught from these I revered. However in the event you actually pushed on it, there have been layers of worry and insecurity on the opposite aspect of the self-confidence cookie. The issues which didn’t doom me this time would possibly catch me subsequent go spherical, so let’s get on prime of them. And an intense concern about complacency, as if any satisfaction in my work (or my life?) would trigger me to cease searching for excellence, take away the chip on my shoulder, boring the sting, or no matter your metaphor of selection.
I’d heard the sayings, in print, from colleagues. On this world raised nails get pounded down. Compliments are arrows from the mediocre, meant to scale back your ambition. And with a 20something/30something’s quantity of testosterone, I didn’t wish to be pounded down. Didn’t wish to be mediocre.
Once I take into consideration my profession throughout these years there’s all the time a recognition that maybe listening to some reward wouldn’t have killed me. Lately I’m in a position to smile extra and attempt to deliver the ‘how fortunate are we to be doing this work’ mentality to these round me. So current day Hunter is best.
That doesn’t make up for the best way I handled my groups and colleagues although. I used to be the quintessential “don’t cease and odor the roses, have you learnt how far more there may be to do till we win? Be pleased then!” supervisor. Urging folks ahead in direction of a set of goalposts that will by no means get any nearer.
Seems like a recipe for burnout, feeling under-appreciated, and like I’d by no means be happy, proper? Nicely, I’m certain some folks skilled me that means and for that I’m sorry. I wish to suppose the take care of them got here by way of in different methods however in hindsight, there was a degree I by no means reached by way of empathetic management.
Colleagues of mine, some within the product org, some exterior of it, have been far more attuned to those wants, and for that I’m actually grateful. They knew when a cheerful hour, or t-shirt, or ‘ship this electronic mail out to the crew’ was wanted and have been in a position to lengthen our tradition in methods I fell quick.
So why write this? As a result of I work with numerous CEOs the place I acknowledge among the identical traits. They do care about their groups deeply as human beings however work to search out their very own steadiness of “let’s rejoice” and “push tougher!” And as people there’s typically the identical need to critique themselves with out pausing to take a breath. In my expertise it’s not about first time vs repeat entrepreneurs. Males vs girls. Outdated or younger. It’s not common but it surely’s prevalent. And so I’m simply hoping that my very own reflections assist set a few of them relaxed with their very own struggles.
