Why we all need an outsiders perspective
Inviting an outside perspective into your leadership journey can be super helpful. I am a big believe in this idea. This was reiterated to me last week.
Background
Every week I write an email and send it out to roughly 600 people.
As you know, my email is centered around leadership.
For the most part, I come up with ideas to write about in two ways:
1. The topics come from the conversations I am having with the coaches and ADs that I am working with.
2. The topics come from the books, articles, and podcasts I am consuming.
Writing the email forces me to synthesize my thoughts and it helps me to be a better verbal communicator. So by in large, writing the email is for me... and I just happen to share with others.
Lesson Relearned
In the last two weeks, I have received several emails informing me that I had a couple of errors in my email.
This frustrates me because I re-read my email no less than four or five times. I do this to catch my mistakes.
So the question is, if I re-read my email four or five times, how do I miss the mistakes?
Anytime I become too familiar with what I am writing, I tend to miss the mistakes.
The same goes for our leadership. Anytime we get too familiar with our athletes, staff, or program in general, we can miss things that are obvious to others.
This is why a fresh set of eyes can be super helpful.
Who do you invite in?
Who you invite in is really important.
It wouldn't be helpful for me to have a third-grader proofread my email. They could read it but they probably wouldn't have the experience, wisdom, or 'eyes' that I need to be super helpful.
The same goes for leaders. Inviting someone into your program that you don't fully trust or someone who might not have the 'eyes' to be superhelpful is not advised.
You need someone who has wisdom, probably some experience in your field, and someone you trust.
When we invite someone who fits the above description into our journey, it gives us another perspective that can help us and our program be better.
You don't have to take every suggestion and implement it. But their suggestions will most likely force you to evaluate what you are doing.
This might force you to make a change. Or it might actually cement in your mind that what you are doing is the right approach.
Either way, you are better for this perspective.
PS. This principle is one reason you will hear head coaches talk about hiring someone from 'outside' the program. By bringing in an 'outsider', he/she brings fresh ideas and a fresh set of eyes.
CLICK here to order my book The Leadership Greenhouse
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One of my weekly disciplines is scouring the internet for articles/tweets I can learn from and/or use with those I work with. Below are two that I hope help encourage and equip you.
Article 1- Survivorship Bias (Once you see this you can't unsee this!)
Article 2- Why most people don't change
Podcast: Zach Sorensen, Mental Performance Coach, Atlanta Braves. Stud!
Three Ways I Can Help:
1 on 1's - A powerful solution to combat the isolation and loneliness that often accompanies leadership. Leading with excellence can be an uphill battle, but you don't have to face it alone. My 1-on-1 coaching is designed to be your trusted thought partner, offering thought-provoking, perspective-enhancing questions that ignite fresh insights and clarity. Together, we will delve into the depths of your leadership role, helping you gain a profound understanding of yourself and your program. Our personalized approach ensures that each session is tailored to meet your specific needs and goals.
Here is a testimony from a 1 on 1 client: "Travis has helped me become a better leader. Travis has helped me organize my thoughts and has given me so much clarity on how to lead on a day to day basis. There is no doubt that he is the biggest asset to my leadership and has reenergized my coaching style." Jeff Duncan, Head Baseball Coach, Kent State
Training Day - During this transformative experience, I will guide you through the essential principles that lay the foundation for an elite environment in your program. Our approach is entirely interactive, ensuring an engaging and dynamic learning journey for all participants.
The Tribe - What are your pain points? What do you need to do to become a better leader? To create a better environment? Join a group of like-minded coaches who get together (via Zoom) every 2nd and 4th Monday to discuss and work through principles and frameworks to help you become a better leader.