Stop Saying “Yes” to Everything
Saying “yes” can crowd out priorities.
I remember when our daughter was two and beginning to talk. One of the first phrases she would say to me and my wife was “wanie, wanie, wanie”.
This would come in various flavors and volumes. Effectively she was telling us she “wanted” something. Typically, her tone meant she wanted it, and she wanted it . . . right now.
Mostly what she wanted was ok. When we would respond affirmatively we began developing a pattern. She picked up on it and tested it. In fact, it was appearing now wherever we went she seemed to want everything in sight!
Can you imagine her response when she didn’t receive everything she was asking for immediately? That’s right. She threw a fit. It didn’t matter where either. A two-year-old has little concept of what is ok to do in public and what isn’t. They want the easy way.
Time to say, “no”.
Interesting how we don’t change much as we age.
Individuals and teams of all types at times display similar reactions when they don’t get what they want. As people that lead it is our responsibility to chart the course helping our teams complete the mission. Ideally, we do this in ways that help them grow throughout the journey; not just survive.
The effective leader has to tell their team “no” to good things in order to achieve greatness because the sacrifice of the good ones makes room for the great.
When we think of leadership in terms of our responsibility, we should not hide from our responsibility to say ‘no’. We must be willing to disappoint our team members from time to time in order to complete the mission. Isn’t it time to stop holding teams back by saying “no” to good ideas?
Consider developing habits and a practice helping you discover what is most important to you. Hal Elrod has been a leader in this space for years. His book The Miracle Morning is transformative.
We would like to know your interest in our development of a new servant leadership podcast to help individuals apply servant leadership principles in their work and in life. Would you help?