Politics is when people choose their words and actions based on how they want others to react rather than based on what they really think.
--Patrick Lencioni "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team"
This is a concise way of determining whether you are manipulating people or not!
5 comments:
Understood. With that said, here's a question. In trying to ensure I maintain "right(eous)" motives at all times, I sometimes find it difficult to positively motivate and steer a negative group or team of people toward the mission and/or assignment. Most of the types I deal with are either un-intrinsically motivated or are persistent naysayers. Please advise.
Signed,
Frustrated
It would initially appear that this statement applies to those politicians in leadership positions. Does this also apply to constituents? Are they playing politics when they don't state what they really feel?
Seems as thought this is a culture issue; nevertheless, Lencioni suggests: Develop trust, construct an environment where people can engage in unfiltered conflict around ideas, commit to decisions and plans of action, hold one another accountable for delivering against those plans, and focus on the achievement of collective results...Jim Collins author of Good to Great would suggest you the leader having a 'will of steel,' and deciding on getting the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus.
I would say that this statement is explicitly universal! It applies to all situations. The book this quote came from is a Business book!
I find that if I give people room to fail, they don't feel as much of a need to cover themselves, and can therefore be more open in their fears or concerns.
In leading, I have to constantly check my motives, and be honest enough to change course when appropriate. If I foster an environment where my team is treated as I would want to be treated, it also makes follow-up easier, because my motives are relatively clear.
Post a Comment