This isn’t a post about firing people, as much as it is about leading, managing and doing the right thing. Leading is about doing what is best for the team or the organization and too often we come across leaders that simply don’t want to lead. In fact, it reminds me of the old saying, “everyone wants to be a leader until it’s time to lead”. Part of the reason our government seems to be broken is too many politicians are afraid to make difficult, principled and necessary decisions to lead. What’s interesting is that many of these leaders think some decisions will be unpopular but if the decisions are made the leader would find that people would actually rally around and support them.
Sometime as a leader, for the health of the organization or team, you have to make a change such as firing someone or disciplining someone. But I can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard leaders defend a decision not to make the change based on their perception of what customers and those in the community will think instead of focusing on the positive impact the change will have on the team and organization as well as focusing on core principles and health of the organizational culture. In reality, customers and others outside your organization already know there’s a problem and not many of them will have a problem with your decision once it’s made. Those that do have a problem might very well be the exact customers and employees you wish you didn’t have anyway and your proactive leadership will solve that issue as well.
Begin this day with purpose in your leadership. Make the decision you’ve been putting off and lead. Don’t be surprised when people actually begin to follow, employees buy-in to the organizational culture and perceptions of the organization improve.
