How a leader frames things is a huge leadership advantage.
Example 1:
You have to address your team about some off-the-field stuff.
Frame that conversation right and you can stop (or at least greatly minimize) off-the-field problems.
Frame it wrong and you will have more issues.
Example 2:
Some stuff with your staff is falling through the cracks.
Frame that conversation right and you not only close the cracks but you inspire your staff to even better work.
Frame it wrong and you lose trust with your staff.
Example 3:
You want to make big improvements to your program.
Frame it right with the administration and your chance to get those improvements greatly increases.
Frame it wrong and you not only fail to get the improvements but also rub people wrong in the process.
Framing things right takes wisdom.
Wisdom such as…
+ If I do X, what are the other possibilities that could happen as a result of doing X. Or, to put it another way, thinking through the downstream consequences.
+ Reading the room. Have a feel for timing, tone, and approach.
+ Understand what you are appealing to. We often try to appeal to the rational mind when in reality we most often need to appeal to the heart.
This skill is constantly needed for leaders. Just in the last two weeks, I have been a part of multiple conversations where leaders are wrestling with how to frame some conversations they need to have.
I have seen this play out many times. An elite leader frames it just right and gets great results. An average leader frames it wrong and doesn’t get the same results as an elite leader.
Elite leaders operate at a high level in almost everything they do…including how they frame things. |
