Human Patterns (Pt 3)

This week I am diving into more patterns of wirings, giftings, and philosophies...and the pluses and minuses to be aware of.

Pattern 1: The Results leader

This is the leader who is uber-focused on results. There are several pluses to this type of leader/person.

-For one...they will often get the result that is needed/wanted.
-They are laser-focused on the end game.
-They are ferocious in their drive and will do what it takes to reach the goal/results.

The constraint can be several things.

They can fail to develop those under them. 

They can use people as pawns to get results. Using people will often cause leaders to go beyond demanding a high level of effort and into demeaning and belittling.

They will often use any and every tactic to get results...some of which might not be legal or ethical. 

In many cases, this person is driven to climb the professional ladder and knows that the way to get there is through constant results. 

They will often give lip service, like... "People are most important." In their mind, they are not lying...but what they leave out is "People are most important to produce the results that will help me climb the professional ladder."  

Possible Helps

By altering their perspective, they can still produce results AND develop and care for people. By recognizing that people are truly most important and keeping that competitive and driven mindset for results, they can still get results while developing people. 

If you challenge and support people (and you have the right people on your team), good results will follow. 

Pattern Two: The Process Leader

This is the leader who is uber-focused on the process. They too have many pluses.

-They are consistent in how they show up every day.
-They love to develop others.
-They have tactics and strategies that are focused on getting better today.

The constraint can often be settling for average and a lack of accountability.

This type of leader will often allow mediocre performance because "it's a process."

They are often high on the support side and low on the challenge side. 

They will also fail to critically look at their processes that are leading to mediocre results and make corrections...all in the name of "We are process driven."

Possible Helps

Be consumed with evaluating the process. If your process is not producing the results you want, then either you have the wrong people or you have the wrong process (or both!). 

Do not be afraid to make changes to your process.

And lastly, challenge your people to show up every day ready to attack the process with urgency and intensity.

Process vs. Results

I believe that the best results come from focusing on and executing a great process.

I have had several conversations with leaders who push back against being process-oriented. They point to other leaders who are mediocre, all the while preaching process, process, process. 

So, in their mind, if being process-oriented leads to mediocrity, they want nothing to do with that. "That process crap doesn't work...we will focus on results."

This is throwing the baby out with the bath water. If an organization who stresses process is mediocre, the fix is not to all the sudden become singularly focused on results. 

The fix is to identify where your process is off-track or suboptimal. 

Know the goal or the result you desire... then be obsessed with making sure the process will lead to that result. 

Once you have the right process, then be totally obsessed with executing that process. 

Mike Smith, uber-successful cross-country coach at Northern Arizona University said this about results, "Stop trying to make the Olympic team. That is the hack. That's the cheat code. Because when you are not trying to make the Olympic team, you're left with just racing the race. Think about what you are trying to do in the moment, not what is going to happen."

Potential Issues

If you have a process that is not delivering the results you desire, there are several things to check.

-Do you and your people know the result you desire? What is the end game?
-Do you and your people know the amount of focus, work ethic and toughness it takes to produce results?
-Do you have the right people on your team and are they in the right place?
-Is the process done with urgency, intensity, and excellence?
-Is there accountability to doing the process at a high level?

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- Success is not by accident

Article 2- Body language...not just for athletes

Podcast: Jordan Fish. Dallas Baptist Volleyball. One of the best young coaches in volleyball!

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